Officer Bubbles takes on the Internet; Internet laughs ruefully
These days, almost everyone knows Adam Josephs, a.k.a. Officer Bubbles. The Toronto cop famously threatened a bubble-blowing G20 protester with arrest while on camera, and the ensuing video unleashed a torrent of on-line criticism, mockery and—at least according to his lawyers—defamation in the form of satirical cartoons. Josephs has filed a $1.2-million lawsuit against YouTube to have his anonymous on-line tormentors unmasked.
According to the National Post:
But the lawsuit was not filed in response to the original video, but rather to a cartoon that was later uploaded in which a policeman wearing a name badge “A. Josephs” is shown arresting Santa Claus and U.S. President Barack Obama among others, and punching a photographer in the face.
If the cartoon may have been intended to emphasize abuse of police power during the summer protests, the lawsuit over it and pursuant comments may illuminate what some see as abuse of anonymity granted to online commentators.
The Internet is basically shrugging this off with a chuckle. The Toronto Star found one of the commenters, who was only too happy to shed his anonymity and get in some extra barbs at Josephs while he was at it. “I don’t know why this guy wants to draw more attention to himself,” Todd Mara told the paper. Meanwhile, cartoons continue to be uploaded to the Internet, with the pseudo-Josephs displaying a weapons haul, kettling protesters and even falling in love.
One of them ends with “Next week: Officer Bubbles shoots kitten stuck in tree.” Sure, that’s mean, but we can’t wait to see it.
• More ‘Officer Bubbles’ cartoons online [Toronto Star]
• ‘Officer Bubbles’ cartoons pop up on YouTube again [Globe and Mail]
• Documents: Statement of claim from ‘Officer Bubbles’ lawsuit [National Post]
• ‘Officer Bubbles’ files $1.2M suit [National Post]
• Hamilton man stands up to ‘Officer Bubbles’ over comments [Toronto Star]
• Civilizing the Internet, one lawsuit at a time (for now) [Forbes]
Love the fact that the Officer Bubbles video is posted with the article so I can finally see that what he is suing over is nothing compared to the much more interesting real life video where Officer Bubbles earned his moniker.
Jesus what a pussy, he’s just bitchy cause he’s out having to actually work a beat instead of pushing a desk 9-5 like he wants to so badly. Can’t you see how its irritating the sand in his vag?
He just needs a doughnut. Sprinkles. But if they fall of and touch his hand. Its a weapon…
My God, he should be required to pay everyone on the Internet for having to put up with his nonsense. Such a baby.
This guy is a real jerk, Adam Josephs (Officer bubbles) should be told to go and find another job.
265. (1) A person commits an assault when
(a) without the consent of another person, he applies force intentionally to that other person, directly or indirectly;
How on earth he thinks that a bubble being blown that happens to land on his person is an intentional application of force is absolutely beyond me. By his logic you could arrest someone for assault if they sneezed and you think some of the sneeze landed on you. What. An. Asshole.
Alls I dids waz to arrest dat bubble blowin’ beyotch! Dose waz my orderz. Why is everyone pickin’ on me?
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!!!!!!
($1.2 million dollars! mmmmmmmmmm……)
I don’t see the difference when Family Guy, or South Park makes fun about people, and when the internet makes fun about people?
Bashing on anons for voicing their opinion about this twat is just wrong, as he does deserve everything he’s getting thrown at him now.
I don’t have any sympathy.
what is officer bubbles not getting?
freedom of speech?
the nature, importance & [well] freedom of satire?
the fact that the more he tries to get the upper hand in such a, ahem, manly manner, the more he’ll have the world laughing at him in its own manner?
that he still has the option to consider whether he might perhaps maybe pause for a moment to, god forbid, think about proportions, and this also regarding the arrest?
i hope you allow me to leave this link here leading to officer bubbles’ nightmare:
http://chzgifs.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/287d6f39-924b-4226-a09d-3c70e228fbdc.gif
I think our poor officer is traumatized by soap bubbles as a child.
Maybe the bubbles get on his eyes and made him cry, thats why he needs to wear sunglasses everywhere.
I’m challenging officer Joseph (Ossifer Bubbles) to a cage fight with Me! The rules require you Must Fight for at least 30 seconds in the first round.
Thats all I need people.
Kevy Cagefighter
Ya he brought shame to Canada, and for a whopping 1 billion dollars. Oh do I now have to worry about my right to free speech?
If officer bubbles would have appologized and took it lightly he probably would have been a guest on a TV show. But it appears that Officer bubbles, fell short of a few.