CT Nutjob Hunger Force!

[VespaGuy]

Maybe it was the Prosecuter in Boston that needed a publicity stunt?

[CT mode]

Or maybe all the calls to Boston PD came from Turner, to drum up a reaction.

[/CT mode]

(No, I don't actually believe that.)

 

[VespaGuy]

Poor BPD, mobilized for a cartoon that they probably never heard of.

Yup.

A lot of folks seem to think that everone knows who Ur is from Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The fact is that many folks have no idea. (I've already seen one local news report lastnight where the clueless talking-head said "the character on the device is from a cartoon called "Adult Swim" on the Cartoon Network.")

 

[A W Smith]

the signs being placed

 

[Donal]

Did you read the link? Nowhere does it say that the NYPD knew about the devices prior to yesterday's events. Why would they shut down the East River or choke off the Major Deagen if they were unaware of any devices there?

So, they knew as much as authorities in Boston, yet reacted differently.

don't know. Only two devices were found in NY. But, go ahead... How many New Yorkers passed them and didn't call 911?

Overpass on 33 and West Side Highway. Thats the Jacob Javits Center and Pier 57. Not only is that a major commuter route, we just had the motorcycle show in the Javits Center.

Look at the link above; this type of viral marketing has been attempted in the past with similar results.

OK, the MI:III campaign was pretty stupid, but there tons of other viral campaigns that don't have bomb squads detonating them.

A simple phone-call from Turner (or the ad company) before placeing these things around the town would have saved a lot of confusion.

Or better yet, noticing the fact that these things look like the 50 ft billboards around town (in NYC anyway, I don't know about Boston, but I doubt its different) and then placing a call to Turner.

And the figure I read was $500 thousand.

 

[OMGturt1es]

while i think it was a bit paranoid to supsect that signs that look nothing like any sort of explosove devices ever constructed by terrorists, and everything like simple lit advertisements littering store front windows, were any part of any terrorist's plot, i can understand that some folk may be honestly concerned.

i also think that the marketing company should not have placed advertisments without going through the same red tape that everyone else must.

still, i think that the arresting of inidividuals involved is completely useless. it's clear that the signs were part of an advertisment campaign, not a hoax. i think sensible fines should work well.

 

[Donal]

Fining for what? Expressing without a liscence? Making Mush Mouth looking even dumber?

How are these things different from all the posters and signs that get hung up all the time? Besides the batteries.

 

[VespaGuy]

So, they knew as much as authorities in Boston, yet reacted differently.

Are you purposely being obtuse? By the time NY even new about them, it was public knowledge that they were harmless.

As of yesterday morning, both the NYPD and the Boston PD were unaware of the devices. Boston PD received multiple calls about them yesterday and acted on them.

After it was found that the devices were part of Turner's ad campaign and were also in several other cities, NY contacted Turner to get a list of the locations.

So once again, s-l-o-w-e-r...

Boston was notified of the devices and reacted as if they were potentially harmful.
NYPD did not know about the devices in NY.
Turner announced that they were responsible and that the devices were harmless AND they were in additional cities.
NY contacted Turner for locations and removed the devices.

Overpass on 33 and West Side Highway. Thats the Jacob Javits Center and Pier 57. Not only is that a major commuter route, we just had the motorcycle show in the Javits Center.

So, why wasn't it shut down?

OK, the MI:III campaign was pretty stupid, but there tons of other viral campaigns that don't have bomb squads detonating them.

Tons? Then it shouldn't be hard to name 5 that involved leaving electronic devices around town, right?

Or better yet, noticing the fact that these things look like the 50 ft billboards around town (in NYC anyway, I don't know about Boston, but I doubt its different) and then placing a call to Turner.

Even better, if Turner called them before the stunt.

And the figure I read was $500 thousand.

I heard 'millions' on the news last night, but it appears it's around $750,000. http://www.canada.com/topics/news/o...10290-bf11-4f35-aa1f-d160439b0a94&k=77181&p=2

 

[VespaGuy]

Fining for what? Expressing without a liscence? Making Mush Mouth looking even dumber?

Wow, you really hate Menino. You're not still better about the Sox sweeping the Yanks are you?

How are these things different from all the posters and signs that get hung up all the time? Besides the batteries.

You just answered your own question. These devices were electronic.

 

[VespaGuy]

Fining for what? Expressing without a liscence? Making Mush Mouth looking even dumber?

I'm not sure where your hatred of Menino or Boston comes from, Donal, but these situations happen all the time. Here's some from just the past few days:

Here is one from NC. A school was evacuated and the bomb squad was called.
http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/news.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2007-01-29-0003.html

Here is one in Arizona that turned out to be papers.
http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=4816

Here is one from New Jersey
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-6/117004892652840.xml&coll=1

And imagine this, even the NYPD handle suspicious packages, too! "They evacuated us and we had to walk down the block, and as the day went on they made us go further and further away"
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=52313


All of these were reported "suspicious packages'. They ALL evacuated the immediate area or building. Do you think that a suspicious device on a bridge would have been handled any differently? How about reports of multiple devices througout the city? How would/should they handle that?

You have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and I would imagine that you recognized the character on the device. But would you gambled your life that those were harmless devices? Would you have gambled the life of others?

 

[A W Smith]

Don't you think that it is odd that the POTUS was in NYC yesterday yet the secret service saw no need to remove the signs? That as through as they are they recognized no threat? I still think they are grandstanding up there in Boston. nothing else.

 

[brodski]

Are you saying that the police knew about the devices for three weeks before yesterday? Do you have a link to this info?

If you are correct, then I am definately willing to change my opinion about the events that unfolded yesterday.

If they didn't know, they should have, which may say more about the attitude of the general public rather than the competence of the police.

 

[Axiom_Blade]

Don't you think that it is odd that the POTUS was in NYC yesterday yet the secret service saw no need to remove the signs? That as through as they are they recognized no threat? I still think they are grandstanding up there in Boston. nothing else.

Again...what kind of terrorist would draw attention to his/her bomb by putting a lite-brite cartoon character on it?

 

[Brainache]

Whether or not the police over reacted, I think we are all missing the point. As a publicity stunt it sure was effective. I hate this kind of viral marketing and I'm willing to bet that the marketing folks who came up with the whole idea are getting great big pats on the back right now. You can't buy publicity like this.

I just hope the cartoon is worth it.

 

[Stellafane]

Again...what kind of terrorist would draw attention to his/her bomb by putting a lite-brite cartoon character on it?

They weren't all that visible in daylight when they were found, and they were tucked up high under bridges (you know, just where a terrorist might place a bomb if they actually wanted to kill a lot of people at once). Shucks, an electronics looking device with wires and batteries sticking out, attached with some apparent difficulty under urban structures. How could anyone think it might possibly be dangerous? It isn't like America ever experienced a terrorist attack or anything, right?

Screw those guys, I hope they go to jail, if nothing else for being so incredibly stupid.

 

[Stellafane]

Whether or not the police over reacted, I think we are all missing the point. As a publicity stunt it sure was effective. I hate this kind of viral marketing and I'm willing to bet that the marketing folks who came up with the whole idea are getting great big pats on the back right now. You can't buy publicity like this.

I just hope the cartoon is worth it.

The cartoon is idiotic. I've watched it a few times, and although it supposedly has some sort of cult following (which is what they generally say about any cartoon that only a few people like), I found it to be bland and unentertaining...no real wit or humor or edge, just dumb. But you're right, as a stunt it was probably quite effective. A lot more people probably know about this damn cartoon than ever would have heard about it based on its own merits. The producers must be thrilled.

 

[VespaGuy]

Whether or not the police over reacted, I think we are all missing the point. As a publicity stunt it sure was effective. I hate this kind of viral marketing and I'm willing to bet that the marketing folks who came up with the whole idea are getting great big pats on the back right now. You can't buy publicity like this.

On a news report this morning (Fox 25 Boston) they reported that at the hieight of the panic, the ad company called the two men who placed the devices and told them to stay quiet. (I'm looking for confirmation of this stroy from other outlets.)

If this is true, it speaks volumes about the ad/marketing company.

 

[VespaGuy]

Don't you think that it is odd that the POTUS was in NYC yesterday yet the secret service saw no need to remove the signs? That as through as they are they recognized no threat? I still think they are grandstanding up there in Boston. nothing else.

You are assuming that the secret service noticed one of the TWO devices that were found in the entire city?

 

[Donal]

Tons? Then it shouldn't be hard to name 5 that involved leaving electronic devices around town, right?

So, its only electronic devices that should look suspicious? I think a mailbox in a crowded area would make a much better place for a bomb, yet bomb squads aren't sweeping those on a regular basis.

Wow, you really hate Menino. You're not still better about the Sox sweeping the Yanks are you?

I'm a Mets fan, actually. I couldn't care less about the Red Sox. And I don't hate anybody, I just think Menino is a speech impaired dope who is making himself look even worse right now.

And shutting down one road or building is one thing. But shutting down the whole city? Especially once you detonated one of the devices.

I'm not trying to call out the BPD. By all accounts, they did a fine job and were only doing what they were told. Its the monkeys running that town that are backpeddling and trying to look all tough and making threats.

On a news report this morning (Fox 25 Boston) they reported that at the hieight of the panic, the ad company called the two men who placed the devices and told them to stay quiet. (I'm looking for confirmation of this stroy from other outlets.)

If this is true, it speaks volumes about the ad/marketing company.

Depends. When did that conversation happen? If it was already known what the devices were and the company was just playing CY_A, thats not so bad.

If they spoke to those guys before the company told the city what was going on, thats not too good.

In any case, quit being such a wet blanket at let us laugh.

 

[Overman]

The cartoon is idiotic. I've watched it a few times, and although it supposedly has some sort of cult following (which is what they generally say about any cartoon that only a few people like), I found it to be bland and unentertaining...no real wit or humor or edge, just dumb. But you're right, as a stunt it was probably quite effective. A lot more people probably know about this damn cartoon than ever would have heard about it based on its own merits. The producers must be thrilled.

Most definetly idiotic, but it has its moments. Shake makes me laugh out loud sometimes, and not many TV shows do. I haven't watched the show for 2 years though, and it was pretty ridicoulas back then, so I imagine they have really gone off the deep end.

 

[VespaGuy]

So, its only electronic devices that should look suspicious? I think a mailbox in a crowded area would make a much better place for a bomb, yet bomb squads aren't sweeping those on a regular basis.

C'mon Donal. You made this claim: "OK, the MI:III campaign was pretty stupid, but there tons of other viral campaigns that don't have bomb squads detonating them."

How many of these "tons" of viral campaigns consist of leaving electronic devices around a city?

I'm a Mets fan, actually. I couldn't care less about the Red Sox. And I don't hate anybody, I just think Menino is a speech impaired dope who is making himself look even worse right now.

As I said early on in this thread, I'm not a huge fan of Menino (as I said earlier, I question why he didn't tell the public about the Turner connection when he knew about it.) But so far, alll you've done is called him names and made spurious claims.

And shutting down one road or building is one thing. But shutting down the whole city? Especially once you detonated one of the devices.

Earlier you said they shut down 'major arteries in the city' now you say they shut down the "whole city". What roads were closed that didn't have devices?

I'm not trying to call out the BPD. By all accounts, they did a fine job and were only doing what they were told. Its the monkeys running that town that are backpeddling and trying to look all tough and making threats.

Backpeddaling? How-so?

Depends. When did that conversation happen? If it was already known what the devices were and the company was just playing CY_A, thats not so bad.

I thought I made that clear -
On a news report this morning (Fox 25 Boston) they reported that at the height of the panic the ad company called the two men who placed the devices and told them to stay quiet.

If they spoke to those guys before the company told the city what was going on, thats not too good.

That is exactly what the reporter seemed to be saying. Again, I am trying to confirm that.

In any case, quit being such a wet blanket at let us laugh.

Laugh all you want. But, I'll continue to ask for evidence of your claims:

Like here, where you incinuate that the BPD knew about the devices for two weeks:

It takes 2 weeks before the honchos in Boston think, "hmm, maybe we should do something about this", and then shut down major arteries of the city?

Or here, where in response to this comment: 'Look at the link above; this type of viral marketing has been attempted in the past with similar results.'

You said this:

OK, the MI:III campaign was pretty stupid, but there tons of other viral campaigns that don't have bomb squads detonating them.

So far, you haven't listed one of the 'tons' of similar viral marketing.


Laugh at Menino all you want, but so far you haven't provided a shred of evidence that the BPD should not have responded the way they did.