What the bloody heck was Cartoon Network thinking?

Question

Incase you haven't heard, today bridges, highways, and a subway station all had to be shut down and closed off in order for police to respond to a report of 9 suspicious packages. These suspicious packages were thought to be IED detonators, and were blown up by police forces. It wasn't until later that they realized that this was just a hoax, and even more enfuriating, the suspicious packages were planted there by a well-known company... yes, Turner Broadcasting, the parent company for Cartoon Network. The devices were a part of a marketing ploy for the show Aqua Teen Hunger Force, a late-night cartoon that airs on their channel. Although the devices were just magnetic lights, some had wires hanging off of them and looked somewhat like circuit boards.

Now my question is... did Cartoon Network go too far? I know I think so...
And what the heck were they thinking?

Forgot to mention that this occured in Boston, Massachusetts. For more info:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070131/ap_on_re_us/suspicious_devices;_ylt=AuK2VXl0Q6F2voD6m2LjJ6Gs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Answer 1

Its unconventional advertising, its not that bad really I find it amusing. Especially since they said they had them in ten cities and they had been up for 2-3 weeks. Yeah if I was the public I would be more upset with the fact that nobody in law enforcement noticed these signs that were mistaken for terrorist devices sooner. I think it was clever as all get out on the part of CN, wish they had put them up in my city.

Answer 2

Well, Turner Broadcasting is already guilty of terrorism, just look at CNN, they and other news network spread fear by reporting them.

And personally I doubt the packages were planted there solely for the promotion of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, since the moment a package was found by the authority, Cartoon Network would have alerted the authority and even the news, especially CNN.

The planting of these packages and reports of them being found were deliberately terror action. You can't terrorize a dead person, on the other hand you can terrorize a living person.

This is NOT a misunderstanding, this is an act of terror.

Answer 3

for a marketing campaign that backfired I can't help but laugh at this one. When I saw and followed up the report yesterday, whoever planted the adult swim icons around beantown has a lot of explaining to do. And so does the local advertister who particitpated. Now the real funny thing about this even CNN didn't even know it was one of thier own networks.
Lookslike Rocky and Bullwinkle are going to be issuing public statements soon.

Answer 4

If they were doing a contest they should have informed the authorities what they were doing.
Recently a whole radio station went down in Sacramento, California, due to a contest where people drank water to win a Wiii .. one person died. In the case of the radio station, it would have taken 2 minutes to call the EMT's to stay with the contestants to make sure nobody got sick.
In your Boston case, nobody thinks that terrorists are around anymore the media plays 'its all good card'.
I hope Turner finds out the creator of this contest and the one who approved it and rolls him out the door head first! It's not all good anymore we live in a different world nobody is safe.. and nobody should have to live like this.. its just very wrong.

Answer 5

Perhaps they were stupid… and perhaps they were being paid by some terrorists who wish to lull us into a sense of false complacency before they strike. That’s what I’d do, if I were one. I only hope the authorities remain alert and don’t relax their vigilance. I pray that they stop any attempts in time.

1 FEB 07, 1934 hrs, GMT.

Answer 6

That was so stupid of them. It's hard enough we live in such a scary society and have to worry about being bombed with explosives for real. Cartoon Network should have thought about what they were doing before initiated such a stupid stunt to advertise an adult-themed cartoon!

Answer 7

yes, they went way too far. i think they should be fined and made to pay restitution. inducing panic,causing people to find other transportation, scaring people by putting suspicious packages with the country still on edge from 9/11, what were these idiots thinking. tonight they had a publice service apology like thing on . the damage is done, they should be amde to give up their license or something.

Answer 8

Have you watched any of Cartoon network's new late night shows or seen promos for their upcoming shows? (Like frisky dingo, assy McGee, Saul of the mole men, or tom goes to the mayor). I think they have been acting like a pack of retarded monkeys for far too long. It was only a matter of time before they pulled a moronic publicity stunt. I'm surprised people didn't get seriously hurt.

They didn't go too far, but they were being irresponsible, even if it was intended to be innocent. And my guess was they weren't thinking.

Answer 9

In case you haven't seen the devices, they look like Lite Brites. It appears to be one of the mooninites giving the finger.

Good taste in advertising? Probably not. But to dub this a "terrorism hoax" is absolutely insane.

Answer 10

Who, exactly, was scared of these things?!? I think the dumbasses that called in about these things should be held responsible for creating panic about nothing...It looks like a Lite-Brite for crissake...