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Jack Thompson To Face Contempt Charge
Gamasutra has the story (by way of the currently-down GamePolitics) that Jack Thompson could be facing a contempt charge over his antics during the Bully fiasco. From the article: "According to the report, the contempt of court request could find Thompson facing jail time, though it is more likely that 'fines, judicial admonishment or censure' would result from this most recent turn of events. The report also notes that attorneys representing the Philadelphia law firm Blank-Rome have filed a 'Petition for Order to Show Cause,' which requires Thompson to illustrate to a judge why he should not be held in contempt."
I know people have the right to freedom of speech, but I wish he'd use his right to remain silent for once!
This guy has some issues. Problably from playing too many games as a kid.
"The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell
In an email to GamePolitics, Thompson has responded to this request, writing, "You want to play hardball...? You want to try to throw me in jail? You have no idea what you are unleashing in doing this. You're at the brink..."
Jesus.
The report also notes that attorneys representing the Philadelphia law firm Blank-Rome have filed a 'Petition for Order to Show Cause,' which requires Thompson to illustrate to a judge why he should not be held in contempt."
But can someone more legally inclined tell me why his response shouldn't be "because I'm innocent until proven guilty"?
It sounds like they've issued a petition to force Thompson to show he did no wrong.
"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
Huzzah for the overcrowded US Prison System! JT is certain to have his hoop stretched to an uncomfortable size 9 by someone who was imprisoned for Grand Theft Auto!
You see 'em? They're EVERYWHERE!
I want Joe Pesci to play Thompson in the upcoming movie, "Game Wars".
Can you imagine Pesci saying, "You want to play hardball...? You want to try to throw me in jail? You have no idea what you are unleashing in doing this. You're at the brink..."
That he is the most brilliant guerrila marketeer the world has ever seen. A crazed laywer making claims about things he knows nothing about, all in the name of protecting the children. Its like trying to get the KKK to vocally vote for your opposition!
Why hasn't this mental midget been disbarred yet?
This is the thanks he gets for looking out for the children.
Something has to be done about these judges.
"You don't know the history of barratry! I do! You're just being glib!"
Since "jump the couch" is taken by Hollywood UFO-cultists, I hereby declare that Jack Thompson has officially "thrown the chair".
Never before have I advocated a severe beating for another person until I discovered who Jack Thompson was.
That's all I have to say.
Tell him about the red hot gay action to be had in Bully.
...but it was banned due to violent content.
Rockstar releases this: http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/22/boy-on-boy-kiss
Jack goes to jail for making a ruckuss about 'Bully'
Rockstar bribes warden of Jail, installs cameras and arranges 'special accomodations' for dear ol' Jack.
Jack gets to spend some quality time with some new friends (Read: Bullies)
Rockstar includes some great vid captures of Jack in their new game
.... Needs some hot coffee.
This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
From Wikipedia:
"In sending documents to opponents, Thompson would frequently attach a photocopy of his driver's license, with a photo of Batman pasted over his own, just to make sure they knew who they were dealing with."
That's "Mr. Soulless Automaton" to you, Bub.
Jack Thompson seriously had this coming. Good riddance.
"In an email to GamePolitics, Thompson has responded to this request, writing, "You want to play hardball...? You want to try to throw me in jail? You have no idea what you are unleashing in doing this. You're at the brink..."
Who knew that the Hulk was a lawyer?
His guerilla maketing campaign for Bully has been nothing short of brilliant. Thanks to Jack, Bully has been at the top of the headlines for weeks and weeks prior to its release.
Well done, I say.
None of them can see the clouds; The polished wings don't care.
...I've been waiting for one, thinking that someone would at least make a simple mod using Jack Thompson graphics to beat upon. Heck, after looking at his quoted e-mail, maybe he should be the main character!
;)
Seriously, a Jack Thompson game would be hilarious. It could have characters like judges, geeks, thinkofthechildren, something to really disturb others by showing "the truth of it all"
Wow. This guys has a true niche in crazy, eh?
Those semantics take me back to another talking head, making ultimatums: "If I don't raise $600M, a 900 foot Jesus will kill me!!!"
Give this man a coke and a smile, ASAP!
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it.
RTFA. This wasn't the judge telling Jack the Dripper to show cause that he shouldn't be thrown in the slammer for contempt. This was Take-Two Games's lawyers filing a motion to ASK the judge to do that. IMHO, it's a bit tacky, but then this *is* Jack Thompson they're asking it about, so he's not in any position to take the high road here.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
Does he think Blank-Rome is some kind of hick law firm in a backwater town? I seriously doubt they are underestimating what Thompson can "unleash" at any given time. How many different ways does everyone have to tell this guy to STFU?
"I forgot my mantra."
RTFA. This isn't the judge telling Thompson to prove he's not in contempt, it's Take-Two's lawyers filing a motion to ask the judge to do that. A vituperative rant at Take-Two (not at the judge) would be perfectly appropriate at this point, if it were anyone other than Jack, but what we got instead was a wimpy quasi-threatening vituperative rant instead of a better-thought-out rant along the lines of "See, Judge, this just shows what bullies those eeeevilllll gamerrrrzzzz are!" Plaintiffs and defendants can contemn each other all they want, as long as they don't contemn the judge or the court.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
According to an article at GamePolitics.com, Thompson has apparently announced his intention to run for Eleventh Judicial Circuit Judge in Miami in 2008.
My, what a busy fellow.
I expect the next move in his cunning plan, after 2008, is to get his name officially changed to "Jack Dredd".
(I wanted to write "no, he's just snarling like the shark he jumped" or something along those lines, but you can only twist a metaphor so far, given that sharks don't actually snarl....)
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
Jack Thompson must have had some severely traumatizing experience with video games as a child.
Maybe he had a brother that played too much pacman, chowed down on some pills and then ate his mother.
"You want to play hardball...? You want to try to throw me in jail? You have no idea what you are unleashing in doing this. You're at the brink..."
That's pretty contemptible remark there, bully boy. You know, the judge didn't even make his last ruling with prejudice. I think that the next time you are struck down, you won't even be appealing to him anymore. Sure, you'll be able make all the noise you want, but he won't hear you!
One really shouldn't be playing brinksmanship when he has so many holes in case. But really, on the hole, I think this judge is feeling pretty good. Eh hole? Hahahah. Yeah Jack, I'm flaming you. Burn in hell.
I mistaken Jack for John and I'm like this guy could face A LOT more charges if he lived in the US :P
:)
Oh well time to pull up so good old GGG porn and relax
This is the greatest thing I have ever read on slashdot. I have been waiting for years to see him get what's coming to him.
In a white wig, LOL
Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
Why is it that merely reading a single headline can bring a BIG smile to my face. I don't hate this man, but I seriously believe that he is nothing more than a publicity whore.
If anyone is interested, here is an open letter I wrote to Jack Thompson a few months ago. It pretty much sums up my opinion on this man. Yes, I know it's MySpace, but I'm cheap and it's free.
If we give him a peanut and ignore him will he go away?
I emailed Jack once to tell him he is a moron. He replied back with his resume. He is clearly not a credible threat to anything but himself. If you'd like to email him, send a note to his ironic email:
jackpeace@comcast.net
Thompson continued, "Who you think I am? I kill all you f***in' assholes. I take you all to f***in' hell! You need an army you hear! An army to kill me!"
Jack Thompson makes for a curiously good study of the psychology of other such "crusaders for the children", and there have been many in history. Starting with Meletus, who prosecuted Socrates for being ""a doer of evil, who corrupts the youth; and who does not believe in the gods of the state, but has other new divinities of his own" we can trace multiple examples of those who sought to place themselves in a position of youth advocate, if only to bolster their own narrow ideology of what young people should be taught. Religion has certainly always played a large hand in such crusades, as shown by some of the more spectacular witch trials in which supposedly afflicted children were the primary evidence and witnesses for prosecution. In the last century, we see striking examples in the early days of rock and roll in which a young Ronald Reagan is found wondering "are these people just showing their individuality, or is it possible that there is a plot involved?"
Along this vein of standing against that which is popular among youth yet deemed subversive by older, establishment types, their value can be found in actually helping to further that which they stand against. Jack Thompson doesn't like violent video games. Thus, his cause and his rallying cry against them only serve to bring more attention to those games by society in general and youth in particular who find yet another way to piss off their parents.
Taken from http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(attorn ey)
Sweet, sweet justice.
Don't throw the justice tag around so lightly! Why would putting Jack Thompson in jail be just? How would it help undo the damage he has done? It is perhaps ironic that his use of the legal system has come back to bite him, but it is in no way just.
Really, the justice system is grossly misnamed. A sincere public apology followed by twenty years of advocating on the side of the games industry AGAINST such bullshit would probably be just, but that will never happen.
And actually tried to play "E.T." on the 2600 when he was a kid.
Atari! What hath thou wrought?!
Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
Jack Thompson should serve out any contempt of court sentence as a prisoner at a CIA detention facility in Uzbekistan with a "return not required" sign around his neck.
Tech Public Policy stuff
She and Hillary are making a horror-porn.
RTFP. Jack disobeyed a court order, and Take-Two's lawyers are pointing it out to the judge and telling the judge to ask him why he did what he did.
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma CHAMELEON!!!
Jack Thompson, if you act like a knob, someone's gonna turn you.
They're using their grammar skills there.
Yank his license to practice law? From past history I'd assume that JT will become combative, rather than apologize... so can they please pull it then?
You don't have to hate the man to hate the ignorance which he represents.
Where are the folks who were saying it was a travesty of justice that he even managed to get his case heard? His case appears to be about dead, and now the other side is moving for sanctions against him...
Perhaps all the people who called the judge a moron should eat a bit of crow?
I'd love to see this forever immortalized as a legal judgement in caselaw as "JACK THOMPSON PWNED!!"
Man, what a day! First, Amazon gets bitch-slapped by IBM with a ridiculous patent violation similar to the one that they used to enforce their own ridiculous patents, and now Jack Thompson shows contempt for the court system, and is subsequently held in contempt of court? I can almost taste the sweetness.
I wish him some well deserved leisure time with Bubba.
What with the way we've heard him conduct himself in court proceedings, I was expecting him to be all up in arms about it like some crazy religious preacher man. Hm, maybe he was having a good day. Whatever, I think the next game I write will be a GTA play-alike with a Hot Convent mod which will unlock all manner of delicious sex acts, graphically depicting them in detail whenever Father Emilio - the main character - gets jiggy with the pious hot babes.
On a serious note, it was probably not a good idea to give him yet more media exposure. And, to veer this ramble back onto something resembling the topic, IMHO it's a good thing that Take-Two Interactive have called for this. Judging by the following quote (and pretty much anything else he's ever uttered) this guy really needs bringing down a peg or six.
"Three eyes are better than one" -- Lieutenant Columbo
You seem to enjoy saying RTFA. From Jack:
I dont know if that legally applies, but that sounds like fightin' words to me.
"you know who the fuck I am? I'm the mawfuckin Thompsonnaut!" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Juggernaut_Bitch! !
disclaimer: I've been known to store numbers in my ass for which to dig out when quantities are required.
If someone was enterprising at Take 2, they would procure a "leaked" memo thanking Jack Thompson for manipulating the court system for free PR. Jack Thompson would of course deny it, but that would just make it look more legitimate. Result: he would be discredited forever. Take 2 would be applauded for such a crazy viral marketing campaign. :)
You know.. ehm..
i nk/
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=br
2. brink
An alternate form of alcohol consumption which places alcohol directly into the blood stream, thus requiring only a minimal amount of alcohol consumption to become drunk. A common form of brinking is done using a device, preferably a water bottle, some lube and a brave third party. The third party simply places the lubed-up water bottle full of alcohol into the brinkers anus and squeezes, causing a plethora of alcohol to enter the bloodstream and allowing the brinker to become rather drunk in the process.
"Yo Andrew, if your not doing anything tonight, do you wanna brink?"
Ah the beautiful irony.. I'd love to see what all the moronic parents who believe Thompson's thinking think of him after he flips and it's all over the news...
:p
He maybe needs to relieve some stress by playing a bit of GTA. I'm gonna have to call myself Jack Thompson in the online play on GTA 4
which is totally what she said
Great comback, Janet!
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
John B. Thompson, Attorney at Law
...in your courtroom when she told you that a "Teen" rating is an age restriction at the point of sale. That is an utter fabrication, and you are on notice that it is an utter fabrication. Ms. Ward is very good at fabricating things for a client that routinely engages in criminal conduct, and you bought all this hook, line, and sinker. Take-Two has been adjudicated by the federal government to have engaged in fraud and deception about game content, and you took their unchallenged word of these two video gamers in your chambers that the game was what they said it was.
October 13, 2006
Judge Ronald Friedman
Dade County Courthouse
Miami, Florida 33130
Re: Bully
Dear Judge Friedman:
Now that you have consigned innumerable children to skull fractures, eye injuries from slingshots, and beatings with baseball bats, without a hearing as to the danger, let me tell you a few things, with all respect for your office and with no respect for the arbitrary way in which you handled this matter. I can handle an adverse ruling by a judge. I've had plenty of those in my lifetime, and that's fine. But the way you conducted yourself today helps explain why a great Dade County Judge, the late Rhea Pincus Grossman, could not abide you. She was not the only one:
1. Well into this case, you told Take-Two to produce "a tape of the game so you could watch it." Video games don't come on tapes, Judge, and you don't watch them. You interactively play them, which is why they are so behavior modifying. You, the player/protagonist, enter into the violence and do it, but you didn't even want to hear testimony about that. You are not an expert in bullying or virtual reality, and I had an expert in both, and you never heard from them because you did not want to hear from them. Dr. Provenzo could have explained why interactive consumption of this very violence is so dangerous, as opposed to passively consumed violence on television, but he was not allowed to testify because he was prevented from seeing the evidence.
You were very nice to my other expert, Miami Police Chief Ken Harms, and then made it certain that your courtroom would not be graced with his real expertise. I would have preferred less courtesy and more due process, and so would the victims that are on the way.
2. Take-Two's lawyer, Rebecca Ward,
3. You assured us, in your courtroom two days ago, that you would view the playing of Bully to its conclusion. That is what you promised on the record. You did not keep your promise. The transcript of that bizarre exercise will show that you asked Take-Two reps "How does the game end?" You never saw the ending. What you took was testimony from two employees of Take-Two/Rockstar, who were not under oath, and without affording me any opportunity to question them. This was an ex parte proceeding that I was forced to watch, nearly gagging on the denial of due process that it constituted. In thirty years of practicing law, it is the oddest thing I have ever seen, and the most judicially arbitrary thing I have ever seen.
But it is not the oddest thing Take-Two has done. They had these little contrived, controlled viewings of the game for people in the media, but even the BBC figured out how violent the game was, despite the sham.
What you conducted in your chambers, Judge, was the equivalent of Iran leading UN weapons inspectors around the country taking them to places where the illegal activity was not occurring.
You would not abide argument today, because the Miami Herald was there, that Take-Two had in fact released this game to the mass media, which waived its privilege as to producing it to me. You did not allow a hearing to occur because the media there would have seen how you railroaded this entire matter--at the expense of children's safety.
4. You said after being shown what Take-Two wanted you to see that "I've seen worse." Judge, that is not the issue. The issue is whether this game, played by ten-y