McDonald's Social Customs

Fast food has always been a weakness of mine—although terrible for you I just can’t get enough especially when you’re so hungry and its right there ready to be handed over and eaten. The largest fast food chain is McDonald’s which is one that I frequent. Shamefully being there many times I know that everyone is a customer of McDonald’s, but different groups of people are found in different areas of the place.

            In the drive through of McDonald’s I tend to find more cars consisting of Mercedes, BMWs, Audis, Escalades, pretty much more expensive and newer cars that a wealthier person or family would own. As you would imagine inside those cars you usually find the preppy soccer mom with a car full of private school kids fresh out of school, or just wealthy people in general. You are always bound to find one when going through the drive through, but for some reason if you ever walk inside there are never anywhere to be found. It’s interesting because everyone is aware of the how important your social image is in a wealthy community and being caught inside of a McDonald’s could possibly spark rumors of losing money and having to cut corners, or not having enough class as the other members of the community.

            Inside the actual McDonald’s you can usually find more middle to lower class people, obese people, and minorities. Now you might write me off to be insensitive and racist, but it is merely just an observation. Interpreting this these are usually the people who come here often, it says a lot more about these people who can “bear” to be seen inside. Some are there because that is all they can afford for their family, others are because of an addiction, and others are there just because they wanted McDonald’s. This is more of a no eye-contact atmosphere; the bright lights, cheesy decorations, and chairs and tables nailed to the floor set a mood of eating and getting out fast. I will admit, the times that I am inside I try to get out as soon as possible.

            There is one more group of McDonald’s consumers that are seated instead outside in their parked cars. Here you usually see the stressed and rushed businessman or woman quickly getting in a burger and fries before returning to work. There are also the emotional eaters who can be compared to walking out for a quick smoke to relieve some built up stress, instead they come to get a quick snack that gives them relief. These people range from wealthy to poor.