Thompson's (Mostly) Polite Interview

Pluvius writes "For the past few weeks, gaming website Netjak has corresponded with infamous anti-video-game lawyer Jack Thompson in reference to his well-publicized proposal to donate money to a charity if someone created a violent game in which a grieving father murdered members of the video-game industry. This has culminated in an interview in which the unusually cordial attorney gives surprisingly viable reasons for not following through on his donation after such a game was created. Unfortunately, Thompson doesn't quite make it to the end of the interview without taking at least one cheap shot towards gamers: '[P]ut down the controller and get a life. Video gaming is an escapist activity and you're being exploited by these companies. It's not healthy; I worry about someone who would play Grand Theft Auto for ten hours a day. It's a masturbatory activity, and it would be better if people put down the controller and went outside.'"

Comments

Re:For children?

[tdsotf]

I considered modding you up with my last mod point, but I disagree with your last statement about retailers.

When I went to buy San Andreas at Target, I was informed it was a mature game and was even carded (mind you, I'm 31 and balding :). When I went to buy Liberty City Stories at Kiddie City, I was informed that it was definately not a game for kids and I pretty much had to reassure the guy behind the counter the game was indeed for me.

If retailers had let kids buy mature rated games in the past, I don't think it's happening as much now as Thompson would like everyone to believe.

Thompson says, "Take Two has been marketing these games to our kids, and they just let the retailers sell them to kids." I'd like to see the evidence for that. I don't think enough of the general media are calling him on his assertions.

Perhaps he just he's spouting 'truthiness' (truth that wouldn't stand to be held back by facts) :)