PETA Attacks Nintendo Over Mario Wearing Raccoon Suit

[Tani Coyote]

While Mario's a videogame character, I reasoned PETA and its agenda would make this political enough to be fit for Off-Topic. Such topics as animal rights in general, etc. are also relevant.

http://ingame.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...cks-nintendo-over-fur-wearing-mario?GT1=43001

You have to give it to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — they know how to leverage a pop culture event to promote their own agenda.

You see, Nintendo has just launched its highly anticipated game "Super Mario 3D Land." The game — which you play on Nintendo's new handheld 3DS game machine — features the famed plumber Mario making his way through a cartoon land filled with cranky mushrooms, man-eating plants and nefarious turtle creatures. On occasion, the mustachioed plumber dons a furry raccoon-like "Tanooki suit" which lets him float in the air and swat this colorful host of bad guys with a tail.

PETA, however, thinks Mario's fur-wearing ways are offensive and has — just in time for the launch of "Super Mario 3D Land" — launched its own campaign pegging Mario as a killer of innocent animals.

To be clear, the E-rated "Super Mario 3D Land" never suggests that Mario slaughtered an animal for its fur. In fact, the magical Tanooki suits that he wears in the game typically spring from magical squares that magically hover in the air. These squares magically give up the suits (which at first look like magical leaves) when Mario bumps his head into them.

But according to PETA's new "Mario Kills Tanooki" website, in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur."

The site then offers visitors a chance to play a game called "Super Tanooki Skin 2D" in which you try to help a skinned Tanooki chase down Mario and reclaim his fur. (Don't bother, gamers, it's pretty lame.)

It's hard to believe that the folks over at PETA truly believe that a video game starring tiny man in a magical children's costume actually contributes to worldwide fur wearing. If they did believe Nintendo's new game had that kind of impact on behavior, then they should have also mentioned Mario's abuse of the turtle-like Koopa creatures.

But this is not the first time PETA has skewered video games as a way to grab attention. A few years back it spoofed the popular "Cooking Mama" game with its own game "Cooking Mama Kills Animals" to bring attention to the Thanksgiving slaughter of turkeys. And last year the non-profit created the game "Super Tofu Boy" as a parody of hit indie game "Super Meat Boy."

If only PETA didn't feel the need to drag innocent bystanders through the mud to make its point.

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Thoughts?

Hahaaha, wow. Bit of a stretch there, isn't it? While I say Mario's a genocidal maniac, I only mean it as a joke. This is just insane. They blissfully ignore that he gains the suit not by skinning animals, but by getting a powerup item.

I might as well say Mario's a mockery of fursuiting culture with this!

As for animal rights in general, I approve efforts to increase how humanely they are treated, but there has to be a stop somewhere. I'm not giving up meat, for one! Plants are alive too, you know, they just can't scream when you pluck them.

 

[Leonel]

Yeah I think at this point, it's pretty clear they're just something something for attention.

 

[GenMarshall]

Umm, why are they going off the lid on this now? Mario has been wearing a Tanooki suit since SMB3 back in the early 90s. PETA is just an annoying organization that hates furs n meat.

While I say Mario's a genocidal maniac, I only mean it as a joke.

I see what you did there .

 

[Whiskey_Lord]

EDIT: X-Post

 

[JollyRoger]

A man running around in a fur suit? Who could get into a game like that?

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

Mario's a furry?

 

[warpus]

If they're really interested in animal abuse, what about the turtles? One jump and they're gone, don't they know that?? Unless you jump on them again I guess, but who does that

 

[Dumanios]

PETA: Throws a hissy fit over a fur Suit, ignores the plight of hundreds of reptiles.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Umm, why are they going off the lid on this now? Mario has been wearing a Tanooki suit since SMB3 back in the early 90s. PETA is just an annoying organization that hates furs n meat.

PETA is just desperate for attention, I suppose. Though attacking Nintendo is genius - it generates publicity, which they want. And, looking at this topic, it's working!

I see what you did there .

Actually, I was referring to the fact his entire franchise revolves around murdering thousands of Goombas and Turtles to save one girl. Why don't the evil guys get any love?! Two wrongs do not make a right!

Mario's a furry?

Implied things are always the best things.

If they're really interested in animal abuse, what about the turtles? One jump and they're gone, don't they know that?? Unless you jump on them again I guess, but who does that

Turtles and Goombas aren't as cute as raccoons, I suppose.

PETA: Throws a hissy fit over a fur Suit, ignores the plight of hundreds of reptiles.

Well, they don't defend the rights of insects either. Something's life, based on PETA precedent, is only worth saving if it's cute.

 

[NovaKart]

This will generate publicity but I think it's the bad kind. They're just going to make themselves look too radical and therefore ridiculous and it just gives animal rights a bad name.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

Peta makes the worst games ever
(can't upload screenshot, but its incredibly easy and poorly thought out)

Anyway why doesn't Peta care about video games where they kill people?

 

[amadeus]

...make themselves look too radical and therefore ridiculous and it just gives animal rights a bad name.

Hooray for PETA!

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

This thread makes this come to my mind.

 

[squall78]

Do I have to buy the game to get the keychain? Tanooki was awesome in SMB3.

 

[Tani Coyote]

why doesn't Peta care about video games where they kill people?

Our own species is apparently secondary. Similar to the concept of how there's very likely starving or homeless children somewhere in the city one lives in, but they'll send all their money overseas.

This thread makes this come to my mind.

That's freaking scary. Is it based in fact, however?

If so, meep.

Charities tend to do dark things behind the scenes, why not these groups, as well?

 

[aelf]

PETA is definitely nutty, but some of the objections to what they do are not quite right. It's likely that PETA doesn't only care about 'cute' animals. Rather, it might be that because it's easier to get people to care about them, it's just practical to focus on them in order to try and achieve something. After all, the campaign about calling cattle (or something) land dolphins kind of demonstrates that PETA is cognisant of the fact that people care more about adorable animals.

Secondly, since PETA exists to campaign for animal rights, I don't see why they should campaign about video games in which you kill people. That's just not their area.

 

[cybrxkhan]

I'm all for animal rights, but PETA usually just takes things way too far, seriously. They give a really bad name to other animal rights activists who aren't as crazy.

 

[Archbob]

PETA needs to be disbanded or put on the crazy list. First sea kittens and now this.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

That's freaking scary. Is it based in fact, however?

If so, meep.

Charities tend to do dark things behind the scenes, why not these groups, as well?

Unfortunately, I myself do not know if it is based on fact.

 

[Tani Coyote]

PETA is definitely nutty, but some of the objections to what they do are not quite right. It's likely that PETA doesn't only care about 'cute' animals. Rather, it might be that because it's easier to get people to care about them, it's just practical to focus on them in order to try and achieve something. After all, the campaign about calling cattle (or something) land dolphins kind of demonstrates that PETA is cognisant of the fact that people care more about adorable animals.

Oh I understand; I just have a tendency to use exaggeration in my posts. Sometimes, it's hard to tell if I'm serious or not.

It would be a successful marketing move. Just look at this thread - they know how to get attention and bring it to their cause. It's the same reason celebrities NEVER retract controversial statements, or at least, wait a good while until the fire simmers down.

Secondly, since PETA exists to campaign for animal rights, I don't see why they should campaign about video games in which you kill people. That's just not their area.

That's not a critique of PETA, though. It's a critique of the animal rights movement in general - that is, saying their priorities are misplaced.