I was inspired to write this when talking to someone online who went through similar experiences. I really don’t care for fast food at all in particular McDonald’s. I appear to have had a series of unfortunate events with them throughout my lifetime which means I prefer to stay as far away as possible. So lets talk about those events…
Essex, United Kingdom
Many years ago the first McDonald’s arrived much to the protest of locals in the community. The town already had Wimpy, Fish and Chip, and other restaurants. McDonalds claimed to sell 100% beef but it was discovered that their burgers had a large portion of horse meat in them. YUK, I was seriously grossed out. There was a big campaign against them but they were supposed to have corrected the issue. Still hear rumours of horse meat to this day though.
Piccadilly Circus, London
Fast forward a few years to the late 1970s when I had started work in the Diplomatic Service. Because of the horse meat scandal I didn’t want to go anywhere near McDonalds but when one of my colleagues wanted to take me to have my first one I went along. I remember later that day I had to go home sick as I had the worst tummy ache I had ever experienced, I suspect it might have been their milk shakes rather than the burger or fries.
Surrey Quays, London
Fast forward a few more years when I bought an apartment in Surrey Quays, London. Eventually they built a McDonalds near to my flat, that was ok because I couldn’t see it and it didn’t increase the traffic in the area. However, all of a sudden everyone in our apartment block had electricity power problems, it seemed to fluctuate at certain times of the day and often had power cuts. The power supply company monitored the situation for 3 months, we even had ugly devices set up in our homes and it was discovered that whenever McDonalds had a busy period they would suck the power from the whole neighbourhood. Everyone was really hacked off with them but the power company came to the rescue to fix the issue.
New York, USA
I went into a McDonalds in NYC where I was robbed. I was told by staff it happened there frequently. My camera and passport were stolen so not only did I have to file a report with the police department, who treated me like a criminal rather than a victim, I also had to get a temporary passport from the British Consulate which was also a nightmare.
Los Angeles, USA
Just passing a McDonalds in Downtown Los Angeles a bloke came up to me with a gun forcing me to buy him a meal. The staff reacted that it was just like an every day occurrence. I sat with the guy in the “restaurant” and had a long conversation with him, which I guess was interesting but its not quite what I had planned for the day.
Budapest, Hungary
Just passing a McDonalds in Vaci Utca (Street) in Budapest, to look what different items they sold there compared to West Europe, two of the ugliest looking prostitutes who were hanging around inside came out to try and sell us their “services”. They spoke to us in English at first and we pretended not to understand. They then spoke to us in Hungarian, we shook our heads. Eventually I had to bellow out a loud f**k off in English to get them move aside. I suppose its not McDonalds fault they just were hanging around inside the store for business but maybe this was a good place for pick ups.
Vancouver, Canada
We went into a McDonalds because our niece wanted to go in there, only to find out that adults were selling alcohol and drugs to children. We called the police, staff in there didn’t seem to want to be bothered with it. At that time we knew a top security person within the organisation and contacted him about it the next day, he said he would sort it out.
Coquitlam, Canada
We went into a McDonalds to try one of their “50th Anniversary in Canada” burger specials. I made the mistake of opening the burger up to look inside and it was the most dried up pathetic looking piece of meat I had ever seen with a blob of cheese in one corner and a pickle just hanging out another. I just couldn’t eat something that looked as though its been run over by a car on a dirty highway. We laughed a little, threw the food out and went somewhere else for real meal.
Maybe I’ve had a series of dumb luck with this company or I am just jinxed every time I have fast food but really don’t want to go back in to one again.