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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."

11 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 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.

    3. 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

  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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!
  6. 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).

  7. 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.