Indigo_Dingo:

But whats scary is that he has such support. Christ, the man could run for office and win on this "fame".

Outside of gaming circles I'm pretty sure that hardly anyone has heard of him. He's just another ambulance chaser that jumps up and down for attention every time there's a school shooting.

Destroy his rantings with logical arguments and sooner or later he'll just wither and disappear. Sooner the better.

Calantyr:
Destroy his rantings with logical arguments and sooner or later he'll just wither and disappear. Sooner the better.

Hey, wasn't there a quote where someone said that 'If logic worked, then there wouldn't be religion'? Even if there wasn't/isn't, the quote (now belong to 'a procrastinator') would still be relevant.

- A procrastinator

Jack himself is the proof that games don't cause violence. If it was so, he would have been already dead since Vice City.

The only reaction I can come up with is as follows:

....what

This guy is the Douchemaster General

How does anybody not fail to be amused by his antics?

Yes, he's a douche. Yes, he's against all that you stand for and vocal about it. The fact is that stunts like this makes us look like the good guys.

Heaven help us if his successor is actually competent. If the next JT gets the sympathy of the courts and senators, then the gaming industry is royally boned, right or not. Fortunately, that'll never happen while Jackie-boy is on the case. No one wants to be a douche by association.

I detest this man.

Someone get him laid..

-Quindo

I think he deserves to be one of SSBB's characters.

I read that while in court with Janet Reno, he filed for battery because she touched his shoulder. The man really is a nutcase.

If anything Jack Thompson is evidence that video games can cause significant psychological trauma, presuming it hadn't been there all along.

Karisse:
Whenever I hear about video games contributing to real world violence I think of Yahtzee's Manhunt review.

There's a plethora of scientific information and federal reports that debunk the notion of video game's contributing to violent crimes, not to mention the fact that if a 12 year old is playing a 18+ rated game it's something the parents should be held accountable for not paying attention. If you're up for a good read, check the link below; it's eight myths about video game violence debunked by studies and reports. Enjoy.

http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

Wow! That is one well sourced and concise article, and it comes from PBS too. Relatively balanced, and written by the director of comparative studies at MIT!

greygelgoog:
If anything Jack Thompson is evidence that video games can cause significant psychological trauma, presuming it hadn't been there all along.

I'm sure there have been one or two cases where the Florida bar asked for him to undergo pyschological testing. Sadly, they couldn't force it on him, mores the pity. And I think Hilary Clinton was on about games at one point, but who know? Politicians seem willing to do -anything- for attendion and votes (moreso that Wacko-Jacko (either of them)). And there is an MP (Member of Parliament) here in who was trying to get games banned because one kid went (more) insane after playing manhunt and killed another kid. Although I had to give a thin smile when the parent of the insane boy blamed it on the game.

What a crazy, crazy bastard.
This guy is a nuts.
Why not address the fact that it is usually pretty hard for kids to get these games unless parents buy the games for them.
So, does that make the parents bad people? No!
It is people like this that make me sick.

Some more Thompson-esque debarcles, if you hadn't heard of them

wiki:
In 2006, two Michigan gamers began a project dubbed "Flowers for Jack", soliciting donations to deliver a massive floral arrangement to Thompson's office. The flowers were delivered in February along with a letter aimed at opening a dialogue between Thompson and the video gaming community. Thompson rejected this overture and forwarded the flowers to some of his industry foes, with such comments as "Discard them along with the decency you discarded long ago. I really don't care. Grind them up and smoke them if you like."

wiki:
In 2005, he wrote an open letter to Entertainment Software Association president Doug Lowenstein, making what he described as a "a modest video game proposal" (an allusion to the title of Jonathan Swift's satirical essay, A Modest Proposal) to the video game industry: Thompson said he would donate $10,000 to a charity designated by Take-Two CEO Paul Eibeler if any video game company would create a game including the scenario he described in the letter. The scenario called for the main character, whose son was killed by a boy who played violent video games, to murder a number of industry executives (including one modeled on Eibeler) and go on a killing spree at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Video game fans promptly began working to take Thompson up on his offer, resulting in the game I'm O.K - A Murder Simulator, among others. Afterwards, he claimed that his proposal was satire, and to date he has not made his proposed donation.

In response, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, the creators of gaming webcomic Penny Arcade and of the children's charity Child's Play, stepped in to make the donation instead, writing in the memo field of their check, "For Jack Thompson, Because Jack Thompson Won't." Afterwards, Thompson tried to get Seattle police and the FBI to investigate Holkins and Krahulik for orchestrating "criminal harassment" of him through articles on their site

wiki:
Thompson later drew attention to the game's main character, a 15-year old male, being able to kiss other boys. Thompson wrote to ESRB president Patricia Vance, "We just found gay sexual content in Bully as Jimmy Hopkins makes out with another male student. Good luck with your Teen rating now." The ESRB indicated that they knew the content was in the game when they rated the game.

And most worryingly...

In 1990, after his election loss, Thompson began a campaign against the efforts of Switchboard of Miami, a social services group of which Reno was a board member. Thompson charged that the group placed "homosexual-education tapes" in public schools. Switchboard responded by getting the Florida Supreme Court to order that he submit to a psychiatric examination. Thompson did so and passed, and since then has stated on more than one occasion that he is "the only officially certified sane lawyer in the entire state of Florida."

Maybe playing games make you gay Jack? Ever thought of that one?

Hahaha... Dr. Kevorkian, thou hast been dethroned from master of antics.
I really can't think of anything to say to this other than point out the obvious hilarity of the whole thing. Here I had thought he had finally given up, thrown in the towel, and yet here he is again. I do love that guy.

I mean, imagine if someone who was *good* at this was spearheading his mission..

The_root_of_all_evil:
Lots of words

It doesn't need re-enforcement that the man's retarded shenanigans need to be put to rest.

Stop giving this idiot media attention, for the love of god

Indigo_Dingo:

fat american:
Jack Thompsan may be a complete and utter fizzbitch but beating him up or trying to hurt him or threatning him would just prove his point. He would have physical evidence go on tv and say, "Look what they did to me, do you believe they are violent now?"

We could goad him into hitting one of us, and then say "Look at how violent this man is, attacking an innocent child (we'll need someone below adulthood). He has never played a game, and he strikes innocent children". Could work.

I volunteer. I'm in TN, not to far...

Melty Blood:

The_root_of_all_evil:
Lots of words

It doesn't need re-enforcement that the man's retarded shenanigans need to be put to rest.

Agreed, but a few might not be aware of the utter depths this man has tried to sink to. Welching on a charity donation is low, but then trying to arrest the benefactors? That's a whole level of scum below that.

Jack Thompson, suck complete cock.

Heil Strauss as our leader in the Hitler Youth!

I'd really love to meet him - just to find out how much of what he says is just media baiting, and how much he really believes.

I fear it's more the latter than the former...

I would be laughing my head off about this if it weren't for the knowledge that he seriously believes what he is saying.

Has anyone ever sued him for attempting to defame the game industry? I'm pretty sure we could get him for harrassment or at least for libel, what with everything he's done. And for wasting court time, though I think he's already been punished for that.

I find myself wondering where this bile originally started spewing from - what dark, shameful desire for Pac-Man did lead to such awful, guilt ridden transference that this man is clearly displaying?

*Time for a spot of pretentious chin stroking methinks*

Zemalac:
Has anyone ever sued him for attempting to defame the game industry? I'm pretty sure we could get him for harrassment or at least for libel, what with everything he's done.

Well, he is under a restraining order that prevents him from contacting Rockstar/Take Two directly due to his prior antics... hence the current tattling to Mommie.

(The man's a piece of work, let me tell you.)

-- Steve

Slamhound:
How does anybody not fail to be amused by his antics?

Yes, he's a douche. Yes, he's against all that you stand for and vocal about it. The fact is that stunts like this makes us look like the good guys.

Heaven help us if his successor is actually competent. If the next JT gets the sympathy of the courts and senators, then the gaming industry is royally boned, right or not. Fortunately, that'll never happen while Jackie-boy is on the case. No one wants to be a douche by association.

Even if JT's succesor has the persuaion skills of Henry Kissinger, I doubt he'd make much headway.

The games industry is simply too rich. You only have to look at the persistence of tobacco, which is well an truly proven to kill people. Once an industry makes enough money to buy a small country, its a brave politician that attempts to stop them...

IvanRosski:
I find myself wondering where this bile originally started spewing from - what dark, shameful desire for Pac-Man did lead to such awful, guilt ridden transference that this man is clearly displaying?

*Time for a spot of pretentious chin stroking methinks*

*wearing a fake piece of facial hair to stroke* I think he's gay too... just... he seems REALLY anti-gay, and thats often a sign of overcompensation... Or he's just a bigot, but its nicer to think he's just confused rather than mean/evil.

j-e-f-f-e-r-s:
I read that while in court with Janet Reno, he filed for battery because she touched his shoulder. The man really is a nutcase.

She gave him energy for free, and he complains?

At one point, I thought you said Jean Reno.
Ahh.

I wonder how far he's ready to go to harass anyone within the circles of T2's heads.

Doug, you've just proved our point. How could video games possibly have twisted our psyches to the preposterous extent that Thompson claims, when we're just so darn nice, that we even give a disgraceful bigot like him the benefit of the doubt?

I'll be the first to admit it, I understand where Thompson is coming from. I've seen interviews of him and figured that he had a valid argument. However, he seems to have a personal vendetta with Rockstar Games. And I never thought he would go through with something so childish and unprofessional as this. Then again, this is Jack bastard Thompson, the guy that wanted to ban Bully. Oh, and before you track me down for defending Thompson even slightly I'll have you know that I LOVED Bully and am greatly looking forward to GTA IV.

"Jack Thompson hears 7 year old swear, says, 'OOOooooh, I'm telling your mom!'"

Seriously though, this guy will kick the bucket soon. And he's going to go down in just the way his letter said, a peddler of the destruction of people's lives. If he was smart, he'd act his age, own up to his mistakes and put in to work for the ESRB. However he's too afraid to admit he's wrong and will die a suicide bomber who hit the wrong building. I don't hate the guy, I pity him.

I'm looking forward to spotting a Jack Thompson easter egg somewhere in GTAIV.

ShyWinter:
I'll be the first to admit it, I understand where Thompson is coming from. I've seen interviews of him and figured that he had a valid argument. However, he seems to have a personal vendetta with Rockstar Games. And I never thought he would go through with something so childish and unprofessional as this. Then again, this is Jack bastard Thompson, the guy that wanted to ban Bully. Oh, and before you track me down for defending Thompson even slightly I'll have you know that I LOVED Bully and am greatly looking forward to GTA IV.

Well, lets be fair - its not just Rockstar - I seem to recall him claiming EA were selling porn because the Sims had nipples behind the fizzle out thing they have when they go to the loo or what not. This, despite the fact that it wasn't true (the Sims are like barbie and ken dolls in that regard, apparently). He also went onto claim EA were activity supporting modders trying to 'sneek this pornography into the game' by making a mod to remove the filter. Thats right! He accused EA of supporting the fans and customers! And porno, but the first claim is the maddest ;).

Although yes, 7 year olds shouldn't have access to GTA or Manhunt or whatever. But thats not the game-makers fault. Blame lies with moronic storeholders who don't check age, and parents who don't check age either.

Edit: Oh, and it was depressing to hear that parliment (the UK one) actually talked about Bully because it 'lets the player be a bully, which is a serious issue!' Personally, I loved Bully on the 360 and I was bullied as a kid (I was the fat one who lived in aboard for a few years before joining the UK schools, and nerdy). If anything, the character you play in 'Bully' is the anti-bully, picking on the bullys to makes things better for every one.

I think he's riding a media storm, the video game fandom is profitable even to create controversy, he gets on all these shows and spurts bullshit from every imaginable orifice, more controversy to him allows him to repeat for more money.

Think about it, he didn't go onto a debate show because he wouldn't get payed for it, jack thompson; epic IRL trolling stunt? I'm only putting it out there to think about, this e-mail publicity will no doubt equal in more interviews and the possibility of more TV time for Mr.thompson.

I know it sounds highly unlikely, but it's only an idea I'm putting out there, sounds rather unbelievable as i re-read it.

Jack Thompsan makes me want to commit violent acts.

Uh oh, Jacko seems to have resorted to the first grade final defense. Telling the offenders MUM! Did Strauss push him off the swings?

Ultrajoe:
Jack Thompsan makes me want to commit violent acts.

Video games don't cause violence, Jack Tompson does!
Man, I'm tempted to write him an email about that.