Peter Berdovsky and Sean Stevens must feel like they’re performing in a B-movie, where they, as the lead characters, appear to have emerged from a marijuana-induced fog to discover they’re wanted terrorists. Think “Dude, Where’s My Car?” except with Boston Mayor Tom Menino foaming at the mouth.

As the free world knows by now, the dread-locked Berdovsky and his mop-topped buddy Stevens have been charged as masterminds in the terrorism hoax that gripped Boston this week. Their crime, as alleged, was being hired to surreptitiously place dozens of electronic signs around the city.

The signs were part of a viral marketing campaign for the cartoon Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and featured a two-dimensional character – a Mooninite – extending its middle finger. At night, these battery-powered signs lit up; during daylight, however, they were mistaken as improvised explosive devices.

Hence the arrest of Berdovsky and Stevens, who giggled their way through an arraignment hearing on Thursday, while fellow artists protested outside the courthouse. The whole situation is surreal, topped by the possible punishment for these hapless brigands: five years imprisonment for causing the ruckus.

Dude, what’s going on here?

We’re wondering the same thing. Berdovsky and Stevens were hired by an advertising firm to place the Mooninite signs around Boston. The firm, in turn, was hired by Turner Broadcasting, the parent of the network that carries Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Adult Swim. There’s much blame to spread in this saga.

These actions were not malicious, and inadvertently caused the terrorism scare. Yes, the response by public safety officials was massive, and the city unnecessarily paralyzed. Turner is ultimately culpable for the campaign and its unintended result, and should compensate Boston for its efforts.

Berdovsky and Stevens are a different story.

Their intent must be weighed against possible punishments, and there’s little chance the state of Massachusetts can prove these two jokers intended their actions to terrorize Boston. After all, many more effective ways exist to spread fear than through small illuminated cartoon characters.

Like throwing a pig’s head into a mosque, for example.

Except when one does this – as Brent Matthews did on Lisbon Street in Lewiston last summer – the penalties are far less severe. Actually, they’re largely nonexistent, given the recent decision by federal authorities not to charge Matthews under federal hate crime laws.

Seems unfair, doesn’t it? The cockamamie story Matthews cooked to defend himself – the defrosting frozen head slipped from his hands into a mosque full of praying men – wilts under logic’s spotlight. His behavior clearly intended to frighten and terrorize Lewiston’s Somalis.

Matthews has fallen through a large loophole – Maine lacks laws under which to charge him. And despite 2,400 bills submitted in this legislative session, none specifically addresses this void.

Where’s the real crime here?