Cartoon Campaign Causes Concern!

[Jon]

On the news this afternoon there had been information of "possible threat hoaxes" in the Boston area, using what were thought to be circuit boards with a cartoon character giving 'the finger'. But it turned out to be a publicity stunt for Aqua Teen Hunger Force (but, of course, no prior warning of it by the company - so the police were on alert).

[Ecto Jedi]

It was all over CNN this afternoon -- you'd think it was the end of the world the way these guys were plastering it all over the screen.

So it was a publicity stunt after all, huh? Not surprising. As soon as I heard the CNN anchors describe the packages (saying it featured a character from Aqua Teen Hunger Force) I knew damn well it wasn't no terrorist bomb or something.

[Jon]

Yeah, just promoting the show. Apparently they have these "ATHF" boards up in various places in, like, a dozen cities/areas around the country (and, from what's been said by Turner Broadcasting, they've been around a few weeks already).

[Jester]

The Headline News anchor covering this after it was announced as a publicity stunt looked rather pissed.
Anchor (through clenched teeth): It was all publicity for fellow-Turner owned network, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim's series Aqua Teen Hunger Force. (seethes)

[ThirdMarioBro]

Doesn't the government have better things to do? You know, like ragging on violent video games?

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by ThirdMarioBro

Doesn't the government have better things to do? You know, like ragging on violent video games?

Huh?

You seem to be implying that authorities over-reacted to these devices. I have to say that I don't think they did. To find so many of these things with absolutely no indication on them what they were for (you would have to know ATHF to have any chance of recognizing the character shown on them, and the show is too odd/obscure to be recognized by common folk) would certainly be suspicious to me.

Cartoon Network really messed this one up.

[ZariusTwo]

Ha.

Bostowned.

[iris]

Originally Posted by Jester

The Headline News anchor covering this after it was announced as a publicity stunt looked rather pissed.
Anchor (through clenched teeth): It was all publicity for fellow-Turner owned network, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim's series Aqua Teen Hunger Force. (seethes)

He was probably mad that they spent ALL DAY covering this stupid story. I tuned in this morning just in time to see the bomb squad blow up one of the thingies and announce that they look harmless. That was at 9 am.

It wasn't a publicity stunt. It was just some of that new 'graffiti art advertising' crap they're doing these days and it was in the city for a couple weeks already. The problem is some of their little light-up signs had fallen down and *gasp* 'looked suspicious'. But the news media insist in calling it a hoax...

[Raph's Girl]

Yea... they've been spotted here too but it's only Boston that called the bomb squad over em. In Seattle it was like "Yea...ok...so what?".... As it's been said some have been up for several weeks in other cities.

[Roseangelo]

Oh man... they showed the signs on the news tonight and they're blurring the giving of the finger, even though it's the equivilent of an Atari 2600 character giving the finger, meaning you can barely tell what what it is. Too funny.

[gobo]

What the... But, that's the only finger he has! ... Isn't it? O_o

[Roseangelo]

From what I can tell, it looks like he has the three finger thing going on, like the TMNT. But my knowledge of ATHF doesn't go beyond seeing one episode about five years ago, so I'm hardly qualified to say for certain.

[ZariusTwo]

Hahahahaha

The BBC News segment reporters just showed an image of Ignignot behind them flipping the bird uncensored as they discussed the issue

I've got to cap it. The media are falling right into AS's pit of buffoonery, even better is the fact Turner's apology aired as an AS bumper.

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

The BBC News segment reporters just showed an image of Ignignot behind them flipping the bird uncensored as they discussed the issue.

The BBC wouldn't censor it as it isn't a vulgar gesture in the UK.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

The BBC wouldn't censor it as it isn't a vulgar gesture in the UK.

No DUH. That's what makes it hysterical.

[Barkworm]

What's the big deal? Doesn't Cartman give the (uncensored) finger on South Park all the time?

[Drtooth]

At the risk of sounding political, welcome to post 9-11 hysteria, people.

While I do think it was stupid of the marketing corp to NOT inform the government officials of the campaign before it got out, they really over reacted.

I am around Boston. I never noticed them before, and I would have known them if I saw them. An official light up bilboard hangs up around the Somerville/Boston line... as soon as I saw the news report showing the object I KNEW it was a marketing campaign. And here's the worst part....

If you can't tell the difference between a bomb and a magnetic light bright, and these things have been hanging around for weeks we pretty much have to worry about something much deeper than terrorist threats. Like the incompetence of the Boston police force. It's like its run by Cheif Wiggum, Officer Barbrady and, what the shell, Constable Biggles from Fast Forward. We are SO not prepared for an actual bomb threat, dispite the mindless hysteria it caused.

Something that really hits the "Duh" mark... they called it a bomb Hoax. REALLY!?!? I was under the impression a bomb hoax is when you plant a random piece of junk and call in somewhere saying your going to blow up such and such. Not just randomly placing billboards around and letting them hang there for 2 weeks. So 2 innocent art students are going to jail for this. It PISSES me off since it easily could have been me.

Anyway, I like ATHF (the little of it I actually saw) and pretty much I'd have to say anyone over the age of 30 would no doubt have no clue what it was. But would it have killed the Boston Police department to do some friggin' research next time?

[Jon]

As you note, would've been fine if the company had -informed- about it.

But, as for the police researching?! Umm... they get info about a strange object (that, due to the batteries and wiring, was thought to be a crude explosive device). Ya really think they're going to have time to 'check around' about it with the possibility of it actually being such, and going off in the meantime.

[iris]

Amen, Drtooth. I don't blame the PD for calling the bomb squad, however. It's their job to determine if it's a threat, and they did. In the negative! It should have ended there, but people got stupid with fear.

I was reminded of the DC sniper. The media had everyone 'zig and zag' around when they were outside, because of course that will prevent you from getting shot! Hysteria spread across the country. People were ducking for cover when they saw white utility vans. It was insane-- people in freaking California were ziggin and zagging! I didn't change my routine at all, and I live near where someone was shot.

Maybe I'm stupid, but I'd rather get shot than submit that easily to The Nameless Fear. It's not worth it. It brings you things like, hello, widespread approval of Incredibly Stupid Wars which I shall not name, and unmonitored corruption, and human rights violations, etc.

[sdp]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Huh?

You seem to be implying that authorities over-reacted to these devices. I have to say that I don't think they did. To find so many of these things with absolutely no indication on them what they were for (you would have to know ATHF to have any chance of recognizing the character shown on them, and the show is too odd/obscure to be recognized by common folk) would certainly be suspicious to me.

Cartoon Network really messed this one up.

messed up?

who freaks out over a character in neon lights?

this is so retarded its hilarious.

anything can be a bomb should we freak out over everything?