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Jack Thompson Calls The Feds On PA

Posted by Zonk on from the and-the-justice-league dept.

Gamespot is reporting that Jack has taken his beef to the Feds regarding the dangerous pixelantes over at Penny Arcade. From the article: "In a letter addressed to John McKay, US Attorney for the Western District of Washington, and sent to media outlets, Thompson this morning said the site was using a variety of means 'to encourage and solicit criminal harassment' of him. Thomspon wrote to McKay, 'Please help me if you can,' but did not include specific actions he wished to have taken against the site. McKay's office prosecutes cases investigated by several law enforcement agencies in Western Washington, including the FBI." PvP is also running a parody indicating that Jack has appealed to the Justice League for assistance with Gabe and Tycho.

2 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. He is right... by Manip · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Jack might be a right wing nut job but he does have a point about Penny Arcade. He was doing an independent campaign that had nothing to do with them, then they took it on themselves to e-mail him.... Which, from what I gather, was - "hahah you are such a fool" - he then responded via phone and then posted it on their site for profit (web-ads based on page visits).

    Then you have, after that the $10k thing; he obviously didn't do what he said he would and it is fine if Penny Arcade want to donate their money, but in his name? Yet again they create a story that relates to them and him thus again they make big bucks from their web-ads as gamers everywhere visit their site.

    You also have people on the forum making baseless complaints and sending death threats! In my opinion some of the thing these 'supports' are doing isn't nice to be done to any human, especially not to someone that doesn't know they are doing anything wrong (according to their moral compass). This all was supported by Think Geek selling - "I hate Jack" - t-shirts.

    So did Penny Arcade go after *him*? I think they did exactly that. Has he inflamed it by responding? Yes. But wouldn't you respond if the same happened to you out of the blue by some random internet site?

    1. Re:He is right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      I agree with the parent, inasmuch as while Penny Arcade's actions are legal, they are on shakey moral ground.
      Just because Thompson acts like a dick, that's no reason for the rest of us to sink to his level. Although PA has done some good (eg. the $10000 cheque), many of their other actions are just childish (incessant mockery and outright insults). They are unfortunately living up to the jeuvenile reputation of their hardcore gamer fanbase. And, in the end, that can only help Thompson in his Quixotic mission.