DADWAGON

We didn’t really get a chance last week to address the Facebook campaign in which users are asked to change their avatars to cartoon characters, a move that will somehow supposedly fight child abuse. Luckily, we have a small subsidiary Website known as Gawker that takes care of the little bits and pieces we just don’t have time for. On Friday, they did a good job pointing out how idiotic the campaign is with this little imaginary conversation:

• GAWKER: So, abuse any kids today?
• CHILD ABUSER: Nope.
• GAWKER: Why not?
• CHILD ABUSER: It’s this cartoon thing. I guess I never realized people cared so much about child abuse that they would go to the trouble of changing their Facebook avatar for a day.
• GAWKER: Actually they’re changing their profile pictures for the whole weekend.
• CHILD ABUSER: Dear God…

And today they took the subject up again, now that rumors are spreading about who was behind the whole thing to begin with:

“Pedophiles” are not “behind” this campaign, which is just a moronic way to make everyone feel better about themselves while also participating in the kind of sickening nostalgia for art-murdering pop culture ephemera that represents the nauseating, decadent end of western “civilization.” Really! Just… take my word for it, okay? (Know Your Meme says it began as a joke in Greece and Cyprus.)

Anyway, we just wanted to let you know that we do have people working on this important issue, even if they don’t actually, you know, “work” for “us.” But at least they’re channeling our feelings on the matter.