Pedobear: Difference between revisions
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==Mainstream media== |
==Mainstream media== |
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Pedobear eventually became known outside 4chan as it was referenced by newspapers and prominent websites. |
Pedobear eventually became known outside 4chan as it was referenced by newspapers and prominent websites. Mr. Tyler from Waterford, MI is commonly refered to as 'An Enemy'. but is he a pedophile, or is he not? That is the true question. |
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Pedobear has been associated with the [[Catholic sex abuse cases|pedophilia scandals involving priests]]; the character was used in a [[CollegeHumor]] video.<ref>{{cite web |
Pedobear has been associated with the [[Catholic sex abuse cases|pedophilia scandals involving priests]]; the character was used in a [[CollegeHumor]] video.<ref>{{cite web |
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Revision as of 15:29, 4 November 2010
Pedobear is an internet meme which became popular through the imageboard 4chan.[1] As the name suggests ("pedo" being short for pedophile), it is portrayed as a pedophile bear.[2] The image was incorrectly described as a mascot among pedophiles, and cosplay participants dressed as the character were accused of being pedophiles,[1][3] after the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department issued a warning that Pedobear was a sign of the presence of pedophiles and other people with inappropriate sexual behavior.[4]
Origin
The bear character originates from the popular bulletin board system (BBS) website 2channel in Japan, where it was introduced as クマー (Kumā), which is an interjection of the word くま (Kuma) meaning bear in Japanese. In spite of the impression of Pedobear in Europe and the United States, Kumā is not associated with any sexual thing such as pedophilia.
Pedobear is a popular joke on the website 4chan,[2] which adopted the character primarily as a way to mock users requesting or posting sexualized images of children.[5]
Mainstream media
Pedobear eventually became known outside 4chan as it was referenced by newspapers and prominent websites. Mr. Tyler from Waterford, MI is commonly refered to as 'An Enemy'. but is he a pedophile, or is he not? That is the true question.
Pedobear has been associated with the pedophilia scandals involving priests; the character was used in a CollegeHumor video.[6]
On 3 July 2009, Canadian artist Michael R. Barrick created two composite images[7] depicting Pedobear grouped together with the mascots of 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. One is based on the official art, and the other is based on a fanart created by Angela Melick.[8] This image was then mistakenly used by other media,[9] most notably the Polish newspaper Gazeta Olsztyńska for a 4 February 2010 front page story about the Olympics in Vancouver.[10][11]
On 24 July 2009, a column[12] by conservative commentator Pat Buchanan about the early months of Barack Obama's presidency included an image of Pedobear, which generated considerable reaction from non-political commentators.[9]
In June 2010, felt collages depicting icons from video game and internet culture, including Pedobear, were presented at Brooklyn's Renegade Craft Fair.[13] Other uses of Pedobear include an iStockphoto wallpaper,[9] a cover of the auto magazine Import Tuner[9], and a flyer of a costume store in Portland, Oregon which accidentally featured a Pedobear-like figure, being later covered by a local news station, which provided a detailed history of Pedobear, and even interviewed Cheezburger Network's CEO Ben Huh about Pedobear's cultural significance.[9]
A person dressed as Pedobear appeared in the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, distributing candy to children and getting photographed with them, until the local police removed him from the premises. Law enforcement officials in San Diego later sent a warning to local media, warning parents that the image can indicate the presence of pedophiles. It also issued a bulletin:
Since the Comic Con, law enforcement in San Diego... has come across PedoBear's image in situations during which they were contacting those that exploit and/or abuse children. (...)
The intention of this bulletin is (...) [to] alert citizens that [PedoBear's] presence may be an indicator of the presence of individuals who have a predilection to sexually inappropiate, or even, assaultive behaviour. While not an absolute, the image of PedoBear should be a sign that you should use caution with whatever situation you are in or the individuals involved.
Public Safety Bulletin. A Seemingly Innocent Menace. An introduction to "PEDO BEAR"(Page 2)[4]
Gawker later reported that it had spoken to the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department, and the department knows it's an "internet joke",[4] despite the fact that they refer to pedophiles adopting it as a mascot. Two local television stations, KSBY and KCOY-TV, broadcast that warning.[14] The police department in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a local television station there, falsely reported that the person wearing the costume was a registered sex offender.[15]
References
- ^ a b Amy Graff (September 14, 2010). "California police warn parents of pedophilia mascot". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ a b Kelly, Jon (2010-08-31). "BBC News - The strange virtual world of 4chan". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ^ "Sheriff's department warns parents of Pedo Bear image". KSBY-TV. September 9, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Stupid California Police Warn Parents of Pedobear, the 'Pedophile Mascot' (Updated)". Gawker. 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2010-09-12. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department Public Information Bulletin "A Seemingly Innocent Menace. An introduction to "PEDO BEAR" page 1 and Page 2
- ^ "Pedobear". Know Your Meme. 2009. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
- ^ "Pedobear "Doubt" Trailer - CollegeHumor video". CollegeHumor. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Michael R. Barrick - New Mascot Added to the Vancouver 2010 Team". LiveJournal. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Gallery". SpikeComix.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03
Pedobear was also starred as a 3 second character on Cartoon Network's MAD on a short called "Grey's in Anime". But pedobear is seen as green, but can still be reconized..
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); line feed character in|accessdate=at position 11 (help) - ^ a b c d e Robert Quigley (7 February 2010). "Vancouver and More: 5 Times Pedobear has Infiltrated the Real World". Geekosystem.
- ^ Matthew Moore (8 February 2010). "Polish newspaper claims 'Pedobear' is 2010 Vancouver Olympic mascot". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "'Pedobear' an Olympic mascot?". Toronto Sun. 10 February 2010.
- ^ Patrick J. Buchanan (July 24, 2009). "Is Obamania Over?". Taki's Magazine.
- ^ "Craftzine.com blog : Pixl Pushr Felt Collages". Craft. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Sheriff's department warns parents of Pedo Bear image". KSBY-TV. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2010-09-12. [dead link]
- ^ "Pedobear Panic Hits Tulsa". gawker.
