Is Jack Thompson right?

[Minty]

Right, this was an editorial I wrote a while back and decided to leave it.

Anyway, Jack Thompson has been an idiot again, so I decided to bring it back to life.

Anyway, the article can be found here (http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news.php?id=404)

[thecrazyguy]

Great article Minty, and very well said.

By the way, love the comic strip at the end, it was hilarious!! LOL :)

[KlicK]

Jack Thompson is a joke. If everyone would stop paying so much damn attention to him, he would go (or does he slither?) away.

[fatso1311]

I have been playing videogames since before i can remember, I was playing contra when I was 2, I played Doom not long after. I am not a messed up guy, i have been a gamer all my life, yes, i am addicted but that is something unstoppable IMO. People should seriously relax about Videogames, nothing is wrong with them and they dont inspire people to kill. I have nver had an urge to kill someone.

[KlicK]

I have been playing videogames since before i can remember, I was playing contra when I was 2, I played Doom not long after. I am not a messed up guy, i have been a gamer all my life, yes, i am addicted but that is something unstoppable IMO. People should seriously relax about Videogames, nothing is wrong with them and they dont inspire people to kill. I have nver had an urge to kill someone.

No one ever has urges to kill anyone because of videogames. Jay Thompson here is full of shit.

[The Pants Party]

People with urges to kill (or any violent urge in general) usually know it is wrong and try to find releases for their anger, hence the connection with killers and violent games/music/films. Doesn't always work, clearly.

Jack Thompson and all the other crusaders out there ignore that fact and pretend the connection is the other way around to further their cause. And we all know their cause is truly just to garner media attention for themselves.

I'd love to see something happen to this guy like what happened to the attorney on the Duke lacross case. He pushed and pushed and made shit up, then lost his license and got sued himself. Jack is doing basically the same thing. Game developers/publishers should turn around and file suit back for libel/slander.

[Zef]

Jay Thompson here is full of shit.

Jack has a brother?

I don't think he is right, but because so many parents let their kids get whatever game they want despite the age ratings it is exposing them to something they shouldn't really see for a few years. But that doesn't turn them into stone cold killers. Since I can now get any game I choose because I reached the pinnacle of teenageness, this doesn't really affect me as I am 'responsible'.

All Jack seems to do is find some kind of killing, then trawl through their past to see if they had every played a videogame. If you looked at EVERY murder, killing, rape or whatever the majority will show nothing except maybe a few minutes on a pacman machine.

If his global campaign is successful then games will just go underground, it won't stop people playing at all.

[Sam360]

It's right that he, and all the other people who believe him/have the same views as him are narrow minded idiots with a vendetta against something they have made no effort to understand.

On the bright side, one day, everyone in politics or whatever will have grown up with video games of some sort, as they are so much more common than when he grew up (however long ago that was), so I think that people like him are certainly a dying breed...until then, we'll just have to sit making fun of him!

[BLK DEM0N]

LOL, he is another old person who hates games, GET A LIFE! :drunk

[KlicK]

If his global campaign is successful...
God save us all.

[Brighton X]

I don't think he's right at all. I'm only 13 but I know the difference between right & wrong. I know the difference between a game in real life & reality. Jack Thompson doesn't know that people know that. I, unlike most kids my age, act fine online. I don't curse at people or scream through the mic.

PS: The end comic was sooo funny.

[ThrillKillBill]

Truth of the matter is violent video games go a long way to keep me calm. Throughout my early life and teen life I couldn't afford many games so what did I do? I often got drunk and got into fights. Now that I can afford all these games I simply never have the desire to do any of that unless i'm pushed deep into a corner. I talk mad trash online at times but in real life I always use my "pleases" and "thank yous" and "sir/ma'am" when dealing with anybody. I can directed attribute that to my violent video games as they serve for me as a perfect outlet for pent up aggressions. Jack Thompson is just a money grubbing bastard that found a well paying nitch and is exploiting it for every dime he can get. (and yes, he lives fairly well because of it) No, he is incorrect on his point of view and his need to shove his views down the throats of every other person is just another form of bigotry. Boorums to you Jack, enjoy your after-life in hell with the likes of Hitler!

[alex4283]

I suppose Jack Thompson has to make money somehow, and being in the legal field with topics like this must make him very popular among his peers.

[KlicK]

I suppose Jack Thompson has to make money somehow, and being in the legal field with topics like this must make him very popular among his peers.

Is that why the Florida Bar requested a psyche test? (http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/03/171254)

[alex4283]

Is that why the Florida Bar requested a psyche test? (http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/03/171254)

I was being sarcastic. I think we all know he's a little loose up top. For the record, it was also a jab at our legal system.

[Agnostic]

I am still trying to figure out which video games have caused these events:
1.Lindbergh kidnapping
2.Charles Whitman Texas school shooting
3.The Manson Cult murders

Jack Thompson doesn't have any problem pointing the finger. If I'm not mistaken Thompson is a religious man. Religion has caused more death than any entertainment medium I can think of. Maybe we should keep religion away from children.

Thompson only likes the sound of his own voice. Death cannot come quicker to this man.

[aswipe21]

It's kind of like the ole saying, "Guns don't kill people, People kill people." It's the same way with video games. Video games don't kill people it's the individual that kills other people. Everyone that is old enough to comprehend a video game, knows it is wrong to kill people. So in the end everyone has to make the choice to do right or wrong.

[darkXhawk]

Ugh....Im so sick of hearing about this guy. He's just another do-gooder who plans on chaning the world.

[KlicK]

Ugh....Im so sick of hearing about this guy. He's just another do-gooder who plans on chaning the world.

Do-gooder?

Moar like do-ouchebag. :woop:

[shadow sniper]

ok jack thompson can try and ban video games for the rest of hes life,but you know what it will never happin.Video games will never be banned because of the fact that it makes so much money,and that all people care about and if something is makeing money well its gonna stay.If theres real wars going on i dont see why we sould not be aloud 2 win WWII,or win the superbowl,kill terroist juarez and kill alma(or what ever your into).So Big old jack can try all he wants but he will never win.

[Adam Miller]

Yeh hes wrong some people are easilyinfluence but still although after killin mates at pro we go play football.

Also BLK DEMON EAGLESSSSSSSSS welcome you go today man 2 - 2 nearly left at 2 1 where you from in cro?

[Rayge13]

As a long time gamer (I was playing Super Mario on the NES before I even knew how to walk), I can't help but find Mr. Thompson a douche. Of course we don't like him but nothing gives more visibility/publicity than airing your opinions against a certain community or sensible matter out and loud. We call that social phenomenon "Stirring sh*t". I don't know if your daily news reports on TV are like that but in Montreal, as soon as somebody gets up to voice his angst against an event or group, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, they'll send a reporter and cameraman to meet the person. The average citizen wants/needs sensationalism; the TV gives them their fix.

Even if we decide to ignore little Jack, plenty of others will listen to what he haves to say and even adopt his ideas if they're impressed by his costy suit. My point is, if we keep on complaining/talking about this man, we'll give him exactly what he wants: publicity and visibility. We still need to stand up for our favorite hobby though. Should he plan a big move, we'll be ready to counter it. Being a lawyer doesn't mean you're brighter than the masses. My 2 cents.

Great editorial by the way. :)

[Vince]

i think people need to stop using video games as a scapegoat! i've played video games all my life and nothings wrong with me! instead of blaming music, tv and video games lets start pointing the finger at some of these parents who allow their kids to do what ever whenever they want! its a parents job to raise their kids not the HDTV or the XBOX 360

[Pieface]

If he wants to get at least a little bit of credibility he needs to widen his areas away from Video games, as i am pretty sure, Movies and TV would be alot worse as it is usually real looking things doing evil and breaking the law.

But JT really needs to grow up.

[odysseus123]

lmao i wanna play "Pong San Andreas" that stuff made me laugh. But yea i agree with all of that.

[crusaderV1]

i think people need to stop using video games as a scapegoat! i've played video games all my life and nothings wrong with me! instead of blaming music, tv and video games lets start pointing the finger at some of these parents who allow their kids to do what ever whenever they want! its a parents job to raise their kids not the HDTV or the XBOX 360

*wipes tear from eye* Best thing ive heard all thread!

I still dont know why Jack still considers himself as a lawyer, didnt Floridia revoke his licence a little while back? They revoked it becuase he was wasting money on the most stupid argument ever and becuase he was rambling on like a religous "wack-job".

[Six to Eight]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/pa_jack.jpg

Thinkgeek & Penny Arcade sell these... I want one.

[Butters]

Hey minty I very much enjoyed your article and found it to be very valid and has been my stance on games for a long time and i can tell you from being 17 and having played games since birth or so it seems, that it is true that it really comes down to maturity and upbringing. Again great article.

[Im a Manatee]

http://www.thelastboss.com/post.phtml?pk=2658

This is why anything Jack Thompson says needs to be disregarded. He clearly is in and out of lucidity in during the day.


They may think that they are ready, but personally I think they won’t have experienced enough of life to make that call until they are 16. I know a lot of young people will be arguing with me here, and saying that its BS and that they are mature for their age (if you’ve said that its BS because you’re mature, you’ve shown you’re not by the way),

That is an incredibly bold statement.

[LoversandBrothers]

This guy is well known by gamers outside the United States too. I've read about him and his videogame "trashtalking" in some spanish magazines and blogs. I guess he's trying to get a short path to the fame with his actions. And I also think that he has a little part of guilt in the Manhunt2 delay-cancellation.

[Badman]

what an idiot no game has ever hurt anyone except for an idiot like himself :uzi:

[TacticalChaos15]

I got a SNES when I was four I think. My brothers and I used to play the old TMNT games and power rangers. I used to run around like Raphael and fight shredder. Now I am 16, I play rainbow six and gears of war and I have Bioshock pre-ordered ( my mom was there ). I have even played Driver and stuff. Never pasted a po-po, never pistol wipped a grandma, never shot a terrorist, never shotguned a person. I can honestly say I never will. Why you ask? Because they are freaking video games. They are entertainment. I saw the last samurai and I even have a Katana, but I don't run around slicing people up. Why, because it is a freaking movie. I read books all the time, I like the Clancy's ( Clear and present Danger, Rainbow Six, Red october) but it is a freaking book.


Do you guys catch my drift, just because I like these forms of entertainment doesn't mean I am going to hurt people, or deal drugs, or steal. I mean, there have been thousands of years of crime before videogames, but now videogames have been created, no one can even formulate a crime in their mind without playing GTA right Jackie........ Please.



By the way, great editorial Minty, me and you seem to have the same oppinions on this matter.

[BMF Bouncer]

kids cartoon's these days have nearly as much violence in them as most of the games we play and theres nothing said about that

[mightydionysus]

Jack is a dumbass. No doubt. Playing video games doesn't make people killers... unless I am doing it and not knowing about it. I am 32. I've been here since Pong. Jack is a dumbass but he isn't always wrong. This is from personal experience, I have seen too many employees pushing "M" rated games on kids and parents. It is rated "M" for a reason. It really upsets me as I watch a parent ask for a recommendation for a good game for their boy and then listen as they are told about great "T-M" rated games without even being asked how old the kid is. I understand and place no blame on the seller in this situation. If parents don't know any better then to buy there kid the "Guy Game" then it is their own fault. However, I've seen both Halo and Gears sold to underage kids or to parents who were buying for the 10 year old standing in front of them at the counter. Hell, my mom was even convinced into buying GTA III for my son (who was 9 at the time). I had to take that back. If kids weren't playing.... games they shouldn't?...... then Jack wouldn't find anyone listening to his rants. We can find Adult games on the computer... do you hear anyone complaining about kids playing those. Why?

Parents are to blame for everything. If only they'd get educated. Then everyone could play Mario Party.

[Creech]

I have nver had an urge to kill someone.

Clearly, you have never been married. ;)

But yeah, Jack Thompson is a twat. Unfortunately, a lot of people in this country like twats, especially those in the media who would rather stir up a panic over nothing rather than admit their entire industry is obsolete.

[DoM cAbAn]

Clearly, you have never been married. ;)

Thanks for making me laugh. :p

This guy is a total ass. He's trying to ruin the fun for everyone or something? It's a video game for God's sake. Take it easy, wow.

[ThrillKillBill]

lmao i wanna play "Pong San Andreas" that stuff made me laugh.

Dude! You don't play PONG San Andreas...... PONG San Andreas plays you! Don't ever say you weren't warned :p

[quidyg]

he seriously has nothing better to do than blame video games.

that bioshock complaint he made about killing girls is bullshit. bioshock looks a great game and seeing as you get to choose whether to kill or rescue the little sisters it cannot be blamed

[duckydan]

Clearly, you have never been married. ;)

Marriage is responsible for more crime then video games ever has... and after being married a couple months I see why! I think games such as GTA and GoW provide a better outlet then the oldschool method of getting plastered at a bar and, in some cases, let people get together as my wife is in love with CoD to the point she has beaten it more times then I have thought possible.

[fatso1311]

Why do people insist on targeting video games... Jack Thompson keeps dragging it along, First GTA, then GTA again! Manhunt, RE 5 GRAW 2 what else can they target besides every single game, pretty soon pac man will be in cuffs and dragged down to the local precinct. It is insane nowadays, noone ever blamed pong for anything (they probably could... wackjobs)

If you think about all of our influences Videogames is probably the smallest part, focus on teen drinking, smoking, and other substance abuses rather than the actual stress relieving subject of Videogames.

I am a 15 year old gamer (still a bad driver, idk how i score so high on burnout) I have played Half life, Halo, GTA, Gears, Doom (I was little back then too, kindergarten age) All of were definitely not recommended for my age but my parents know that i know the difference between games and reality, I use games as a way to relieve stress. I may play a hardcore game of Hexic 2 (lol) and scream at the idiot who just locked all my pieces. I might even hop on my PC and shoot some noobs in Americas Army and talk loads of trash, and this makes me a little more sociable in real life because im not angry, im perfectly at peace if I have a good round or 2 before i quit.

Obviously the big targets of this debate are GTA and games like it, none of them even look realistic I don't know how some people get the idea that they influence us at all.

The end... are you still reading this,wow.

[UndeadReaper]

the people that buy into his views on video games/tv/movies are the people that dont want to take credit for their poor parenting and point the finger on someone else. if you see that your kid can not figure out the diff. between fantasy and reality then dont let your kid watch or play violent video games/movies.

well there is my little rant on all of these video game haters out there. pretty soon we will have the video game community in our countries offices and maybe some of this shit will stop coming up when something horrible happens in this country

[bplayak]

Awesome article Minty. People in a position of power will try to cast blame in whatever they can grasp to take the focus away from a true reason why people do crazy things. I truly believe that everything starts with the parents. If your 8 and playing violent video games, it's not the game makers fault if you start to have violent tendencies, it's the mommy and daddy who are letting you play those games. As a parent myself, I take full responsibility and will continue to take this responsibility in trying to raise my child correctly. If you do your absolute best to raise good kids and teach them right from wrong then it just all boils down to each human's individual morality as to what they choose to do. We all have free will, we just have to use it wisely :)

[niftyuk]

In the UK, gaming violence does not take on such a debate as it does in the USA.

Jack Thompson, instead of blaming video games for the deplorable acts of gun violence happening in American schools should, instead of trying to link the act to a scene from a computer game, look to the American constitution. "Every citizen will have the right to bare arms" I am sure that if he spent his energies here, that he would make far bigger difference than trying to stop the video game industry making 'shooting' games

In the UK, our Gun control is good, not perfect but good. Can anyone tell me the last time someone went into a UK school with guns and brutally murdered their classmates?

Never, we have had one tragedy, the Dumblain massacre in the 90's. But in the US, we here about it on our news all to often.

For me, the American gun laws are to lax, and by lax, I mean that they should not be available at all to anyone. It is my belief, that kids who are bullied, can't get the girl they want, don't fit in, can go out and get a gun, or take Daddy's gun, go to the school and kill anyone they want.

In the Uk, kids might fall out and have a fight in the playground, or more recently we have seen some stabbings, but as guns aren't readily available no-one can just go home, angry and take a gun back to school and use it.

It saddens me that in the US, that the power of commerce, namely the big gun companies can continue to make weapons to sell that kill people and that the US government, stands by this as if we are honest, it is not in the best intrests of the United States to have billion dollar industries no longer allowed to sell to the public but come on, be bold... Whoever the future president of the USA is and stop the wholesale of guns to people for home protection.

In the US there is more than 1 gun per person in circulation.

Further more, violence in video games is evermore realisitc and brutal, I am a father of a 9 and 2 year old and I own Gears of War, Dead Rising etc... Do I ever play these games infront of my kids... Absoloutly not. I have my paretnal controls on and they are on the top shelf with Daddies games, not next to Viva Pinata or FIFA '07.

Will I allow my kids to play games that are rated 18 or R, well, simply no... I want to be entertained by games, taken somewhere to do something amazing... Be blown away by the gameplay in gears of war, crush zombies with a till. I've been a gamer since I was 10 and can honestly say I have never felt violent after playing a game, only fustration in GRAW on hard.

Oh, and to stick to the game in hand, the little sisters in bioshock... Playing the demo did I see these 'creatures' as human girls, no, I mean come on, there posture and the fact that in the demo she was drilling into the skull of some guy tells me shes no 7 year old human.... But Heh, this is the Achievement website and there is an achievement for sparring all the little sisters so I guess I'll make sure not to kill one anyway.

[TacticalChaos15]

Jack Thompson, instead of blaming video games for the deplorable acts of gun violence happening in American schools should, instead of trying to link the act to a scene from a computer game, look to the American constitution. "Every citizen will have the right to bare arms" I am sure that if he spent his energies here, that he would make far bigger difference than trying to stop the video game industry making 'shooting' games

In the UK, our Gun control is good, not perfect but good. Can anyone tell me the last time someone went into a UK school with guns and brutally murdered their classmates?

Never, we have had one tragedy, the Dumblain massacre in the 90's. But in the US, we here about it on our news all to often.

For me, the American gun laws are to lax, and by lax, I mean that they should not be available at all to anyone. It is my belief, that kids who are bullied, can't get the girl they want, don't fit in, can go out and get a gun, or take Daddy's gun, go to the school and kill anyone they want.

In the Uk, kids might fall out and have a fight in the playground, or more recently we have seen some stabbings, but as guns aren't readily available no-one can just go home, angry and take a gun back to school and use it.

It saddens me that in the US, that the power of commerce, namely the big gun companies can continue to make weapons to sell that kill people and that the US government, stands by this as if we are honest, it is not in the best intrests of the United States to have billion dollar industries no longer allowed to sell to the public but come on, be bold... Whoever the future president of the USA is and stop the wholesale of guns to people for home protection.

In the US there is more than 1 gun per person in circulation.

.



But you are just as bad as Jack. You are assuming that every one is a troubled youth and that everyone who has ever been bullied is bullied into murder. I have been pushed around in school and my family has always had guns around. I have never shot anyone. It is the democratic liberal views that messes you and Jack Thompson up. It is in our freaking constitution, you know the thing that our country is so pose to be run by ( even though it isnt most of the time). We have the right to own weapons, we have the right to our entertainment. As long as we are not breaking laws, back off. It is the American way. We have the right to chose, not the governments.However, I do agree that you should have to go through more crap to get guns and there should be stricter laws.


Back on the subject of videogames, I was in Gamestop the other day ( like two weeks ago) pre- ordering Bioshock LE. While I was back there in the 360 section browsing the other games, this little kid and his mom walk up. I kind of eves drop and the kid is buying a present for his brothers 8th birthday. The mom lets him pick out a original xbox game. First he choses GTA but his mom says right away that she has seen that nasty game on the news and to put it back. I kind of laughed to myself, typical right. Then the kid picks up Doom 3, the mom makes him put it back because of a scary box. Next game the kid picks up is Chronicles of Riddick: Butchers Bay. The mom looks at the cover, shrugs and says sure. Now this little kid, under ten years of age, plus his 8 year old brother, will be playing this incredably strong M rated game with F words, blood and gore, prison murders, mutants............... It is the freaking stupid parents fault that the little kids will be exposed to this. Freaking crazy if I do say so myself.

[niftyuk]

Sorry if you thought my assumption was that all americans have troubled youths and are murders, this is not the case, my point is that if guns were taken away, or indeed far stricter laws then the minority of troubled teenagers would not be able to take out there problems on people with a gun. I just feel strongly that a video game cannot be used to blame for someone shooting and killing someone... If there was no gun there, it could not happen. IF the video game was not there, I bet you $1million dollars that people would still be murdered in American schools so Jack is just wasting his time and efforts pointing fingers at the industry, rather than American gun culture and as you say, Naive parents.

As for parents buying games like Doom 3, GTA at what not, its crazy that parents have not kept themselves educated as to what content these games have, its clearly on the box over here! Parent responsibilites with games and with other media can easliy be to blame for kids being exposed to violence and language that game develpoers did not clearly intend. I mean, I still even go and see 12A rated movies in the UK before taking my son to see if what I see on screen is suitable for him. If I was on Gears of War or Prey and my kids would wake up or come back from school I'd switch it off straight away.

Naive parents cannot use that as an excuse for allowing there kids to play adult orientated games...

[TheLazyWolf]

Ok the facts are that video game playing has steadily increased over the past 10 years. The per capita number of violent crimes has decreased in that same amount of time.

Nifty- The reason guns are so readily accessible in the US, is that any time her citizens get a vote, we vote for less gun restrictions. Not everyone, of course, but the majority, and thats what we go by.

Its interesting actually, but the cities that have the highest amount of legal carrying permits have the lowest rates of violent crimes. So far though, it is impossible to prove a direct correlation between the two, since there are so many other factors involved. However common sense says you are less likely to pull a gun and try to rob someone if they have a gun also.

FYI Al Gore would have won the presidential election in 2000 and we would never have had Bush if Gore had won his home state, which no one has ever lost and won the presidency. It is widely accepted that he lost his home state because of his stance on stricter gun control.

My point is, its not commerce driven, its vote driven. Americans love their guns. Also, you gotta remember, you guys are on an island with a tunnel connection to the rest of europe. Its a lot easier to stop smuggled weapons at a tunnel access point than it is to cover 10,000 miles of border. So if you took the guns away from the people who are actually registering them, you wouldn't be taking them out of the hands of criminals.

Lastly, and im pretty sure this is the biggest concern for most Americans, but did you ever see the movie 28 days later or 28 weeks later? You guys are totally screwed in a case of a massive zombie outbreak. We, on the other hand, got it covered:uzi::p

[Zef]

Well recently there have been plenty of gun crimes committed in the Manchester area, a couple of kids have been shot dead because they were 'confused' with gang members and some would-be hitmen were shot dead with their own guns. Gun crimes in the UK aren't as common, but they still happen enough to not be ignored.

People can still get guns here, you just need to go through a ridiculously strict screening process before you can get a license. You aren't allowed to just own a gun because you have been well behaved, you can be granted a license if you would have some kind of logical reason for having one (safaris and zoos can get them if they have dangerous animals).

I believe they have banned most guns in Australia and they don't have as many as even the UK, double-barrelled shotguns got banned and the murder rate went down pretty swiftly. I think the statistics are in a Michael Moore film, he likes that kind of thing.

[niftyuk]

Ok the facts are that video game playing has steadily increased over the past 10 years. The per capita number of violent crimes has decreased in that same amount of time.

Nifty- The reason guns are so readily accessible in the US, is that any time her citizens get a vote, we vote for less gun restrictions. Not everyone, of course, but the majority, and thats what we go by.

Its interesting actually, but the cities that have the highest amount of legal carrying permits have the lowest rates of violent crimes. So far though, it is impossible to prove a direct correlation between the two, since there are so many other factors involved. However common sense says you are less likely to pull a gun and try to rob someone if they have a gun also.

FYI Al Gore would have won the presidential election in 2000 and we would never have had Bush if Gore had won his home state, which no one has ever lost and won the presidency. It is widely accepted that he lost his home state because of his stance on stricter gun control.

My point is, its not commerce driven, its vote driven. Americans love their guns. Also, you gotta remember, you guys are on an island with a tunnel connection to the rest of europe. Its a lot easier to stop smuggled weapons at a tunnel access point than it is to cover 10,000 miles of border. So if you took the guns away from the people who are actually registering them, you wouldn't be taking them out of the hands of criminals.

Lastly, and im pretty sure this is the biggest concern for most Americans, but did you ever see the movie 28 days later or 28 weeks later? You guys are totally screwed in a case of a massive zombie outbreak. We, on the other hand, got it covered:uzi::p
You got that right lonewolf hahahaha...

[deathbypig37x]

I've made some important points on this subject in the "Dr. Phil agianst video games episode" or whatever, so instead of repeating mysel, I'll just make a few things clear.

1. Jack Thompson does not really hate video games, nor does he think it is the ruining of America. It is merely a point he makes in all of his political campaigns, and since he is one of the few politicians going after the ignorant demographic of people against video games, he gets a small following. Case and point, Hitler never personally hated jews, gypsies, poles, or any other person. He simply used them as scapegoats for Germany's problems and downfalls. The difference between them and us is that we are not Nazis, and the US, nor any other government is weak enough, nor desperate enough to blame video games. (Or books in the example of Hitler)

2. There is no possible way that video games will be muted, nor silenced in any form or fashion. With game consoles slowly integrating with Pc's and vicea-versa, Music, books, tv, movies, and games, will all be a part of one medium before long.

So there.:p

[SteveBIRK]

heres my opion. i think the more realistic games like GTA and saints row r slightly cuasing this problem. only becuz u can reanacte these events. but u cant do that with a game like gears of war. for example when was the last time u heard on the news a locust tgot chain sawed in half on market street by a gun with a chain saw attachment. all im sayin is be careful to who u give the more realistic games to then the un realistic. but another factor is that people try to blame gta for gang violence with teens but it all depeds on were u grow up. its just a cowisedence that the 17y.o. kid in voled in a shooting just happens to play gta in his free time

[Drewdude1023]

Realistic games do not cause issues. There were many gang shootings even before GTA. All the government needs to do is be more strict on who is allowed to carry guns. Studies have said that agressive emotions rise while playing violent games. DUH!! When most people play shooters they're thinking "I gotta kill him, gotta kill him" and they will of course, get pissed off when they are killed, but IMO, these "game" emotions rarely effect people. IMO, the people who are causing violence "because of video games" actually would have committed the same crimes even if video games did not exist.

[jlc93]

wtf is that guys problem, give me a gun i'll take care of him because iv'e played many hitman games!!! (lol jk)

[SteveBIRK]

wtf is that guys problem, give me a gun i'll take care of him because iv'e played many hitman games!!! (lol jk)
lol good one :) :uzi::(

[Justicezero]

Video Games/Media/Art cannot be an excuse for poor parenting. The material in question is usually M for Mature, and if you buy your kids the game and they aren't mentally stable enough to play them and not commit crimes...you are to blame. Forget Jack and Hill-dawg, I'm sick of people using this as if it's ruining everything...It's a game..get over it.

[Drewdude1023]

Either way what are Clinton and Thompson gonna do about it? This is America! We have freedom of speech and expression! Banning violent games in unconstutional.

[Val Dekhai]

Good editorial Minty!!

Lazy Wolf and deathbypig I fully agree...

Also I dont know if it is well know but pre-World War II Germany was one of the first countrys in modern history to have full gun control... Look how that turned out...I grew up with family that could arm a small army, and I have been playing Video Games for 19 years. Never did I thought of taking a gun to school or now work. Its a matter of right and wrong. And strong parenting...

[veritas347]

Good article really got a good point across

[miiiguel]

Good read, kudos. I'm a bit off of this issue, as I'm not a kid anymore, I live alone, and pretty much do as I please (yeah it's great, but the food sucks!), and allthough I know this dude is indeed a moron, I also don't know why games haven't the same treatment as movies. 12 years old shouldn't play GTA, asn they shoudn't see Hostel, period. They'll grow older, sooner than latter believe me.

[Drewdude1023]

How much says Thompson's a hypocrite and he plays violent games as well?

[Lympathia]

Jack Thompson doesn't know what he's talking about.

I'm gonna send him 'Barbie's Horse Adventures' for christmas.

[Justicezero]

I also don't know why games haven't the same treatment as movies. 12 years old shouldn't play GTA, asn they shoudn't see Hostel, period. They'll grow older, sooner than latter believe me.

Just like with the movie industry, if people don't check ID's, anyone can buy the dvd's or tickets to the movies. And I don't know about you but at the age of 12 I didn't have a job, so who's buying the video games? The parents, for their children that are underage. The industry has done everything to try and prevent this, I get ID'ed for dvd's and video games (I'm 21, but i look like i'm 12 I think) All games have ratings on the front and reverse, and the reverse even tells you why it's rated M for mature.I really don't know what else they want, but if you don't want your kid to play these games...STOP THEM! :locked

[teh x3nomorph]

Just like with the movie industry, if people don't check ID's, anyone can buy the dvd's or tickets to the movies. And I don't know about you but at the age of 12 I didn't have a job, so who's buying the video games? The parents, for their children that are underage. The industry has done everything to try and prevent this, I get ID'ed for dvd's and video games (I'm 21, but i look like i'm 12 I think) All games have ratings on the front and reverse, and the reverse even tells you why it's rated M for mature.I really don't know what else they want, but if you don't want your kid to play these games...STOP THEM! :lockedParents just don't care. I remember working at Blockbuster in High School and a mom was renting GTA for her son, who looked to be around 10 or 11. I was like, Maam, just so you know this game is pretty violent, there is bad language and really suggestive themes. She looked at me and said, why do I care, just give me the game.

I don't think games are the same as movies. In games YOU have control of the character, therefore its YOU doing the killing, etc. I definately think it has a different effect than just watching a movie. And take games like The Darkness for example. That game is a true FPS. You don't have anything on your HUD except for your weapons and the darkness heads if you have it manifested. Quite different from Halo 2 where I have my health and shields and ammo counter and stuff.

I don't find fault in the gaming industy, I find it in the parents who allow thier children to be exposed to this kind of interactive violence. When my nephew comes over, all he gets to play is PGR 2, Transformers and Viva Pinata. I put all my other games in the closet.

[Justicezero]

Parents just don't care. I remember working at Blockbuster in High School and a mom was renting GTA for her son, who looked to be around 10 or 11. I was like, Maam, just so you know this game is pretty violent, there is bad language and really suggestive themes. She looked at me and said, why do I care, just give me the game.

I don't think games are the same as movies. In games YOU have control of the character, therefore its YOU doing the killing, etc. I definately think it has a different effect than just watching a movie. And take games like The Darkness for example. That game is a true FPS. You don't have anything on your HUD except for your weapons and the darkness heads if you have it manifested. Quite different from Halo 2 where I have my health and shields and ammo counter and stuff.


Parents like that make it hard for people trying to protect the game industry. And just like minty's great article says, when your 11 these things do make you want to emulate them.(i def was one of the turtles kids) Hence they aren't intended for 11 year olds! If you know your kid and know they won't have problems with the material, by all means get it for them. But if you know him playing GTA is going to make him talk about gang stuff and all sorts of new "fun words", don't buy it because your just making your own problems. Teaching your kids good judgment and knowing, as the parent, what is right and wrong is truly the only way to protect your kids. No amount of censorship and banning of media in any form will correct the problems of your child not being able to tell what's right and what's wrong. :uzi:

[Bullet2theface]

Jack Thompson mind about people who play video games:

Oh my god, I just lost ALL my gamerpoints because of a glitch!!!

brb, going out on a killing spree.

[TheMASterBlader]

The article was well put together... Jack Thompson is a lunatic... Games don't brainwash kids, if that was the case all of us would be trying to kill one another after playing a shooter game or GTA... if anything, Jack Thompson probably uses the violent videogames as a source of destroying the industry one company at a time...
If anything, if you want to blame someone, blame the parents... The reason why I state this is that for the M-Rated games can only be bought by anyone 18+... previously, stores didn't notice much about it such as Wal-Mart or any non-game stores, but now anyone wanting to buy or play these games has to be of age... However, parents can be able to buy the games for them and the stores wouldn't have much choice in the saying... All the stores would be able to do is just warn them why it is M-Rated...
Now I'm not accusing any Mothers or Fathers on this forum, I know that you guys are more responsible than this... However for the other 1/2, they really don't pay attention, and when something like a killing from a video game comes up, they just blame the game and don't really give it much thought of why they brought it in the first place...

[matthewmcg360]

surely it will only be the "bad apples" amongst the children that will commit crimes and obscene/brutal acts anyway but for a child that already has a few screws loose a violent game could be the straw that brakes the camel's back. i would say that the best thing to do would be to print beside the age rating a small box that tells the explicit contents of the game. age ratings are mostly incorrect i've played games/ watched films that are overly exaggerating the age ratings, that is why parents don't care also perhaps it's because they don't really know how far games can go these days. there is no definitive answer but i should say that instead of banning games, retailers should just be more restrictive just as alcohol or tobacco would be. children should only play games that are on their level of understanding like the ones i played when i was a child like super mario bros and donkey kong.

[TheLazyWolf]

In the US, the ESRB does that. There is a little warning on the game, and it says why the game is rated what it is. Right on the front. As for enforcement, Im 25, and i still get carded everytime i try to buy an M rated game, if it isnt from my regular Gamestop. Its corporate policy to ID anyone trying to buy an M rated game in stores like Walmart and Target.

But i remember being a kid. Mom wont buy it for you? Ask Dad. Dad wont buy it for you? Ask grandma, etc,etc.

Personally, i have realized that real life also offers you the choice to go rob banks and murder hookers, if you so choose. I will be contacting Mr. Thompson and trying to get him to understand that we gotta ban it as well, for the kids sake..

Now i gotta get back to my post, in case any of those damn zombies you guys got learn to swim.

[matthewmcg360]

At the end of the day you can't stop anyones free will or determination. In all honesty, games aren't quite at the bleeding edge of realism just yet, so in most cases it'd be impossible for a child to renact a game, like how is a child supposed to steal a car when they can't reach the pedals? i would suggest that this thompson fellow is purely just protesting for the money he'd profit from it either that or hes just a real pain in the arse with a backwards mind. why ban games when they are the future? games offer new ways of entertainment and education (if one day that they make it fun somehow).
... oh and good luck with the zombie crisis going on there in america.

[Friggenhugeorc]

I believe the Parents of these kids need to be the ones held responsable.....Parents today spend little to no time with there kids, and let them just run around and do what ever they want to.:uzi:

[dches331]

im not to fond of that character

[ArneZ]

If Jack Thompson can ban GTA 4, then theres no justice left in this world. Every game he have try`d to ban has been a failure. If not ha got what he wanted with manhunt 2? He will get some seriouse death treaths someday.:uzi:Jack Thompson

[exo-apollo]

this guys a douche

[zdarko43]

i read the whole article, lol i think its hilarious!

good luck mr. thompson!

and i think what rockstars doing is hilarious...
i wish jack thompson would try to do something about it.
its only a parody of him, and parodies are listed under the free speech amendment :)

i just hate bastards like this... that go and try to ruin video games, claim that they are making a bad impression and causing people to kill people.
so i guess video games kill people, but thats covered under the ESRB rating, and if the parents of children allow them to play these games at the inapropriate age, who's really to blame here?

quit blaming your poor parenting on video games... just because the video games raised your kids because you didnt know how, is it the video games fault?
its all bs...

oh yeah, btw~ minty- the link in the news article just takes us to the main page, not this one :)

[AJMac]

What I find funny is that he made a typo. Such a serious guy couldn't be bothered to use spell check. That is unless the document isn't the document.

This topic about crime and video games is bullshit and has been brought up too many times. Statistics show crime has dropped as video game sales rose. At the launch of GTA, crime significantly dropped.

"Govern yourselves accordingly, or else."

[BackerMan]

I really hate Jack Thompson. Don't blame the games, blame the parents because they're responsable for their kids.

I wish somebody sent Jack Thompson to Iraq.

[gatorbait]

He's kind of running himself into the ground. I'm sure concerned parents took note the first two or three times he took a game to court but now he's just letting us know that there are Mature rated games out there. Thanks Jack!

As with alcohol and movies, it just comes down to checking ID and that's the company's selling the game job.

[getbusy1242]

I think it is hilarious when people try to blame video games as the causing all the problems with our youth. It isn't bad parenting, failing schools, or lack of discipline. Video games get blamed because they are the common factor among youth. People look at violent youth and "say of look they all play video games that must be why they are violent". They don't want to blame anything else because that would attack American society and values and we can't have that very unpatriotic.

[StatisticZ]

Man no, today was the first time I honestly heard of him. And I feel he is a absolute douche bag. The past like 4 years he's sued Take 2, Rockstar, and a whole bunch of others because of GTA. Wow, I don't see him suing a gun company since a gun was used to kill the people. I want to punch him.. in the head.

[n1n3t33nd3lta]

yeah this guy is a total douche. actually blaming a game for shit? honestly, did his mom not show him enough attention as a child? i'm sorry, but when i first got introduced to video games with street fighter II, it didn't make me want to go kick someone's ass. most because i couldn't, from being so small, but it's a game. i do think kids these days realize the difference in a game and real life. same thing with music and movies. the only people they're gonna influence to do something that horrible needs mental help anyway.

[Tasty Ace]

i actually like having Jack Thompson around
come home from a bad day at college/work and what makes you feel happier
a Jack Thompson report!!

just look at his report history, i bet the judges pick straws to see who gets him
he's like a 5 year old who just learned how to taddle

[Marx0r]

ZOMGZ!! You've revived a dead thread! You must be Jesus or something...

[Tasty Ace]

you're not talking to me are you?

[Marx0r]

Yes, I am. The thread hadn't been replied to in 3 months. But now that I think of it, it was still on the front page, so it's not that bad a bump.

[Tasty Ace]

lol i just find Jack Thompson funny
and sorry bout my last post, when i re-read it i seemed sooo sarcastic and narky but i wasnt being...honest

[Laufton_13]

Simpily put Jack Thompson is an Idiot, I played GTA 3 when I was 10 and I haven't killed anyone yet and if I did it wouldn't be because GTA told me to do do it.

P.S. Nice Article

[Dave]

jack thompson is stupid

[antnie]

I think that i am goint to go and kill a little girl right now with some plasmitonic stuff.

[Tasty Ace]

w00t live the dream!!

[M85A21]

Games don't brainwash kids.
If we were affected by Pacman we would all be running around large dark places, popping pills and listening to repetitive Techno music...Oh ...wait.

[Boo47]

Games don't make people become murderers. Mentally ill people who play violent video games become murderers. Oh, and Jack Thompson is a dumbass, too.;) :uzi::eek: < Jack Thompson

[run ita charlie]

Games don't make people become murderers. Mentally ill people who play violent video games become murderers. Oh, and Jack Thompson is a dumbass, too.;) :uzi::eek: < Jack Thompson

i don't think "dumbass" is even close to describing jack thompson's stupidity.

[XxArmeddyxX]

Yeah, clinical insanity might come closer to the mark?

[Justicezero]

This is total BS. Society always blames something for America's downfall, remember when it was Ozzy?...remember when it was Marilyn Manson? It's all BS And honestly...(in the case of some of the Manhunt blamed killings) you have to be extremely sick in the head to be able to beat someone to death with a clawed Hammer...it's an "Intimate Killing device" inwhich your involved with the death on each swing or plunge. I can't honestly believe that video games could bring any sane person to the point of killing another human being, unless they weren't raised with morals or someone caring about them. If that was the case, then I could see it happening and would place blame on the parents completely. Jack just wants to blame video games because un-informed people are easy to jump on the "F**K video games" band wagon.

[Evil_Snow_Man]

I thought this guy was about to have his bar license revoked... What an a-hole...

[TakeABowForMe]

I think a better question is 'Is Jack Thompson EVER right?'

:p

[iBanana]

Its solely based on an individual's responsibility and saneness and not the age. There could be 30 year olds killing people through video game addiction/obsession (I beleive there was one case with this 29 year old in UK that Thompson was involved in) and 12 year olds like me who would just think how someone like Jack could think of such a thing. Aslong as he/she's responsible and doesn't have a problem with the content and already understands it, a 10 year old could play games like Gears of War (IMO). But maybe not on LIVE. Imagine some kid gets chainsawed and made fun of in a ranked match and decides to take out his anger at something... or someone. Like I said, its the responsibilityness.

[Spades12321]

I think a better question is 'Is Jack Thompson EVER right?'

:p

This is clearly the better question to ask.:p

[yo yo 700]

I thought this guy was about to have his bar license revoked... What an a-hole...
Wait, what? He was about to have his license to practice law barred, not bar license revoked, even though that could be a solution...:drunk

[iceefudgesickle]

This guy makes me LMAO. He's a total attention whore.

My favorite vid of him is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd0pbuhsQQE&feature=related

He basically says that:

His opinion on counterstrike is not a theory, it's a fact;

Says that the fact that his old friends say he played Counterstrike means it must be true;

Assumes that the reason he was on the computer all the time was to play Counterstrike despite the fact that his roommates never saw him play it even once;

Thinks that the reason Cho was able to efficiently and calmly do his systematic killing was due to Counterstrike;

Says that every violent shooter in history had played violent video games before (maybe that's because EVERY PERSON ALIVE has played a violent video game before?)

Says that the Montreal Dawson College shooter practiced on Super Columbine Masacre RPG (which, to my knowledge, isn't even a shooting game)



It's not just that the guy pisses me off for being a stupid idiot, it's that he diverts everyone's attention from the REAL reasons that people do this kind of stuff.

[State 0f Chaos]

Great editorial, Minty.

My only question to Jack Thompson would be...how would he explain any violent acts prior to the invention of Pong? Which is obviously the mother to all evil.

[DocRevolt]

Good thing his license to practice law is being revoked =D

[vI Starlight Iv]

man is a idiot trying to get famous!!!

there is someone who does this for films and some for rap music.

Guy needs to get a life and play some games kill some ovenant and he will feel better

[MrMondayNite341]

This is clearly the better question to ask.:p



I agree, Is he ever right?

[MrPaypaChasa]

Wow, stop saying it is the parents fualt, you seem to be saying that all moms who let their child play violent video games is corrupt. My mom lets me play halo/GTA and I get straight A's in advanced classes, went to state last year for track and am a great QB for football. Also, I HAVE NOT KILLED ANYONE!!!!!!!!! So stop saying that all moms are at fualt.

[ilovetomatoes]

He just wants attention.