Home Grown Cafe co-opts the "Occupy" phrase into a marketing tool for their business.

Rant warning: this may be a little caustic.

Here is the flyer that caught my attention this morning:

To be sure:  This is not an Occupy DE event.  It is meant only as a way to attract patrons to this Halloween themed show.  And Occupy DE does not seem happy about it.   In case you were thinking "Maybe Home Grown is trying to show solidarity with the movement", there's this subtitle which starts off the official Facebook invite: 

"...because you can't wasted and listen to rock music on Wall Street."

Yes, they wrote "Because you can't wasted".  And by the way, I'm pretty sure you can do those things at Occupy rallies, but I digress. 

Reaction was swift from actual Occupy DE supporters, who left the following comments for Home Grown:

"This is totally inappropriate. I used to support Homegrown, but this crosses a line. Its like having a bodybag party in honor of Iraq soldiers. TASTELESS."

"This is out of line and tasteless. Opportunist crap like this will make me take my business down to Mojo Main."

"I'll bring it to the group's [Occupy DE's] attention. Most of us are in Newark anyway, so we'll remember this shit when we make decisions about eating and drinking out on Main Street."

"I'm gonna light up a big blunt of homegrown marijuana in this place tonight. Just for using the name occupy and the name homegrown... i'm gonna show everyone just how much a bunch of posers you all really are."

"...this is an 'Occupy' event?"  [Answer from a different commenter]: "The exact opposite".

"I think using the OCCUPY association for your own profit is disgusting. The Occupy movement is working hard to improve all of our lives, while Homegrown, is a business for profit. Please consider using a different term to attract customers - and consider donating supplies or food to the REAL Occupy cause. Please come see the Occupy Delaware FB page for details." 

[This last comment was responded to by members of Villains Like You and Tail, the bands involved in the event, with chants of  "Occupy [commenter's name]!" and accusations that she's an uptight kill-joy who ruined the fun for everyone.  Later, one of the same band members advised the woman 'no hard feelings', because they were just 'pulling her leg'.  Guys, calling someone an uptight killjoy does not fit the definition of 'pulling ones leg', making that one weak attempt at an apology.]

But my absolute favorite part of the whole exchange was this official response from Villains Like You, ostensibly thought up after they realized that the numbers were growing of those not happy with the usage of the "Occupy" term:

"this is not an occupy event, though we encourage their movement and welcome all to come peacefully groove out to some rock and roll.  understand: we're young, pissed off musicians who feel the same way you do."

Oh. OH!  You're young, pissed off musicians, you say?  Well ... WHY didn't you say so in the first place!  Because that TOTALLY makes it cool.  D'ja hear that, Occupy DE organizers?  You can call off the dogs now, they're young, pissed off musicians.

Now it's time for my own caveat: I am not a supporter - or a detractor - of Occupy DE or Home Grown.  (The bands involved, however...oy).  And I'm not against humor - I've laughed at many jokes aimed towards this movement.  But I do agree this is an ill-thought and ill-timed marketing idea.  Especially, and this is the part that baffles me, in a hippy-themed cafe that's exactly the kind of place you would expect 'Occupy' supporters to patronize.  I can see this working for a place that's a hang-out  for conservatives, inclined towards ridicule of the Occupy movement, but why would Home Grown want to alienate the activist crowd?