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Mario's Raccoon Suit Enrages PETA

Posted by samzenpus on from the thin-skins dept.

redletterdave writes "PETA believes Nintendo's iconic plumber Mario takes a 'pro fur' stance" because he 'wears the skin of a raccoon dog to give him special powers' in the new handheld game released Nov. 13. PETA illustrated its disgust with Nintendo in an online campaign called 'Mario Kills Tanooki.' The page includes a side-scrolling Super Mario-style game called 'Super Tanooki Skin 2D,' where you play an angry, skinless tanuki that must chase a bloody raccoon-pelt-wearing-Mario across a 16-bit world and try to reclaim its fur."

68 of 491 comments (clear)

  1. More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Informative

    As I noted in my submission yesterday, this stems from their anger at Chinese fur farms that often have tanuki. At first it seems like this directed at Mario and Nintendo however I think they're merely using the popularity of Mario to get this message out about the cruelty of Chinese fur farms.

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Fraktyl · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This is PETA. They're not exactly known for their rational thought processes.

    2. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by wo1verin3 · · Score: 4, Funny

      holy @#@%, Tanuki is a real animal? Today I learned....

    3. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I really wish that PETA would change its top leadership. For some reason, they think that any publicity is good publicity. It isn't when the name of your organization has "Ethics" in it. I expect an organization that talks about the ethics of animal treatment to also have high ethical standards when it comes to debating the ethics of animal treatment. If they want to talk about Chinese fur farms, fine, then please talk about Chinese fur farms. Don't bring a videogame into the discussion where the main character dons a fucking costume of the animal in question.

      It's stunts like these that turn me off of organizations in which I should theoretically have a great interest. Greenpeace, the same goes for you. I wish I would donate to more than three non-profits, but publicity stunts like these make it really hard to do so.

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    4. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by NoxNoctis · · Score: 5, Funny

      PETA used to be run by sane people, but then the crazies came in and scared the sanity away.

      --
      "You're awefully cute, but unfortunately for you, you're made of meat."
    5. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Nidi62 · · Score: 5, Funny

      This is PETA. They're not exactly known for their rational thought processes.

      You must be crazy. Trying to get fish rebranded as "seakittens" so that people would stop eating them does nothing BUT scream rational thinking.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    6. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by SydShamino · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think your comment applies to pretty much every organization that has been drifting toward extremism, both political and non-.

      --
      It doesn't hurt to be nice.
    7. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Applekid · · Score: 3, Funny

      PETS (People for the Ethical Treatment of Statues) added that Mario is sending the message that it's ok to pretend to be a statue.

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    8. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Riceballsan · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yes and no, it is a mythical creature, and it is also a term used to refer to a Japanese raccoon dog or sometimes badgers, it depends on the location. The fictional ones have balls the size of watermelons.

    9. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by MozeeToby · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can't be the only person in the world who it never occurred to that Mario was wearing actual fur, can I? I always assumed he was putting on a costume, not wrapping himself in actually animal parts. I mean, do they think he's crawling inside the dead husk of giant, man sized frogs as well?

    10. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by purpledinoz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      From TFA: "By wearing tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur. "

      I remember playing Mario games when I was younger, and I did not get any hints or ideas that wearing fur was OK. This is completely ridiculous. With this logic, I should get the idea that eating red mushrooms will turn me into a giant. Or eating a flower will give me the ability to shoot bouncing fireballs at people (I wish!). Or that I should pull out turnips from the ground and throw them at people.

    11. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by NoxNoctis · · Score: 5, Funny

      Mmm.... Tasty seakittens! I think I'm suddenly hungry!

      --
      "You're awefully cute, but unfortunately for you, you're made of meat."
    12. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Riceballsan · · Score: 5, Informative

      PETA is corrupt throughout the core of it. More then just the stupid stunts for publicity, they also greatly harm far more then they help in protests. Peta "Rescues" dogs and cats. In 2009 of the animals "rescued" by peta 2,301 were euthanized and a total of 8 were adopted out.

    13. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by CanHasDIY · · Score: 5, Funny

      And what is their opinion on Mario wearing a frog suit?

      That nobody gives a rat's ass about the French...

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    14. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by shadowrat · · Score: 4, Funny

      you obviously haven't been eating the right mushrooms.

    15. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by myth24601 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They should go to China and stage a protest. Perhaps they could take tents and camp out in a park.

      --
      No matter where you go, there you are.
    16. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Captain+Spam · · Score: 4, Funny

      The fictional ones have balls the size of watermelons.

      Huh, I always wondered why Peach put up with Mario's odd fascination with magic outfits and such...

      --
      Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
    17. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I can't be the only person in the world who it never occurred to that Mario was wearing actual fur, can I? I always assumed he was putting on a costume, not wrapping himself in actually animal parts. I mean, do they think he's crawling inside the dead husk of giant, man sized frogs as well?

      It's actual fur in the same sense as Mario is an actual Italian from the Apennine peninsula

      Most likely the the harm in the game is negligible compared to the harm of rampant anthropomorphisation - Tanuki is an animal which will bite, when cornered, not some happy, smiling little dude willing to share his skin with a plumber.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    18. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by ebombme · · Score: 5, Insightful

      [CITATION NEEDED] - No I am not questioning your comment. I really want to see the documentation for this comment so I can send the link to several of my angry vegan female friends...

    19. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by DCstewieG · · Score: 5, Informative

      http://www.aolnews.com/2010/03/09/petas-euthanasia-rates-have-critics-fuming/

      http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=peta+euthanasia

    20. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Most people are familiar with this little gem because it was made popular on Penn & Teller's tv show, "Bullshit", where the show went through PETA expenditures. Apparently the financials of any 503(c) are available to the public... though I've never looked.

    21. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by eldepeche · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm surprised they didn't go with the more straightforward "Mario jumps on turtles to kill them."

    22. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by jzuccaro · · Score: 4, Interesting

      What is their opinion on Mario killing turtles and fish?

    23. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by DigiShaman · · Score: 5, Funny

      When you do shrooms, sometimes you feel larger than life. Herbs (flowers), PCP (star dust), Mario is doing some hardcore shit there! No wonder the goombahs and King Koopa are after his ass. They want payback. Drugs are expensive! If they can't get him, they'll at least hold peach for ransom. He's not the plumber you think he is. Neither is his brother.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    24. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Psion · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hmmm ... it had the opposite effect on me. I started to look as regular kittens as a kind of veal. PETA should be wary of unintended consequences.

    25. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      PETA is NOT a "pro-animal" group, they're an anti-human group. They've got a pretty good track record of showing themselves as having learned everything they know of animal behavior from cartoon animals, and who think that animals couldn't possibly ever actually like people, whether the animal in question is domestic or wild.

      In fact, often, PETA has proven to be more inhumane to animals than animal exploiters, since at least the exploiters usually know how their charges behave, what their needs are, and what would happen if one simply opened all their cages.

      Besides, who said a raccoon suit had to actually be made from a real raccoon? Ever heard of fake fur?

    26. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Beyond_GoodandEvil · · Score: 5, Funny

      I really want to see the documentation for this comment so I can send the link to several of my angry vegan female friends...
      After which they still won't sleep with you.

      --
      I laughed at the weak who considered themselves good because they lacked claws.
    27. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by stephanruby · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It looks just like a raccoon to me. The PETA site refers to it as a raccoon dog. What's the difference between a raccoon dog and a raccoon anyway? Skinning them alive does seem like a cruel process. I would much prefer that they skinned them once they were already dead. I can't really side against PETA, as much as I dislike them, on this.

    28. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by TarMil · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Skinning them alive does seem like a cruel process. I would much prefer that they skinned them once they were already dead. I can't really side against PETA, as much as I dislike them, on this.

      Wait, I missed the part where they have footage of Mario skinning the tanooki alive.

    29. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Arker · · Score: 3, Insightful

      PETA used to be run by sane people

      Umm, no it didnt. Sorry.

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
    30. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by hairyfeet · · Score: 5, Insightful

      yeah no shit. I knew they had passed sanity about 3 exits back when I heard about their "sea kittens" campaign. I swear these crazies want everyone in the world to call fish "sea kittens" because they think 10,000 years of people eating fish can be changed by calling them kittens! I swear to God I'm not making this stuff up, look it up for yourself, the website they made for it is hilarious!

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    31. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by canajin56 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The point is they are "animal shelters" that actually euthanize animals within minutes of "rescuing" them. Like, you give your dog up, they promise to find it a new home, they drive off, they euthanize it while driving, dump it in a a fast food restaurant's dumpster, then drive to the next pickup. Somehow all non-PETA animal shelters manage to not have a kill rate of 99.7%

      --
      ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
    32. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by rivaldufus · · Score: 4, Funny

      Seakittens give Morbo gas.

    33. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by TheReaperD · · Score: 5, Insightful

      There are members of PETA who work hard to uncover and stop animal abuse such as the undercover steer abuse video. The leaders of PETA, especially their marketing team, are batshit crazy and I've never seen anything to contest that view. As far as responses people give about PETA, few, if any, of them are serious. When people see a statement from someone they view as batshit crazy, they either feel the need to offset the crazy (with their own form of crazy) or just find it fun to mock them. I think most people on /. are in category two. Though, who knows, we could hear a story next month of a /.er found in the middle of a sea of dead kittens and I'll have to eat my words.

      --
      "Be particularly skeptical when presented with evidence confirming what you already believe." -
    34. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by martas · · Score: 5, Funny

      The way you ended that sentence broke my brain, you bastard!

      --
      weinersmith
    35. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by geminidomino · · Score: 5, Funny

      You lying sack of crap. Anyone who has ever been subjected to the tyranny of a cat knows that they only have two emotions:

      1) impatiently wanting something, and right this second, you filthy human scumbag.

      2) "Oh, do you still exist? My mind must have wandered."

      It's like having a girlfriend was when I was in highschool: an exercise in masochism.

      Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go clean the litter box again...

    36. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by mattack2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If they could care less about animals, that means they DO care about animals.

                          -Your friendly neighborhood grammar Nazi

    37. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by russotto · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think by "sane people" the OP meant "people who would use attractive naked people to make their point".

    38. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by TapeCutter · · Score: 3, Insightful

      What kind of animal allows another animal that's 1/10 of its weight to hop on its back and make it follow orders, with only a small whip to use for enforcement?

      An Elephant, but if you push it too far it will crush you like a grape.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    39. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by Fjandr · · Score: 4, Informative

      That's an unfortunate URL to post on /., as it will probably receive few click-throughs due to fears of actually being a link to Goatse.

      Just sayin'.

    40. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by mwvdlee · · Score: 4, Funny

      There were two good points on every poster.

      --
      Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
    41. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by xenobyte · · Score: 3, Informative

      PETA used to be run by sane people, but then the crazies came in and scared the sanity away.

      I don't think the sane people ever got to run it... It was pretty much bonkers when it started and then they got worse... To say that they 'drifted' towards extremism is a gross understatement; they ran there and then they pushed the boundaries. Here's a few signs that they're way off the deep end already:

      1) The end justifies the means. Getting the point across no matter what.
      2) Humans, the law, common sense - everything is expendable if it just 'saves' one animal.
      3) It's okay to lie or blatantly abuse anything (nudity and famous people in particular) in order to gather followers.
      4) They never make mistakes or correct errors, even if it kills people.

      It's trivial to Google for these things. Arson and firebombing is cool. Gross vandalism is a hobby. Go vegan, even if it kills you - or your kids. And remember: "You can't handle the truth!"

      --
      "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." -- H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) --
    42. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by JosKarith · · Score: 5, Funny

      Personally the Sea Kittens campaign made me wonder what Land Kittens tasted like... Have to say, not bad dipped in chocolate.
      Though it turns out it's a bad thing to serve on a first date. Never understood why - I mean women love kittens, and love chocolate so the combination of the two should be perfect, right?

      --
      'Don't worry' said the trees when they saw the axe coming, 'The handle is one of us.'
    43. Re:More Specifically Aimed at Chinese Fur Farms by BlueParrot · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Couple of things:

      A) I'm a vegan for ethical reasons

      B) I think PETA are a bunch of self-promoting idiots whose campaigns are more often than not counterproductive

      C) The campaigns they had portraying women as pieces of meat are downright offensive, and have caused them to fall out with many organisations that would otherwise have been sympathetic to animal welfare. In particular a lot of women's rights organisations despise them for it.

      D) If you think this campaign is something , read up about their uses of photography of Auschwitz victims. I kid you not, these people figured it was a good idea to use pictures of burning corpses fresh out of nazi gas chambers as part of a political campaign. Now even if you do think the way the meat industry treats animals is comparable to concentration camps, any remotely sober person ought to realize that a stunt like that is only going to stir up a lot of anger and hurt.

  2. Same thing as violence against people in games by mykos · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would not kill a person, and I would not wear fur. But I would do either in a video game. Video games have not influenced me to murder people or wear fur, because I can tell the difference between games and reality.

  3. Someone tell them about Mario 3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Because they're about 11-13 (depending on which region you're talking about) years late on this one.

  4. Well PETA... by hipp5 · · Score: 3

    you managed to get me on your website with the flash game.

    1. Re:Well PETA... by IMightB · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm waiting for the porn site to go live....

  5. I don't mind the raccoon suit... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But as a card-carrying member of PETF (People for the Ethical Treatment of Fungus), I'm outraged that Mario also stomps on giant, walking mushrooms.

  6. So just wondering.... by Daetrin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dressing up as an animal is bad? Are they going to be going after kids for wearing animal costumes next Halloween?

    And a better question, has anyone told PETA about the furry community yet?

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    This Space Intentionally Left Blank
  7. The definition of a Tanuki. by Zombie+Ryushu · · Score: 5, Informative

    Are these people aware that a Tanuki is a MYTHICAL Japanese Raccoon Youkai (Spirit) with a magic shape shifting abilities that can normally talk like Humans? That is why Mario has his abilities in the game. He didn't skin an actual Raccoon dog, he gained the spirit energy of the Youkai including its Statue ability...

    1. Re:The definition of a Tanuki. by cobrausn · · Score: 4, Informative

      Kotaku had a decent write up of why this is basically either a huge cultural misunderstanding or a naked attention-grab by PETA. Knowing the history of the organization, you decide...

      --
      How does it feel to be a liar with pants constantly on fire?
  8. They didn't have an issue 20 years ago ? by The+Sith+Lord · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Tanooki Mario is over 20 years old.
    Why now ?

  9. See? PETA serves a vital purpose by DeathToBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They collect lots of idiots into conveniently concentrated groups, so we can efficiently ignore them all at once.

    --
    Slashdot - News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters, in ISO-8859-1 Has just realised that beta makes this signature redundant
  10. DON'T FEED THE TROLL!!! by SeattleGameboy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    PETA is just a PR equivalent of Internet Trolls. They regularly release outlandish PR releases just so that they can get some publicity. Don't feed the troll. Just ignore them and they will go away.

  11. Turtles by Spad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not to mention the number of turtles he's fucked up over the years. The man is a monster!

  12. Conspiracy!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I get the feeling time will prove Peta is a money laundering operation. They just do crazy shit on the side to make themselves think like they are a legitimate operation. There can't possibly be that many nut jobs to continue funding their actions.

    1. Re:Conspiracy!!! by Capt.DrumkenBum · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There can't possibly be that many nut jobs to continue funding their actions.

      Never bet that there are not enough nut jobs.

      --
      If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
  13. PETA ... by gstrickler · · Score: 5, Interesting

    kills 85% of animals it receives.

    PETA is launching a soft-port .xxx site and put out a gruesome comic book named "Your Mommy Kills Animals" targeted at children.

    I have nothing but contempt for PETA. Even If I were a vegetarian/vegan, I would distance myself from that organization as much as possible.

    --
    make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
  14. Mario's long history of animal abuse by noldrin · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm surprised PETA has not spoken up on how Mario keeps a gorilla in a small cage. Sometimes this poorly treated gorilla escapes causing all sorts of havoc. Mario has also been known to sometimes take shrooms and abuse turtles, causing much property damage while he steals other people's money. And he acts like it's just some sort of game!

  15. Mario: Lost Decade by Moheeheeko · · Score: 3, Informative

    Dont you mean 21-23 years ago?

    1. Re:Mario: Lost Decade by Calydor · · Score: 4, Funny

      Thank you SO much for making me feel old, you bastard.

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
  16. Peta are fuckwits. by bmo · · Score: 4, Informative

    Peta gives a bad name to actual animal welfare activists, you know the ones, the ones that actually find homes for abandoned animals instead of killing them.

    Don't give an animal to a PETA "shelter" unless you want it dead.

    --
    BMO

  17. I feel enlightened by Tarlus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So the message is that something fun and lighthearted can be made from the skinning of live animals?

    --
    /* No Comment */
  18. Sing Along!: by Hartree · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Ask any mermaid you happen to see. What's the best tuna? Kittens of the Sea!"

  19. Might have the opposite effect by grouchomarxist · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...if these sea kittens are tasty, then kittens must be tasty too.

    1. Re:Might have the opposite effect by bentcd · · Score: 5, Funny

      ... then kittens must be tasty too.

      Kittens?

      Oh, you mean land salmon.

      --
      sigs are hazardous to your health
  20. And Mario is the problem? by sammy+baby · · Score: 3, Funny

    God help them if they play Skyrim. I swear I'm swimming in wolf pelts, fur boots, and leather bracers.