Poll: Better symbol of internet anonymity, Guy Fawkes or Laughing Man

[Zontar]

Over the years several symbols of internet anonymity have arisen. Most don't catch on but two managed to do so better then most, likely stemming from both being heavily used in works of fiction to popularize them, the Guy Fawkes mask (spawned from V for Vendetta) and The Laughing Man (spawned from Ghost in the Shell). Though the battle is pretty much over at this point with Guy Fawkes becoming the de facto face of anonymity, which do you prefer?

Personally, I like The Laughing Man better for a multitude of reasons. First it was used by a hero, while the Guy Fawkes mask was worn by a villain who was just as evil as those he fought against (the movie screwed up the adaptation, in the comic V is an anarchist and the real 'hero' if the detective caught between supporting a system he knows is evil and hunting a man willing to take down the system even if it means letting the world burn). Just on the philosophical level of what the men behind them represent (Laughing Man was fighting corruption) and the fact that the real Guy Fawkes was a religious terrorists, that alone is enough to repulse me and give Laughing Man my vote.

On top of that, it's just more pleasing on the eyes to look at.

Well, that's my opinion, what about you guys (and I just know someone with a Laughing Man profile avatar is going to show up, mark my words).

 

[Queen Michael]

The Guy Fawkes mask is just cooler from an aesthetic point of view.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Guy Fawkes was a real person, his mask just got used by a comic book and later a big budget movie.

In fairness, I didn't like the movie, nor have read the comic, but using a real person, especially one most using don't really know the history of...yeah, bit of a bad joke there.

At least with the Laughing Man, all you have to do is watch the show.

 

[Zontar]

Guy Fawkes was a real person, his mask just got used by a comic book and later a big budget movie.

I'm aware of that, but the comic (and later movie) are what popularized him.

Ironically, all those Occupyers who used them are directly giving money to Warner Brothers by buying them.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Guy Fawkes was a real person, his mask just got used by a comic book and later a big budget movie.

I'm aware of that, but the comic (and later movie) are what popularized him.

Oh sure, that's my point. They are using an image from an adaptation of someone co-opting a real person. Reminds me of people wearing Che Guevara shirts without knowing anything about the actual Ernesto Guevara.

Ironically, all those Occupyers who used them are directly giving money to Warner Brothers by buying them.

Which is another reason it's a poor symbol, except for kids playing at being revolutionaries.

 

[FPLOON]

The Laughing Man... but, mostly because of the [endless] phrase that circulates within the logo...

Spoiler: So catchy...

http://orig07.deviantart.net/0606/f/2010/002/f/3/laughing_man_logo_gif_by_sushiman0001.gif

Otherwise, the only reason why I like the movie V was because the main antagonist played the MC in the movie version of 1984...

 

[fenrizz]

I thought Guy Fawkes masks where the de facto symbol already?

Never seen this Laughing Man symbol before, but I can't say I like it.
The Guy Fawkes mask is already iconic.

They are using an image from an adaptation of someone co-opting a real person. Reminds me of people wearing Che Guevara shirts without knowing anything about the actual Ernesto Guevara.

Don't really see the problem with this.
The symbol is far greater than the man, and that is what matters.

Che Guevara, or Guy Fawkes, ceased to be a man long ago and has instead become a symbol.

Things take on new meanings all the time, it's perfectly normal.

 

[Zontar]

I thought Guy Fawkes masks where the de facto symbol already?

Never seen this Laughing Man symbol before, but I can't say I like it.
The Guy Fawkes mask is already iconic.

I already admitted as much in the OP, but it could have gone either way as the use of both was pretty common on image boards in the mid 2000s, it wasn't until the 2006 release of the V for Vendetta movie that the mask won out, and even then it wasn't for some time after that which if gained mainstream notoriety. Had things gone a little differently, the (better) symbol could have been the one everyone thinks about now when one brings up the topic.

 

[busterkeatonrules]

I like the Fawkes mask because Internet anonymity is used for both good and evil, as well as anything and everything in-between. And, of course, one person's idea of heroic Internet vigilantism is inevitably someone else's idea of pointless trolling. If not outright terrorism!

Guy Fawkes himself is the ideal poster boy for this concept because he was both a selfless hero, a ruthless villain, and just some mindless terrorist - all at the same time! It simply depends on where - if anywhere - you stand on the idea of getting a new government into power by blowing up the existing one.

To those who celebrate Guy Fawkes Night: Can you ever really be sure that the person next to you wants to parade that effigy down the street for the same reason that YOU do?

That's the beauty of it.

 

[Guffe]

Fawkes, mainly because I think I've seen the other symbol like once and had no idea it was something like this.
For me GuyFawkesMaks = Anonymity

 

[DEAD34345]

Guy Fawkes was a real person, his mask just got used by a comic book and later a big budget movie.

I'm aware of that, but the comic (and later movie) are what popularized him.

Ironically, all those Occupyers who used them are directly giving money to Warner Brothers by buying them.

Um... What? You know we in England have a whole annual celebration revolving around him, sometimes it's actually even called Guy Fawkes day (although pretty much everyone I know just calls it bonfire night). Meanwhile most people in general won't have even heard of V for Vendetta.

OT: Guy Fawkes' mask looks cooler, you can actually use it as a mask, and it's much less obscure. Seems an obvious choice to me.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Um... What? You know we in England have a whole annual celebration revolving around him, sometimes it's actually even called Guy Fawkes day (although pretty much everyone I know just calls it bonfire night). Meanwhile most people in general won't have even heard of V for Vendetta.

Sure, but the US Occupy movement as a whole probably isn't well informed about English holidays.

 

[renegade7]

I like Guy Fawkes because it's funny that the face of anonymity is of a guy that failed so catastrophically his failure is celebrated every year.

It's like the face of failure.

Also, given that Guy Fawkes' actual intentions were the exact opposite of creating a free society.

On the other hand, the masks look a lot more melodramatic, and melodrama is one of the four Fundamental Forces of the Internet, so let's go with that.

Guy Fawkes was a real person, his mask just got used by a comic book and later a big budget movie.

I'm aware of that, but the comic (and later movie) are what popularized him.

No, it was long, long before that he became popular as an ironic symbol of rebellion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot_in_popular_culture

 

[Thaluikhain]

No, it was long, long before that he became popular as an ironic symbol of rebellion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot_in_popular_culture

For a given value of popular, yes. I'd still say it's due to the movie (and to an extent, the comic) that you see it so much nowdays.

 

[Dalisclock]

The Laughing man is a much more likeable and sympathic character, essentially being a version of Holden Caulfield who wasn't an obnoxious jerk.Guy Fawkes, however, is much more representative of the internet in general. A guy who tried(and failed) to blow up parliament for dubious reasons and then got celebrated for it for the next several centuries just kind of sets the tone for the stereotypical internet denizen who will do/say terrible things, often badly, for stupid reasons because "nobody knows who I am in real life".

 

[Barbas]

I'm partial to neither. The Fawkes mask, in particular, has been worn out like the Che Guevara shirts through overuse by people unaware of its origins. I suggest an update.

How about this? I think it's fitting; self-proclaimed good guys and heroes with egos will love it for its association with antics, while those who know its origins will find it fitting because it represents the inner sociopath: the deluded, emotionally crippled, cynical, ingratiating, opportunistic, hypocritical coward who can usually be found first in line for the lifeboats.

Spoiler

Note that it should not be pinned automatically and unthinkingly to anyone, as anonymity is not an indicator of cruelty, malice, cowardice or any other such fault. That in itself would be cruel, and would not be worth wounding one of the people you will meet who has conversely had their most positive qualities amplified by anonymity. While one or more of the faults above would accurately describe a lot of people, that is from something to be celebrated. I don't believe there are simply bad people, only good people who are lazy and/or self-indulgent in their actions.

That said, I think the above would make an adequate replacement for a lot of the people I've seen who take an almost perverse pleasure in donning the Fawkes mask or the Laughing Man. If we're talking about everybody collectively, though, the little blank faces to the left of every new Escapist account are fine.

 

[Sarge034]

Imma say neither. A big floppy dick would do the job nicely. But if I had to choose one I'd go with the guy fawkes mask.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Personally, the Laughting Man especially when I have watched that anime.

In saying so an average joe may not get the reference where the laughting man is from while at least with Guy Fawkes is based on a historic figure and tht V for Vendetta kinda made it popular (made aware) and brought it to phyiscal form with that mask.