Word of the Day: didactic

I admit it. I’ve not one single shred of an idea for tonight. I didn’t even think about story ideas throughout the day, I kept forestalling that thought, and assumed I would just do one of the weird law stories, and be done with it, but, I’ve not yet figured out why it’s illegal for next door neighbors to loan vacuum cleaners, or why a pickle just ain’t a pickle if it doesn’t bounce.

This all means you get marvelous, rambly me.

Checking the news… Aha! I think I’ve got it… Now to find…

Today’s Word:

didactic

As in:

Today, a consumer group sent notice to McDonald’s, warning that they intend to sue the company, claiming that Happy Meals toys lure kids into unhealthy eating habits and break state consumer-protection laws.

A McDonald’s spokesperson responded to the action by saying that “The toys included in the Happy Meals are not meant to be eaten. If people have been allowing their children to eat the toys, well, that’s not really out problem is it?”

Nutritionists agree that the toys contain little nutritional value, and can cause severe problems with digestion should they be taken internally.

McDonald’s further insists that if a child insists on consuming the toys, that they contain little or no fat, sugar, sodium or carbohydrates. The company admitted that the toys contain only trace amounts of calcium, but, felt that if the parents chose milk for the meal’s beverage, calcium intake for the entire meal is within recommended guidelines.

Some have even argued that the toys are the most nutritious part of the meal.

“Even if parents choose apple dippers instead of fries, the caramel dip is jam-packed with sugar.” Noted one McDonald’s supporter. “Sure, you *could* eat the apples without the caramel dip, but what kid consumes a food item without dipping it? This is America, isn’t it?”

“Of course, it seems odd to target our toys as the problem here. Children have no income. If they are tempted by our toys, they can’t purchase the meals themselves. It’s the parents who purchase them and have control over their child’s dietary health. If the parents cannot tell their children ‘no’ when they request our meals, then those children and our society, has a much bigger problem. Not meaning to get all didactic, but, I think it’s clear that the problem is not our toys. It’s much bigger than that.”

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That should be about enough of that.

didactic / die – DAC – tick / designed or intended to teach; intended to convey instruction and information.