Luring pre-teens with red meat

[Don Claybrook]

In light of the mad cow issue, I scoured Salon’s archives for a great article they posted last year. It’s about a website created by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. It’s called Cool 2B Real, and it’s aimed at pre-teen girls. It’s disgusting propaganda, but almost funny, because I think most girls of the target age would see right through it. Here are some excerpts (and links) from both the Salon article and the Cool 2B Real website:

Salon Link: http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2003/02/11/beef_teen_people/
Excerpts:
Feb. 11, 2003 | "Cool to be real!" -- it's the chirpy slogan, and name, of a new Web site for preteen girls that's chock-full of self-esteem-boosting messages and helpful tips on leading a healthy lifestyle. What could be wrong with that?
(snip)
At cool-2b-real.com, you can learn about how "real girls" have "strong bodies and strong minds" and "friends who understand, friends who care, and friends who keep you real." Friends like these nice cattlemen who'd like to get you on their ground-chuck gravy train from ages 8 to 80!
(snip)
"I think that the site is fine if you aim to be really fat and really constipated," said Andrew Butler, a campaign coordinator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals…”
(more)

And from the Cool 2B Real Website:

Link: http://www.cool-2b-real.com/
Excerpts:
Various testimonials from the section titled “What it Means to be Real Contest”. It appears that one of the questions on the What it Means to be Real Contest was to provide a sentence or two about their favorite beef meal:

“…Beef tacos! I love the Mexican taste! Butt I always try to keep balanced and try other meals.”

“…Well actually I love all beef but I'd have to say my favorite is steak on the grill. My Dad makes just the way I like it I think he is the best cook in the world!”

“Have you ever got the feeling where you are starving and your stomache growls well when that happens I grab my mom and drag her to the restaurant where I sit down and chow down on my favorite beef meal hot drippy delicious cheeseburgurs! Yum!!!”

“I think my favorite beef meal is hamburgers. I love going with friends and going out and just sitting with hamburgers, and talking. I also like meatballs, tacos and subs. Beef is important nutrients and protein for anybody.”

"My favorite beef meal is corn beef, with corn! My mom makes it juicy and salty just how I like it! Some people say it's not good, but I asure you it's very good! My mom puts chunks of tomatoes and corn, mmmmm! We it that like every week! Beef is very healthy and I like it."

[oldleftguy]

1. So?

:hi:

[Don Claybrook]

3. So?

Please elaborate.


(edited)

[underpants]

2. One of the all time DU subject lines EVER

Hilarious. I've seen this before but it was not presented in the sam way.

:thumbsup::bounce:

[Don Claybrook]

4. I sure wish I could take credit for it

but it's the Salon article title.

I'm in bizarro world. It feels strange writing meat commentary while listening to the candidates' debate, making soup, and keeping up with the latest scare tactics of sending jet fighters after French airlines.

[Elidor]

5. Hey, little girl...want some BEEF?

(Somebody had to say it)

[Loonman]

6. Hot beef injection?

D'oh!

[Insider]

7. Happy Meals

pssst.

[jimbo fett]

8. Man, all the effort I went through as a teen trying to get beer for girls…

Fake IDs, asking guys outside 7-11 to buy it for me, sneaking some out of my dad's stash.

When all I had to do to get freaky with them girls was a pound of ground chuck!

[Don Claybrook]

9. Yeah. Who knew?

Everyone's heard about the evil drug dealers sitting in their Camaros outside the junior high schools, but the real danger is the guy from the Beef Council in his Oldsmobile trying to lure them with the Wendy's Triple.

[RandomKoolzip]

10. Now THERE'S an album title!

God, I wish Zappa was still alive....