News - Jack Thompson proposes violent video game?
Posted by
Ash Paulsen
at 07:29:04 AM EST on 10.12.2005.
Update 2
Rich here again. Alright, I finally got home and was able to see the actual email sent by Jack Thompson to Ash. My previous update was without having any more details than a voicemail to go on because Ash went to class. So, it was my mistake in assuming it was about the content of the article in some way. It was actually about the comments.
Basically, what Jack asked for was that any references to killing him be removed from the comments. I can see where he's coming from as a rational death-fearing human being. But from what I can tell, most of the comments refer to killing "Sack Momson" and similar pseudo-names, which are no worse than Jack's video game proposal. They aren't actually saying to "kill Jack Thompson." There is one comment that says "must kill...Jack Thompson" referring to himself committing the act and that's his right to say. This poster is clearly quite childish in his response, but I don't think he has done anything illegal, nor has GAF for keeping up. But I went ahead and edited his post just to have this legal matter over.
So, as far as I can tell, there is no longer anything even questionably illegal. Unlike actual GAF articles that the staff has written, I'm not willing to risk getting fired from my "real job" to take time out of work to fight Jack in court over somebody's comment about killing him. So do try to keep the killing comments to a minimum. Remember, you're proving Jack right by expressing a desire to kill him. Just express your distaste for him and move on.
Honestly, this whole incident has left a bad taste in my mouth. We will think twice from now on before even covering Jack's future rants.
End update 2
Update for Jack:
Hello Jack. My name is Richard Brownell, the owner of this site. It has come to my attention that you have threatened legal action against Ash, the author of this article. While I'm sure Ash is pleased as peach about this, you probably know as you are a lawyer that this is not the proper way to go about this. Ash is a freelance volunteer who does not work for GAF and is under no contract for his work here. As such, he really doesn't bear any legal responsibility for anything posted here. Plus, even if he was an employee, the appropriate action would still be against the sole proprietor, partner, or corporation before an individual employee.
Regardless though, I have set up an email account if you would like to send me any legal concerns you have regarding the below article at PissOnBrainStems@gamesarefun.com
I am not aware of the nature of your complaint to Ash because he left me a voicemail (he lives across the country) and hasn't forwarded me your email yet. From what I understand it is to do with something in the article below. If we have misquoted you, I would be happy to make any corrections. As for the rest of it, it is protected by our constitutional right to freedom of speech and freedom of press. We have not posted any libel here to the best of my legal knowledge. When we say words like "insanity" and "madness," it is based on our opinion. Note we did not call you insane or mad, just things you have done, and it is our free right to do so. I don't believe anything else in the article could possibly be perceived as libel, so I'll only hit on those.
You can call our journalistic integrity into question if you want and we encourage you to do so. We're always hoping to improve our coverage of video games, after all. But there is no law against being bad journalists or posting inflammatory content so long as it is not libel and is meant to incite readers to violence against a particular individual or group. I sincerely hope you will reconsider your choice to pursue legal action against us. If you truly have a cause you are interested in pursuing to better the world by fighting against crude and violent adult entertainment, then your time would be much better spent doing that than fighting a small fry website.
Again, if you wish to contact us, do so at PissOnBrainStems@gamesarefun.com. I have heard you tend to yell, insult people, and lower yourself to calling people names when you speak to them. I cannot speak to the validity of those stories, but I've given you ample respect with this post and I'd appreciate if you'd do the sane if you contact me. Thank you.
End update for Jack
Well, what do you know: it seems that ever-popular anti-video game activist Jack Thompson is at it yet again, taking aim at the video game industry with yet another one of his attention-mongering stunts of insanity. But this time he's gone and done something that most people likely never thought he'd do:
He's proposed his own violent video game.
Yes, you read that right. Jack Thompson has actually proposed his own violent video game, and he has sent this proposition not only to various members of the press, but also apparently to Doug Lowenstein, the President of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Oh, but it gets better: Thompson has also stated that he will donate $10,000 to the favorite charity organization of Paul Eibeler (the Chairman of Take-Two Interactive, producer of the
Grand Theft Auto series) if any video game company will actually "create, manufacture, distribute, and sell a video game in 2006" based on the scenario he's created.
Following is Thompson's proposal, unaltered and unedited. You have been warned: what follows this sentence is
utter madness. But at least it's pretty friggin' funny. Read on...
(Note: The following italics are Thompson's, not ours.)
---
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Golden Rule
This writer has been saying for seven years that violent video games can be "murder simulators" that incite as well as train some obsessive teen players to be violent.
I've been on 60 Minutes and in Reader's Digest this year explaining how an Alabama teen, with no criminal record, shot two policemen and a dispatcher in their heads and fled in a police car--a scenario he rehearsed for hundreds of hours on Take-Two/Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto video games.
I have sat with boys in jail cells, their lives over because of murder convictions, after they, with no history of violence, have killed innocents while in a dreamlike state. Said one cop who investigated such a murder in Grand Rapids, Michigan: "The killing was like an extension of the game."
The video game industry, through its lawyers, its spokesmen, and its head lobbyist, Doug Lowenstein, the president of the Entertainment Software Association, all say it is utter nonsense to suggest that what is dumped into a kid's head hour after hour, day after day, year after year, could possibly have behavioral consequences. Cigarette ads can persuade kids to smoke, but interactive simulators in which these same kids punch, hack, bludgeon, and maim affect not a wit their attitudes and behaviors, notwithstanding the findings of the American Psychological Association, published in August 2005.
The video game industry says Sticks and stones can break my bones, but games can never hurt me. Fine. I have a modest proposal for the video game industry. I'll write a check for $10,000 to the favorite charity of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc's chairman, Paul Eibeler - a man Bernard Goldberg ranks as #43 in his book 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America - if any video game company will create, manufacture, distribute, and sell a video game in 2006 like the following:
Osaki Kim is the father of a high school boy beaten to death with a baseball bat by a 14-year-old gamer. The killer obsessively played a violent video game in which one of the favored ways of killing is with a bat. The opening scene, before the interactive game play begins, is the Los Angeles courtroom in which the killer is sentenced "only" to life in prison after the judge and the jury have heard experts explain the connection between the game and the murder.
Osaki Kim (O.K.) exits the courtroom swearing revenge upon the video game industry whom he is convinced contributed to his son's murder. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" he says. And boy, is O.K. not kidding.
O.K. is provided in his virtual reality playpen a panoply of weapons: machetes, Uzis, revolvers, shotguns, sniper rifles, Molotov cocktails, you name it. Even baseball bats. Especially baseball bats.
O.K. first hops a plane from LAX to New York to reach the Long Island home of the CEO of the company (Take This) that made the murder simulator on which his son's killer trained. O.K. gets "justice" by taking out this female CEO, whose name is Paula Eibel, along with her husband and kids. "An eye for an eye," says O.K., as he urinates onto the severed brain stems of the Eibel family victims, just as you do on the decapitated cops in the real video game Postal2.
O.K. then works his way, methodically back to LA by car, but on his way makes a stop at the Philadelphia law firm of Blank, Stare and goes floor by floor to wipe out the lawyers who protect Take This in its wrongful death law suits. "So sue me" O.K. spits, with singer Jackson Brown's 1980's hit Lawyers in Love blaring.
With the FBI now after him, O.K. keeps moving westward, shooting up high-tech video arcades called GameWerks. "Game over," O.K. laughs.
Of course, O.K. makes the obligatory runs to virtual versions of brick and mortar retailers Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, and Wal-Mart to steal supplies and bludgeon store managers and cash register clerks. "You should have checked kids' IDs!"
O.K. pushes on to Los Angeles. He must get there by May 10, 2006. That is the beginning of "E3" -- the Electronic Entertainment Expo -- the Super Bowl of the video game industry. O.K. must get to E3 to massacre all the video game industry execs with one final, monstrously delicious rampage.
How about it, video game industry? I've got the check and you've got the tech. It's all a fantasy, right? No harm can come from such a game, right? Go ahead, video game moguls. Target yourselves as you target others. I dare you.
---
Though it's obviously very unlikely that any video game developer will actually take Thompson's proposal seriously (and not only because video game developers usually do not accept proposals from individuals), there will no doubt be some sort of industry reaction to Thompson's latest over-the-top antics. GAF will, of course, keep you updated on anything of the sort.
Source:
GameCube Advanced
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questworld 10.14.2005 at 09:47:22 PM
BTW, just because I mention that Jack's been a little strange lately doesn't mean that I fully support his request to GAF about some of the obscene comments he received on related articles. Death threats, no matter if you mean it or not, isn't something I condone no matter how much you hate the guy (especially if its only a matter of a difference in opinion and on a subject as trivial as videogames).
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questworld 10.14.2005 at 09:40:47 PM
This is the kind of behavior that just grows into something really bad in time. Look at those communities in L.A. where bad elements just grew out of control and now we got neighborhoods people would rather avoid because of the crimes and such.
In regards to this Jack Thompson (before he got really weird), as well as other senators or congressmen who "took a swing" or "waved a finger" at some of the practices done in the videogame industry (i.e. hot coffee mod), many gamers responded so quickly in defense without much thought to what was being said.
And now, Jack Thompson's behaving like a fanboy/hater too. Y'know the type: stubborn, over sensitive, bringing up accusations left and right, defensive, losing coherent logic, sarcastic, etc.
The way I see it, between gamers who behave like that and the way Thompson's been behaving lately, I think they're both in the same boat; "the pot calling the kettle black."
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questworld 10.14.2005 at 09:29:53 PM
What're you blabbering about tetsuo? I haven't even been talking about videogaming elitists or "mainstream ruining the industry because developers cater to them more" or any of those nonsense.
I'm talking about the kind of attitude of people around videogame forums (and even schools for example) and how they behave because they get caught up in the most idiotic of concepts: "CONSOLE WAR." Surely you know what I'm talking about (now?) when its more about fanboys vs. fanboys. The trash talking, the flaming, the baiting, the "pwning," the "console A roxxxers and console B suxxxors" mentality, etc. Don't you people get tired of it all?
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act1985 10.14.2005 at 05:02:19 PM
I didn't mention him because I don't want to get sued, that's why I said that the whole bunch of useless layers an politicians are going to sue me for not pointing to one specifically.
Also, SOMEBODY (not me) needs to get rid of the "isolated mistakes".
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rubesopg 10.14.2005 at 04:37:00 PM
I love how the only press this guy ever gets is on G4. Irony.
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faddy 10.14.2005 at 02:08:57 PM
I wish I could meet Jack. I'd give him a big old bear hug and reassure him we're all people who need to learn to get along. Although logic does NOT in fact work in society, so that's out. But I'd still bear hug him. Probably confuse the poor guy. I'll be sure to wear bike safty gear in case he's an old senile spazz. Ash, if you could, please tell me if he sounded like one. I gathered that, but I want to know if he's an old coot spazz. They are particularly dangerous.
Oh, and that we need fanatics, because the world would fall apart without them. Although HOW fanatic they are is another issue in itself.
How come no one mentions anything about the parents? The idea that someone stages a murder based on a game with REHERSAL. Weren't there any telltail signs? Or am I a looney for thinking the parents are somewhat to blame for letting this go down? Granted I don't know all the details, which I wish I did. Pardon typos, if there are any.
Not just Jack, but people in general who rant about things they think are a threat, but are only because of retards who can't read warning lables for things that, pardon my use of the word, SHOULD bear some common sense not to do it, are kind of stupid. God that was a retardedly long sentence.
Also: His game idea is so out there that I'd play it, and I don't like those sorts of games (Not because they are evil. I just don't care for them.). I do agree that selling these things to minors is bad, because a lot of them are growing into having knowledge about things, and are impressionable. Or permanently stupid. Whichever. AND, you can't spam their sorry asses with charges because they aren't adults, so it's a loosing situation for all.
And flaming/threats/typing in a way that induces cancer/ect., though stated before, really make things like this sort of boring. Just 'cause logical rants don't work on society doesn't mean we shouldn't use them. Because it irritates them (Social steriotypes) even moreso.
Anywho, sorry about the long post. I kind of felt like contributing to something funny like this. Someone please locate Jack so I can give him a hug. That's all we really need, isn't it?
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tetsuo 10.14.2005 at 01:05:17 PM
Quest: It must have been so good to be a fan before it got big. It really sucks now that it's sold out.
Damned elitists... It must suck to actually like something other people like too.
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questworld 10.14.2005 at 10:07:39 AM
I just happen to take note of its existence within the videogaming community.
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questworld 10.14.2005 at 10:02:53 AM
Who's talking about GAF. This is a whole internet community thing. Heck, its a human social thing.
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windblow 10.14.2005 at 08:56:34 AM
cubesquared, you have something stuck up your butt, you might wanna look to that :)
sorry about my un-funny post (I thought it was hilarious), I'll make sure to check if I'm not in Uptight Gamer World next time I make a joke that doesn't live to high standards of morality and selflessness
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ashton liu 10.14.2005 at 08:22:27 AM
I'll quote PA here:
"It can be difficult to toil in obscurity. I'd make stuff up too."
This describes Thompson perfectly. ;)
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MegaManX 10.14.2005 at 05:59:11 AM
Act1985 -
Jack Thompson does not equal "the decay of Western society." For heaven's sake, don't give him anywhere near that much credit.
Also, the US is not the problem. Isolated mistakes like Thompson are.
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act1985 10.14.2005 at 04:54:10 AM
So... he can say kill the game developers, nut we can't say kill the decay of western society.
Oh no, just because I expressed my freedom of speech, useless layers and politicians are goanna want to sue me. What ever will I do?
I'm gratefully I don't live un the U.S.
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aztec triogal 10.14.2005 at 01:18:19 AM
No, I don't think that's ridiculous. I think his idea is wacko... but it's not madness to propose a game based on violence, if that's what your questioning?
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nosemaster 10.14.2005 at 01:00:23 AM
Okay, let me get something straight here. It's not okay for some 13 year old kid to post about wanting to kill Thompson, but it's okay for him to explain, in detail, this gigantic scenario about murdering MANY people?
Anyone else thinks thats kinda ridiculous?
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ferr 10.14.2005 at 12:24:20 AM
I'll break down his door and say, "I'm here to chew gum and kick ass, and I'm all outta gum."
Then he'll scream, "GET BACK TO DAH CHOPPAH!"
Then I'll reply with, "Stick Around" as I throw a knife at him, KILLING JACK THOMPSON.
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gila 10.13.2005 at 11:09:46 PM
Jack Thompson is a bisexual paedophile.
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tsundae 10.13.2005 at 11:08:52 PM
For those who said the best arguments are with words, research, and statistics... guess what? That's not going to work either. Violence in video games is not a new topic to the world of social research. Social research isn't a viable means of conclusive evidence, either. There are huge major crazy problems in the world of social research and finding conclusive evidence that can be used to basically generalize ideas such as this. I'll explain a little...
Social sciences claim statistical signifigance with as little as 20% correlation. Think about it - someone claims video games and violent behavior have a 20% or less correlation between the two. By our current social science standards, we consider this to be accurate. But wait... what explains the other 80%? What about all of the other variables not being tested within these studies (namely biological & genetic variables)? Social sciences have only been able to explain that about 20% of violent behavior is actually LEARNED behavior.
Now think about the hard sciences. They don't accept theories and significant findings unless its 80% correct. Things like physics - what comes up must come down - its easily proven and we can claim that while on Earth, if we throw something up it will come down. There's not questioning that idea. Now saying playing a video game causes violent behavior? Ha.
The point is, and from all the research that is currently available in social learning theory and such, that they will never be able to prove that there is a significant correlation between playing violent video games and actually behaving violently because of that.
All of this nonsense is an emotional debate. It's about "feelings" but when you can show scientific proof to debunk this, it won't stand in court (unless we get another religious zealot on the supreme court, but that's another story.)
So if you're looking for a real argument, read up on Beatty & McCroskey's research dealing with Communibiology and debunking the social learning theory. This is probably one of the hottest topics researched right now in my field and so far, no one can find any real correlations - EXCEPT - that people's adrenaline goes up a lot while playing "violent" video games. Whether or not there is a confounding variable, like quick response times and so forth, aren't typically looked at. Most of these social science studies can easily be swayed by not looking at certain variables.
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cubesquared 10.13.2005 at 10:28:09 PM
Mechachu, I wasn't ORIGINALLY talking about you, but I was responding to you afterwards. It was windblow who was the threatening one, but you were the one telling me I have no sense of humour. The "et al" refers to "and others", yourself included, who have taken my comment to mean that we shouldn't make fun of his ridiculous antics. This is not what I'm saying, I'm saying he thinks and acts like a five-year old with ADD. What I'm saying is that threatening and provoking him to fight him is not sarcasm and it certainly isn't funny, moreover, and more importantly, we've been asked not to for the very good reason that he's just the sort of person who would take it seriously, HE ALWAYS DOES. I'm sorry if you took it to mean that you were the one being violent, I didn' tmean to and it was my mistake in syntax that caused that.
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drumlord 10.13.2005 at 10:21:14 PM
quest: I'm not sugarcoating; I'm telling the truth. I think you haven't been to enough cesspools of the internet if you think GAF's comments are so bad. Regardless, you should't judge a games site's comments quality based on the article topics you listed. This isn't a political site and those types of articles are few and far between. Spend more time in the video game articles and you'll see GAF is a pretty tame and intellectual site.
As for my policing, I've been called a nazi a few times and been accused of running this site like some kind of totalitarian dictatorship and whatnot. I've never been accused of being too lax with modding; it's almost always people saying I should cut back.
Tetsuo: thanks for the compliments. I decided to throw one good bit of wit in there. As far as Ash goes, the guy has cajones. I am VERY much non-confrontational.
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tetsuo500 10.13.2005 at 10:15:44 PM
Damn that was a long post. But I still forgot something.
From Ash's post regarding KD:
"that [sic] involve rolling helpless old women into a ball and burning them alive after a obviously homosexual man turns it into a star."
"Obviously homosexual"?! I don't see what that has to do with anything. Why would he include that in the sentence? He says it as if there is something wrong with being gay. Meanwhile, young homosexuals are killing themselves or depressed because of people like you, Jack. People like you who selfishly judge others on their own values.
Nice to see you only care about the kids you choose are worthy of caring about, Jack - If you care about us so much, you should realise that kids today are affected a lot more than violent video games. You can't just pick and choose who you want to save.
You just proved all you care about is your own ideals. You don't care about anyone but yourself.
Also, the correct sentence would be "...AN obviously homosexual man..."
Douche.
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questworld 10.13.2005 at 10:00:40 PM
Don't try to sugar-coat it for me drumlord. We all know the type of behaviors that can rise from a "community" that is festered with pride, jealousy, ignorance, self-righteousness, and general "I'm better because I have and support this, you suck because you have that and support that" mentality. We've seen these types of arguments before, be it about race, culture, politics, and heck, even sports. This competitive nature, particularly from people on the SIDELINES, is so pointless. All the trash talking and "attitude" are always there whether or not it erupts from every single article. You may think you don't have to police it that often but I think you're a little more lax about it (or even participate in it, actually). But hey, freedom of speech and all, right?
I just wish people behaved a little more civil (okay, so a LOT more civil from my view). I mean look at all these reactions to articles about Yee, Clinton, and Thompson. I mean, sure people can disagree, but what's with all the verbal assault and name calling?
Are people behaving this way on the internet simply because they are talking to strangers and that there's no consequences in calling someone an "ass***e"? Do people try to be offensive to other people just because they don't know or care to know them because all they see is a computer monitor and some text? Seriously, people should conduct themselves better, regardless if its on the internet. If all this fanboyishness ultimately leads to web wars where people are starting to send viruses to each other or trying to sway customers where they work to buy this console over that (which from what I have read from forums, there already are), then it'll be the equivalent of football/soccer/basketball fans getting into heated brawls over stupid sports. When videogaming communities finally reach that level of stupidity, then count me out.
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tetsuo500 10.13.2005 at 09:49:25 PM
Oh my God. It's clear now that this man has completely lost it. I can't really feel angry towards him anymore - I just feel sorry for him. He clearly has a lot of issues that he's trying to pin on other people.
The argument about whether videogames cause real-life violence is now not even an issue. Jack Thompson has gone too far and made this far too much about himself and his own ideals, losing all credibility, and missing the point that we're supposed to be talking about video game violence and its effects on kids - trying to help people, not bully them. Mr. Thompson has done humanity a dis-service. He had a chance to help, but he blew it and is only hurting the ones he was meant to protect.
As gamers we're willing to talk about violence in videogames, but Jack Thompson has proved he can't discuss the matter in a mature and decent way, so he isn't even a factor in the argument now.
Hope you get better soon Jack. Just take some time out and look after yourself. You can't help anyone until you help yourself. We'd be more than willing to speak with you when you sort yourself out.
......Now can we please just forget about this kicking and screaming infant, and get on with whatever it was we were doing?
Drum: PissOnBrainStems@gamesarefun.com?! Pure genious! That was the first time I actually have laughed out loud on the internet in a while.
Also, good going sticking up for your team and your website. Showing leadership and all that is good.... we need more of that with all of these overstressed, violent and crazy people trying to rule the world.
Ash: You acted professionally and proved you have what it takes to pursue your career. I hope this makes you better at what you want to do.
Regarding the game: What's up with the name 'Osaki Kim'? A Japanese surname name for his first name, and a Korean surname name for his last name? Maybe he's the parents of a Korean and Japanese couple who couldn't agree on which family name to use, so they just gave him two family names? But denying him of his own first name? No wonder he's so messed up. Sounds..... intriguing.....
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 09:20:23 PM
Mechachu, if it makes you feel any better, I tried to read it. It's just that your writing is so piss-poor that it nearly gave me cancer.
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mechachu 10.13.2005 at 09:09:13 PM
cube... did you not READ the page? i did NOT threaten him... i merely called him out... hell i shuld threaten him just so itll make him go after me... crying like the baby he is... u guys obviously dont understand what i say cuz u have it ALL rong...
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 08:56:06 PM
Someone just needs to put him to the legal sword, like he threatens with everyone else. The only problem is the world is a little short on lawyer gamers... and heavily overdosed with f***ing psychodic immoral lawyers.
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cubesquared 10.13.2005 at 08:48:02 PM
Mechachu et al.: I'm not saying that we can't be funny about this, but if you're going to be funny, do it right. Yelling and threatening him when asked specifically not to, as well as essentially counter-trolling isn't the right way to deal with him, it'll only lead to trouble.
I agree with Ryan, though I'd like to point out that this is one of those things where we can make something hilariously scathing (and various people already have both here and around the internet in various places) but he just won't -listen-. He'll do the equivalent of plugging his ears and start singing, then procede to call you names, threaten to beat you up in the court of law, and maybe tell on you to the legal system. You could use logic on him, but it -just- -doesn't- -work- Think about what he's said in his "modest proposal".
That all being said, whatever it is you're planning, I'm sure it'll be a hell of a laugh one way or another, whether he listens or not. Count me in.
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 08:30:14 PM
I agree with Ryan... but is there any way you could have said it without all the drama? Especially since that's Thompson's big thing.
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Ryan 10.13.2005 at 07:41:51 PM
Okay, no, death cannot be the worst we can give Mr. Thompson, and if he were to kill himself, that would leave me feeling like I had just been punched in the gut. No, this war of sorts will not be won through violence, but rather words. Animated pictures and death threats won't get this done. What we need to do is deliver our point strongly, as an unified group, and of course while doing this, present statistics to help us that are actually reliable and true.
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pixy misao 10.13.2005 at 07:38:14 PM
Can't he just kill himself? The collective IQ of the United States of America would jump about 20 points as a result. War on video games, war on porn, next thing will be the War on Apathy, the War on Constipation, and the War on Second Thought. Glad to see in times of terror and war that we have our priorities straight. This will be no different than the proven bullocks subliminal messages in media was.
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MegaManX 10.13.2005 at 07:37:31 PM
Agreed with Rubesopg.
Scottyt - thank you very, very much for the compliments. I hope you're right, and I'll continue to write the very best material I can for the people who like (and don't like) to read it. Especially for those that do like to read it, though. ;)
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Ryan 10.13.2005 at 07:35:41 PM
Threats on Mr. Thompson's life do nothing but better his case against us as a violent people.
"They only want to kill me because the video games told them so!"
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rubesopg 10.13.2005 at 07:16:45 PM
"Honestly, this whole incident has left a bad taste in my mouth. We will think twice from now on before even covering Jack's future rants."
Completely disagree, Rich. Doing that just opens the door for Thompson to keep flinging himself off the rational cliff and into the pits of insanity. We're tired of his ranting and raving and his lunacy. Sitting here listening to it all the time in silence will do nothing to make it stop. =)
I say, if Jack Thompson wants to fight gaming so hard, that gaming fights Jack Thompson just as hard.
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xen piranha 10.13.2005 at 06:47:18 PM
I don't see why so many people are treating this obvious ownage of Jerk Thompson as a defeat.
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caspianx 10.13.2005 at 06:43:23 PM
I'm more amused by the fact that, apparently, Jack Thompson must be reading through dozens, possibly hundreds of game websites after every stupid press release he makes.
Think about it: Gamesarefun.com is not a chart-topper on the Alexa scale, and yet here we are, with him reacting to comments left on this article.
Can you imagine him doing that?
"I made a new press release! Yay me! Now let's see what Gamestop said! What'd IGN say? And what did Gamespy say? Ooh, what did 1Up say? ..."
It seems like he's either looking for any possibility he can get to go trolling, or he's hopelessly narcicistic. Or maybe both.
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 06:13:47 PM
See people, didn't I tell you that'd be the case. And wouldn't it also be great to buy it just because it'd piss off Jack that people just completely ignored his point at the offer.
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proppat 10.13.2005 at 06:07:58 PM
Man, I hope some company takes JT up on his offer. That's the kinda game I'd pay to play. So stupid and absurd...it'd be great. If he didn't add in the fact that the character would have to go to specific stores, I'm sure that someone WOULD take him up on that one. I'd buy it just because of it's place in gaming history.
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bjork 10.13.2005 at 06:01:36 PM
:shakes head:
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mechachu 10.13.2005 at 05:56:15 PM
i love gaf... its GUNNA be a factual site soon! incase u didnt read :-p la la la READ WHAT I POST BEFORE YOU SPEAK! for the time its wat it is... for one... my fuming moment at that time... and two... im waiting til i get home to fix it up... But you see... i want jackyboy to come after me... i culd fight him :D theres nothing bad or illegal in there thatll kill GAF... i alreddy made sure of that... i love gaf... so ya :-p i made sure its not gunna harm it... and u ppl HAVE NO SENSE OF HUMOR! you just get mad omfg were gunna die the world is gunna end cuz he we cant laught at it. jeezus... lighten up
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cubesquared 10.13.2005 at 05:30:57 PM
Y'know, I realize that many people see sarcasm as being intelligent, and really irony can be used for very funny purposes, but there's really no point in shoving (not very well used) sarcasm in everyone's faces and yelling at us about it. It doesn't make you smarter, it only makes Jackyboy a bit more likely to close our favourite news site. The man takes everything (excepting of course his own childish misused attempts at sarcasm) at face value, and he has a point (though once again I doubt he's using the same logic) to do so; your words are the ones that are permanently etched into writing, not your intention.
Please don't incite more ridiculously stupid legal action with poorly executed sarcasm which can very easily be taken as direct threats. Please don't argue with others for informing you that threats, whether the intent is there or not, are not appreciated. Jocular threats is what started this problem, and drum has specifically asked us to stop the practice several times already.
I'm not his biggest fan either, but keep the cheap jokes to yourselves. I know no one really (I hope) wants to maim the guy, and it doesn't make you a bigger man to make threats or try to incite his rage. If you want to do the latter, do it in your own space, you can find his email address at his site (http://www.stopkill.com/). I happen to like GAF being alive like it is now, please stop taking steps that may threaten its existance.
By the by, I encourage everyone to read his article at wikipedia; people who were looking for his picture, you can find one there too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_%28attorney%29
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mechachu 10.13.2005 at 05:11:46 PM
its not that i dun want my own... its that that particular gif made him "scared" or w/e :-p
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xen piranha 10.13.2005 at 05:04:07 PM
You could at least make an original gif.
Anyway, aside from mechachu vaguely, did anyone actually come anywhere near threatening his life?
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mechachu 10.13.2005 at 04:55:45 PM
im bored... i dun like the guy... he needs to go away! http://jackthompsonsdeath.50megs.com/jacksux.html i changed it a lil :D
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drumlord 10.13.2005 at 04:52:04 PM
good idea vudu. I'll put it into my queue of stuff to code for GAF.
edit: added. Should be able to get to that in the next couple days.
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Ryan 10.13.2005 at 04:46:07 PM
Way to help the situation mechachu.
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vudu 10.13.2005 at 04:41:34 PM
drumlord - Is it possible you can start putting the post number by the date/time stamp? It would make it a lot easier to respond to specific comments without having to report the entire thing.
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bjork 10.13.2005 at 04:36:03 PM
And... mechachu perfectly illustrates what I mentioned earlier.
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drumlord 10.13.2005 at 04:35:38 PM
#32 was a made up number, not referring to a particular comment. Though if you must know, the comment with ID 32 says "Ugh. This really isn't a thread, y'know.
Yeah. Nintendo's workin' it."
Them's be fightin words!
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xen piranha 10.13.2005 at 04:34:52 PM
They were merely pointing out that the italics in Jacky-boy's message was how he typed the message. The italics are not commentary by GAF. That does not mean the rest of it is not his.
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mechachu 10.13.2005 at 04:34:19 PM
http://jackthompsonsdeath.50megs.com/jacksux.html ITS MY SITE I MADE! HAHAHAHA SUCK ON THAT JACK! dun wry... ill add facts and stuff later :-p for now he gets that!
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fthat 10.13.2005 at 04:01:56 PM
Is this for real?
How does this guy make a living anyway? Who is his audience? I don't get it, he never wins any of his cases, he's a joke and an insult to lawyers who actually do something constructive.
Also, regarding the article, I'm a little confused. It says the italics are Jack's words, yet there is only one sentence in italics, the rest of the 'game proposal' is in regular font. It makes it appear that it was written by GAF.
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 04:01:29 PM
#32 is a comment VuDu made about taking things at face value. Unless you deleted one or I need to be remediated in basic counting (which, notice how I'm definitely NOT discluding that)...
And I guess I did guess wrong. Shame on you. lol All my misplaced faith. So sad.
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kurobei 10.13.2005 at 03:50:46 PM
if games were so influential like he says they are, there would be many people running around in dark rooms, listening to repetitive electronic music, and eating 'power pellets'.... oh wait...
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drumlord 10.13.2005 at 03:49:50 PM
Ha, you guessed wrong aztec! I should have disclaimer stuff. But it's questionable whether that stuff actually means anything in criminal court. Jack isn't upset about libel (in this case), which is basically defamation of character. We can call him whatever names we want. But it's illegal to incite others to commit acts of violence. Like, GAF has 10s of thousands of readers. If I posted telling GAF readers to kill Jack, that's a criminal offense, not a civil one. It's even more criminal if somebody actually killed him based on my urgings!
Depending on the state, I think that the person inciting the violence sometimes must have a reasonable assumption that somebody would actually follow his advice. But somebody suggesting that JT be killed can actually be a very serious offense. You don't have to actually be the murderer to go to jail for it, as Charlie Manson proved.
There's surely a huge difference between me suggesting that in a full-fledged GAF call to action or a reader suggesting it in comment #32 though.
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xen piranha 10.13.2005 at 03:38:19 PM
If the gamers start ignoring him, then there is no longer a voice of reason against him. I really don't care what impact his words have on gamers. I care about the impact they have on nongamers.
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 03:30:48 PM
My guess is there already is that stuff. I've been a member for a bit but I'm assuming it was in all the stuff when we registered. Plus it's probably somewhere on the site too.
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Ryan 10.13.2005 at 03:20:29 PM
He won't stop until you guys stop caring about what he says.
Ryan Out.
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otsegoflesh 10.13.2005 at 03:18:24 PM
drumlord /GAF staff: cant you guys put up some kind of disclaimer that says our comments on articles do not necessarily represent the ideas of GAF or its affiliates etc? you know, the things dvds use so they can have director and cast commentaries.. not that i agree with death threats or the like, even if it is all just in good humor, but a disclaimer would help keep the crazy-types like jack thompson from getting on your cases i think.
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crimson_bullet 10.13.2005 at 02:53:20 PM
did he take the brain stem part from "Predator-Concrete Jungle" if that actually happened i never played it, but thats what the Preds do they take their Prey's Skull and Spinal Cord as a trophy. The gore is an after effect and is not meant as a symbol of horrific violence, but as a symbol of victory btw other Predators.
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vudu 10.13.2005 at 02:41:04 PM
Does anyone have a picture of Jack Thompson? I've never seen the man and I'm curious.
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scottyt 10.13.2005 at 02:30:41 PM
Ash,
in an earlier comment you reffered to yourself as an asiring game journalist, i would like you to know that because of your article i signed on to GAF and will continue to read you articles because this little incident has probably made you one of the better known game journalists around. Congrats
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bjork 10.13.2005 at 02:30:21 PM
I'm not going to read through the slew of comments, so if my comment mirrors anything said earlier, apologies.
My take on this is that it is sad on both ends. Not just the challenge made, but the responses as well.
The challenge is sad, because it won't be made unless it shows up on some homebrew rom hack, and he'll trumpet that as some victory over the industry. But the fact of the matter is that if someone made that game and marketed it, it would sell well simply based off the hype it received in the media. So is it that we're hungry for violence, or is it due to seeing what the hype is all about?
Also, if it was developed and released, would Mr. Thompson sue for royalties or infringement upon his intellectual property or whatever other reasons he could find, or we he be proud to have his name attached to the idea for a violent game when he is supposedly against violence?
Additionally, if he's such a crusader against violence, what's he doing sitting around and conjuring up ideas like this? Seems pretty hypocritical to me. But we are in America, and he has the freedom to act as such if he sees fit.
On the side of the gaming community, it's sad because we all fuel his fire. Rather than just ignore him or try to talk with him rationally (which is hard to do, from what I understand), we have people who respond with threats of violence against him, or harassment, etc. Instead of taking the high road and waiting for Mr. Thompson to find a venture more worth his while than this, we respond with GameFaqs forum-level replies and basically do nothing but make his claims about gamers seem more believable.
Basically, in internet terms, he's a troll of the highest degree, but flaming him isn't going to rectify anything. Just let him say what he wants, and eventually he'll end up on the wrong end of a lawsuit himself. Usually those with the "holier than thou" attitude have a hell of a lot of skeletons in their closet.
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windblow 10.13.2005 at 01:47:35 PM
drum, I figured as much... not that what I said was anywhere close to a death threat, it was more of a call for the man to put his money where his mouth is. But you`re right, even if I go as far as to give my (real!) contact information directly on the comment, he is the kind of low player that would steer this unto you guys because he knows, at the end of the day, that he ain`t got batsh*t on me.
So, if you feel that it`s best to take my post down, I will absolutely not complain. My best regards to you and the team :)
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drumlord 10.13.2005 at 01:35:44 PM
wind: That's not appreciated and doesn't help either. Just a little FYI on how internet communication tends to work. Legally, the blame has been taken off of ISPs for the actions of their users, so that's one step in the right direction. But right now, pretty much anything on a site immediately becomes the legal responsibility of the site owner, which is why Jack felt he was in the right to tell us to censor your comments about him.
The thing is, obviously it is completely unreasonable to expect every last bit of information to be monitored. The problem is that this is still shaky ground legally. I'd love to be part of the landmark case that decrees that message board communication is the sole legal liability of the poster and not of the owner of the site, and thus owner of the posted information, but such is not the case. I'm no lawyer, but as far as I know, there IS no law to decide one way or the other and I'd rather not spend my time sorting it out in court, particularly civil court where the winner is decided by which lawyer can yell the loudest for the longest amount of time.
So in short, don't threaten to kill the man. I'm not sure what that would solve anyway. Jack Thompson being killed by a gamer would make him a martyr for his cause and you'd see dozens if not hundreds of new Jack Thompsons fighting for his cause. And you better believe that having a martyr would erase any kind of reasonable constitutional rights argument that the gaming community has right now.
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hailthed 10.13.2005 at 01:15:04 PM
Please understand that ive not had the time to check out the site in a couple of days.And its been a while since ive been able to get my account to work.
i know this is probably a dead subject already but, how does JT plan to make himself look credible by making Katamari Damacy look like a murder simulator? This guy is nothing but a ambulance chaser with an agenda that involves shoving his own perception of what a "moral America" should look like down our throats. Not to mention the uninformed parent(aka his main target). It pisses me off to know that someone who holds a job title such as "lawyer" can be so misinformed about what the hell he's arguing about.
Im all for having GAF post this stuff because we as a community need to be informed about idiots like this. We need to be ready to put up a logical arguement for all detractors.weve got our voices, they just need to be used to get our opinion across with people like this. and not to reiterate, but throwing out crap like "im gonna kill jack thompson" does nothing more than give him reason to continue on his crusade of morality(insanity?).
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windblow 10.13.2005 at 01:03:51 PM
it`s official: INDEED I hate to waste sarcasm :/
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 12:46:03 PM
I'm sorry. If your point is that Jack is a douchebag because all he does is talk, does that mean you aspire to be as much of a douchebag as him or... what exactly was your point there?
Thompson's a jerk, a moron, and a hypocrite. He has no other function in life other than to be a potstirrer. I hate him. Windblow, if you are a psychodic lunatic that thrives on killing other people and you seek him as your next target, I do not discourage you. But if you are just another person with a big mouth and no balls, shut the hell up. There's no point in ACTING tough, especially when it's only in text.
The truth of the matter is that you probably hate Jack Thompson as much of the rest of us. However, stating that your going to kill him really doesn't accomplish anything. If Thompson got hit by a truck tomorrow, I'd be glad. I'd like bad things to happen to him. But that doesn't mean I'm going to make false or self-incriminating claims that are pointless from start to finish.
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windblow 10.13.2005 at 12:37:20 PM
I see, talk is as cheap as, let`s say, threatening and harrassing people through e-mail or phone... hey, wait a sec. ¬¬
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 12:34:36 PM
I'm just saying you shouldn't say those things regardless. If you are serious, you should never tell him beforehand. And if you're not, then just shut up. Talk is cheap, you know?
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windblow 10.13.2005 at 12:22:24 PM
In fact, I hate to waste sarcasm...
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aztec triogal 10.13.2005 at 12:19:55 PM
Are personal disclaimers legal or are they just kinda fluff? Just asking out of curiousity.
Also, don't threaten the bastard just to see if he's willing to sue you. "A person's actions should never be dependent on the actions of another." If you're going to do something, don't wait, regardless of your claim. You know, making brownies, hopscotch, killing an extremist loon... whatever the case may be.
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windblow 10.13.2005 at 12:06:10 PM
*** DISCLAIMER ***
The following comment is the sole responsability of the poster, and does not represent in any way the opinions or beliefs of the fine creators of this website or it`s readers!!!!
*** DISCLAIMER ***
I`m gonna pull a bullet through Clack Thrompgun`s brain and urinate in the hole!
Jack, please contact me at the_windblow@hotmail.com or windblow@ig.com.br so we can jump right to the international legal action I`m sure you`re willing to take on me for Threatening to Make Babies With You on an Internet Message Board :)
Or, if this is too ridiculous even for you, you can go all "Jay and Silent Bob" on me, fly over here and beat the crap out of me. Me and my baseball bat will be waiting anxiously :))
Rafael Pagani Savastano
R. Marques de Abrantes, 26/705, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
55-21-2245-1094
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dart533 10.13.2005 at 12:01:39 PM
This guy is pathetic. Honestly, he should be treated by the gaming community as one would treat a child begging for attention. We should just ignore him.
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drumlord 10.13.2005 at 11:33:23 AM
quest: what do you mean? Most news comments for normal articles are very high-spirited and free of the bickering that plagues much of the internet. People get into little tiffs over DS vs. PSP and stuff like that once in a while, but overall I haven't seen too many problems. I rarely have to use my uber mod powers to do anything with the comments. Maybe 1-2 times a month?
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questworld 10.13.2005 at 11:25:45 AM
I think you're ALL nuts... from Jack Thompson all the way to a lot of gamers (mainly those who go around arguing about video games and "console wars"). Videogaming is suppose to be about having fun but simply trying to participate in videogaming communities through the internet (and online gaming) is such a pain. People here don't share enthusiasm, they share misery. As a "community", it can be the pits.
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hitmaker 10.13.2005 at 10:44:38 AM
Holy crap! Jack Thompson truly is nuts!
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nosemaster 10.13.2005 at 10:38:57 AM
Well, I think that entire... "scenario" answers how sane the man really is. How can anyone take him seriously? Honestly. It amazes me that idiots like him are still, somehow, respected. I shudder.
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demoncrono 10.13.2005 at 10:19:16 AM
i've always wanted a brain stem pissing simulator! if you ask me, this jack thompson is a genious! he knows exactly what cosumers want from interactive entertainment!
lolololololol
seriously, does jack have a day job?
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benjabean 10.13.2005 at 10:11:06 AM
After reading that article I have the sudden... urge... to piss... on... brain... stems...
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skyelan 10.13.2005 at 09:56:22 AM
No one has figured this out yet?
Jack Thompson is payed by Microsoft to pretend to be a senile old screwup and provide us gamers with amusement.
Thank you, Jack the Layer Clown, for providing me with good natured mirth and merryment. You will always stand as a testament to why crazy people shouldn't leave the asylums. *salute*
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creid 10.13.2005 at 09:47:14 AM
Well, that'll teach me to read early and the morning and post late at night - I remember comment #3 as being part of the article. Oh well, sorry bout that.
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ecureuil 10.13.2005 at 07:56:07 AM
Does this guy actually have a real job, or is he honestly getting paid for spouting all this uninformed crap every week? Games sites should stop covering any news related to him - nothing he says is of any merit.
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aesteval 10.13.2005 at 07:42:05 AM
"...instead of trying to debate rationally and like grown adults, MANY (not all, but the rather vocal lot) "
Meh, the vocal lot doesn't necessarily mean much of a majority at all. You have to realize that the vocal lot are just louder and stupider than the rest. Actually, they should get along quite well with old Jacko seeing as they all lack the common sense to actually have a practical argument and discuss matters to some actual purpose. But seeing as both Jacko and the vocal death threat crew lack any sort of maturity on such matters, it's never going to happen and I say let them have each other.
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stuff 10.13.2005 at 07:36:02 AM
"Ehh. Why give this guy the attention he's striving for? Comment after comment about how ridiculous his remarks are does nothing but fuel his fire. Its obvious he has no backing to any of his claims or statements and he's just trying to fuel his own fire. The only reason to acknowledge him is if you think he's a credible threat to the gaming industry and so far he's not proven himself to be anything but flame bait on a larger scale."
Yea, you are right. . . . but at the same time, we get bored. We get bored and we need to have some fun with something, or someone.
And to tell you the truth, making fun of this idiot and then watching how mad he gets is just enjoyable for a bit.
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momoku 10.13.2005 at 07:15:24 AM
We are most displeased.
This katamari is very.. Jack Thompson-ish.
It is also very insane-ish.
I know what we'll do, we'll toss it out into the cosmos!
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tsundae 10.13.2005 at 06:35:54 AM
Ehh. Why give this guy the attention he's striving for? Comment after comment about how ridiculous his remarks are does nothing but fuel his fire. Its obvious he has no backing to any of his claims or statements and he's just trying to fuel his own fire. The only reason to acknowledge him is if you think he's a credible threat to the gaming industry and so far he's not proven himself to be anything but flame bait on a larger scale.
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xen piranha 10.13.2005 at 06:24:42 AM
The King of the Cosmos is not gay! He has a wife and kid. It is more likely that he is a Mexican wrestler. However rolling up people and other stuff and burining it all to make it a star IS the premise of the game... But oh, is it sooo much fun. Now I shall use the knowledge given to me by Katamari Damashii to roll up everything and turn it into a star.... =p
I would be surprised if it is wacko Jacko, simply because it would surprise me that he has heard of KD. It is also suspicious that he is bringing up random games when he probobly has no reason to. The harassing and threatining is expected.
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MegaManX 10.13.2005 at 06:14:06 AM
Update:
Assuming it's really him (it's a different E-mail address), Thompson has E-mailed me again. (Now not only did he threaten me, but now he's harrassing me too! Ah, Jack.) I'm not going to go to the trouble of reproducing the entire message here, because it's frankly not necessary, but let's just say it's more of Jack's classic brand of comical madness. He even attempts to incriminate Katamari Damacy by referring to it as a game "that [sic] involve rolling helpless old women into a ball and burning them alive after a obviously homosexual man turns it into a star." I'm not too sure whether or not he's actually being serious about that, but regardless... oh my, I'm having a field day with this guy. ^_^
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MegaManX 10.13.2005 at 06:08:37 AM
Excuse me, but I'd like to politely point out that you're wrong.
Having talked to Thompson on the phone, I can assure you that the ones debating rationally and like grown adults *are* the gamers (for the most part). Thompson himself, however, is constantly accusatory and inflammatory, and is the farthest thing from a mature, adult male you can imagine. You want an attention-mongering extremist? That's Thompson. Believe me, the gamers are the ones acting mature.
By the way, Thompson is not a "moral-minded lawyer." I'm willing to bet he doesn't have anything on his mind except his own ends, which pretty much consist of him being in the spotlight and stirring the pot up as much as he possibly can. He does this for fun, not because he's actually trying to legislate any kind of moral standards. (Which, by the way, would be totally wrong even if he was. You just can't legislate morality on a broad scale like he pretends to try to.)
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one2345 10.13.2005 at 06:04:40 AM
and if anyone wants to know what i mean by the tragedy being the gamer's response, simply look the post before mine...how very civilized...and mature....
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one2345 10.13.2005 at 06:02:39 AM
Not that i expect anyone to back me on the matter, as a generallity, gamers really dropped the ball in their response to Thompson's complaints...instead of trying to debate rationally and like grown adults, MANY (not all, but the rather vocal lot) proceeded to obscenity and death threats, which (given violence as the center of the debate) was pure idiocy...an attack like this would have been a good publicity for the industry or for gamers to emmerge in the media not as nerds (which most of you are) or fringe-society loners (which i would say are the two gamer stereotypes), but rather as an educated and civically minded lot...so while i think thompson is entirely off-base, and his attempts to attack free-speech (IF he was indeed attack the article, i'm not sure about the legality of the comments) are an insult and are deplorable, i can't help but feel that the real tragedy is the gamer response...though i will say of thompson, for a such a moral-minded lawyer, he doesn't seem to have much respect for the bill of rights
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bongo bill 10.13.2005 at 05:56:13 AM
I just had the best idea ever.
Make this game... but change the premise a bit. Instead of some msiguided Asian kid whose dad was killed by a lunatic and he blames video games for it, the player controlls a man who, out of a misguided sense of duty, begins an insane vendetta of murder against the makers of video games. It would become harder after a while as the developers hire better bodyguards, since they know that they've been targeted.
The hero's name would be Jack Thompson.
I support the making of a game like that, and I really hope it sells well. Why? Because when the murders of video game designers DON'T rise at all, Jack Thompson will be debunked once and for all and we'll finally be rid of him.
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dswhore 10.13.2005 at 04:41:49 AM
Jack I really hope you are reading this:
Get a f***ing life. No, really.
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yukos 10.13.2005 at 03:34:54 AM
God, his name is Jack Thompson? I thought that it was a typo... This just goes to show you what six hours of writing about the Spartan social structure can do to you.
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cubesquared 10.13.2005 at 03:31:21 AM
Please don't stop your newfeed of insane Jack Thompson stories ;-; I need you GAF...
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yukos 10.13.2005 at 03:31:14 AM
Holy hell, I called him "Jack Thompson" for about two straight pages of rambling. Maybe it was a subconcious desire to belittle his dignity by not bothering to correctly learn his name? Freud would have a field day with my post I am sure, however may statements regarding Jack Thompson hold true.
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hypothetically 10.13.2005 at 03:19:30 AM
Poor JTs really missed the point, hasn't he? Preventing violent crimes isn't about censoring the masses,it's about educating them.
Of course, for people like JT who can't see passed their own ludicrous sense of morals, this concept is, quite literally, unobtainable.
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xen piranha 10.13.2005 at 02:27:10 AM
Oh wait. Scratch that. I skimmed the edit thought you were talking about comments like mine when expressing a desire to kill. He is an ass, but he doesn't deserve to die.
Really, I think you should continue coverage so as not to give in to him.
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xen piranha 10.13.2005 at 02:23:32 AM
Er, excuse me but I would like to point out that I NEVER expressed any desire to kill him. Just include a pseudo look-alike as a target in his own game. Its all fair game, right? It just adds to the social commentary of the game.
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cubesquared 10.13.2005 at 01:18:00 AM
Y'know, concerning what Thompson would think about Gyakuten Saiban... It's impossible to say, you just can't predict what the screwball will do next. I've tried it, it just doesn't work. I TRIED to think about what he'd strike out against next. I was only right once (Killer 7), but then he just completely blows all our minds with The Sims 2 and that buddy icon. Now this. Like seriously, you can TRY to think one step ahead of him, but he will totally baffle you no matter what. I hope he speaks out against Nintendogs.
By the way, has anyone taken their time to read through his entire entry on Wikipedia and some of the articles it links to? Seems like he's been in the buisiness of harassing and stalking people for a while now (see Janet Reno)
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bignfanboy 10.13.2005 at 01:16:11 AM
Hahahaha. This is hilarious. I'm very proud of you guys over at GAF. You really showed that idiot who's boss. Maybe now he will think twice before he tries to do something completely retarded. Kudos!
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taiz 10.13.2005 at 12:41:30 AM
I have never heard anything on the news of Jack Thompson and his either personal attacks on others, or anything eles that would give him a negative image in any non-gamer's eyes. I think that Ash and other members of the gaming communtity that have been attacked by Jack for either reporting news or allegedly attacking him should get together and contact a major news source. Maybe you can even get an appology from him.
Oh, and Jack, if you read my post, and it offended you in ANY way, feel free to email me at Tai.Zidek@gmail.com. I need a good laugh.
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stormfeather 10.13.2005 at 12:36:04 AM
Anyone think all these lawyerly shennanigans are especially fitting right now, with Phoenix Wright just out and him right at the top of the page?
(And I wonder what Mr. Thompson thinks about an eeeevil video game that depicts lawyer drama?)
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crabsmasher 10.13.2005 at 12:13:21 AM
Jack Thompson LOL!
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drumlord 10.13.2005 at 12:00:04 AM
creid: the article isn't shorter since this morning. It's actually longer since I added my response. Nobody has removed any part of the article that I know of. If we did, I would tell you as I think honestly is important in that kind of situation.
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yukos 10.12.2005 at 11:26:49 PM
They do not seem to want to share in his crusade, at least not overtly...
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bignfanboy 10.12.2005 at 11:20:49 PM
I would love to meet his children and see how screwed up they are.
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yukos 10.12.2005 at 11:19:00 PM
The pathetic thing is that the only people that give two thoughts about Jack Thompson are gamers, and apparently he is trying to send O.K. after us.
I read an interesting article, but I cannot remember what magazine it was in, suffice it to say that the article said that games were niether good nor evil: just like any form of ART. It all depends on how it is used, but games are independent entities in and of themselves. Just because there may be snuff(? is that what they are called) films out there somewhere (though no real one has ever been found) does not mean that all films are evil. Same with video games.
The best part of the article was this: it said that video games are like rock and roll music and movies. They old gaurd (a.k.a. super-conservative elderly) are against the new media and campaign like hell to stop it. Young people (a.k.a. you and I and the ever dwindling population of young people not in jail for violent crimes that video games forced us to do outside of our personal will and rational choice) don't know a world without video games and see nothing wrong with them. As the old guard begins to fade away, the new guard stops the persecution of a media it sees nothing wrong with. This pattern has repeated itself through out history and it will so here.
I say this again and it is absolutely true:
Pardon the Caps, this is important:
JACK THOMPSON REPRESENTS THE EXTREME PREJUDICES AND FEARS THAT PEOPLE HOLD TOWARDS THINGS THAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND. RATHER THAN TOLERATE AND ACCEPT OUR CULTURE, HE SEEKS TO DESTROY IT. You can see it in the way that North American european settlers and (later) the United States destroyed a Native American culture that they saw as "barbaric" and "savage". Native American culture was no less "noble" or "civilized" than european culture, it was just different. Native american culture was not understood, so people took efforts to destroy it. The pattern is heart-breakingly ignorant and short-sighted, but it seems to be the way of humanity.
Jack Thompson's ability to change the future is completely dependent on us: the young people of America (or the world depending on the extent of his delusions of grandeur). His problem is this: young people like video games and increasingly middle aged people like video games. Violent video games are popular too, when he is gone there will not be a young power base to carry his cause. He is appealing to those people out there who don't understand video games and don't trust them, and these people are becoming more and more rare as time passes.
Ten years from now, video games will be viewed like movies are today: art. Great video games will be officially reconized as such by more than nostalgia and quickly forgotten "game of the month/year awards" and mods will be seen as the "B-movies" of the art form: games with no budget but that are enjoyable and can change the way that people view the media.
Let us not dread ourselves with the fading threats of a person lost in a generation that he doesn't understand or care about, let us look to the future instead and the increasing respect that it will bring for us gamers. I see Jack Thompson as the last vestiges or a bygone era: he is not a political force, he is a reminder of where we came from and were we want to get away from. JACK THOMPSON IS A RELIC: AN BLIND OBSTACLE IN THE FACE OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. His opinions are sometimes offensive to me on their insinuation and their lack of tolerance and understand.
(This is in caps so it is noticeable and it is flagarant what I want to be known, I apologize, but I don't want to be accused or harassed)
I IN NO WAY THINK THAT JACK THOMPSON SHOULD BE THE TARGET OF HARASSMENT OR VIOLENCE! ANY VIOLENCE AGAINST MR. THOMPSON IS TOTALLY, AND WITHOUT QUESTION WRONG AND A VIOLATION OF EVERYTHING THAT THIS COUNTRY IS BUILT ON.
This is America, his opinion is his, and I have no right to keep him from holding it no matter how much I disagree with it. However, my opinion is mine, and he has no right to take mine away from me either.
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jonis123 10.12.2005 at 11:18:20 PM
Is this guy actually serious? How is it that a man who bases his life on questioning the integrity of others and what they do is himself a man that attacks and insults others. Either this guy lives by some moral code that is different from everyone else in the world, or he is just insane.
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creid 10.12.2005 at 11:15:06 PM
I can't help but notice that original article isn't as long as it was this morning when I read it. Any explanation there?
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stuff 10.12.2005 at 10:59:09 PM
Wow, just came on and read the whole thing about Jack and Ash. . . .
That Jack dude is dumber than a bucket of chicken.
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drk 10.12.2005 at 10:58:11 PM
Thompson has one goal, and one goal alone: To keep his job. He doesn't give a s*** about the children. He doesn't giving a flying f*** about anything but maintaining his career. That's it. If there's anybody on this planet who has a shred of respect for this man, obviously they're more oblivious to the facts than he is.
By the way, I hope they include the bonus level in the game where "OK" doesn't pay any god damn attention to his kid until after some completely unrealistic scenario occurs.
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chocoboy 10.12.2005 at 10:51:14 PM
If Mr. Thompson is such a big fan of this site then why doesn't he register and make a couple posts... wouldn't that be fun(ny).
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aztec triogal 10.12.2005 at 10:47:43 PM
The man is a professional pot stirrer. No one does listen to him. It's not that "all the wrong people with the big powers" listen to him but if you see someone causing a fuss, you're going to pay attention to them, even if it's only for a short time. It doesn't mean they support him or care what he has to say, it just means he's good at what he does for a living, being controversial.
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thehawk 10.12.2005 at 10:47:39 PM
Wow, what a great little experience, Ash. Thanks for including us in on it. It really is a treat to know someone who has gone toe to toe with the infamous Jack Thompson and called his bluff.
But I have a feeling if we could all really see Thompson, and I mean REALLY see him, we'd see a weak, pathetic, and powerless man... one who clambors for any skewed political platform he thinks he can use to validate himself. If any threat, hollow or otherwise, from a gamer on any message board can rattle him like it has, then indeed he is a sad man.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 10:43:17 PM
I just find it funny he can't even tell the differece between reality and a game scenario. I only see people adding a character with a similar name to his game his game scenario.
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cubesquared 10.12.2005 at 10:31:10 PM
A friend of mine levelled a good point here: this is, if it works out for him, a no-lose scenario. If companies don't listen to him, then he can say they're cruel and don't care about charities, if they do, then he's just going to deny he ever said anything and use this new game as his main arsenal in his crusade of insanity. I countered that no one cares about what Thompson has to say, but he reminded me that all the wrong people with all the big powers actually DO listen to him. This can't be good >_<
But good move, GAF, way to stick it to the (deranged, violent, insane, stupid, pathetic little) man!
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dmgice 10.12.2005 at 10:20:57 PM
I wish he would sue me.
It would be funny.
I would call up some of my friends from the old Lion & Lamb Project, CBN, FOTF, and a few others.
Of course, I think the ESRB doesn't do a thorough enough job rating titles. But this is from members of the Treehouse talking about submission standards for games. It seems a tad unfair both ways.
I would play Thompson's game though. Especially if it were well made. If I were making it. The game would be on GBA and be in a style similar to Payback.
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jeff 10.12.2005 at 10:17:32 PM
Man...I envy everyone that actually recieved emails from him. I sent him a nice email a while ago but sadly never got a response. Its clear that Jack Thompson is a pathetic man. All he does it make baseless accusations, but god forbid anyone should ever call HIM into question. Rather than defend his case in a respectful manner like an "esteemed gentleman" such as himself should, he makes threats. How ironic it is that someone who takes such a strong stance against violence is a violent and angry man himself! Oh poor, poor Mr. Jack Thompson, you have truly lost sight of your cause.
And I have to compliment the GAF staff. It would be pretty easy to just snap on this idiot, but you handled it very professionally.
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catz 10.12.2005 at 10:16:13 PM
it sounds really good as a Phoenix Wright scenario, lol!
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arlington 10.12.2005 at 10:00:05 PM
This is all really entertaining, and I adore how we, as gamers, are so well spoken and so calm with our humor and observations, while our friend over the phone and on the other side of the e-mail chooses to be an immature brat about the entire situation.
The thing that I'm curious about is; what will his hilarious proposal do to his reputation? I mean, we're all wondering the same thing, but honestly, how could his supporters look at him in this light and say "Great idea, Jack. We're behind you all the way." Look at Howard Dean and his unfortunate mistake. The man gets a little overly excited and loses his "inside voice" momentarily, and suddenly, people act as if he FLEW OFF THE HANDLE. And as a result, he loses a lot of the momentum he had created for himself. Jack Thompson's proposal seems to take that sort of action, and pushes it three steps forward... What can the reactions be, I wonder to myself?
... Just a thought.
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aztec triogal 10.12.2005 at 09:49:31 PM
Good luck. Thompson is about as scary as a wet noodle but it is always difficult whenever someone calls you into question, regardless of who it might be. Simply because whenever they call you into question, it forces you to question yourself just to defend yourself. Don't worry though, not that I'm any real reassuring factor, but your article is solid, you acted reasonably and moreover professionally by calling him, and you have the support of every GAF reader.
It's one thing to attack video games or things about video games, but if he's just attacking people that are associated with video games, he's just out of line. And it's no more complicated than that.
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MegaManX 10.12.2005 at 09:25:42 PM
Hi guys... I'm posting from school; I had to leave for class soon after I received the E-mail from Thompson. I'm on a break between classes, so I thought I'd drop in and see what was going on on the site's end of things.
First off: absolutely fantastic response, Rich. I'm in the process of forwarding you the E-mail now since I'm finally at a computer. It should be in your inbox within a matter of minutes. ^_^ Moving on...
Yes, it's true: I woke up to a threatening E-mail from the master hyprocrite himself, Jack Thompson. The E-mail was carefully worded; it told me only that I had one hour to remove all comments about killing him from the article (paraphrased; that's not an exact quote because I don't have the E-mail directly in front of me). The irony here, of course, is that I woke up to this E-mail much more than one hour after he sent it, so it's clear he's just using morally questionable scare tactics to get to someone he has no legal advantages over whatsoever (me). Of course, his morality has been called into question many times already as far as dealing with the gaming public is concerned, so that's no surprise.
I sat on this turn of events for awhile as I headed to class, wondering what I should do. I left a message for Rich and thought some more until finally deciding to call the man. After all, he took the conflict to me by threatening me on grounds he doesn't actually have, and it was/is within my rights to defend myself.
The conversation went as you would expect it to; Thompson is not a well-spoken man, and is only interested in hearing himself talk. Let it be said - and I give my word on this - that I never raised my voice, lost my cool, slandered him, or got into a shouting match with him... not even once. Yet he was continually agitated, not at all interested in a word I had to say, and nothing but accusatory during our entire conversation. I called him simply to clear my name; I told him that I never leveled a single threat againat him in this (or any) of my articles, and that it was never my intention to do so. I'm an aspiring video game journalist, and it is my intention to simply report the news to whatever number of people my and GAF's readership encompasses. That's what I did. He got rather angered by this, and snapped at me not to beat around the bush, that I knew he was talking about certain "threats" that GAF users may have made in the comments section. I then told him, quite frankly, that he had barked up the wrong tree; why take up a fight with someone who never leveled a single threatening comment against him in the first place? (Of course, no GAF members leveled any serious threats against him either, but Jack, ever hungry for attention, is going to jump on absolutely whatever he can get.) He then snapped that there was no way for him to contact individual members, to which I apathetically replied that that wasn't my problem; he was still barking up the wrong tree as someone who didn't do a thing to him. He then pressed on, claiming that as the article's author, it was my responsibility to use my GAF editorial powers to remove any comments/content he found offensive or threatening. Note that he claimed I was "required" to do this. To that, I simply told him that I was discussing with my GAF associates (meaning Rich, of course) what the proper course of action to take would be, and that we would come to a decision on our own. "Until that time," I told him, "I am not in the business of censoring my readership without due cause."
He then hung up on me. (Oh, sweet irony.)
So that's the story of my little skirmish with Mr. Thompson today, and he is just as immature, unimpressive, and frankly, socially inept as I've heard he was and imagined him to be. Shame.
I fully expect this to be the end of this somewhat unexpected (but amusing) chain of events, but let it be known that I don't plan to buckle under any of the ridiculous, misaligned "pressure" or scare tactics that Mr. Thompson employs to throw his weight around. I don't expect it to be an issue for much longer anyway, but I am an aspiring video game journalist and a "First Amendment man" in the strictest sense. I take what I do very seriously, I'm not going to let an anti-video game activist who routinely proves himself to be the very antithesis of what he claims himself to be - indeed, an embodiment of those he "crusades" against - scare me with misguided and mis-aimed scare tactics.
All that heavy stuff said, see you guys next news post. ;) I apologize to any and all GAF readership who come to GAF for the latest video game industry news, but ended up getting caught up in the middle of some ridiculous, unimportant skirmish.
Thanks again, Rich, for updating this news post with such a fantastically solid response for Mr. Thompson. :)
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chocoboy 10.12.2005 at 09:21:41 PM
Ash is so lucky... I want Jack Thompson to sue me :(
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yukos 10.12.2005 at 09:14:53 PM
Is a video game where you kill spies or demons really a "murder simulator?" What if you are an angel and you kill a demon trying to rule earth with evil? Or as a government penicl pusher you stop a plot to assassinate the president? Wouldn't that just be patriotism and heroics?
Without video games, who is going to train the nation's children to save to world or teach angels how to defeat Satan? If Jack Thompson wins, the United States will be wide open to foreign invasion within months, maybe weeks.
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sean 10.12.2005 at 09:12:30 PM
That game doesn't even sound fun. What a putz. Am I gonna get arrested now?
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jekku 10.12.2005 at 09:12:22 PM
You've got to be kidding me, Jack. Just when I thought you couldn't sink any lower - you pull off this stunt.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 09:04:36 PM
How would he play the game? Probobly with his pants off.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 08:59:32 PM
Yeah, the middle name of "O.K." is "Xaio."
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shippoyasha 10.12.2005 at 08:50:03 PM
I never knew you can actually piss off asians. OH SNAP.
But seriously. Osaki Kim? Kung Lao Tanaka? ...errr..
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jenga 10.12.2005 at 08:34:42 PM
Jack. You are a dumbass. You've bitten off more than you can chew.
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aztec triogal 10.12.2005 at 08:14:30 PM
Rich, definately a good response.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 07:54:50 PM
Nah dude. Phoenix Wright is just a game. However, since it is a lawer simulator you should have no problem taking Thompson to court and winning after you play it.
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age 10.12.2005 at 07:49:41 PM
ostego, you are now my hero.
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otsegoflesh 10.12.2005 at 07:41:10 PM
Where is Phoenix Wright when you need him? He'll save us.
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mahew 10.12.2005 at 07:33:21 PM
Gabe at PA: "My email sig had my phone number in it. Jack actually just called and screamed at me for a couple minutes. He said if I email him again I will “regret it”. What a violent man."
Haha. Maybe Jack is playing too much of those violent video games of his?
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 07:21:12 PM
I'm going to have to use that expression now when I think someone is being nuts. I like that. "Please, do the sane."
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cubesquared 10.12.2005 at 07:06:30 PM
I think they mean "same". Jack, being the big stupid fathead that he is, is sure to rub that one into your faces if you guys don't fix it, he'll probably call you inbred or stupid because of videogames >_< Hurry Drumlord! Don't give him a chance to laugh it up!
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 07:06:19 PM
I meant ""do the same" in that message." I misplaced a quote mark.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 07:04:32 PM
Did you mean "Do the same in that message." Or is that your way of pleading to him to pretend to be sane?
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cubesquared 10.12.2005 at 06:56:05 PM
Oh, kudos on the email address, guys, icing on the cake.
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bignfanboy 10.12.2005 at 06:55:48 PM
Nice attempt at humor, Jack. You are so cool by "daring" comanies to make your stupid game idea. Go back to the 6th grade, you f***ing moron.
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cubesquared 10.12.2005 at 06:55:36 PM
Good job, Jack, you've sunken to RIAA levels of empty legal bullying.
Seriously, does this guy just google his name up repeatedly every day or what? I wonder how much "legal action" he's threatened so far today as a result of this story; it's all over the net already.
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synthesizer 10.12.2005 at 06:39:41 PM
Jack has threatened GAF?
::scrolls to top of page::
OBJECTION!
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bongo bill 10.12.2005 at 06:37:59 PM
Jack Thompson is hilarious.
Seriously, without a doubt the greatest satirist of our age.
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heavybolter 10.12.2005 at 06:33:21 PM
People didn't take "A Modest Proposal" at face value because it was actually witty and its analogies made sense. Thompson starts off with the Golden Rule, but nowhere in the "game design" is there anything regarding that.
It's not worth dissecting; if you can't see that his "irony" is incredibly poorly thought out, you need to read more. It would be one thing if this had been a well-planned essay or course of action, but all of the "ironies" of this rant are paper thin. Kill everyone at E3? Wow, Swift would be lauding him for his cleverness.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 06:26:51 PM
Really?
I can't wait to hear this.
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drumlord 10.12.2005 at 06:16:25 PM
Jack has now threatened GAF in some way. The threat was sent to Ash who only left me a voicemail, so I don't know the exact nature of it yet.
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aztec triogal 10.12.2005 at 06:12:20 PM
I wonder what the ESRB would rate this game? AO or M, just to piss him off?
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sortie 10.12.2005 at 05:50:17 PM
ebwiz, I kinda beat ya to the punch. >_
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yukos 10.12.2005 at 05:27:51 PM
One last things: if video game makers make a game where innocent civilians can come to harm, then they are making games that target themselves. As I understand the structuring of society, video game makers tend to belong to the population of the society in which they live. They could be considered "civilians" or "bystanders" even.
Since when do we divid society by these lines: citizens and game makers?
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gargar 10.12.2005 at 05:19:04 PM
this is just insane
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yukos 10.12.2005 at 05:06:59 PM
Although on further reading, maybe J.T. has a point: We really should practice "eye for an eye" by slaying hundreds in return for the death of one. Also, store clerks who sell violent video games and cigarettes to teens should be slaughtered in the most inhuman way possible: that is what they get for not breaking a law for selling video games and recieving a 100 dollar fine in regards to cigarettes.
Also, why isn't he going after movies too? How many people were killed with buzzsaws thrown as frisbees after watching Commando? I would venture to say thousands, though I am trying to maintain a safe estimate.
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yukos 10.12.2005 at 05:01:18 PM
This guy is supposed to be "protecting America's youth" when he can't even protect grammatically-correct English?
A second grader knows that this is a no-no:
"And boy, is O.K. not kidding."
Start a sentence with "and", I am beginning to wonder if this glory-hound actually graduated from college.
This letter is nothing more than another publicity stunt by a person desperate for attention. The media stopped covering him, so he made another stupid gesture to get attention: just like the note that he handed Janet Reno about her sexuality. This guy is truely more an absolute loser than Pauley Shore, and carries himself with less dignity too.
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mar 10.12.2005 at 04:59:19 PM
Great idea Jack.
Someone get the Behemoth on the phone.
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ebwiz 10.12.2005 at 04:57:16 PM
My email sig had my phone number in it. Jack actually just called and screamed at me for a couple minutes. He said if I email him again I will %u201Cregret it%u201D. What a violent man.
-Gabe out
I need say no more.
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aztec triogal 10.12.2005 at 04:22:19 PM
I like Grant's comment about how it's so damn impossible to begin with. Still though, there are worse games than this one.
I'd love to see it. I really would. Someone was just telling me the other day how there was no way to reinvigorate the old beat-em up games... now we have a way. Man, I'd give anything to play this game... then when nothing happens... no more Jack Thompson.
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sortie 10.12.2005 at 04:18:02 PM
Excuse the double-post here guys, but Gabe over on Penny Arcade said that his e-mail sig had his phone number in there, and Jack called up yelled at him. Saying if he e-mailed him again he would "regret it". This guy is such a typical politician.
"Oh look at me, I'm going to pick something to denounce, come up with insane attempts to quash it, and then when I get owned by sanity and see how much I suck I'm going to threaten those people who pointed out that I suck."
gg run-on sentences, haha
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sortie 10.12.2005 at 04:12:30 PM
Yeah, I forgot to mention before, $10,000? Thats it? If you're trying to make a big statement, you might as well put something worth it on the line asshat. Man I hate this guy.
Ok here's what we do, we get a delorean. Make it into a time machine, and stop this dumbass from being born. Its kinda like Back to the Future meets Terminator, only we're the Terminators...and we're saving the world.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 03:46:38 PM
Anyway, I think a mod community really should do this. It would be a wonderful way to stick it in that ass***e's face that games actually don't cause harm. And that you have to be a psycho in order to kill in the first place.
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pook 10.12.2005 at 03:32:31 PM
his "donation" is a joke, but if i had a game company i'd sooooo make this game, and i'd make it high quality.
his point is simple of course: if the game were made (and made high-quality) do you think that there'd be any industry folk who'd protest? if they did, it proves his point, and i think they might.
put it this way, if i made a violent game whose point was doing any number of terrible things to YOU and your family, specifically, and modeled it so close to life that someone could maybe figure out where you lived, would you mind? every single one of you needs to say no. most of you might, but i suspect if it actually happened you'd look for a new place to live very quickly.....
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grant 10.12.2005 at 03:20:35 PM
Only $10,000? My car cost twice that... Dosn't developing video games cost a bit more that that?
Would it not be more efficent to simply ask take-two to donate $10,000 to some charity?
I propose that if anyone decides to make this game, they do it like a real "Murder Simulator".
After all the introduction BS, you first have to aquire a weapon, just like in real life (let's make this as realisitic as possible).
When you get to the gun shop, they don't have any uzis for sale (illeagle) and for a handgun you have to wait the requrired amount of time for the background check. After waiting a real week (the console/computer will know how long it's been) they deny the gun because you left the corthouse screeming for violent revenge. Now the only weapon you can get your hands on is a baseball bat.
You try to see the CEO of 'take-that' interactive but they won't let you past the front gate with a baseball bat. The police show up and tell you to leave, so you hit him with a baseball bat and take his gun. You try to shoot his partner but you've never handled a real gun before. They shoot you in the leg, they put you in jail. Game over, you loose. The game designer won't even have to program the second level.
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age 10.12.2005 at 03:20:10 PM
how come violent video games make people wanna kill but harvest moon never made me want to farm. violence is apparrently the only thing people learn from video games when tons of people play non-violent games and never end up in a "dream like state" doing whatever they were in the game. violence is a just conveinant topic, its easy to use a video game company as a scape goat and rake in tons of cash through law suits, media endorsements (which im sure jack knows nothing about) etc. ugh this is really starting to aggrivate me, if i ever beat jack im gonna throw a turnip at him.
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windblow 10.12.2005 at 03:11:22 PM
Oh, and I've got the perfect title for this game: "Video Games made me do it!" :)
How come it takes so few to turn the joke back to him, and yet he makes more money than I probably ever will? :( Damn this capitalist world!
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axle 10.12.2005 at 03:02:58 PM
Is there some way I can get in touch with this douchebag? I want to act like I'm for his cause and support him and everything, then at the most inopportune moment, I want to cut him down, telling him how much of an idiot he is. Then I'll urinate on him and say it was his idea.
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stuff 10.12.2005 at 02:26:29 PM
Sounds good, then at the end, when he is captured, they can show how there was never a son. At least not a son that was killed. Instead, his son had commited suicide because as a teenager, he was going thru a lot of changes and things that seemed mayor for him.
But his father was never around, he was always at work. His father was a Lawyer and spent all the time in the office. So slowly the son fell into a deep depression that resulted with him taking his own life.
The kid left a note. The note read "By the time you find this, I'll probably be dead. When mom had to leave us, I needed you more than ever, but you locked yourself in your work and left me here to die. Well, I hope you are happy. I'll be with mom now"
The man then started to loose it. While looking around the room he saw a few video games. In his pain and despair, his mind locked video games with his sons death. He started going crazy, playing the games his kid had. Until finally he lost it.
Crap . . . ah. . . long post again? I'll just shut up now.
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vudu 10.12.2005 at 02:13:19 PM
"people didn't take a modest proposal at face value . . ."
Does that mean I'm not supposed to eat the unwashed masses?
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ebwiz 10.12.2005 at 02:07:02 PM
Penny Arcade has our backs, guys. This is Gabe's response to Jack Thompson
"10 grand is pretty weak man. Through our charity www.childsplaycharity.org gamers have given over half a million dollars in toys and cash to children%u2019s hospitals all over the country."
Come on, let's say it together...
Owned.
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scottyt 10.12.2005 at 02:04:40 PM
Defiant if you really can make this i wanna hear about it this would be a brilliant game to sell, i mean come on think of any game that ever got hyped and ended up sucking, we could get them all and teach them a lesson.... OH NO I'm a mindless violence junckie created by the idea of this game.....Must Kill....Mack Chompton....Must ...use....baseball ...bat to kill.
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terpfen 10.12.2005 at 02:01:58 PM
This just in... Tomonobu Itagaki ate bpin's parents.
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cubesquared 10.12.2005 at 01:54:44 PM
I'm getting really mixed messages. Like, first off, he tries to be all in-touch with the youth ("I have sat with boys in their jail cells") but goes on to say "only life", implying he wants to kill off anyone who's commited a crime and has in their past played video games. He implies that game companies have no shame yet he's trying to prove that they won't 'have the balls' so to speak to make a game like this. He also seems to try to make a point that the game industry wouldn't make a game about killing people in the game industry, but that's never been a point of debate at any point in history. He calls games "simulators" but he makes this game about a (very strangely named cross between Japanese and Korean named) parent in a wholly unrealistic scenario. It comes across that he's taken personal offense at the industry, like every nameless denizen in GTA was actually Jack Thompson (a prospect I'm sure many people would LIKE, but is wholly untrue) and he wants game companies to "do unto themselves as they do onto others".
On the technical aspect, he really has no idea what a game is like; he portrays it like a deranged movie rather than a "sandbox" type game as he states. The idea could work, like Postal 2 (irony in and of itself, you kill insane violent game protesters in that one) did, but probably not the way he puts it. This game will never be made by a big company, they have better things to do with their time than listen to some crazy egomaniac, not to mention the chances of being able to make a game of his scale would probably take more than a year. Unfortunately, he's going to take this as a sign that he's "won" this part of the "war", which is essentially like me saying "Hey, Jack Thompson, why don't you ban all forms of media by the year 2006? What? You can't? That's because you're a jackass!"; it's impossible, proves nothing, and he sure as hell wouldn't care one way or another.
He's a strange man, I wonder what he's like in person.
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xexyl 10.12.2005 at 01:31:13 PM
i'm i the only one who gets the irony of this?
people didn't take a modest proposal at face value . . .
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bpin 10.12.2005 at 01:26:03 PM
This just in - Itagaki and Team Ninja propose to make the game under the condition that Osaki Kim be changed to a young woman with D-cup sized breasts, and that she spends the entirety of the game destroying Tekken arcade cabinets.
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defiant00 10.12.2005 at 01:18:51 PM
Oh man...I so wish that I wasn't working on another project right now. I'd love to do this in a Metal Slug style...actually, I may have to anyways...
Well if nothing else, this is getting saved so that I don't forget...and maybe at some future time I'll put out a call for anyone who wants to do some sprite work :)
Oh, to go rampaging through E3...
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mikey 2x4 10.12.2005 at 01:11:27 PM
...
...
...
HAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHHAHHHAHHAHHAH!
F*cking awesome. He wants someone to make a Paranoia Agent video game, but have him take out the dredges in the video game industry instead. Holy hell... this guy is a brain child. Indeed.
Also, sifle-- I thought the same thing about the choice of Osaki Kim for the name... wtf?
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hitmaker 10.12.2005 at 01:11:07 PM
Has this guy even played a video game?
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zepyulos 10.12.2005 at 12:50:32 PM
Osaki Kim must be the all-Asian-American everyman who's favorite hobbies include kung-fu, tending his bonsai garden, and munching kimchee. He apparently learned English by watching a lot of Court TV and Montel Williams.
But seriously, if nothing else maybe this can turn into an amusing fan project with NES-style graphics. And of course the second player controls Jack Thimpson, who uses his deadly flatulence as a weapon and whizzes off zippy one-liners like "Violence doesn't kill people, videogames kill people!" while clubbing Doug Lowenstein to death with the metal Halo 2 limited edition collector's box.
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spatobl 10.12.2005 at 12:40:03 PM
....wow. I think he may be on to something, videogames really are where i learned to bludgeon people to death with a baseball bat, and also where i learned to save the world by casting Ice3 on all who oppose me. Seriously this guys bullsh*t was insane before it got to this point, i don't even know what to call it now.
And I second the earlier comment, some people who have the know-how should definately make a half-life mod. Even add in a baseball minigame where the ball you use is Jack Thomson's head.
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momoku 10.12.2005 at 12:38:35 PM
Sounds O.K. to me!
That made me laugh my ass off. At least Thompson is good for that much. And what does he mean by "only life?" Last time I checked, people don't even get life in prison for killing one person while having no prior convictions.
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sugoi 10.12.2005 at 12:30:16 PM
Thompson is starting to really scare me; if his mental health continues to deteriorate at this rate, there is a high probability that his grip on reality may falter. We need to get Thompson a nice, quiet (padded) room with a view... for his own protection, of course. ^_^
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sortie 10.12.2005 at 12:15:45 PM
Yeah, this guy really needs to walk outside, and get a life. Maybe read a nice book.
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sifle 10.12.2005 at 12:08:19 PM
Osaki Kim? Is he both korean and japanese or does jack thompson assume all asians come from the same country? Unimportant as it is, it adds to the utter stupidity most of which has already been voiced in earlier comments.
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thegreatc4 10.12.2005 at 12:04:33 PM
So this idiot wants to make a game. Just what a need another Bible Adventures game! Rock!
Man if people were so seriously taken in and influenced by games so easily, I'd be throwing turtle shells at cars, trying my new psychic powers out, and throwing balls at random animals to capture them. This is seriously getting out of hand. If games seriously influenced kids so easily the goverment would release a bunch of military games with subliminal messages allowing you to join the armed forces. So Jack Thompson needs to get off of his high horse cause he's just doing this for attention.
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ytdb 10.12.2005 at 11:36:13 AM
Yeah, the only reason he "proposed" this "idea for a game" is so when the industry DOESN'T make it he can say that it's because they (game makers) are afraid that it will lead to somebody killing them.
Man he really put alot of thought into that scenario though... must be something he thinks about alot. I wonder what _his_ excuse is?
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racebannon 10.12.2005 at 11:29:29 AM
This is actually really comical. Now, I have not been fully convinced before that Jack Thompson was really such an idiot (I know, I know), but now... wow... I see his point, but that was really low. You don't have to go that low. Your a professional... or are you?
He just self destructed. The FEW people of the videogame industry who didn't think he was such a bad guy, just 180ed. He just alienated himself, rather than rallying the intermediate videogame people. People who don't want violent videogames do not wish violence upon game makers. Wow. He really talked away his last, tiny, little, itty bitty support. Great Job.
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aztec triogal 10.12.2005 at 11:18:16 AM
They should SOOOO make that game! Just have it be a crappy low budget kill-em where your boss fights with the CEO of "Take This" Interactive is more cheesy than serious. It'd be great. It'd show a great sense of humor in the video game community, it would sell like crazy because people would buy it out of spite, and it would PISS OFF Jack Thompson so bad. lol
Because he's basically begging someone to disprove his theories, so freaking disprove them... and mock him in the meantime. Add "bonus stages" where you just kill as many "Jim Thompkins" as you can. COME ON! You cannot tell me that wouldn't rock.
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kunai 10.12.2005 at 11:06:47 AM
I thought that his point was videogames make (primarily white) kids violent, not (randomly Asian) adults.
Ash, I hope you die.
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vudu 10.12.2005 at 10:55:05 AM
Wait, I'm confused...
How did O.K. learn to kill all these people? As far as we know he didn't play any violent video games. How it is possible that he learned how to do something this horrific without first acting out the events in a video game?
Could it be that man has a natural (perhaps even evolutionary) tendency towards violence? Nah, that couldn't be it.
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polster 10.12.2005 at 10:47:42 AM
Not only Thompson is considered of being racist towards Asians, he's putting anger out on women. He must not be getting any lately.
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kettcar 10.12.2005 at 09:49:58 AM
Burning irony, my eyes are bleeding because of all the bitter self-awareness I learned through this clever manifesto. Oh my.
Off playing GTA.
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dj tempora 10.12.2005 at 09:45:51 AM
Is Jack Thompson real?
No, not "for real". Just "real".
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ebwiz 10.12.2005 at 09:34:33 AM
Honestly I'd love to see a developer make this a flash game or something.
Anyone notice the over use of Asian sounding names? Thompson a racist? Could it be? One must ponder on such things.
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polster 10.12.2005 at 09:24:44 AM
I dont suppose there are any side-sex missions..
Great game idea though, sounds like it's a shoe-in for a best seller.
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c 10.12.2005 at 08:17:51 AM
I am reminded again that Jack Thompson sounds like a bored 12-year-old.
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xen piranha 10.12.2005 at 07:57:43 AM
Perhaps if he were more persuasive (Who gives a damn about his charity? Award it to the game maker.) a mod community could technicly do this as a mod to Half-Life and distrubute it over Steam (I hear they allow you to charge) and that would be that. However his tactic is that nobody makes the game. So of course the reward is going to be something nobody wants.
Actually, this could be a great game. Have it stewn with irony of the hypocracy of people like Jack Thompson. You could even kill "Mack Lompston" because he is a failure who got the kid "only life."
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dswhore 10.12.2005 at 07:48:51 AM
Next News Update:
Jack Thompson voluntarily admits himself to an asylum.
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terpfen 10.12.2005 at 07:39:32 AM
Oh, Jack. Jack, Jack, Jack.
You're angry about Citizens United Negating Technology For Life And People's Safety, aren't you?
digg this story!
