Is Jack Thompson right?

Minty · 08-18-2007, 04:20 PM

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

thecrazyguy · 08-18-2007, 05:07 PM

Great article Minty, and very well said.

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

KlicK · 08-18-2007, 05:12 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 05:20 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

The Pants Party · 08-18-2007, 05:36 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KlicK

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 · 08-18-2007, 05:53 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 06:29 PM

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

KlicK · 08-18-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zef

If his global campaign is successful...

God save us all.

Brighton X · 08-18-2007, 07:04 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 07:13 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 07:45 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Is that why the Florida Bar requested a psyche test?

alex4283 · 08-18-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KlicK

Is that why the Florida Bar requested a psyche test?

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 · 08-18-2007, 08:35 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 08:43 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 08:47 PM

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

KlicK · 08-18-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkXhawk

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.

shadow sniper · 08-18-2007, 09:17 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 09:19 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 09:36 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 10:21 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 11:00 PM

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 · 08-18-2007, 11:22 PM

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

crusaderV1 · 08-19-2007, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

*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 · 08-19-2007, 12:45 AM

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

Butters · 08-19-2007, 12:53 AM

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 · 08-19-2007, 02:03 AM

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.

Quote:

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 · 08-19-2007, 02:14 AM

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.