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Race Guy is a spin-off series of Rage Guy comics intentionally designed as a protest against clothing retailer Hot Topic's sales of t-shirts featuring the Rageguy mascot. In order to get the shirts pulled, 4chan users launched Operation: Black Rage, an online campaign that involves creating and proliferating racist versions of Rage Guy comics, coupled with a media blitz targeted towards "sensationalist news outlets" to make it appear as if Hot Topic supports racism.

Origin

On November 17th, 2010, American retail chain Hot Topic introduced a new t-shirt design featuring Rage Guy, a stick figure character from the popular internet cartoons that had its beginning on 4chan in late 2008.

HOT TOPIC MY ACOOUNT CUSTOME RSERVIC GIFT CARDS new EW CAR LOG IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT Rewards and rock star status Accessores BOGO & An Denim Just $19 APPAREL ACCESSORIES SHOES NEW MUSIC &M CLEARANCE DIRT SHOW赫秀촘 HOME> NEW Apparel Ken Share This Prodct: g] -'ヒ롤 FU RAGE MEME T-SHIRT $19.00 to $21.00 1. You order a T-shirt online MEW ALL APPAREL PREV NEXTNEW En al to Friend APPAREL BODY JEWELRY GIFTS MUSIC SHOES You check the mail everyday t arrives but 's too smal By Mighty Fine ·100% Wash coid dry low n men's sizes 75102 Listed i xs ADD TO CART Sze chan SAVE TO WISH LIST

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Titled “FU Meme Guy T-shirt” and categorized under “Pop Culture” section, Hot Topic’s open venture into internet memes were met by heavy backlashes and angry reactions from online communities 4chan and Reddit. Some called for a boycott, while others began planning for a strike back. Within the first hours of Hot Topic's announcement, Reddit user iamerroneous posted a thread^[1] informing others that Hot Topic is selling t-shirts with Rage Guy designs, which quickly drew over 300 comments within the first 24 hours.

Operation: Black Rage

Later on the same day, Hot Topic began receiving notifications via Facebook that Rage Comic carries a racist connotation. A smear campaign dubbed Operation: Black Rage was launched by users on 4chan^[7] and Reddit^[2] who sought to taint Hot Topic's brand image by forging and proliferating racist versions of the original Rageguy comics. Several black propaganda tactics were employed in the process, such as spreading disinformation and baiting news media with sensationalism.

Hot Topic's Response

On November 17th, 2010, Hot Topic inititally responded to the accusations of racist jokes with an apology and a follow-up post via Facebook^[3] announcing that the Rageguy t-shirt will be discontinued after its first week of sale:

Hot Topic Like Wall Info Harry Potter SCVNGR YouTube Notes Hot Topic +Others Just Hot Topic Just Others HOT Hot Topic Rage Guy is the character Hot Topic sells, see the original postX from 1 year ago. The character focuses on interesting situations, check out the TOPIC UP image gallery. Race Guy is the newest iteration posted this afternoon, today (the character everyone is talking about) Who created Race Guy? We don't know. Who created Rage Guy? We don't know. We sold the shirt because it is pop culture and the series was funny. Why not let our customers express they're interest in meme's? So now what? Well, Hot Topic is the last company to support racism. Hell, we support diversity and wear it proudly. Now that the character represents racism because of these unknown creators -l nrbe sellingt. After tonight (11/17), it will be removed from our website. Next week, it will be removed from our stores.

":/photos/83508

However, the company reverted its decision^[4] to stop selling the shirt the next day, citing news sources and other online merchandise sites with similar t-shirt designs in stock:

A little meme update for you all. The whole “race guy” was a hoax. Period. People need to get a life.

We refuse to cave to bad people doing bad things. Any other negative comments on our fans’ posts will be deleted.

The last Facebook status update from Hot Topic announced that Hot Topic^[5] will resume sales of the shirt:

After many hours researched and many communities identifying this as a hoax, we've made the decision to continue carrying the "Rage Guy" t-shirt. It is NOT racist.

External References

^[1] Reddit – So Hot Topic is Selling T-shirts With This on Them

^[2] Reddit – QUICK VICTORY! Hot Topic to take down Rage Guy Shirts

^[3] Facebook – Hot Topic's Status Update

^[4] Facebook – Hot Topic Status Update

^[5] Geekosystem – Hot Topic Ends FFFUUU Shirts

^[6] Facebook – Hot Topic Status Update

^[7] 4chanarchive – Operation Black Rage

^[8] 4chanarchive – Operation Black Rage: Part 2

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When I walk by hot chicks what i THINK I look and act like." BITCH, DOES IT LOOK LIKE I CARE? MEANWHLE In Reality RAGE BUILDER.CO

OPERATION: BLACK RAGE 2.0 Recently Hot Topic has discovered the creation of the "Race guy" meme to take the Rage guy tee-shirl product out of their stores, Knowing it was a hoax" they are keeping the tee-shirts in their stores instead of taking them down as they claimed to be doing. We CAN NOT let them do this. They are trying to show dominance over us by taking OUR meme and using it in their products, and who can we blame the failure of Operation: Black Rage on? So what can we do about this? Well, follow the plans of the first Operation: Black Rage of course BUT in addition, spam their product question section with reviews such as the one shown in the example below. Also, most importantly keep on making more " Race guy memes". If we can transform the meme completely into race guy, they will have no choice but to take it down. Simple as that. com for releasing all information of this operation the same day it had started. WELOVEFEEDBACK Hot Topk Altbar many hours rewarched and many communies idfing this as a hoax, we've made the dckian to continue crrying the "Rage Guy t-shirt. it is OT rachl. Check out the link below nwith updated Inf. 1. Go to http://www.hottopic.conm 2. Scroll to the bottow and click About hot topic. 3. On the left hand side at the bottom of the list click Talk to us. OR MAIL US Write a review 5. Open the Door 6. Get on the floor 7 Everybody walk the dinosaur Never forgive... Never forget...

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