Complaint Review: www.bonsaikitten.com - New York New York

I've been to the infamous site, and seen the pictures. There are no Japanese men stuffing kittens into jars. These are American students, training possibly for computer engineering or graphic arts. They might have graduated by now. The F.B.I. had already fully investigated the site years ago, to determine and verify that no real harm came to real animals. The students were carefully questioned, and it was determined to be a hoax. Bonzai does not automatically equate or link to Japan. There might be drinks out there called Bonzai shots, or recipes, that doesn't mean it's Japanese. This word has been integrated into our culture for decades. This is a very sick dark humor. Unfortunately, there are people who laugh at this kind of thing. (Maybe we should keep them away from small children and animals) This is like a really dark version of MAD magazine or National Lampoon, only at some bottem feeding level. These are the kind of people who write or graph cartoon books on 100 Ways to Kill a Cat, or 100 Ways to Kill a Dog. There are no laws placed against odd, dark, querky humor. If so, we would have to make humor illegal all together, because how would we make this determination? Here is a sitation, where we carry the burden for "Freedom of Speech", but it's worth every pound, for other situations. The photos are computer generated, and designed by a group of ?M.I.T.? students, as a prank. There are fake sites, that Microsoft and VeriSign term "Spoofing Hazards". They have it all set up, so that you think it is real. Some are more menacing, and plan to attack your system with viruses, steal your email or identity among other things. This one is just a bunch of students with sick humor. The image I saw had just-born kittens, most likely still nursing, in one layer, overlapped by a thick glass jar. There was no pressure indicated or apparent to the body of the animals. There were no tubes or other items inserted in the animal cavity, just the overlapping of a thick jar. These could be two different photographs merged into one. This is what I saw, unless they have since changed it. Now, about P.E.T.A.---I've been to the various Animal Abuse sites, and am disappointed with their reaction. This is just my impression, but I believe as a people, we are ALL smart enough to know, you cannot raise a kitten in a jar. We are just a little smarter, than they will give us credit for. Instead of appreciating our concerns regarding animal abuse, their notices are condescending and non-informative. A jar is not a substitute for a fetus. I think we are aware of this scientific impossibility. All of their notices seem to say the same thing: "The Bonzai Kittens are a cruel hoax, and no they are not growing kittens in a jar", not the exact words, but something to that effect. Any information I got, didn't come from ANY of those sites, which is a let-down, because it's still in their territory fake or not. And for the MIT students, if they have that kind of ingenuity and skill??--get a job--get some therapy--or don't have kids or pets, and grow up.

Perhaps using the word "joke" was not the best idea... fact is, its a hoax... and EVERY major animal organization knows this. As my organization (which could be considered major, depending on who you ask) puts it: ----------------------------------------- This website is a JOKE. It has been around for several years now. The FBI has investigated this website and its creators, and have found no evidence of any kind to suggest that actual abuse has been committed. Kittens are NOT really being grown in glass jars. The photos were manipulated using photo editing software by graduate students at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The site is protected by the U.S. Constitution, under the First Amendment which guarantees freedom of speech, regardless of how stupid or disgusting you may find it. ** The site is a hoax! PLEASE do not email us to report it ** A Note on Hoaxes Please remember that you should not believe everything you see on the Internet or in email. If you are unsure whether something being passed around is real or not,you should check the Urban Legends website, The Urban Legend Reference Pages or the alt.folklore.urban newsgroup before you promote or forward incorrect information. Although its not impossible for a hoax to not be listed in these resources, a vast majority of them are. At the very least please do a few searches in Internet search engines to see if you can find out more information. ----------------------------------------- No crime has been committed here folks... whether or not you find the "joke" funny, they have the right to post it, so don't waste any more brainpower over it - and more importantly, DO NOT contact the animal organizations about it. We have been dealing with this site (and its mania) for years now. For more info about the hoax, see: http://www.pet-abuse.com/faq/bonsai.php

Hi, I just reported this indecent site to a friend at PETA. This is not funny in any way. You can't tell me that these kittens are actually enjoying this. Joke or not it's sick! Watch out Bonsaikitten.com PETA IS on its way.

I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS WEB SITE ON THIS SITE AND HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO LOOK AT IT, JOKE OR NOT. I AGREE WITH THE PEOPLE ABOVE WHEN SAID EVEN IF IT IS A JOKE IT IS SICK TO TORTURE ANY ANIMAL AND TO SHOW IT ONLY GIVES THE DEMENTED IDEAS AND SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN. WHO EVER STARTED THIS "JOKE" SHOULD HAVE A TUBE SHOVED UP HIS BUTT........WELL, PROBULLY ALREADY HAS.

No offence to all that say this is a bad joke, but why is there pictures of these kittens with tubes in there asses and they are squashed into jars! That is as real as they come as far as I am concerned, you can't tell me those pictures are made up. So that means there is a sicko out there running around possing lil kittens with tubes in their asses and crammed in jars for fun and a joke! NO WAY!!!! That would be like saying: I saw child porn on a site and it was a joke! I am tearably sorry but I can't see this site being pasted of as a joke. I luv my animals and would never to that to them to take pictures for a joke!

I have been reading this report and I am astonished. I don't understand why people find this amusing?

If you are one of those people have you ever seen animal abuse first hand?? Have you ever owned a pet? WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU???

I hope that you people wise up and realize that these types of things and worse do happen on a daily basis. When you turn these types of things into jokes you make them OK, you in turn become the same as anyone whom is actually doing these things or things similar to this. Think of all the impressionable chideren who might see these types of things and think its ok. It will desensitize them or intensify them either way. Why do you think I care so much??

I had the displeasure of viweing the Bonsai site a few months ago. Luckily, I was able to determine that it was just a bad joke after about 15 or 20 mins, but until then, I was in complete shock.

Looking back, I can see how many others may not not be able to see that the site is a joke, especially since there was no warning, disclaimer, explanation, etc. I had to calm down before I was able to figure it out.

In any event, prank or not, any website that jokes about torturing animals is a complete discrace, and in my opinion should be removed.

M. Steven Papi
Rip-Off Report staff
badbusinessbureau.com

I knew after the first ten minutes on this site that it was a joke. Sorry you thought it was real, but don't lose any sleep over it it is just a silly idea like many other on the web.

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
@
Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion

Rebuttal:
Wise up! This site is a joke, and if you read it carefully enough you will realize it.