Aqua Teen Hunger Attack: The Aftermath

"And we're more pissed at the advertising agency than the police, because the police is predictable and beholden to basic rules which we know can't be changed."

Speak for yourself.

Aaron,

This is a plausible scenario. Your comment is thoughtful. And your blog, by the way, shows excellent literary taste.

But I have to disagree with a few of the premises involved in your comment.

1. You seem to think that the major inconvenience that came out of this incident was the inciting of terror on a national level. Let me tell you that few of us in Boston were terrified. Instead, we were pissed that our commutes were delayed and that our city got punk'd. And we're more pissed at the advertising agency than the police, because the police is predictable and beholden to basic rules which we know can't be changed.

2. You suggest that the people who you speculate called in the cops both felt authentic terror and manipulated others into feeling terror. "Imagine the glee of these little manipulators as they watch the entire country placed on high terror alert, just for the sake of their personal peace of mind." Which is it? Can a person who is authentically terrified pick out a strategy to terrify others? Because I don't think that's possible. To think that a few offended people conspired to take down these signs just doesn't seem plausible. More likely, a few sensitive people really did get worried, which is exactly what the advertisers wanted.

3. You suggest that a lot of the overreaction was based on the fact that the arrested individuals were scary-looking. "...the age of hyper paranoia in America where no doubt millions now believe that those long-haired dreadlocks wearing tree hugging gold bricking slackers responsible for posting these advertisements should be drawn and quartered in the town square." While hyperbolic, what you said is still basically true of most public reactions. Nonetheless, the story was national news long before we even knew what the two looked like. So I don't think this point applies.

Bottom line, this is just another story of manipulative admakers who will stop at nothing to make a profit.

As I watched press conference with two guys who were paid to distribute these advertisements, I took a bit of perverse pleasure in watching the crowd of journalists be snubbed and humiliated by the refusal of these freaks to respond as expected, as they were pelted with questions.

The frustration and anger of the reporters asking the questions started to become obvious when we started hearing questions like,

How are you taking it seriously, by causing "widespread panic and destruction." (reporter question at news conference with Sean Stevens and Peter Berdovsky)

Now I'm not aware of any destruction caused by the placement of these light Brite advertisements, and if anyone was responsible for panic, it was the media, specifically CNN who apparently had the entire country on edge as they milked this story for all it was worth.

Perhaps CNN and the other bloodsuckers in the media should cough up the money to pay for this debacle, instead of Ted Turner.

Let's try looking a little bit closer at what happened, something that the major media providers will not do because it isn't in their best interests, they are eager to put this episode behind them since it has become a serious embarrassment for them. Another added to the long list of embarrassments and abject failures we've seen since 9/11.

Unless I'm mistaken, because I missed most of the coverage on the day of the event, no one bothered to look into who reported these LED signs, the modern equivalent of neon signs, and why they described them as having the appearance of suspicious devices possibly bombs.

Who were these unnamed people, and what were their motivations?

For anyone unfamiliar with America and US society, we have a population filled with petty small minded manipulators. An ocean of embittered passive aggressive conformists, stifled control freaks who constantly search for ways to get their way in every aspect of their sad excuses for lives.

All across the United States, hundreds of thousands if not millions of people saw the signs, if only for a moment in a passing glance. Most of them didn't give them a second thought. But then there are those who go through their lives constantly searching for ways to enlist others in their their causes by any means necessary.

Apparently one such person, or several persons, perhaps acting in collusion, saw the signs and were offended by the sight of Ignignot or Err flipping them the bird. Every day on their way to work they were forced to endure this insult, they tried not to look, but I couldn't help themselves because once they knew that Moonite was there and couldn't help but look, compounding their disturbance daily. They wanted those signs removed so that peace and tranquility could return to their pathetic excuses for lives, but how to achieve this goal, that was the question.

These are not the kind of go getters who would start climbing onto overpasses or on top of bridges to get their way, that would be far to proactive for their ilk. No they had to find a way to enlist others in their cause, but how to do it, that was the question. If they called the police and told him that they were offended, no doubt a report would be filed but the police have better things to do than try to appease the hyper anal.

So they formulated a plan, a plan that would insure the removal of these little Moonite demons that invaded their delicate peace of mind as they toiled away their lives on the job, and haunted their dreams as they slept. Those signs weren't just offensive, they were dangerous, the work of terrorists, maybe even Al Qaeda. They'd been placed there to drive Americans crazy little by little, and then explode when least expected. Yes that's what they were, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that this was a plot to destroy America.

Now all they had to do is convince the authorities. And that was simple, all it took a phone call to the Boston police, with a few well-chosen words and some false concern for the safety of Bostonians. Once the cops heard the words bomb and suspicious device, it was on baby. Once those words had been logged by law enforcement recording devices, it became a liability matter, that any right minded, police sergeant, chief of police or mayor would be insane to ignore in this day and age.

Imagine the glee of these little manipulators as they watch the entire country placed on high terror alert, just for the sake of their personal peace of mind. What a feeling of power they must've had as they watch CNN munching grapes and calling their relatives to boast and brag about how they saved the land from Al Qaeda.

Aside from their coworkers, friends and relatives, no one will know their names, but their place in history is assured. No doubt they are quite pleased with themselves feeling that they have finally accomplish something worthwhile.

Of course in another time and place they would be the ones who found themselves in handcuffs instead of Sean and Peter, or the authorities would have looked into their allegations and dismissed them as they ravings of cranks. But this is the age of George W. Bush and his all-encompassing war on terror, the age of hyper paranoia in America where no doubt millions now believe that those long-haired dreadlocks wearing tree hugging gold bricking slackers responsible for posting these advertisements should be drawn and quartered in the town square, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and executed with extreme prejudice for scaring us all so. Sean and Pete fit perfectly into their conception of what's wrong with America.

No doubt many conservative minded Americans believe that the individuals who reported this "threat" be commended, perhaps even sanctified as modern-day heroes and receive a special presidential medal to be pinned upon their chest on the South lawn by the president himself, and be honored on the floor of the Senate and House for their contribution in the war on terror. Thankfully I do not count myself among them.

No doubt the creators of Aqua Teen Hunger Force have been laughing themselves silly and are overjoyed at the free publicity generated by this little stunt. Perhaps they've already sent thank you notes to those who reported the mayhem of the Moonites and provided them tickets for the opening of the movie along with some coupons for free refreshments.

As I watched press conference with two guys who were paid to distribute these advertisements, I took a bit of perverse pleasure in watching the crowd of journalists be snubbed and humiliated by the refusal of these freaks to respond as expected, as they were pelted with questions.

The frustration and anger of the reporters asking the questions started to become obvious when we started hearing questions like,

How are you taking it seriously, by causing "widespread panic and destruction." (reporter question at news conference with Sean Stevens and Peter Berdovsky)

Now I'm not aware of any destruction caused by the placement of these light Brite advertisements, and if anyone was responsible for panic, it was the media, specifically CNN who apparently had the entire country on edge as they milked this story for all it was worth.

Perhaps CNN and the other bloodsuckers in the media should cough up the money to pay for this debacle, instead of Ted Turner.

Let's try looking a little bit closer at what happened, something that the major media providers will not do because it isn't in their best interests, they are eager to put this episode behind them since it has become a serious embarrassment for them. Another added to the long list of embarrassments and abject failures we've seen since 9/11.

Unless I'm mistaken, because I missed most of the coverage on the day of the event, no one bothered to look into who reported these LED signs, the modern equivalent of neon signs, and why they described them as having the appearance of suspicious devices possibly bombs.

Who were these unnamed people, and what were their motivations?

For anyone unfamiliar with America and US society, we have a population filled with petty small minded manipulators. An ocean of embittered passive aggressive conformists, stifled control freaks who constantly search for ways to get their way in every aspect of their sad excuses for lives.

All across the United States, hundreds of thousands if not millions of people saw the signs, if only for a moment in a passing glance. Most of them didn't give them a second thought. But then there are those who go through their lives constantly searching for ways to enlist others in their their causes by any means necessary.

Apparently one such person, or several persons, perhaps acting in collusion, saw the signs and were offended by the sight of Ignignot or Err flipping them the bird. Every day on their way to work they were forced to endure this insult, they tried not to look, but I couldn't help themselves because once they knew that Moonite was there and couldn't help but look, compounding their disturbance daily. They wanted those signs removed so that peace and tranquility could return to their pathetic excuses for lives, but how to achieve this goal, that was the question.

These are not the kind of go getters who would start climbing onto overpasses or on top of bridges to get their way, that would be far to proactive for their ilk. No they had to find a way to enlist others in their cause, but how to do it, that was the question. If they called the police and told him that they were offended, no doubt a report would be filed but the police have better things to do than try to appease the hyper anal.

So they formulated a plan, a plan that would insure the removal of these little Moonite demons that invaded their delicate peace of mind as they toiled away their lives on the job, and haunted their dreams as they slept. Those signs weren't just offensive, they were dangerous, the work of terrorists, maybe even Al Qaeda. They'd been placed there to drive Americans crazy little by little, and then explode when least expected. Yes that's what they were, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that this was a plot to destroy America.

Now all they had to do is convince the authorities. And that was simple, all it took a phone call to the Boston police, with a few well-chosen words and some false concern for the safety of Bostonians. Once the cops heard the words bomb and suspicious device, it was on baby. Once those words had been logged by law enforcement recording devices, it became a liability matter, that any right minded, police sergeant, chief of police or mayor would be insane to ignore in this day and age.

Imagine the glee of these little manipulators as they watch the entire country placed on high terror alert, just for the sake of their personal peace of mind. What a feeling of power they must've had as they watch CNN munching grapes and calling their relatives to boast and brag about how they saved the land from Al Qaeda.

Aside from their coworkers, friends and relatives, no one will know their names, but their place in history is assured. No doubt they are quite pleased with themselves feeling that they have finally accomplish something worthwhile.

Of course in another time and place they would be the ones who found themselves in handcuffs instead of Sean and Peter, or the authorities would have looked into their allegations and dismissed them as they ravings of cranks. But this is the age of George W. Bush and his all-encompassing war on terror, the age of hyper paranoia in America where no doubt millions now believe that those long-haired dreadlocks wearing tree hugging gold bricking slackers responsible for posting these advertisements should be drawn and quartered in the town square, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and executed with extreme prejudice for scaring us all so. Sean and Pete fit perfectly into their conception of what's wrong with America.

No doubt many conservative minded Americans believe that the individuals who reported this "threat" be commended, perhaps even sanctified as modern-day heroes and receive a special presidential medal to be pinned upon their chest on the South lawn by the president himself, and be honored on the floor of the Senate and House for their contribution in the war on terror. Thankfully I do not count myself among them.

No doubt the creators of Aqua Teen Hunger Force have been laughing themselves silly and are overjoyed at the free publicity generated by this little stunt. Perhaps they've already sent thank you notes to those who reported the mayhem of the Moonites and provided them tickets for the opening of the movie along with some coupons for free refreshments.

I have idea what that means, dd. And neither do you.

mac demonstrates that there is extremist stupidity on the left as well as the right.

From all the indignant comments at the behavior of Boston authorities and the writing of the Bostonists, it appears that Interference, Inc., has been running another viral marketing scheme.

For any of you to equate an advertising scheme with freedom of expression, and any kind of police action with stupidity, shows what sheltered and ignorant sons of privilege you all are.

You believe that Aqua Teen is somehow a staple of our "pop culture" when the truth is that no one besides you and your 12-year-old brother care about it.

Get out your Karl Marx and figure out what real subversion looks like. Anyone defending the mindless actions of this advertising company is a right-wing sell-out. Look at what the anti-advertising movement, the Graffiti Research Lab, has been saying about this.

Sorry to be so blunt, but it needs to be said clearly: you guys, who evidently think you're so subversive, should realize that you are a bunch of corporate tools. The comment that "Boston is full of wicked retahded queers" says it all about your real agenda.

How about the fact that fake pipe bombs were planted in Boston, but the guy responsible for *that* wasn't arrested or charged with anything?

Rationalize *that*.

(I tried to post a link to the story but your site wouldn't let me. JFGI.)

It really frightens me to think that our safety is in the hands of people within the grips of such morbid stupidity. How could anyone could possibly mistake one of these things for a bomb is well beyond my scope of comprehension.

I'm sure there's some terrorist in a cave in afghanistan cooking up new and interesting ways to make his bombs attract as much attention to themselves as possible, without actually being explosive.

What a bunch of dolts.

"Can you imagine if this happened in NYC? Especially in the subways?

These were/are on train stations in Chicago. Face it this Chicken little all the way.

I am sad to say that I supported a governor who does not understand English. This was not a "Hoax" it was an advertisement intended to look like a Mooninite. It was made from a set of L.E.D.'s not I.A.D's. What a moron!

www.cafepress.com/bosmooninite...

get your I survived the Boston Mooninite Bombings of 2007 swag here. Sweet.

How are you taking it seriously, by causing "widespread panic and destruction." (reporter question at news conference with Sean Stevens and Peter Berdovsky)

"Level 3, beware the Gorgarton. He's in love. "

"Shoot em' in the head!"

"Head shot, rampage, killing spree!"

"You have mastered Moon Master, you are the Moon Master!"

"No f--king way!"

"Yes way Err." (Aqua Teen Hunger Force -- Moon Master)

I always knew that Err was a terrorist. As soon as all those Bostonians saw him flipping them off, they immediately came to the same realization.

Wait till they get a load of Balloonenstein. :-)

Once again George W. Bush has saved us all from the evils of 80s era video game characters. Thank heaven for God Emperor Bush and the paranoia he has brought to our great country.

What a joke, let's just hope that Sean and Pete don't wind up at Guant√°namo Bay, stripped of their rights and being force fed through nasal gastric tubes.

I guess they'll be lucky if they only get sued.

Feds May Sue Over Film Promotion

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101634.html

Welcome to the conservative revolution's new America, how do you like it?

ok so im guessing all this stuff in my home of boston was a promo for the longly anticipated Aqua Teen Hunger Force motion picture? On my way to practice I saw one of the signs on near the bridge but I didn't really realize that it was bad I thought it was funny....I was gna stop and look at it for awhile but i was late anyways =P

I'm with you, dan.. Back to Phillyist for all the latest news on restaurants I live nowhere near anymore.

hey Boston, there are some neon beer signs in all your local bars. better call the bomb squad.

Just moved to Boston from NYC and switched "-ist"s accordingly...and now I'm switching back.

This whole situation is so incredibly dumb. These signs do not look like, nor are they of the correct dimensions, to possibly ever be a bomb. Boston is full of wicked retahded queers.

Well, San Fran had them too. I think we were too busy worry about who our mayor was diddling in his office to notice them though. ;)

Police state in effect. This whole thing just goes to show you how scared the media makes people. All over a silly sign.

Ahhhh, the infamous BPD "Lightbrite Brigade"

Thanks Massport for Mohamed Atta and friends six years ago...

This is a sad day for New Englanders. Our public figures are idiots and out of touch with pop culture. I could understand this happening even at the Cartoon Network headquarters' hometown of Atlanta... but I thought they were smarter than this up here. At this point our country would greatly benefit from a hostile invasion by a superior alien lifeform. We desparately need the Mooninites! We are living in historic times as GWBush has decried.

Wow, Caroline, could you clutch your pearls any tighter?

This has happened, in at least 10 other cities INCLUDING New York. An not one of them freaked out. You look just as bad as your scaredy-cat mayor.

PS. Love from Chicago. CMOK.

main*

My mine gripe is that they're charging this dude with planting hoax devices. Now that all is said and done, they clearly weren't meant to hoax anyone- they are what they are. If anything, a litter citation is in order.

can we please get rid of Menino now? He's made us a laughing stock.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=180349

word

natis, leave boston and move back to Brooklyn immediately.

I received emails and text messages telling me to leave boston and move back to Brooklyn immediately.

I can't really argue with them on this one. Mumbles is, without doubt, a shitty mayor in a wannabe city.

No to Menino in '09.

Granted you guys are getting a lot of flack for the ridiculous response of your mayor. Boston kids aren't to blame, the administration is. It sucks that the poor schmuck that hung them around and was only doing his job is going to have to bear the brunt of a silly "save-face" campaign led on by Boston officials.

Anybody else think they might have budgeted for things like this? I mean, they're getting more publicity in Boston now than they could have possibly bought using more "normal" methods. In addition to all that, they get cred from the Cool, Hip, Young People for Sticking It To The Man.

I don't know about you guys, but I feel kind of manipulated.

You guys should be sending "Thank You" cards to Turner Broadcasting for exposing the complete stupidity and incompetence of your mayor, chief of police, and bomb squad.

Note: All the other cities around the country where the Mooninites invaded did not piss themselves and freak out.

There are two reasons why this whole affair has totally pissed me off. First, as JR said and as evidenced by the unflattering emails from New Yorkers, is that Boston will bear the brunt of further "uncool" jabs. However, second, is the way the information was disseminated. I work at a major Boston hospital, and I bike across and live right next to the BU Bridge. We all received an email (IN ALL CAPS) at 3pm telling us that suspicious devices had been found attached to bridges around the city, and that the police, FBI and bomb squad were investigating. I would hazard that even those "cool" New Yorkers, especially those "cool" New Yorkers, would freak out a bit. THAT'S what our problem is. There's a lot of blame to share, here, but the residents of Boston are not to blame. I'm still trying to figure this one out.

This'll be difficult to prosecute. The hoax law requires them to show an intent to "cause anxiety, unrest, fear or personal discomfort." Given that this was an ad campaign, I think that'll be tough.

Boston needs, at a minimum, to fire the person in charge of their bomb squad. A cursory glance at the pictures of the "devices" is enough to conclude that they aren't bombs. Sure, an explosive device an look like almost anything, but these are one of the few exceptions to that rule.

Even so, Boston is now a national laughingstock. The only "terror" involved in the incident was the terror felt by city officials. Now I hope they're at least wise enought to be terrorized for their jobs.

"FryLock renamed Freedom FryLock"

"LEDs not IEDs"

The people of Boston are scaredy cats. The tremble in fear of their Moonitie masters. We will choose Boston as our landing point for our moon invasion.

About this already happening in NYC: word. What is your problem, Boston?

Our jails are certain to overpopulate if someone's charged every time a Boston public official makes a scare over a litebrite ad. Anything 'could' be a bomb, this obviously wasnt and Boston should be held liable. And I might have missed something, why were they blown up again regaurdless of what they really were? To cause public hysteria and media attention? Where's the warrant for the genius behind that plan? Slap the philly out of his fat mouth and haul HIM off.

And this DID happen in New York, they didnt see it as a bomb for the same reason most people outside of Boston's finest didnt see one. Boston is no New York, they occasionally feel the need to remind us by doing something woefully inept.

This DID happen in NYC. They just didn't freak out two weeks after the fact like scared children.