by Bethaney Wallace

“For every download of Windows Internet Explorer 8 from this site we will donate 8 meals to Feeding America…“  I already know what you’re thinking … there’s no possible way I can make fun of this, and I would like to let you know you are only partially right.  Of course this is a great idea, who can argue with helping the less fortunate?  And now that I’ve clearly stated I believe donating to starving Americans is a good idea and in no way condemn, judge, or regret this marketing campaign by Microsoft, let’s get to the question I know everyone is thinking: What do browsing the internet and feeding the hungry have in common?  What mystery link has Microsoft placed between these two unrelated items to make them seem fusible? I’d like to say it’s guilt. Americans love to think that doing things they always do will somehow help the “less fortunate”, even though they probably have no idea who the “less fortunate” even are or where they live. So downloading a internet browser (something you would do anyway) and it will feed 8 people? People”ate” that up (pun intended).

Now, of course, we could always go with the mindset that Microsoft is doing something purely at the benefits of others, a truly self-less deed. But in an economy that is crappy at best, no one is expecting a multi-million dollar company to just give away money without personally gaining from said money.  IT’S A PUBLICITY STUNT, and probably a cheap one at that.  In all actuality, for each download Microsoft donates $1.15 to Feeding America, which has been rounded to be about eight meals (for every dollar Feeding America donates 10lbs of food).  So for a mere 115 cents per actual download of Internet Explorer 8 (IE8), Microsoft reaps the benefits of positive exposure as well as use of their product.  (Is it just me or is this plan sounding more and more ingenious?)

However, Microsoft has also shown what not to do.  If this plan is so amazing why haven’t more companies picked up on it? Why isn’t everyone playing the sympathy card and guilt tripping customers into spending mere seconds on a good deed? How good can a product be that embodies Mother Teresa and still trails behind more competitive browsers like Firefox and Safari? But this is besides the point.  Microsoft is using shady business tactics in order to persuade customers.

Personally, I see this ad as a recruiting attempt by Microsoft to sway consumers before the inevitable Apple vs. Microsoft  battle.  Building up their army so that iBombs and iTanks can be equally gunned and platooned against.  Well march on Microsoft- I guess I’ll overlook your shady antics as long as there’s charity involved. After all, it makes me a good American.

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Bethaney Wallace is a English Literature and Creative Writing Major at K-State. When she’s not ranting for The Social Robot, Bethaney is co-copy editor at the K-State Collegian and attempting to finish her last semester of school.

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P.S. From Kelsey: The IE8/8meal promotion has ended, but if you like wasting time on the internet for a good cause, I strongly recommend Free Rice, which supposedly donates rice to the hungry if you are awesome at vocabulary. And let’s just say the staff here at The Social Robot donates a lot of rice.