Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Burger King’s Brutal Response To Someone Questioning Their ‘Special Crew’ Goes Viral
2K

Burger King’s Brutal Response To Someone Questioning Their ‘Special Crew’ Goes Viral

Someone Questions Burger King’s Motives For Hiring Deaf Employees, Gets Shut Down By Their Brutal ResponseBurger King's Brutal Response To Someone Questioning Their 'Special Crew' Goes Viral Cynical User Denounces Burger King Employing Deaf People As 'Marketing Strategy To Get Our Empathy', Receives A Calm ExplanationBurger King Shuts Down Somebody Questioning Their 'Special Crew' And It Goes ViralCynical User Calls Burger King's Efforts To Employ Deaf People As A Marketing Strategy, Gets Calmly Shut DownPeople Are Applauding Burger King's Response To Someone Criticizing Their 'Special Crew'Cynical User Receives The Most Polite Shut Down After Calling Burger King's Efforts To Employ Deaf People A 'Marketing Strategy'Someone Questions Burger King's 'Special Crew' Gets Shut Down With A Brutal ResponseBurger King Had The Best Response For Cynical Internet User Who Described Employing Deaf People As A Marketing StrategyBurger King's Brutal Response To Someone Questioning Their 'Special Crew' Goes Viral
ADVERTISEMENT

A little healthy skepticism when it comes to advertising and marketing is always a good thing.

With corporations constantly striving to convince you that they are the most honest, environmentally caring and socially responsible organizations out there (making a profit is just a nice little bonus for us, really!), the ability to separate fact from fiction ensures that your hard-earned money goes to the right places.

Image credits: chillisauceabc

However, as this story shows, one must be careful not to overstep the mark with surly cynicism and become just a grumpy, smug conspiracist.

A Burger King outlet in Bali, Indonesia, recently made an importantly inclusive move for differently skilled people by hiring deaf employees to join their team of cashiers and order takers.

Burger King management installed several specially-modified service counters at the restaurant, displaying signs that advise that their counter staff is deaf. Customers are asked to point to a lighted signboard to select the items they wish to order.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pretty simple, right? The move gives disadvantaged people – who might be otherwise overlooked in the labor market – a chance to earn a dignified living as part of a great team. It’s a win-win for all involved!

Burger King’s reply to the cynical tweet was gold.

Image credits: BurgerKing_ID

The exchange opened up an interesting discussion about corporate responsibility and the rights of disadvantaged people to find gainful employment. Needless to say, most people supported Burger King’s move here.

Image credits: tbputera

Image credits: Yakyaksoak

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: ChelseyRandle_

Image credits: GAVINbottom

Image credits: ancamade

Image credits: galihwcks

Image credits: eljewe_

Image credits: asriel1606

The island of Bali, now best known as a tourist paradise, actually has its own unique sign language called ‘Kata kolok,’ or ‘the talk of the deaf.’

This mode of communication is fully native to the island, independent of international or Indonesian sign language, and has been the primary language of the northern Bali village of Bengkala for generations, where a high percentage of residents are deaf.

ADVERTISEMENT

In Balinese, Bengkala is sometimes called “Desa Kolok”— the deaf village.

Image credits: ThePrettySkies

Bengkala has had a higher than normal deaf-since-birth population for a long time, and today 42 of Bengkala’s almost-3,000 villagers have been deaf since birth.

The high percentage of deafness is caused by a geographically-centric recessive gene, called DFNB3, which has been present in the village for over seven generations. For years, villagers believed the deafness was the result of a curse.

Image credits: banRie_Me

Villagers in Bengkala have since adapted to a deaf lifestyle, instead of ostracizing their deaf neighbors.

People speak with their hands, teaching their children kata kolok as a second or third language, and it is this open acceptance and efforts toward equality that makes the Balinese people known worldwide for their empathy and welcoming nature.

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: AldyGPrayoga

You can see why Burger King Indonesia was keen to ensure that deaf people got the same opportunities as everyone else!

Image credits: selphieusagi

Image credits: febriandirga

The OP decided to respond to the Twitter storm he had caused

Image credits: chillisauceabc

Image credits: kumogyun

Image credits: chillisauceabc

The author did not choose the title of this article

ADVERTISEMENT
Share on Facebook
Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

Read less »
Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

James Caunt

James Caunt

Writer, Community member

Read more »

James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

Read less »

James Caunt

James Caunt

Writer, Community member

James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
Iggy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a great idea! I think it will also be fun for customers to learn a little bit of sign language.

QueenOlive
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is amazing that they're giving everyone an equal opportunity! The only problem might be if I don't know sign language and need to place a special order (I'm super picky lol) but other than that good for them!

Bill
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BK could help out the disabled by paying taxes on the tax inversion overseas move they did a few years ago. Shafting US and Canada . BK got a sweetheart deal when they moved to Canada

Load More Comments
Iggy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a great idea! I think it will also be fun for customers to learn a little bit of sign language.

QueenOlive
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is amazing that they're giving everyone an equal opportunity! The only problem might be if I don't know sign language and need to place a special order (I'm super picky lol) but other than that good for them!

Bill
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BK could help out the disabled by paying taxes on the tax inversion overseas move they did a few years ago. Shafting US and Canada . BK got a sweetheart deal when they moved to Canada

Load More Comments
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda