The first thing that stands out to me as an ethical appeal in my observations of Chili's was that when I went in on a Sunday afternoon there was a family with young kids sitting at a table in the bar. This stood out to me because as I walked by it seemed as if this was a normal acceptable thing to do for these younger children to be eating in the bar with their parents. I found this to be representative of the fact that Chili's was PG enough to have children sitiing in an area as controversial as a bar and not cause any sort of a fuss.
Something else I saw as an ethical appeal was a little different from the first. It came in the form of a photograph on the wall next to the booth I was seated in. The photgraph was of a father and son, again showing the family-friendly aspect of the attempted representation, but it seemed to be a bit dated, and they were wearing Elvis wigs. I would go so far as to say that the fact that this picture was taken at least 10 to 15 years ago might suggest that the restaurant is a well established chain that has been in business for awhile, but that it is also saying that there is a fun family atmosphere in Chili's.
The fun, family atmosphere is something that plays into the emotional argument as well. However, I found this argument to be more of something they wanted people to think rather than something they actually portrayed. Maybe it's because college kids don't tip well, but I found on more than one occasion the hostess was a little cold. I also noticed that a large number of there employees have tattoos in noticeable places which doesn't exactly contribute to the emotional atmosphere that they are going for.
The logical argument I have seen there has a lot to do with their prices. The lure in this instance is to suck in the customer with a large, quick, and fairly priced meal. This is obviously a logical argument since many of us have been to the discount restaurant only to find that their food is terrible, or the opposite end of the spectrum where the food is wonderful and you end up paying way to much for a meal. Given the good deal, the atmosphere and the food it is a reasonable choice.
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Lauren,
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job extracting details from your observation of Chili's. I particularly liked how you deduced that it was a typical chain restaurant, which i suppose it really is, simply from the age of a photograph which was most likely copied and redistributed to a thousand other Chili's in the South to appeal to our traditions and tastes of the old 'rock 'n roll' so that we feel comfortable and unique in a place as general as this. I'll be looking forward to your final portfolio! Good luck!
-Nick
Oh, it's a bad joke and a good joke-- all at the same time!
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Lauren,
ReplyDeleteYou found some really interesting arguments for the family atmosphere going both ways. So in TX you're allowed to have kids in the bar area? I'm from Indiana and you have to be 21 to be in the bar seating area. I liked your comments on the picture going from a family restaurant to and established place of business. I don't know that I would have come up with that. Good job.
I liked your joke. Your analysis is good too. I was struck by your first paragraph, where you said that there was a family sitting at the bar. You explained that this demonstraits the customer's opinion about Chili's being a safe family chain. What about the restaurant tells their customers this?
ReplyDeleteHi sweet Lauren... My name is Bell. I have age of 25 and i like you! Please visit my blogs like i visited your's... My blogs are: http://www.belldeblue.blogspot.com and http://www.bb-bell.blogspot.com . The last one is my journal, i think... I have'd 3 depressions from the age of 13, last one very hard... I need friends angel and i wait your visit in my blogs... Bell (don't be mad on me because i writted this comment!... I have only good intentions)
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