Different anon. So your problem with Webber isn't even the fact that he turned the Sonic brand into being a self hating millennial and it's because he used a dated meme three years ago? Maybe I don't understand how it could bother someone since I personally feel like that specific joke is so far removed from the original intent as well as it's kind of forgotten to begin with. Not saying no one can be hurt by it, but I don't relate
Like I said, it’s not the only example of saying something that isn’t really super kosher. For example, they also used that account to signal boost the President of Brazil, who was, even then, a pretty controversial figure due to his pro-dictatorship views (among others).
Speaking personally, I’m a proponent of trying not to hate-share content, because that’s how hate spreads. Even something as simple as quote-retweeting to say “I can’t believe this” means you’re making their message easier to find.
Think of it like this: there’s a poisonous gas outside. Would you ever open the door to just say “PEEE-EW!! IT SURE STINKS OUT THERE”? Of course not. You’d be letting the poison in. There is a responsibility for people in positions of popularity to be aware of what doors they are choosing to leave open for their audience.
Because it’s the internet in 2019. Even telling someone “DON’T DO THIS, IT IS BAD” will be taken as an open invitation to do the opposite of that, out of curiosity if nothing else. It’s an element of human nature, and one that can be easily exploited. Keep those doors shut and do not help spread hate if at all possible.
Also, consider that you call it a “dated meme,” but it was still something they had on their mind, and still said, despite it having a very intentionally belittling message to marginalized groups. The same people that message was targeted to hurt were understandably frustrated the Sonic twitter said it. And, instead of doing anything to make amends, that twitter just pretended like there was never a problem to begin with, something they continue to do to this very day.
Call it whatever you want, I call it suspicious. How many gross, nasty, hurtful people are STILL only just now finding these tweets for the first time and thinking, “Yes, Sonic the Hedgehog is a place where I feel welcome”? If you don’t think that happens, positively ancient tweets of mine still get random likes (The most recent like on this tweet is from an account created in 2019, despite the tweet being made in 2015). Just because it happened last week, or last month, or last year doesn’t mean it ceases to exist.
They can make as many tweets as they want about supporting LGBT pride, but as long as they leave those other doors open, it will always ring a little hollow to my ears. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
