Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Study Finds Fast-Food Logos Make You Impatient

Posted by samzenpus on from the I-got-the-cowboyneal-jitters dept.

A study conducted by the University of Toronto has found that exposure to fast-food logos can cause people to feel impatient and make them more likely to buy things. Subjects in the study were exposed to nearly imperceptible flashes of images (for 12 to 80 milliseconds) which included fast-food logos for some. The subjects were then asked to read about and choose between two different kinds of skin-care treatments, one of which was a three-in-one. Those who had the logos flashed before them read "significantly faster" and chose the more time-saving skin product. From the article: "The researchers concluded 'fast food, originally designed to save time, can have the unexpected consequence of inducing haste and impatience' and 'preference for time-saving products when there are potentially other important aspects upon which to choose a product.' So, basically, driving past a McDonald's on the highway has the potential to not only make you drive faster, it will make you more likely to buy two-for-one Pantene Pro-V Shampoo and Conditioner the next time you go to Duane Reade. One, it seems, is considerably less ominous than the other." I guess this explains why my nephews will chew on their seat belts and try to get out the windows just to be first into the McDonald's Playland.

87 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. tl;dr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    tl;dr

  2. Hurry up already! by barfcat · · Score: 5, Funny

    NEXT STORY!!!

    1. Re:Hurry up already! by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

      NEXT COMMENT!!

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
    2. Re:Hurry up already! by hldn · · Score: 1

      it may be funny, but i actually stopped reading the summary halfway through and tabbed to my next open story.

      --
      http://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
  3. Lookit the shapes by drachenstern · · Score: 1

    Actually those logos tend to have an arrow-like shape. Reckon how that plays into things. What if they were more octagonal?

    --
    2^3 * 31 * 647
    1. Re:Lookit the shapes by molnarcs · · Score: 1

      It's more likely that those logos are deeply associated in your mind with ... well, fast food. Meaning a certain type of lifestyle. Fast food is something you finish in less then 30 minutes. At least that's my definition. A proper meal 1) takes at least one hour 2) is not eaten alone 3) if it's eaten alone, you must have a newspaper or a good book handy for the pauses you take between the starters, main courses and the dessert. This is another type of lifestyle. All those logos remind you of having to finish your meal in 30 minutes, and the impatient lifestyile it implies :)

    2. Re:Lookit the shapes by characterZer0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It would have been interesting to do the study for two different groups - those who eat fast food and those who do not.

      --
      Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
    3. Re:Lookit the shapes by vlm · · Score: 1

      Fast food is something you finish in less then 30 minutes. At least that's my definition. A proper meal 1) takes at least one hour 2) is not eaten alone 3) if it's eaten alone, you must have a newspaper or a good book handy for the pauses you take between the starters, main courses and the dessert.

      Dominos was on the list. The pizza delivery joint.

      My pizza eating experience goes something like:

      Eat a slice a pizza, wipe hands on shirt (just being honest here), wash down w/ sip of beer, play a couple rounds of civilization or other non-realtime strategy game, repeat until no longer hungry or out of pizza and/or beer. Takes at least an hour, and eating room temperature pizza probably violates all kinds of safe food handling rules, so I sometimes refrigerate before eating (weird, but true).

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    4. Re:Lookit the shapes by Sique · · Score: 1

      Fast food is something you finish in less then 30 minutes.

      Sorry, but I finish every meal within 30 min (plus the time I'm waiting for the next course to be served).
      Maybe I am more an inhalator of food than an actual eater.

      --
      .sig: Sique *sigh*
    5. Re:Lookit the shapes by maxume · · Score: 1

      A couple of hours isn't going to make much difference, especially if you aren't planning on storing what is left after that. This page seems legitimate enough, and it says below 70 F in 2 hours, below 40 F in 4 hours:

      http://web.extension.illinois.edu/meatsafety/storing/holding.html

      (I'm using meat as a simplification, I would think that the bread, cheese, sauce and other toppings will all be less of a problem...)

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    6. Re:Lookit the shapes by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      The article says some of the images contained fast food logos, but it doesn't say what the others contained.

      That makes it difficult to determine whether it's something intrinsic to the logos, or a learned association.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    7. Re:Lookit the shapes by vlm · · Score: 1

      Refridgerating your pizza first doesn't sound weird to me but more like a case of mysophobia.

      Mysophobia, no, I'm cool with dirt. Pathological fear of food poisoning, now thats me. I've had some simply astounding experiences a several hours after consuming McDonalds breakfast egg-product sandwiches, and of course the proverbial Taco Bell. Could not find the word for that phobia, despite some google searching. SitoToxiPhobia? Maybe just "commonsense"?

      I like cheese on crackers, cold pizza is about the same technology but tastes better.

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
    8. Re:Lookit the shapes by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      Doesn't matter. All the logos make me say only:

      "Why TF do they call this FAST food?"

    9. Re:Lookit the shapes by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      On second thought, they might have a point.

    10. Re:Lookit the shapes by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      "Dominos was on the list. The pizza delivery joint."

      God, what a sorry excuse for a pizza place...

      I mean, ok, I can justify it on occasion when you are smashed...you get home from the bar, it is about 2:30am (maybe earlier if not in a college town) and you gotta have something to eat. You call them, and get something that tastes like artificial cheese covered cardboard that you graciously devour before passing out.

      But given a choice? Hell, there are frozen pizzas today that are better than domino's and most chain pizza places.

      I guess because I'm more carb conscious these days, and don't eat pizza as often...it has become a TREAT for me, and I'm not gonna waste a treat to myself on crap pizza. I've found some GREAT local chain places here near me, and I'll hit them with a vengeance. Last time, I said the hell with takeout, and actually went to sit and eat there...drink a few beers and have fun eating OUT. There is also something about eating your pizza pretty much right out of the oven, it is SO much better. Pizzas really start to die pretty quickly once out of the oven...during transport time for pickup or delivery.

      Again, I don't begrudge a drunk call late at night for chain pizza, but if you are relatively sober, and at regular meal times, go look for a great local pizza place, and eat in there for a change.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    11. Re:Lookit the shapes by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you are experiencing symptoms a mere few hours after eating, that generally isn't food poisoning. You had an upset stomach. "Food poisoning" is thrown about way too much and does not mean you suffered ill effects from food.- it means a specific food borne illness is present in the food. If it had actually been food poisoning, there would have likely been a large outbreak, and believe me you KNOW when it really is food poisoning. You are very sick for multiple days and usually need to be hospitalized. Having the squirts after eating Taco Bell isn't food poisoning - it is just what happens. And eating pizza hot when it arrives is safer than trying to cool it down. The danger zone for bacteria is between 40 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Food that is heated to over 140 degrees can be left out at room temperature for up to 4 hours before it would need to be either above 140 or below 40. Putting warm pizza in the fridge right away will actually put it in the danger zone faster than if you just ate it.

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
    12. Re:Lookit the shapes by gtall · · Score: 1

      "Fast food is something you finish in less then 30 minutes."

      This should read: Fast food is something that finishes with you in less then 30 minutes.

    13. Re:Lookit the shapes by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

      Minor correction:

      I am going to stop before I say something else stupid

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    14. Re:Lookit the shapes by Capt.DrumkenBum · · Score: 1

      My thought is usually "How the fuck can they call this food?"
      or "Why aren't the truth in advertising people all over this?"

      --
      If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
    15. Re:Lookit the shapes by sjames · · Score: 1

      That's why I make my own these days starting with the dough (not a big deal with a bread machine to do the heavy kneading).

    16. Re:Lookit the shapes by Enigma2175 · · Score: 1

      And actually, I've always learned that warm dishes need to chill down to room temperature before putting them in the fridge because the sudden cool down is even worse when it comes to bacteria etc.

      This is wrong. The goal when refrigerating hot food is to have the food in the "danger zone" (41 F to 140 F) for the least amount of time. Letting the dish cool down before refrigeration increases the time the food is in the danger zone.

      For example, here is a quote from the King County Health Services page for food handlers:

      The first rule to remember about cooling: Cool hot food as fast as you can to 41 F or below, past the "Danger Zone."

      --

      Enigma

    17. Re:Lookit the shapes by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      The problem with putting a warm dish in the fridge is that (if you aren't careful whjere you put it) you can heat up the other stuff that's in there.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    18. Re:Lookit the shapes by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      Man....then I'd just have to guess the local places there where you live aren't very good. Sorry to hear that.

      I prefer to get pizza somewhere with a real pizza oven...not something running pizzas through on a conveyor belt real quick. A real pizza oven is needed to get a pizza cooked...super high heat will quick cook a nice crispy crust, and bake the other ingredients perfectly. I have about 3 places or so near me, all independent places here in New Orleans. My new favorite is a 2 store local chain I guess you'd call it...Theo's pizza. They have the old cracker style thin crust pizza that they cook perfectly....even with a number of wet ingredients...the crust is perfect. They also have some gourmet toppings which give a great variety you can get there. There was another place that was great on the north shore in Covington...called the Pizza Man I think....old place must have been there since the early 70's look by the decor....juke box with free tunes from 60's and 70's, and a window where you can let the kids (big kids like me included) watch them hand toss the dough. They are good at it to....the pizzas come out great. Occasionally, they might char the end of it a little...but even that was good. I'd rather have a great pie with slight imperfections made by hand...that squirted out of a machine in a race for quantity over quality.

      I like to make them myself at home..from scratch...it isn't hard...and it is usuallly the best I can get. These two places are about the only two I know of that can do it better or at least in a different style than I do.

      If you find your local places all taste like Papa John's....keep looking.

      Papa John's is only maybe 1-2 rungs above Dominos on the suck factor....good for late night drunken eats, but certainly not a quality place you should order from when sober and at normal meal times...

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    19. Re:Lookit the shapes by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 1

      I've had some simply astounding experiences a several hours after consuming McDonalds breakfast egg-product sandwiches, and of course the proverbial Taco Bell. Could not find the word for that phobia, despite some google searching. SitoToxiPhobia? Maybe just "commonsense"?

      The words you're looking for is "good taste". Your body has determined that McD has absolutely nothing to do with "food" and is notifying you that next time you might want to eat something it likes better.

      --

      People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
    20. Re:Lookit the shapes by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Just a quick question.

      Does microwaving suffice for killing bacteria? If so, is it the radiation, or the food heat that does the trick?

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    21. Re:Lookit the shapes by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 1

      The heat will kill bacteria if the food is heated to above 140. I have no idea on any other effect a microwave may have. I know that irradiation is used to kill bacteria on food and is very effective, but microwaves use different waves to heat food.

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
  4. Nausea by sanctimonius+hypocrt · · Score: 1

    Reading this upset my stomach.

    1. Re:Nausea by Darkman,+Walkin+Dude · · Score: 1

      Too right, I can't even look at a McDonalds these days without getting the quabblies.

      --
      What he can't kill, he has sex on. Trent.
  5. Associations, not logogs by clang_jangle · · Score: 1

    Most people have a learned association, i.e. the logos make them think of eating particular favorite food -- and many people are impatient and eager to get around obstacles when their appetite is stimulated. I doubt the logos themselves have any intrinsic power. :)

    --
    Caveat Utilitor
    1. Re:Associations, not logogs by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 1

      I agree. I don't see how it would be narrowed down to fast-food in that sense. I'm sure that sports logos, and brand names, and Coke and Pepsi products would all be found to have the same effects if logos themselves were the ones with the power to alter your state of mind.

      No, its most likely your mind playing a subconcious trick because you already know about the logo. You look at it, and you don't think, "Hmmm, Golden Arches make me impatient", you think "I could go for some McDonalds, because I don't feel like cooking". Then you are in the mindset that you don't have time to cook, and you are impatient from thereafter.

      Just like how looking at this nice Big Brand Coffee Cup makes me feel a little more relaxed at work, even though I haven't sipped it yet.

    2. Re:Associations, not logogs by FooAtWFU · · Score: 1

      Did they do any studying to tell whether the effect was more pronounced among people who regularly had fast food?

      --
      The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
    3. Re:Associations, not logogs by macneile · · Score: 1

      I agree. When I see a McDonald's logo, I think of eating a cheeseburger..... duh.... right? I don't become impatient and want to immediately run to the nearest store to buy something useless.

    4. Re:Associations, not logogs by Macrat · · Score: 1

      In other news, researchers find that showing pictures of anything quickly will make people impatient and in a rush to leave the silly test.

  6. This doesn't surprise me by ReneeJade · · Score: 1

    I've worked for two different fast food chains as a customer service person and there is huge pressure on the staff to keep things moving fast (seconds count, statistics are everything). Most staff in these places are too young or too lazy to hide the fact that they are under huge pressure. Those vibes are going to rub off on the customer and the whole place. Frankly, if you don't make up your mind fast, you're going to really piss the staff off.

    1. Re:This doesn't surprise me by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      I've worked for two different fast food chains as a customer service person and there is huge pressure on the staff to keep things moving fast (seconds count, statistics are everything). Most staff in these places are too young or too lazy to hide the fact that they are under huge pressure. Those vibes are going to rub off on the customer and the whole place. Frankly, if you don't make up your mind fast, you're going to really piss the staff off.

      And the people behind you.

      I never did understand those who mindlessly stand in line, then at the very end look at the menu and decide then. After all, you had all the time in the world in the lineup to review the menu, the current day's news, the weather around the world, etc. in the lineup, but no, only when you get to the front of the line do you act with surprise like the menu's only visible by you and then stand and think.

    2. Re:This doesn't surprise me by gknoy · · Score: 1

      Sometimes people leave their glasses in the car, or aren't wearing contacts, or sometimes the lighting is just bad enough that there's an inconvenient glare. Some people (like me) genuinely take a long time deciding - I will be thinking about what I want to order from the time I get in the line, but occasionally can't decide between two items, and eventually have to decide to be dissatisfied with which ever decision I make.

    3. Re:This doesn't surprise me by ReneeJade · · Score: 1

      LOL well said. Now see how you feel when you have a stressed out manager standing behind you giving you dirty looks, and some bloke in the kitchen shouting "SERVICE TIME, REGISTER 16!", because people don't realise that they can see the menu from fifth in line. Nothing enlightens you to the stupidity of humans like fast food work... except maybe IT work.

    4. Re:This doesn't surprise me by ReneeJade · · Score: 1

      Of course. And the fact that I understand that is the reason I can go to my weekend fast-food job, at the end of a week studying science and engineering, and take peoples orders with a genuine smile on my face. But the truth is, there are very stupid people out there.

    5. Re:This doesn't surprise me by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      "Sometimes people leave their glasses in the car, or aren't wearing contacts, or sometimes the lighting is just bad enough that there's an inconvenient glare. Some people (like me) genuinely take a long time deciding - I will be thinking about what I want to order from the time I get in the line, but occasionally can't decide between two items, and eventually have to decide to be dissatisfied with which ever decision I make."

      Ok, I'll give you this one...BUT, what about the jackass you're behind in the checkout line at the grocery store, who lets her whole fucking set of groceries get rung up...and only then does she think to reach for her checkbook, and start then to fill it out.

      I'm not against writing checks mind you...while I pay with cash 99% of the time, I sometimes write a check, however, the second I'm at the counter and they start to ring things, I have my checkbook out, and ask the cashier for a pen if I don't have one. By the time they've totaled my bill, all I have to do is write the amount in the ledger and then quickly write the amount in the last 2x blanks I have on the face of the check and I'm good to go...all of about 20 seconds maybe.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    6. Re:This doesn't surprise me by Hatta · · Score: 1

      Don't get in line until you know what you're going to order.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    7. Re:This doesn't surprise me by plague3106 · · Score: 1

      Sometimes people leave their glasses in the car, or aren't wearing contacts

      I can honestly say I don't give a damn. Whatever the reason, they are still holding other people up unnessarly.

      sometimes the lighting is just bad enough that there's an inconvenient glare

      Hmm, I don't think I've ever seen this particular problem.

      Some people (like me) genuinely take a long time deciding - I will be thinking about what I want to order from the time I get in the line, but occasionally can't decide between two items, and eventually have to decide to be dissatisfied with which ever decision I make.

      So don't get in the line until you've decided. As far as not being satisified either way... you should leave rather than buy something you don't want. I can't imagine why I'd buy something I knew I'd dislike.

    8. Re:This doesn't surprise me by Smauler · · Score: 1

      Some people (like me) genuinely take a long time deciding - I will be thinking about what I want to order from the time I get in the line, but occasionally can't decide between two items, and eventually have to decide to be dissatisfied with which ever decision I make.

      That's absolutely fine as long as you do it on your time. If you start doing it on my time, I'm going to get a little pissed off.

  7. heh by Krneki · · Score: 1

    It's not like they force you to buy anything.

    P.S: Adblock plus FTW!

    --
    Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
    1. Re:heh by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Researches are looking for ways to go straight from the seeing the ads to be compulsion to buy it part of the brain, and they are making headway.*

      http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/science/16tier.html?_r=1

      *see what I did there?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  8. So you mean by lxs · · Score: 1

    That they're effective?

    1. Re:So you mean by Velorium · · Score: 1

      That's what I'm wondering, because if so, that's actually frightening.

    2. Re:So you mean by Velorium · · Score: 1

      Woah, touché.

  9. I'm sorry... by natehoy · · Score: 4, Funny

    There were too many fast food logos in the summary picture and I was too impatient to read the rest of the article, in fact I don't think I can complete this sentenc...

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    1. Re:I'm sorry... by Kirin+Fenrir · · Score: 1

      There were too many fast food logos in the summary picture and I was too impatient to read the rest of the article, in fact I don't think I can complete this sentenc...

      Candlejack? Was that y

      --
      Caffeine is my anti-drug!

      Duranin - A NWN2 Roleplaying Persistent World
  10. Re:cue the comments by vxice · · Score: 1

    don't forget the comments about correlation doesn't mean causation followed by feeble attempts to explain statistics.

    --
    every anarchist is a baffled dictator. Benito_Mussolini
  11. Or maybe... by Reziac · · Score: 1

    ...it's just that having your concentration disrupted, even on a subliminal level, is irritating, which in turn quite typically makes people impatient, and more liable to just do whatever the hell is in front of them rather than giving it thought first.

    --
    ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  12. Re:cue the comments by NewbieProgrammerMan · · Score: 1

    cue the comments overintellectualizing and deducing vague ominous things from this pointless bit of fluff

    That was already happening in the summary:

    So, basically, driving past a McDonald's on the highway has the potential to not only make you drive faster...

    So any comments of the kind you're describing should be moderated redundant.

    --
    [b.belong('us') for b in bases if b.owner() == 'you']
  13. It's the colours I bet. by Antony-Kyre · · Score: 1

    Red and yellow. Don't those make us more impatience?

  14. Bastards? by Thanshin · · Score: 1

    Excuse me but, what were they trying to achieve by subliminally showing food logos to people and then putting shampoo in front of them?

    I think someone was going for a much more spectacular result.

  15. Impatient? by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

    For the most part, those logos make me nauseous, not impatient!

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  16. Old news... by DocJohn · · Score: 1

    C'mon, this is old news! We reported on this a week ago...

    http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/04/13/fast-food-induces-haste-impatience/

    1. Re:Old news... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      really? you consider something posted on another blog a week ago 'old news'?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  17. Running out of time. by wjousts · · Score: 1

    FTA:

    exposure to fast-food symbols -- including the logos of McDonald's, KFC, Subway and Taco Bell -- make people both less likely to save money and more likely to feel like they're running out of time.

    Funny, eating McDonald's, KFC, Subway and Taco Bell makes me feel like I'm running out of time. Time left to live that is.

    1. Re:Running out of time. by MBGMorden · · Score: 1

      You can eat healthy at any of them if you try. Hell it isn't even that hard at Subway and Taco Bell. Not that any of them are going to TASTE very good, but from a purely "sustenance that isn't bad for you" standpoint, all have good options available. Heck when I'm in a hurry I actually have found that the Mandarin Chicken Salad at Wendy's is pretty darned good.

      --
      "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
    2. Re:Running out of time. by geekoid · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Man, you're post is choke full of nutrient ignorance.

      First off, you can get a ham sandwich with a ton of veggies and no Mayo. It's pretty healthy. Sure you could also get the 12" meatball mariners with extra cheese. But as the poster pointed out, it's not hard to eat healthy at Subways..or any of those place listed. Subway is the best of the bunch.

      "those prewashed bags of salad, and a plastic fork."
      Many of hem are not terrible healthy. They are mostly iceberg lettuce, which is water barely being held together. Be sure to get the ones with darker greens, like spinach... and don't put any dressing on it. So, yeah that will be tasty~

      " are marinated in pure corn syrup."
      And...? There isn't anything inherently bad in that. Unless you eat too much of it.

      "Because not only is the dressing also packed with sugar for no good reason, "
      yeah, they spend money to put sugar in it for no reason what so ever~

      "But, it IS their healthiest salad."
      no it isn't. The veggie delight salad is, and the Subway club is the worse one. But so what? a salad is just a type of meal preparation. not some magical diet food. No salad there has 1.25 g of sodium. The highest is 800mg. It's a lot, but no where near what you claim.

      You're whole rant on the food pyrmid is just plain wrong.
      A) it was created in ther 1960s. well before fast food took off. IN fact, fast food didn't take off until the 1980s boom.

      "high fat diets make you fat, because those studies fail, l"
      many good studies show that in fact, high fat diets does contribute to obesity. as does putting too many calories in your mouth.

      " Those who chose A, as I said, run out of the profession on a rail.

      That is a common and wrong logical fallacies. Scientist who do good pier reviewed studies that are contrary to common conceptions are supported and rewarded in the scientific community. They need to be good and repeatable studies. That argument infuriates me because it perpetuates a fallacy with he scientific community, and it always indicate the person spouting off is full of shit.

      Fast food can be fast.
      I can get a hamburger fries and soda in 5 minutes. Good luck doing that at home.
      Not that I would anymore.

      Who the hell waits 10 minutes for fast food? next time, time yourself. Plus it has the added bonus that I walk an extra 6 blocks.

      You're time is a fallacy anyways since most people have a set time for lunch. Even if your example was correct, what would you do with the extra few minutes during lunch?

      You are a product of lies spread buy 'nutritionist' and people who write diet books.

      Try studying the actual science some time.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    3. Re:Running out of time. by MBGMorden · · Score: 3, Informative

      In terms of "good for you" you can go to the grocers and just buy those prewashed bags of salad, and a plastic fork. Enjoy! Faster and cheaper, and you'll have leftovers!

      And end up severely malnourished ;). Most of those bagged salads are less than 100. Unless you're eating a LOT more for your other meals and snacking, you can't survive on that. Most adult males are going to need 1600-1800 calories per day minimum to avoid lethargy. Most active men can have the daily recommended 2000 without issue.

      Those calories have to come from somewhere. Now, lettuce and other such things we commonly find in salads are GREAT fillers to make your stomach feel full, but you have to also add some other things into your diet to get those calories, because you need them. Grilled meats, non-fried starches, fruits, nuts, etc are all good sources to get that from. Non-fatty salad dressings are also fine in moderation.

      Take the mandarin chicken salad for I referenced for example - low in saturated fat & cholesterol, and the entire salad prepared with all included condiments is around 550 calories. In other words, you have 1 for lunch and 1 (or any other similarly laid out meal) for dinner along with a small breakfast and you've still got a decent amount of calories to spare for a few well placed snacks and the like.

      Too often there's a tendency to say that "This has sugar so it's bad". "This has salt so it's bad.". "This has fat so it's bad.". The reality is we need a little bit of everything - just not in the quantities provided by a supersized big mac combo.

      Look at the big picture instead of single ingredients. Find me anybody who is typically eating salads (even fast food salads, and even the ones with relatively mild non-mayo based dressings), reasonably sized subs (ie, 6" - no footlongs, but yes, even with that evil bread), and/or fast food tacos sans cheese and with grilled chicken, and is drinking water along with those meals rather than sugary sodas. I can pretty much guarantee that they will be of a completely healthy weight and will not have any diet-related health issues.

      --
      "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
    4. Re:Running out of time. by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      Even if your example was correct, what would you do with the extra few minutes during lunch?

      Smoke a cigarette.

    5. Re:Running out of time. by Smauler · · Score: 1

      As much as everyone hates to deny it, calories are basically the only things that matter. It doesn't matter if you get them by carbs or fats, if you eat too many calories, you'll get fatter. People rant about different diets... eg the atkins. They did a study of people doing Atkins diets, and they found that the people who lost weight took in less calories. It wasn't about carbs or fat, it was just purely less calories.

    6. Re:Running out of time. by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      As much as everyone hates to deny it, calories are basically the only things that matter. It doesn't matter if you get them by carbs or fats, if you eat too many calories, you'll get fatter. People rant about different diets... eg the atkins. They did a study of people doing Atkins diets, and they found that the people who lost weight took in less calories. It wasn't about carbs or fat, it was just purely less calories.

      Ok, this is only anecdotal, so fwiw...

      My wife did Atkins, and lost 60lbs. At the same time, my cardiologist put me on South Beach (the only diet I've ever been on, and lost 40 lbs.). We both ate as much as we wanted, and certainly consumed more than I did previously. Neither of us tracked calories, since it's not a focus of either diet, but there were days where I really pig'ed out, and was shocked that I wasn't gaining. For me, I could live with that diet, but really missed pizza (though we did order some, and just ate the toppings), and pasta.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  18. What else have they tried flashing? by mi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Could it be, that simply flashing anything colorful — be it a McDonald's logo, or Obama's "Hope" poster — will make a person impatient?

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:What else have they tried flashing? by jfengel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They did control a bit for that; the control group saw a "blank square", according to the actual journal article.

      Not entirely sure what "blank" means, but they were generally being shown a screen full of flashing lights: "participants reported that they had seen color blocks without any meaningful pattern".

      Seems to me that they should at least have controlled for ANY logos, perhaps for a car rental company or just random corporate logos. It's not at all clear to me whether they've actually proven anything about "fast food logos" rather than complicated shapes in general.

      I'm generally suspicious about subliminal programming experiments, and their failure to control for something that seems obvious to me makes me skeptical.

  19. nonsense by SnarfQuest · · Score: 1

    this has to be nonsense. Just because you see, oh look McDonalds,

    --
    Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
  20. Conspiracy theory by Undead+NDR · · Score: 1

    To me, the most disturbing thing that this research seems to suggest is that subliminal frames actually work.

    Since this stuff was dissed as ineffective by a whole lot of sources I'd read in the past, I now wonder if there is some kind of conspiracy going on: false news on the ineffectiveness of subliminal messages being spread by the very people who seek to manipulate the general public through the media.

    1. Re:Conspiracy theory by h00manist · · Score: 1

      I'd say both. Ignorance plays a large part in the general confusion, but also puppet masters. Fools just tell their truth, liars insist on their truth. Then there's the liar good enough to fool the wise.

      --
      Build your own energy sources from scratch. http://otherpower.com/
    2. Re:Conspiracy theory by radtea · · Score: 1

      To me, the most disturbing thing that this research seems to suggest is that subliminal frames actually work.

      Since the reasoning power of the average reader is shown by the summary's entirely unjustified statement, "So, basically, driving past a McDonald's on the highway... will make you more likely to buy two-for-one Pantene Pro-V Shampoo and Conditioner the next time you go to Duane Reade" I don't see that there's any point in going after the other falsehoods implied the study.

      People are both innumerate and what I call "probability blind", which is like colour-blindness but for the way chance actually works. Thus, a study that concludes there is a tiny but objectively real positive effect that is statisically significant is interpreted by the average person to mean that the effect is universal, powerful and enternal, so if you walked past a McD's as a child you are more likely to pull and gun and shoot someone as an eighty-year-old.

      I'm almost at that point in life where I'm going to stop trying to explain this kind of error to people, and instead go off and start taking money from them on the basis of their ignorance...

      --
      Blasphemy is a human right. Blasphemophobia kills.
    3. Re:Conspiracy theory by Comboman · · Score: 1

      As I understand it, the studies showed that subliminal advertising wasn't effective, but that doesn't necessarily mean that subliminal communication isn't happening. Most advertising is about distinguishing your brand from your competitor, not about creating demand. If I flash a McDonald's logo at someone and they feel hungry and go to Wendy's, I've failed as an advertiser, despite that fact that something is clearly being communicated.

      --
      Support Right To Repair Legislation.
    4. Re:Conspiracy theory by Smauler · · Score: 1

      Some of these images were flashed for up to 80ms.... that seems like far from subliminal to me. If you're not noticing an image in from of you for almost 1/10th of a second, you've got bigger problems than a fast food short attention span association.

    5. Re:Conspiracy theory by Undead+NDR · · Score: 1

      Then again, some others were flashed for 12ms...

  21. Hungry by SuperManIsGod · · Score: 1

    I think if I had fast food logos flashed in front of me I would be hungry or more likely to buy fast food. I don't think it would have any influence on any other type of product I would buy. Could it be that the test subjects were more likely to buy the 3-in-1 skin treatment because that image was flashed in front of them or maybe because it was a more convenient purchase. Maybe it was the skin treatment they already bought.

  22. Everybody Loves Hypnotoad by srobert · · Score: 1

    Yeah, right. I have a logo that will subconsciously make your customers cough up their entire bank account on what ever kind of crap you want to sell them. We've been working on this at McMahon and Tate for 50 years. We've almost got it perfected. And it can be yours if the price is right.

  23. So McDonald's is bad for mental health, too... by h00manist · · Score: 1

    I would never imagine that was the reason fast-food chains tend to be featured in movies like falling down

    --
    Build your own energy sources from scratch. http://otherpower.com/
  24. Any Graphic Designers want to weigh in? by imgumbydamnit · · Score: 1

    As much as I enjoy the usual /. digressions, I'd love to get an analysis from anyone who designs logos for a living. I'm not a designer, but I do notice few things that the logos have in common: Most of them have either text or design elements that rise to the upper-right of the logo. Most have some sort of pointer, either arrows (Subway), a slashing underline (Pizza Hut), meteor (Burger King), italics(KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway). Most use primary colors exclusively. Are these elements standard idioms in logo design? Are they universal, or are they specific to North American branding?

    --
    To err is human. To arr is pirate.
    1. Re:Any Graphic Designers want to weigh in? by imgumbydamnit · · Score: 1

      ... Do the designs, rather than the products they hawk, contribute to the feelings of haste? What would happen if one tested with a logo design with these types of elements, but for a fictional brand?

      --
      To err is human. To arr is pirate.
    2. Re:Any Graphic Designers want to weigh in? by KharmaWidow · · Score: 1

      I'm a graphic designer and the only aspect I think might influence the viewer is color. What they need are additional studies - sit-down restaurants, non-restaurants, logos that aren't generally reds and yellows, logos the viewer is not familiar with....

      Maybe its simply having crap flash in your face...

      Considering that the subliminal-message studies of the 60s or whenever were a hoax, I think this a bunch of hooey.

    3. Re:Any Graphic Designers want to weigh in? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      As much as I enjoy the usual /. digressions, I'd love to get an analysis from anyone who designs logos for a living. I'm not a designer, but I do notice few things that the logos have in common: Most of them have either text or design elements that rise to the upper-right of the logo. Most have some sort of pointer, either arrows (Subway), a slashing underline (Pizza Hut), meteor (Burger King), italics(KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway). Most use primary colours exclusively. Are these elements standard idioms in logo design? Are they universal, or are they specific to North American branding?

      Yellow and Red are meant to make people feel hungry, hence why signs tend to favour these colours. Over here Burger King is called Hungry Jacks.

      I'm not a designer mind you, I believe in being productive.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  25. On science and Pier Review by jonaskoelker · · Score: 1

    Scientist who do good pier reviewed studies

    If a scientist gets a bad pier review, will the university (or other employer) have his pay docked?

    I'm here all week. Try the instant veal burger ;-)

  26. Re:So does seeing the windows logo... by Orga · · Score: 1

    -2 troll for a joke on a stupid article? Fast = impatient, Slow = patient. Perhaps my OS is broken.

  27. Not flamebait, incorrect but not flamebait. by mjwx · · Score: 1

    True. For example, are those Jews and Muslims, who will not eat at any of those "joints", affected in the same way as those who aren't?

    I know plenty of Jews and Muslims that eat McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and so forth. The first thing I saw after clearing Customs in Malaysia was a McD's, only the double bacon cheeseburger is not Halal hence it's not served there.

    OK, most things at McD's aren't Kosher, mixing meat and dairy but in Australia I'm yet to meet a Jew who is that dedicated, most refuse to eat at McD's because it's too expensive.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    1. Re:Not flamebait, incorrect but not flamebait. by karcirate · · Score: 1

      Did you notice that I said THOSE jews and muslims, implying not all? Or did you just skip that word?

  28. Funny by Atrox666 · · Score: 1

    I thought it was the fucker who won't hurry up and gimme my sammich that made me impatient.

  29. I was wrong, You did deserve that flamebait. by mjwx · · Score: 1

    Did you notice that I said THOSE jews and muslims, implying not all? Or did you just skip that word?

    Wow, way to be a xenophobic wanker over a perfectly good joke.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  30. can someone tell me what the article said? by vuffi_raa · · Score: 1

    I didn't have the patience to read it.