Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Jack Thompson Faces Disciplinary Hearing

Posted by Zonk on from the disbarment-we-can-only-hope dept.

CoolC writes "Gamepolitics is reporting that attorney Jack Thompson is to face a disciplinary hearing before the Florida Supreme Court. The attorney faces five counts of professional misconduct, three of which are correlated with his ongoing campaign against violent video games. Thompson faces the possibility of disciplinary action up to and including disbarment."

65 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. i'm hoping... by macadamia_harold · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thompson faces the possibility of disciplinary action up to and including disbarment.

    I'm crossing my fingers in the hope that you misspelled dismemberment.

    --
    Push Button, Receive Bacon
    1. Re:i'm hoping... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      If wishing a gruesome death on someone with whom you disagree isn't insightful, I don't know what is.

    2. Re:i'm hoping... by chaosite · · Score: 2, Interesting

      First of all, its not gruesome death, just the loss of an unneeded appendage. Second, its not just that I don't agree with Jack Thompson - the man is disgusting in his conduct.

      http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/blog/post/6292 72/Jack_Thompson_vs_Adam_Sessler.html

    3. Re:i'm hoping... by BakaHoushi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Daddy, daddy! Teacher says everytime a jackass gets a long overdue punishment, an angel gets an orgasm!"

      To describe his conduct as "disgusting" is the understatement of the year. Even outside video games, listening to the things he says (neo-conservative religious freak... I don't care where you fall on the political spectrum, that spells "jackass.") makes me sick.

      Disbarment is too good for him, but I'll settle for it.

    4. Re:i'm hoping... by Zeinfeld · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Reading through the comments it appears that his statements may well be the result of something other than his ideology. Such things happen. Quite why Slashdot has to treat each one as if it were an existential threat is beyond me.

      --
      Looking for an Information Security student project suggestion?
      Try http://dotcrimeManifesto.com/
    5. Re:i'm hoping... by BakaHoushi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If I may quote his Wikipedia article:
      "In 1992, Thompson asked a Florida judge to declare the Florida Bar Association unconstitutional. He claimed that the bar was engaged in a vendetta against him because of his religious beliefs, which he said conflict with what he called the bar's pro-gay, humanist, liberal agenda."

      We may disagree, however, I think this line here pretty much says to me that Mr. Thompson is a huge bigot. He's going for the "persecuted minority" (despite being a Christian, which is hardly the minority) routine. This is incredibly disgusting to me on every level. Is it wrong to wish to see him fact the consequences of his actions?

      I admit, we're biased. But we're also human, and we're talking of a man who has personally attacked our character (well, the character of anyone who ever plays games, anyway), our hobbies, and has in general, made himself out to be our enemy, as if he feeds off of animosity. Is it surprising we should take some enjoyment in watching and criticizing his actions, in hopes that they may be his downfall? Sorry if this is a bit of nonsensical rambling, but I see no reason we shouldn't be upset at him.

    6. Re:i'm hoping... by rbochan · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm hoping he gets a cameo as a corpse in the next GTA release.

      --
      ...Rob
      The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs; it's Don't Tread On Me.
    7. Re:i'm hoping... by aplusjimages · · Score: 3, Funny

      No he needs to be the boss you kill at the end. I'm betting that he will be the most killed big boss ever in the history of video games.

      --
      Can I bum a sig?
    8. Re:i'm hoping... by Tim+C · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I assume you're trying to make a pun, but I don't think dismemberment means what you think it does. While the definition doesn't call for it, the word certainly has (for me at least) connotations of a gruesome death.

      --
      It's official. Most of you are morons.
    9. Re: I'm hoping... by LordEd · · Score: 2, Funny

      There's a violent solution. You must be a video game player.

    10. Re:i'm hoping... by Shads · · Score: 4, Informative

      He won't get disbarred unfortunately. That man has been to more ethics hearings and such than most attorneys every go to.

      Check out his entry on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(attorn ey) crazy shit... Janet Reno, Two Live Crew, Madonna, Time Warner, Howard Stern, dozens of companies, and even the florida bar... he has a long and colorful history and has had several visits with the florida bar people to consider disbarment. They really don't like him much.

      --
      Shadus
    11. Re: I'm hoping... by Sj0 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      What are you talking about? He pressed a button. There's nothing violent about pressing a button.

      NOW, sending tens of thousands of troops to a foreign country in a war of aggression and occupation and subjugation which results in 40,000 civilian casualties. THAT is violent.

      But I guess context is a silly thing. We don't need that.

      --
      It's been a long time.
    12. Re:i'm hoping... by X0563511 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That would be disembowelment...

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    13. Re:i'm hoping... by bladesjester · · Score: 2, Informative

      Given the arteries and veins that run through your appendages, unless the bleeding was stopped, he would indeed die. Furthermore, even if the bleeding were stopped, it would be possible to die from pain and shock.

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    14. Re:i'm hoping... by BakaHoushi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Oh, but I know there is a difference.
      For example, in my own experience, someone who has religion is someone who believes in God/a god/whatever. He follows its principles.
      A religious freak is someone who says "I believe this, so follow it, too, or burn in Hell."

      There are some key ways to tell the difference. For example, no sane religious person would ever seriously use the term "gay agenda." Mr. Thompson has made it very clear that he's anti-gay, and on a number of occasions spoken like gays are out on street corners, handing out pamphlets to try and convert you.

      A religious person finds comfort in his own beliefs. A freak finds comforting in condemning those who don't follow his beliefs.

      Part of the reason we don't see many truly religious people in the news is because they're being tolerant and quiet. That's not newsworthy. Some jackass marching down Main Street to have minority group/religion/whatever put in death camps, however, will be plastered all over.

      So, Thompson is loud, irritable, stubborn, intolerant, and closed minded. Combine this with his often stated "strong faith" and you've got the model religious nut. Believing in God don't make you nuts. But if you are nuts and believe in God, oh, the shit you can try to pull...

    15. Re:i'm hoping... by NormalVisual · · Score: 4, Interesting

      He won't get disbarred unfortunately

      The difference is that he's before the FL Supreme Court now, the same people that just two months ago fired a renegade district judge for egregious behavior when no one else would. They don't seem to tolerate such misbehavior very much, especially when presented with a record like Thompson's. Here's hoping he's forced to find an alternate career. :-D

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    16. Re:i'm hoping... by oSand · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, 'disbarment'. When they remove the rod that is up your ass.

    17. Re:i'm hoping... by Torodung · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Mr. "5, Informative" said:
      >If I may quote his Wikipedia article

      You may... but if you're really going to tell us what Jack Thompson thinks, you should quote *Jack Thompson*, who said:

      >"wedding of all three functions of government into the Florida Bar, the 'official arm' of the
      >Florida Supreme Court, is violative of the bedrock constitutional requirement of the separation
      >powers and the 'checks and balances' which the separation guarantees."

      from the *same article*.

      To paraphrase: A branch of the government, especially a non-elected one, should *never* regulate ITSELF. That actually makes a good deal of sense, don't you think?

      I dislike Jack Thompson for his smearing, his wild accusations, and his consistent histrionic bullshit, which can be quoted voluminously (so why quote a paraphrase?), but he is still a lawyer, and he is a *competent* lawyer who understands exactly what's gone wrong with the law.

      His tragedy is that he uses that information to get his way, instead of as a point of reform. That's not unique amongst lawyers, because the system does not reward ethical behavior, it rewards whatever sticks to the wall. He knows what's wrong with this country's legal system, and I would welcome his disbarment because it might turn his crusade in the right direction: against that corrupted system.

      He isn't a nutjob. People IGNORE nutjobs. He's EFFECTIVE and that bothers us because it shows us how easily the legal system can be manipulated to punish unsubstantiated wrongs.

      --
      Toro

    18. Re:i'm hoping... by Alsee · · Score: 3, Funny

      it appears that his statements may well be the result of something other than his ideology.

      I guess it's possible he has a brain tumor, but I think his Invisible Friend is a far more likely explanation.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    19. Re:i'm hoping... by kennygraham · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because only the ones you agree with and like are "real" christians. Oh the joys of "no true scotsman".

    20. Re:i'm hoping... by BakaHoushi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      When I say "Christians" I mean people who self-identify themselves as such. Believe me, if I could define people by their actions and not their stated beliefs, there would be many fewer Christians in America. (So, as an example, "Christian" groups who go on and on and on about the "sinful" nature of, say, gays (since I already brought them up). Let's pretend, for a second, that being gay, for some unknown reason, is a sin. What happened to "Judge not lest ye be judged?" By their own faith, they're supposed to leave the judging up to God.

      So, yes. True Christians, in my experience, are rare. People who still call themselves as such, however, are not.

    21. Re:i'm hoping... by caitsith01 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Mr "+5 Insightful" said:

      To paraphrase: A branch of the government, especially a non-elected one, should *never* regulate ITSELF. That actually makes a good deal of sense, don't you think? ...as opposed to the way that Congress sets its own ethical rules, and the President signs a little memorandum explaining what his version of the laws he signs off on is and purports to exercise direct legislative power under the guise of the 'war' on terror?

      At some point each arm of government has a degree of autonomy. Separation of powers means that each arm may not usurp the others, NOT that each arm may not regulate its own activities insofar as they are within the scope of its power.

      Oh, and "especially a non-elected one" - you mean one that actually has an incentive to set up favourable rules and regulations to ensure re-election..?
      --
      Read Pynchon.
    22. Re:i'm hoping... by superpulpsicle · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You can slaughter a million people in GTA and still go to heaven. The religious nonsense has got to stop. If Jack Thompson really cares about violence he should be harrassing the president instead, not some kid with a playstation controller.

    23. Re:i'm hoping... by tsm_sf · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've never understood the 'scotsman' analogy argument. There's a rule book set down for being a Christian, and it's pretty easy to see who plays by it and who doesn't. In fact, there's really just a take on the golden rule: "Love your neighbors as you love yourself". It's a pretty simple metric.

      --
      Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
  2. Department by agent+dero · · Score: 4, Funny

    "disbarment-we-can-only-hope"

    Come on, let's try not to show such a bias here on slashd...oh, wha? That Jack Thompson?

    I wonder if tarring and featherings are allowed in the florida legal system... Seriously though, isn't this a textbook case of "people getting what they deserve?"

    --
    Error 407 - No creative sig found
    1. Re:Department by Maestro4k · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Seriously though, isn't this a textbook case of "people getting what they deserve?"

      Definitely, but given his history he'll probably sue the Florida Bar (again).

    2. Re:Department by BakaHoushi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      --What the FUCK?

      So, let me get this straight. He sues the Florida Bar Association because he basically says its an evil communist terrorist organization planning to turn everyone gay, and that it's blatantly disregarding the Constitution (Please note: I exaggerate his wording, but either way, it's full of shit) and destroying America.

      So he settles for $20,000 out of court. "You're destroying America! Stop it now!" "How about we just give you some money?" "That's fine, too!"

      Damn, this guy is the ultimate sleezeball. If you ask me. Jack Thompson is a shining example of everything wrong with America these days (bigoted, sue-happy, uninformed but with LOUD AND STRONG OPINIONS).

    3. Re:Department by Rodness · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Personally, I think his sentence should include cross dressing in a hooker's outfit, getting picked up by someone in a sports car, getting fucked, dumped, gunned down, and then run over.

      That'd be fantastic.

    4. Re:Department by oSand · · Score: 2, Funny

      "If you ask me. Jack Thompson is a shining example of everything wrong with America these days (bigoted, sue-happy, uninformed but with LOUD AND STRONG OPINIONS)." These days? Just how long have you been alive?

  3. Thompsons wild accusations finally his downfall? by T0wner · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "You're the guy who wants to give (Grand Theft Auto publisher) Take-Two my scalp. You chose to believe people that you knew were thieves and liars, and now you are their useful SLAPP Bar complainant... These are your corporate criminal buddies, Judge Moore. These are the folks with whom you made your bed, the folks whom your good friend said he could fix the case." JT and evidence never have gone hand in hand.

  4. Finally justice. by Trendy.Ideology · · Score: 4, Interesting

    At least actions like these will (hopefully) help to dissuade people from just blindly attacking and blaming videogames for everything that goes wrong in thier lives... Holding this person accountable for his gross misconduct is the first step towards really making progress against all these anti-videogame warmongering dimwits. It's about time someone put thier foot down and said "No." to all these figureheads shooting thier mouth off without knowing what the hell they're talking about.

    --
    In the end, the only thing that matters is how much fun you had.
    1. Re:Finally justice. by BakaHoushi · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If you believe that this will help end people blaming other things on their problems, I've got this great Bridge in Brooklyn I'm itching to sell cheap.

      But seriously, before video games, it was rap music (in fact, it still sorta is), D&D, comic books, rock and roll, movies... And if you want to go back far enough in history, violence was caused by witches and Jews.

      Color me cynical, but as much as I'd love to stop seeing parents blame todays massive surge in teen violence (which, if I may be so bold, would like to point out DOESN'T EXIST. Despite school shootings being all over the news, these are still isolated incidents and overall, youth violence is way, WAY down) on video games, I know it'll only be temporary. Something will ALWAYS be society's scapegoat. In recent years, it's felt like America is easily the worst when it comes to this random blame-game (if simply because I have friends in Europe who point out lawyers don't carry the same negative stigma over the pond, where many of these lawsuits would be laughed out of court), but it's still all over the world. In 2010, gay marriage will be causing all of society's ills. In 2015, it'll be gay divorce. In 2600, it will be people who haven't converted from Christianity to Oprahism, and in 4576, it will be those of us that refuse to welcome our new cockroach overlords.

      Wherever people go, the scapegoat will always be right behind. ...All the same, even though in the long run, it will change little, I can't wait to see this jerkoff finally get what he has coming to him.

    2. Re:Finally justice. by MWoody · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As much as I'd like to believe that's true, that's not really what this mess is about. And it's important that all involved understand that, because if Thompson was guilty of nothing more than a wildly unpopular - among a certain group, anyway - and conservative worldview, then we'd have no hope of him being disbarred.

      No, what this is about is Jack Thompson, a crazy man practicing law. What exact view he presents, and whom he attempts to target with his wild accusations and lawsuits, is not the case here. He's a flat-out frothing-at-the-mouth smearing-shit-on-the-walls lunatic that is nevertheless certified to practice law in Florida solely because the last time they tried this he threatened them with a civil suit.

      It's important that the gaming community at large not gloat too much should this go the way I so sincerely hope it does - i.e, that Thompson is removed to a position in society where he can do minimal harm. If we start waving the flags and claiming victory over those who ignore the research and continue to claim that video game violence produces killers, then we risk making a nutjob a martyr, and watching three more spring up in his place. The sensible long-term response is, "regardless of my views on gaming and media censorship, it's good for ALL Americans that this man is out of the discussion, and we can continue to argue for our rights with those opponents who approach the issue with dignity, respect, and above all, sanity."

      That's not to say this news doesn't make me happy in my pants. Oh, it does. It VERY MUCH does.

    3. Re:Finally justice. by Fordiman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But... but... can't we PRETEND that he's the example of the everyday neo-conservative uberchristian freak?? I mean, much of the US does that for mid-east terrorists, pretending they're examples of muslims. Why can't I assume Jack Thopson is the official spokesmoron of the religious right?

      --
      110100 1101000 1101000 1100110 0 1101111 1101000 1100011 1
    4. Re:Finally justice. by Fordiman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Being conservative does not equate to being stupid"

      No, but toeing the party line would.

      Just so's you know.

      "(Jack Thompson) ... is better described as a Liberal; i.e. ... knows whats best for society, and has made it his personal crusade to make the world safe for everybody by changing social laws."

      Hm. You mean like trying to overturn Roe v. Wade? Or perhaps outlawing gay marraige. Yeah. Those damned liberals. Always thinkin' they know what's best.

      Seriously. The second I hear 'liberals are like this' or 'conservatives are like that' I know the speaker has immediately gone into an irrational defensive mode.

      Jack Thompson is a conservative; he's almost a reactionary. He's trying to use the legal system to 'protect' the citizens from a new form of content, which is a very conservative thing.

      The fact that he's a nutjob has nothing to do with that. There are conservative nutjobs and there are liberal nutjobs. Please, accept your own nutjobs. No one else will.

      --
      110100 1101000 1101000 1100110 0 1101111 1101000 1100011 1
  5. no, it's a good thing by artifex2004 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Too bad it's not happening in Texas.
    If we got him down here, the electorate would, without a doubt, try to put him into public office.
  6. Meh... by kitsunewarlock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This just proves that Thompson is just an over-hyped nut-job idiot. The fact only 2/5 of these charges have anything to do with video games continues to discredit him in my eyes not only as a lawyer but as a nut who claims that "videogames are evil." Don't get me wrong, I think video-games are awesome, but cameo'ing him in webcomics and screaming his name at people who claim games are evil is like saying all hippies are like Manson, right? This guy's name isn't even worth mentioning in such cases...I feel bad that he has a slashdot article this late in the game even dedicated to him...I don't think its worth it...

    Its like saying "lunatic charged of murder cases thinks he should be able to kill people!" Who cares...in both cases its some stupid crazy loon getting what he deserves...

    --
    Ginga no Rekshiya Mata Each page.
    1. Re:Meh... by Trendy.Ideology · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't think there's ever a time where it's not good to spread information.

      "I feel bad that he has a slashdot article this late in the game even dedicated to him...I don't think its worth it..."

      I rarely turn on the news, or read the paper. Slashdot is one of two "news" sites I read, the second being primarily video game based site. So if not for new sites like Slashdot, and other specialty news outlets, I very well may not have known about this extremely relevant piece of information.

      Over the last several years it's been a tad bit demoralizing to see logic and reason go out the window in the USA, in favor of a policy of scapegoating. Killed your brother? Blame violent music. Robbed a store? Blame GTA. 8 year old that swears like a sailor? Blame TV and the media at large.

      You're a bad parent? Don't worry, we can fix that. Here, blame these guys. Everyone's doing it, it's all the rage.

      If you're fat, it's McDonald's fault. If you can't read warning labels or use common sense, whoever made what hurt you, is to blame. Clearly they should have warned you that you were retarded before selling you a product that's designed to do damage, like a knife, or a product that's been served pipping hot for as long as anyone's been alive, like coffee. Clearly you needed to be told not to spill hot coffee on your lap.

      So taking a good look back over the last several years, and all the madness... It's refreshing to see a stand being taken against these trends. If left unchecked, people like this, and attitudes like these, will lead to the widespread disappearance of personal responsibility.

      --
      In the end, the only thing that matters is how much fun you had.
    2. Re:Meh... by grumbel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ### If left unchecked, people like this, and attitudes like these, will lead to the widespread disappearance of personal responsibility.

      Jack Thompson might be a nutjob, that however doesn't mean that violence in video games and other media isn't a problem. You know, personal responsibility is a door that swings both ways, just because people should take care about themself or parents about their children doesn't mean that McDonalds, the cigarette industry or video game developers should get away with selling whatever they feel makes them the most money while totally ignoring the consequences. They have responsibilities as well.

      I am not saying that video games should be banned, but its sad that there is so very little room left for meaningful discussion of such topics. You either get the 'every should be banned' nutjobs or the people who want everything totally free and unregulated, no matter the consequences, while in the end the best would probably be something in between those two extremes.

    3. Re:Meh... by aussie_a · · Score: 4, Interesting

      or the people who want everything totally free and unregulated, no matter the consequences, I have not seen anyone on this article put forth this opinion. The "problem" is, no-one has proven there are any consequences so people wanting everything totally free and unregulated no matter the consequences look exactly the same as those who want everything free barring no bad consequences.
    4. Re:Meh... by kinzillah · · Score: 4, Informative

      Sorry, but I feel it should be pointed out, that McDonald served that lady's coffee scalding hot. 180-190 degrees, which is enough to give you 3rd degree burns in 7 seconds or less. She was hospitalized for 8 days, and required skin grafts. Had McDonalds served their coffee at the normal serving temperature of around 150 degrees, she would have been in some pain for a day or so, probably needed to go to the hospital to get checked on, but that's about it. Why did McDonalds serve their coffee so hot? So they wouldn't have to brew a new batch so often.

      So yes, it's her fault it spilled. Is it her fault she got 3rd degree burns from it? No.

      --
      Douglas P. Price
    5. Re:Meh... by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      People have been enjoying violence for millennia. Cock fighting, boxing, bullfights and the Roman arena are all examples of it. I had not heard that any of this, no matter how distasteful, have lead to the horrors that nutjobs like Thompson seems to think video games do.

      Perhaps instead of blaming violent entertainment, we should be looking at why we so enjoy watching people get the shit beat out of them.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    6. Re:Meh... by xigxag · · Score: 3, Insightful

      video game developers should get away with selling whatever they feel makes them the most money while totally ignoring the consequences. They have responsibilities as well.

      there is so very little room left for meaningful discussion of such topics.

      Such topics are discussed ENDLESSLY. Ad freaking nauseam. The problem is this: One side has decided, arbitrarily, without any compelling evidence whatsoever, that videogames are harmful to children. The other side says, okay, before you go claiming I have "responsibilities" and abridging my rights to self-expression, show me your evidence that what I'm doing is harmful. And that's where things lie. The first side wants to pretend that the "evidence" step (and that whole little issue of parental responsibility) should be skipped over and we should move directly on to imposing restrictions. So when you say "discussion," if you mean "discussion of how far we should restrict video game manufacturers based upon a mere gut feeling that what they're doing is bad," that's not the discussion that the software industry wants to have.

      However, if forced, they will have the "let's enact a useless self-imposed 'rating' system to keep the think-of-the-children crowd at bay" discussion.

      --
      There are two kinds of people: 1) those who start arrays with one and 1) those who start them with zero.
    7. Re:Meh... by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Jack Thompson might be a nutjob, that however doesn't mean that violence in video games and other media isn't a problem.

      The problem isn't that there's violence in video games. The problem is that violence is far more accepted than sex. I like violent games, but I also like boobs - given the choice, I might pick the violent stuff half the time, but there's really no market for that stuff that I can tell, and I blame the freaky christian right (same one that had an aneurysm over Janet Jackson's pixelated nipple).

      The warped values towards anything sex related in this country is definitely a problem, but the presence of violence in games and media isn't causing much in the way of real world problems, aside from the whole thugged out teenager fad.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    8. Re:Meh... by Trendy.Ideology · · Score: 2, Insightful
      I don't want to search for it right now, but someone basically said something earlier in the thread, that implied that there needs to be some kinda of conscientious effort to better moderate videogames, even if Thompson is wrong.

      And to this I say "ESRB". It's there for a reason.

      More on topic, a response to your post;

      I agree with pretty much everything you've said here. The ESRB exists to guide parents on what little Jimmy should and should not be playing. As one of my two jobs is working at a store where we sell video games, I'm amazed at how many small children (Under 13) have parents that will buy the Grand Theft Auto games for them. Clearly a lot of these parents are not checking to see if little Jimmy understands the difference between fiction and reality.



      Frankly, I'm in the most profane and vulgar ways possible, fucking SICK of people ruining my life experience, in terms of digital media, by being fuck-ups. I extend this to everyone who's blamed video games, movies, music, TV, and any current form of media/entertainment for something stupid they've done, or their kid has done.

      Short and sweet; There's a lot of things in this world we don't want little Jimmy to get his hands on. Drugs, alcohol, porn, firearms, knives, your brand new expensive digital camera, etc.

      How do you keep those things out of little Jimmy's hands? Got an answer? Good. Take that and re-apply it to movies, music, video games, and anything else you'd like to blame for the way your kid turned out. There's warning labels on this stuff for a reason... Really people.

      http://www.bash.org/?628630

      [samsim] I heard about this guy who broke into a lion's den at the zoo
      [samsim] and got mauled
      [samsim] and people were talking about how there should have been better defences put up to prevent people getting into the cage
      [samsim] a friend of mine suggested setting up some kind of deterrent
      [samsim] for example, putting some sort of fierce animal in the cage, which would attack anybody who climbed in
      I think that about sums up my feelings on these types of people. We need more lion dens, and less Thompsons.
      --
      In the end, the only thing that matters is how much fun you had.
    9. Re:Meh... by that+this+is+not+und · · Score: 2

      As it stands, the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, are all the news I want/need.

      Very well, then.

      You do make a lot of use of colorful phallic metaphors. Don't worry about it. Just be happy.

    10. Re:Meh... by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I like your sig. It sums you up perfectly. And sums up quite nicely why some Americans are embarrassed to be called Americans, and why the rest of the world just shakes their head at them (or worse). I live the Daily News. But if you think the world isn't already smacking you upside the head with what is happening... you're just ignoring it. And no, the people around you are not the world. Quite honestly, I don't care that you don't care. But the instant you come crying to me that the Iraq war is going badly, that globalization took your job away, that China is whipping the US at basketball or that the US is not the global superpower anymore, I'll smack you upside the head myself.

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
    11. Re:Meh... by NaugaHunter · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I am not saying that video games should be banned, but its sad that there is so very little room left for meaningful discussion of such topics.
      Games have a ratings system, the same that movies do, and more than books do. Anyone can go to a library and read worse than you'll find in a game. Hell, have you read the so-called 'holy' book? Lots of violence there, not too mention the negative attitudes towards women in general.

      The only possible meaningful discussion is by psychologists and psychological researchers, and there in the realm of nurture vs. nature in behavioral studies in general. Unfortunately, it's not an easy subject to study in a laboratory as people frown on raising twins or triplets in controlled environments just to answer this question. There are too many variables in real life to attribute a person's attitude to any one influence, or to conclude that it would be markedly different under a slightly different attitude.

      This whole debate reminds me of the Simpsons episode "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge":

      Meyers: I did a little research and I discovered a startling thing... There was violence in the past, long before cartoons were invented.
      Kent: I see. Fascinating.
      Meyers: Yeah, and know something, Karl? The Crusades, for instance. Tremendous violence, many people killed, the darned thing went on for thirty years.
      Kent: And this was before cartoons were invented?
      Meyers: That's right, Kent.
      If you want to have some crazy logic, why not blame the labor laws? Kids wouldn't have time to play violent video games if they worked all day.

      Don't get me wrong; I don't think a six year old should be playing GTA unsupervised. But every kid is different in what he/she can handle, and it's up to the parents to monitor their children and help them deal with it. It is not up to the government to interfere in what entertainment I can access just because some kid, somewhere, can't handle it. I grew up with Daffy repeatedly getting his beak blown off and I haven't killed anyone yet; though I'm tempted to every time I see it on TV now with that part edited out. Thankfully the DVD isn't edited.
      --
      R: That voice. Where have I heard that voice before? B: In about 365 other episodes. But I don't know who it is either.
    12. Re:Meh... by grumbel · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ### It is not up to the government to interfere in what entertainment I can access

      If you are old enough the government has of course no right to interfere with what you can access, but why shouldn't it have some say about what the kid can have easy access to? In Germany selling movies or games to kids below the rated age is forbidden, this however neither limits your access nor does it stop the parents from buying the games for their kids, even if they aren't old enough. The regulation simply puts power where it belongs: into the hands of the parents. I fail to see what is so bad about that.

    13. Re:Meh... by bjorniac · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No, it's not. See http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm - McDonalds held a policy of keeping coffee at 185 degrees, when they knew that temperature is enough to cause serious injury. The judge called McDonalds conduct reckless, callous and willful, and in fact consuming the coffee at 185 would cause injury to the throat. If someone is handing out food (particularly fast food - intended to be eaten/drunk immediately) in such a condition that it causes harm once consumed, I think they're in the wrong. And now McDonalds serves coffee at 158 degrees. Lawsuit served its purpose - after 700 people complaining, 1 lawsuit took them to the cleaners and there's no problem anymore.

  7. We need to know what crazy loons are up to by BruceCage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In essence I agree with you, sometimes it's better to ignore silly people. But in this case I believe Jack Thompson has quite a following among certain groups of people, if we were to ignore them they might be able to do a lot more damage. Instead, pointing out their flawed reasoning or mistakes such as this and discussing it openly can benefit "the cause".

    --
    Perfect is the enemy of done.
    1. Re:We need to know what crazy loons are up to by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Jack Thompson wouldn't have a following if 24 hour news stations and web sites didn't have an insatiable need for new stories every hour or two. This guy would, at best, be buried on page 9 between stories about the nine month old Husky puppy that saved her owners from carbon monoxide poisoning and the dangers of oversharpening steak knives.

      Jack Thompson is just a member of that breed of attention addicts who will do or say anything to get their faces in the paper. The news media happily obliges these guys, because they're outrageous and clearly demented. They're following is just as demented, and are probably psychologically not all that different from the kinds of guys who end up in cults. If Jack Thompson belongs anywhere, it's on the Jerry Springer Show fighting transexual hookers and eighty year old sex addicts.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  8. Calm down... by optkk · · Score: 2, Insightful

    He's not been put away yet. And while we're at it, let's not hope for dismemberment, lets hope, that he gets to share a cell with somebody that was put away for a crime that was somehow linked (although incorrectly) to video game violence.

    1. Re:Calm down... by Trendy.Ideology · · Score: 2, Funny

      "He's got a real pretty mouth on him, don't he?"

      --
      In the end, the only thing that matters is how much fun you had.
  9. Too Bad He Couldn't be Tried in Auburn, WA. by NeuroManson · · Score: 5, Funny

    Up here, there's a nice art deco building, started as a supermarket, then up until a couple of years ago, existed as a video game arcade. Now it's a courthouse. The irony would be mind boggling.

    --
    Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
  10. Obligatory Penny Arcade Links by giafly · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Moral Kombat" - comic 5 Jan 2007.

    "Obviously he [Jack Thompson] didn't mention anything to the police department about his "Modest proposal" in which he asks that a game be developed in which players urinate on peoples brains and murder kids who work at game stores. He never mentions that he offered ten thousand dollars to charity and then said it was just "satire." He doesn't tell the police chief that Jerry and I just donated the ten thousand for him. I wonder why he left that part out?" - Penny Arcade

    Tshirts > Gaming > I Hate Jack Thompson...
    Virtually every living creature hates Jack Thompson, professional scold and slavering ambulance chaser. Squirrels, policemen, sea captains, fruit bats... - black t-shirt
    --
    Reduce, reuse, cycle
  11. Repensum est Canicula by tomhudson · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... because we all know "payback is a bitch."

    Jack Thompson - this is your future!

  12. Re:Jack was abscent... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The media has always been where Jack Thompson does most of his "fighting", that he happens to be a lawyer is incidental.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  13. What motivates this guy? by merc · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This guy didn't just wake up one morning and get hit by an Atari 2600 being thrown out of a window. What happened that made him such an ardent opponent of gaming?

    John Walsh from "America's Most Wanted" is motivated by what happened to his son, what happened to Thompson?

    --
    It's true no man is an island, but if you take a bunch of dead guys and tie 'em together, they make a good raft.
    1. Re:What motivates this guy? by MightyMartian · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This guy didn't just wake up one morning and get hit by an Atari 2600 being thrown out of a window. What happened that made him such an ardent opponent of gaming?

      John Walsh from "America's Most Wanted" is motivated by what happened to his son, what happened to Thompson?

      He's an attention addict, who keeps getting his fix because everyone keeps on paying attention to him long after it's clear he's an immoral lunatic.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  14. They'll never go away... by tech10171968 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The only reason the Jack Thompsons of our society are even given credibility in the first place is because of all these folks who aren't doing such a hot job in raising their offspring. The kids start acting up but the parents don't really want to take any blame in this, so the Jack Thompsons of this world provide them with a convienient scapegoat; doesn't matter whether that scapegoat happens to be Unreal Tournament, Marilyn Manson or MySpace - just as long as it's anything to give the parents something (other than themselves) at whch to point an accusatory finger. As long as folks are willing to shift the blame for their parental shortcomings (rather than owning up) there will always be another Jack Thompson to make them feel better about themselves (while harnessing this blame-shifting for political reasons, of course).

    --
    This space for rent!
  15. We haven't seen the last of him... by Hannah+E.+Davis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Unlike many, I don't actually hate Jack Thompson -- if anything, I pity him. He's trying to do what he thinks is right, even at the cost of his own career, and I gotta admit that that takes balls. However, I do strongly disagree with his methods. Writing caustic, barely-coherent letters to judges and insulting young children on the internet is typically not an advised course of action when you're trying to effect social or legal change. His conduct has been undeniably unprofessional, and for this reason, I hope he gets disbarred.

    One thing that we should keep in mind, however, is that crazy old coots like Jack typically don't vanish the moment they lose their jobs (see: Fred Phelps). He'll have a lot more free time all of a sudden, and I expect he will continue to portray himself as a martyr -- a man who sacrificed his own career to protect America's children (and all that drivel). Sure, he won't be as dangerous when he can't blindly sue anything that moves, but I expect that the media will still view him as the resident expert on video game violence.

  16. Are you sure? by mrchaotica · · Score: 2, Funny

    Effectively, they want society to regress to the Dark Ages. What could possibly be more conservative than that?

    --

    "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    1. Re:Are you sure? by dbIII · · Score: 2, Interesting
      I don't think so - they would be branded userers and heretics in the Dark Ages. The very Religeous Freedom they don't wish others to have is the only reason these Christianity Lite groups could form without persecution.

      By the way, I'm agnostic, but remain confused by the radical right wing Christian groups that appear to have lost the second half of their book somewhere and ignore most of the first half.

  17. Wrong with America by Khammurabi · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Damn, this guy is the ultimate sleezeball. If you ask me. Jack Thompson is a shining example of everything wrong with America these days (bigoted, sue-happy, uninformed but with LOUD AND STRONG OPINIONS).
    While clearly an idiot, the fact that people like Jack Thompson still exist in America at least gives me some comfort that free speech is not being infringed on. It gives me solace that our democracy has not yet gone down an irreparable path.

    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Evelyn Beatrice Hall