I confess I haven’t been to a fast food place in a long time, but if I offered to hold an interview in a Chick Fil A I’d probably have many happy interviewees.
McDonalds is ‘sketch’ because an article you found on the Internet says that most customers are middle class and not ‘upper class’, as you said? I hope you see why that opinion is quite problematic.
@jym626 … unless they were gay activists. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/chick-fil-a-dan-cathy-gay-marriage_n_4980682.html
I do sympathize with the many-ness that is hard to satisfy.
Kiddo, as it happens, is far more vituperative about McD than I. This is not a fast foodery favored by her classmates, either the close ones or further out. It’s a rather-specific demographic that McD appeals to, oddly enough. At least around here.
That’s way old news, sirila. That’s not an issue now. And IIRC they (Chick Fil A management - the late Truett Cathy’s family) apologized. The issue here is not the fast food location.
I too, see a number of small problems w/ parent’s email. Things easily corrected in future.
No, a McDonalds is not a sketchy place to meet. It is not just for poor people. Would you prefer a Ruth Chris steakhouse and a bottle of a pricey dry red wine for your daughter? Do they “go Dutch” or if not, who gets the bill? Would a higher class restaurant with steak and fine wine have been more pleasing to you? That might have seemed like an attempted seduction to me. Since patronizing McDonalds is so beneath you, perhaps you are a full-pay family, and want to get across that you have plenty of dough? Was that the point you wanted to get across? I’m glad kid wasn’t FAZED by the experience of sitting in a McDonalds.
McDonalds is a well-lit public place, usually easy to find and makes for a great meeting place for strangers so both parties can feel safe. So yes, you went way off course detailing that you don’t like McDonalds food. And full-fare? The kid can’t order just a soft drink? Or fries and a drink? We can do that in my local McDonalds.
Next, why didn’t the student send this email? Instead of saying “I took my daughter…” it could have come from the student “recently I had an interview scheduled…”. Even if you coached her, the school would still believe it came from her.
I agree strongly w/ Pizzagirl first and last paragraph post 30.
I disagree w/ calling you a nightmare for your action and your wording, I think nightmare is too strong. But it was over-stepping your bounds for you to write, and as many have said here, a poorly worded letter. If I received it, I wouldn’t have nightmares, but I would feel uncomfortable about you.
I don’t think you a bad parent, but in this one case, I think you were over-zealous and your emotions may have gotten the better of you. Perhaps if you had let a little more time pass, “cooler heads might have prevailed” as the expression goes.
yes yes - I’m just saying that if it’s not one thing it’s another; pleasing one and all is obviously difficult and there is controversy under every stone, even among fast food chains. I am sympathizing with you!
Good heavens sansculottes - you can disagree with my understanding or prejudices, but presuming without reading is problematic. And has as been pointed out repeatedly here, this is not the main focus of the issue and consequently, I have not riffed fully by any means on this irritation, which involves, as does everything, history and experience and surrounds.
There’s a McD’s near me in a very upscale plaza, literally next to a pricey burger restaurant that sells $15 burgers and $20 ahi tuna salads. I was actually very dissapointed when McD’s moved in because I was hoping for an In and Out! Anyway they seem to be doing a very good business. Plenty of harried millionaire parents will drive their Bentleys thru McD’s to get something quick for their kids.
BTW OP, I think you mean to be saying “sketchy” instead of “sketch”.
“Kiddo, as it happens, is far more vituperative about McD than I. This is not a fast foodery favored by her classmates, either the close ones or further out. It’s a rather-specific demographic that McD appeals to, oddly enough. At least around here.”
But none of this MATTERS. The choice of location is about what’s best / convenient for the interviewer; whether your kid likes it or not is irrelevant.
Neither of my kids drink coffee or lattes and aren’t in the habit of visiting Starbucks on their own. But SB is the default choice for meeting someone in a public place. So they did so. They didn’t overthink “oh my god, what does the choice of Starbucks say about the interviewer? Does he think I’m a yuppie suburbanite? Whatever will I do? I bet other people don’t get asked to SB.” It could have just as easily been Panera, or Einstein Bagels, or Peets. Or Barmes and Noble, there is no great meaning to it. Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.
You overthought this. This was a non story. An interviewer cancelled at the last minute. Annoying and poor form, but hardly worth the drama you made it to be.
Agree again w/ Pizzagirl, post 67. Op has made it clear McDonalds is beneath them.
Location wasn’t selected as a delightful meal for either party. It wasn’t chosen because it is a pretentious school or interviewer. When I meet with a prospective tenant, or visit one’s home, if it is a single girl I expect to be alone, I take someone with me. I don’t want any accusations of theft, or worse, against me. I can understand an interview in a well-lit, public restaurant; not for the ambience but for the convenience and safety of all.
Please don’t raise a special snowflake; there are enough of those on campus already.
“yes yes - I’m just saying that if it’s not one thing it’s another; pleasing one and all is obviously difficult and there is controversy under every stone”
It’s not necessary that everyone be “pleased” with the venue. In fact, it’s not a good idea to be the kind of person who can’t just go with the flow. The McD on Route 1? Great, I’ll see you there. You prefer the Starbucks on Main Street? No problem, we will meet there. You’re running a half hour late? No worries, I’ll read my book, you take your time and I’ll see you when you get here. An emergency came up? I totally understand; hope everything’s ok and how does next Wednesday work for you?
Instead you portrayed a very rule-bound kind of existence. There was an Immutable Schedule such that adding in an appointment was a (sigh) Very Big Inconvenient Deal. The choice of venue was also made to be Exceptionally Meaningful and Symbolic when the guy probably just thought - oh, the McD is near my house. The cancellation was met with My Trust Has Been Breached instead of the more normal s*** happens. And the email to the college was long and drawn out, vs a simple “the interviewer wasn’t able to make it; is there another interviewer in the area?”
As it happens, I just met a dear old friend at SB. He texted me that he was running late. No worries; I bought a paper and had another cup of tea. Turns out his wife had had surgery and he needed to run an errand for her before heading to see me. No biggs. Go with the flow.
SB? Starbucks?
Yep
By the way, OP- it’s not a good idea to make disparaging comments about the location-- for all you know, the reader of your. Email might have a family member who owns/manages a McDs or maybe they used to work at one and would take offense.
" - for the record, I know that folks of all classes do indeed enter and partake of and enjoy food from McDonald’s. By the same token, there really are people in this country who are oblivious to it entirely (case in point being me). I didn’t know the location of this McD or any McD and had to google it. "
Again, so what? This is what I mean by drama. I’d have to google most McD’s too (except for the ones I pass every day). But it’s not noteworthy to have to google something. It’s not evidence of inconvenience. Or extra work on your part that the interviewer or school should have recognized / acknowledged / apologized for.
"In return one doesn’t expect all this concession to be made in vain. It is at best, rude. And honestly, it reflects very poorly on the school. "
No, it doesn’t. It reflects on the interviewer who should have made the cancellation clearer. It really is no reflection on the school.
I hope you didn’t send this letter. It’s so convoluted and I think you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. All of my kid’s interviews were in public places–mostly, Starbucks. The kids are supposed to do the communicating with the interviewer and also the admissions office, for the most part.
OP, given thatyou clearly have strong opinions about McDonald’s, it’s kind of ridiculous to say you are “oblivious to it entirely.”
You may not know/be oblivious to where a particular McD’s in your city is but that’s a different matter entirely. And really not a big deal at all, as PG said.
"Kiddo, as it happens, is far more vituperative about McD than I. This is not a fast foodery favored by her classmates, either the close ones or further out. It’s a rather-specific demographic that McD appeals to, oddly enough. At least around here. "
There’s something you’re trying to say here without actually coming out and SAYING it. Is the “kiddo” against McD’s because of the food, or the “specific demographic” that it appeals to? You’ve mentioned more than once about it being a “cultural” thing, about there being none near you, about your few ventures into one being horrible, and now the “specific demographic”.
Just what IS this “specific demographic” that bothers you? And why? Are you concerned that the interviewer, or worse, the college, might think your D was the WRONG demographic. Come on, this is all anonymous-tell us what you’re really trying to say.
I agree that it was rude to not show for an appointment , but I don’t believe it was anything personal. Nor was the agreed upon location for the interview. Fwiw , sometimes it makes a bigger statement to be concise , direct and to the point.
You really sent that?
No offense, but I’ve got to be honest, it makes you come across as a real weirdo.
Too bad for your kid.