Doesn't "hoax" imply an attempt at deception? This was a viral marketing campaign carried out with lite brite displays in the shape of a cartoon character, placed in obvious public areas. I've yet to see or read anything that would indicate an intent to "hoax" anyone by leading them to believe these ads were something else. The only "hoax" is in the mind of the public officials who overreacted and their enablers in the hysterical media.
heheh.. What a bunch of morons. What sort of bomb squad to they got there in Boston? The things are a big yawn in the NINE other cities where they are up, but Bostonians have a heart attack. BAHAHAHA!