PETA Attacks Mario For Wearing Tanooki Fur

[The Straight Story]

PETA Attacks Mario For Wearing Tanooki Fur

Beloved videogame star Mario is back in action this week following the November 13 release of Super Mario 3D Land. Now animal rights group PETA is attacking the hero plumber for wearing “fur” –the Tanooki Suit, a frequent power-up in Mario games that grants the ability to fly.

In a press release, PETA says:

Tanooki may be just a “suit” in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur. We created our game to help inform people that in real life, Mario would be wearing the skin of an animal who was beaten, strangled or electrocuted, and it wouldn’t give him any special powers other than the power of self-deception.

“Tanukis are real-life raccoon dogs who are beaten and, as PETA’s undercover exposés show, often skinned alive for their fur,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “This winter, everyone can give raccoon dogs and other fabulous animals a 1-UP by keeping our wardrobes fur-free.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2011/11/14/peta-attacks-mario-for-wearing-tanooki-fur/

[FSogol]

1. I assumed Tanookis were sheared like alpacas and sheep?

:facepalm:

[notadmblnd]

2. what if it is faux tanooki?

Then they got their panties in a bunch for nothing.

Give it a break people it is just a cartoon. Nothing in it is real.

[flvegan]

3. I'm happy you're here to constantly keep us up to date on all things PETA.

Saves me a lot of trouble. Or something.

[The Straight Story]

5. No problem. I have agreed with them in the past, don't on some things

If you care to debate the current thread I am listening. I can see their points on many things, I do think their delivery method sucks at times though.

[flvegan]

9. By suggesting a "debate" of it

it would seem you're suggesting that we disagree.

[The Straight Story]

11. debate implies discussion, based on your reply:

"I'm happy you're here to constantly keep us up to date on all things PETA." I think there could be something to discuss/debate - you did not touch on the article at all but on my posting it.

[flvegan]

12. Yes, yes I did.

Now if you want to debate the subject of your OP or what I posted, that being based on suspicion of intent, well apples and oranges.

[The Straight Story]

15. I guess the only debate here is:

"Tanooki may be just a “suit” in Mario games, but by wearing the skin of an animal, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur."

Does a cartoon/game character wearing fur (or skinning an animal in WOW for example) send a message that it is ok (and on the other side of that, is it OK to wear animal skins like we now do, or how Indians did, etc?)

[flvegan]

18. No it isn't.

Not even remotely. That is, the response to that being "the only debate here"

[The Straight Story]

19. Ok, so there may be more than one

Focusing on them might be productive.

[flvegan]

20. Them?

Meaning PETA?

[The Straight Story]

21. Them being the issues brought up to debate (nt)

[flvegan]

22. I brought up a different issue.

I don't see any debate in the OP.

[demosincebirth]

4. DU should ban PETA posts

[Earth_First]

6. I don't know whether to recc or unrecc this one... n/t

[The Straight Story]

7. Does anyonre really read the greatest page?

I never do. I just post what I find and let it be as it is, and when I read DU I just check GD and Breaking News.

I don't need others to tell me what is the best thing to read.

[Earth_First]

8. Nah, it was more rhetorical than anything else...

I personally find it ridiculous.

[yewberry]

10. New title: PETA issues press release to make people talk about fur.

Now there's a meta title we can use over and over!

[dems_rightnow]

13. OCCUPY MARIO!

Animal hating bastard. And he's always trying to hoard all those gold coins.

[Quantess]

14. Looks stupid and over-zealous at first glance,

but then if it makes people wonder "what's Tanuki fur?" and they find out it's from some dogs being skinned alive in China (which really does happen), then it's worthwhile for raising awareness, at least.

[Arkana]

16. Oh for fucks sake.

The Tanooki suit is an institution. This is why people hate PETA.

[keroro gunsou]

17. not to mention...

a fucking mythological creature.... admittedly based on real animals, but my point stands, tanuki don't fucking exist...

[Art_from_Ark]

23. Actually, tanukis do exist

They are members of the dog family that are native to Japan and parts of mainland Asia. I've actually seen some live tanukis in my neighborhood here in Japan and in the Ueno (Tokyo) Zoo, as well as the occasional roadkill tanuki.

[MilesColtrane]

24. Once again PETA jumps the pointy-toothed sea kitten.

[Matariki]

25. And Dancing With The Stars is "sending a message" that it's okay to be Transgender.

Different issue, same Fundamentalism.