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Kotaku Games Blog Sued By Jack Thompson
Reacting to Kotaku's coverage of comments Thompson made last week about the VA Tech incident, Thompson has sued Kotaku and their parent company Gawker media. He also tried to sic the FBI on them (getting as much success there as he did with the Penny Arcade gents). From GamePolitics' coverage: "Thompson's ire was apparently raised by Kotaku reader comments which the attorney maintains are threatening. He also alleges in the complaint that Kotaku and Gawker declined to remove the menacing posts. The messages in question stem from Kotaku's coverage of Thompson's claims that video games prompted last week's Virginia Tech massacre. The Gawker suit is actually an amendment to an action Thompson filed on March 13th against the Florida bar. On April 11th he amended it to include the members of the Florida Supreme Court. And now Gawker joins the list of defendants."
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Drink deeply or not at all."
I bet this is the first time someone has ever used the phrase, "the chances are slim to none, and Slim just left town." in a Legal filing before.
Isn't enough that I ruined a pony, making a gift for you?
attentionwhore
I give this douchebag 3 months before he is disbarred. He's already been trounced by Chris Matthews on his program, and made to look like an outright fool on numerous websites. This should thankfully be one of the last times we hear his name in the news.
"Waah! Your readers were mean to me!"
If only all the nutjobs were as easily dismissable as Jack.
"Oh boy! Are we going to try something dangerous?"
Remember kids, when Grandpa goes senile, it's not a good idea to let him drive...or practice law.
"Live as if you'll die tomorrow." Ridiculous. You could die later today.
It's pretty funny if you read it. Thompson is so eloquent when you calls people "liberal intolerants" and "Stalinists."
"...today consumers have been conditioned to think of beer when they see a bullfrog..."
"Vexatious litigation is legal action which is brought, regardless of its merits, solely to harass or subdue an adversary. It may take the form of a primary frivolous lawsuit or may be the repetitive, burdensome, and unwarranted filing of meritless motions in a matter which is otherwise a meritorious cause of action. It is considered an abuse of the judicial process and almost always brings down sanctions on the offender." -- wikipedia
Belief is the currency of delusion.
one of the few times I wish they would remove comments rather than leaving tripe like this.
From the desk of the millions of normal people who play games:
Much like you, we were deeply disturbed by the actions of the shooter at Virginia Tech and feel terribly for the families of the lost. However we deeply resent the fact that you have totally bypassed the issue at hand and chosen instead to scapegoat the electronic entertainment industry. Perhaps instead of blaming videogames (which are clearly not your area of expertise) we should instead delve a little deeper in order to find what causes these depraved/deprived individuals to take such drastic measures. Your "proof" of a link to video game violence is tenuous at best - equivalent to such joke statistics as bread creating murderers. Statistical correlation is not proof of cause and effect but beyond that, you have failed to even show a statistical correlation, instead bringing up the specific examples where the statistics say what you want to prove.
Like naysayers for the past several centuries, you see the advent of a new form of entertainment as the downfall of society. Novels, the waltz, radio and television have all been targetted in the past and so far civilization has emerged unscathed (but not unchanged).
Perhaps this is the issue; you (and millions of right-wing conservatives) are afraid of what the future may bring. Who knows what changes the liberalization of the West may bring?
In short, we feel that you are doing nobody any good - you are attempting (and luckily failing) to take the attention away from the actual issues (which in the case of the VT shooting are as of yet indetermined).
Signed,
Gamers of the world.
P.S. While we harbour you no malice, I wouldn't suggest you attempt any retribution - we have all been trained on "murder simulators" . . .
Godless heathen.
I don't understand how people get so diluted in their views on reality. Can't they just realize that they are sometimes (read: often) wrong? Another recent example that stuck with me throughout this story is that of Michael Crook. (And in this example of Crook, after his apology video he posted an "I'm not really sorry, but I had to say it." video to YouTube. I'm not linking it to spare you all.)
I thought it was common sense that if you get proven wrong (or your lies dissected) that you get the fuck over it and get on with your life, right? The only thing to gain is a more wide-spread reputation -- but mind you, it's the type of reputation you want.
That said, what is it that spawns these people? They seem to infest society in both recent and dated history... Nobody ever likes them, so why do they do that to themselves?
Jack Thompson caused the Virginia Tech shootings. I have proof. I am a school shooting expert. I'll sue all of you bastards if you disagree with me.
When a moron like Jack Thompson is allowed to toss frivolous lawsuits at every man woman and child that says or does something he doesn't like. I'd think all this horse-shit he keeps pulling would bite him in the ass, but it never does.
I am going to kill Jack Thompson with a chainsaw.
Even if his disbarment goes through that won't stop him from randomly sueing anyone and proclaiming himself a "expert" in whatever strikes his fancy. Granted he won't be able to argue/represent his own case. The only mountain he will have to climb will be finding another crazy lawyer to represent him.
~Vexed and loving it!
I should get a job in law, it obviously doesn't require the slightest bit of intelligence.
If I were a lawyer I'd be deeply offended by that complaint. Lord help us if Jack ever writes a biblical commentary.
Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
that Jack Thompson is in fact suing all these companies. It means he's falling and knows it. He's going to try to take whoever he can with him. within a year no one will know he existed.
THe best thing to ever happen in the favor of gamers was Jack's soap box jump within hours of Vtech. Blaming games, and saying Cho never would NEVER have "learned to enjoy killing withoutplaying violent video games". Only to later find out, that Cho, well never really played games. Maybe mine sweaper to pass some boring class time.
He made the biggest fool of himself and lost all credibility he had. Jack's an empty shell and a nobody now. While someone else will eventually take his place in the crusade, gamers everywhere can comfortably play games without scrutiny.
It seems like his whole time as a lawyer has been spent with a vendetta on one thing or anouther because he doesn't like it. It would seem that he never stops to look at the facts and lobby for them in a healthy way. His actions seem to go against his own beliefs. Get angry and act without thinking before getting all the facts. This is what has most likely led to alot of the things that Jack Thompsons, and the rest of the world are worried about. When someone goes and shoots up a school, you have to think something brainwashed them to do it. I mean it would be a better thought, we can stop this from happening again if we just didn't have those damn video games. The truth of the matter is, that this kind of thing was happening before video games. Granted alot of the people who do commit these crimes now have played some of them, but whos to say that was the cause. There are millions of copies of grand theft auto circulating about the world. Yet only a very small fraction of these people are commiting murder. It would be more likely that these people had some other problem or disorder and that they fixated on things with violence. If they didn't have this point to fixate on they would probably still be out torchering the neighbors cat or doing something else before escalating to this crime. UNfortunatly its hard to say what would happen if they didn't have the game to begin with, but if they were able to go out and kill someone I would guess that they were probably messed up before they started playing.
Back to my point. I think Jack Thompson would just like to blame someone for those actions, or that he doesn't like them himself so he finds some way to target them to get rid of it. I think the first idea is more knoble even if it is wrong, but I believe he is more likely doing the second. He didn't like Neil Rodgers so he tried to sue him, didn't like Janet Reno so he attacked her. Then when he figured he couldn't get any further with that he started again with Rap music, once that was outdated he went against video games. Now it seems that hes transitioning over to suing the pants off of the internet. Freedom of speech seems to be something Jack Thompson doesn't like. Of course this is just a matter of opinion.
Jack Thompsons could be correct but I assume as well as most people on here, that hes just a pissed of little boy who can no longer cry to him mom so he cries to the court and the FBI.*(this is my opinion but damn doesn't it seem to be the case)
I could go on about his inaccuracies his pompus behaviour. But thats all for a different topic.
To all of us rational minded people, we may look at the comment that the kotaku reader left and think this lawsuit is very silly, but we're talking about Jack Thompson here. In his mind, games like Grand Theft Auto aren't games, they're training tools to teach potential future killers.
To us, we may see this user's comment that that Jack should be shot for attempting to exploit the tragedy as the hyperbole that it is. To Jack though, this is potentially a trained killer making a threat, which is ridiculous, but then again, so is Jack Thompson in general.
Don't mind me, I'm just rambling...
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Someone should create a 'Sued by Jack Thompson' logo for gaming sites.
[Insert pithy quote here]
I'm not sure what's scarier, the idea that he's just another money- and fame-hungry asshat, or the idea that he might really believe his own rhetoric.
Isn't enough that I ruined a pony, making a gift for you?
Seriously, why isn't this filed under humor? The brief is hilarious! It starts out kind of slow, but pretty soon he gets going. Jack starts throwing around terms like "internet idiot," and accuses the Florida Bar of conspiring with opposing attorneys to "hector" him. The further he goes, the more emotional, paranoid, and downright loony he gets. It'd be a great joke if the lunatic weren't serious.
If you are really serious about your weird pseudo-statistical theory, shouldn't you thank the VT shooter? After all, chances are that, it being a tech U and all, there were quite a few other gamers among his victims. Surely, if you are right, they would all sooner or later have gone on a killing spree. Right?
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
made people half as violent as he wished, wouldn't one of us gamers have shot him already?
It's only a matter of time until this guy sues himself. I can see it now: "Your honor, on the day in question after locking my keys in my car I called myself an idiot and slapped myself on the forehead. This is a clearcut case of slandering myself and, even worse, assaulting myself. It's obvious I present a clear and present danger to myself and I demand you grant a restraining order ordering me to stay at least 500 feet from me at all times. In addition I think it only right you award me $3 million in damages to be paid by me to me at once. Thank you." Yup, any day now.
You are so boring that when I see you my feet go to sleep.
Sure it's broken. He's a vexatious litigant and a disgrace to the profession; he should be disallowed from filing lawsuits without explicit permission of the courts. That's it. Problem solved.
Belief is the currency of delusion.
If we just ignore him, he'll go away. The only reason Thompson is still somewhat relevant to the media is because gamers treat him like he is. DON'T FEED THE BEARS!!
The answer to this problem is clear, if we can only muster the will to follow through on it. We must ban those monstrous "Phoenix Wright - Ace Attorney" games, and protect our children from their insidious influence.
It is clear to any right-thinking person that these so-called "games" are in fact Lawyer Simulations. Thanks to their brutal desensitization we are in danger of creating an entire generation of Jack Thompsons.
Please, think of the children.
-T.
- - - -
The real Tetsujin 28 is a giant robot.
Thompson just amended his action again yesterday to include the bagger at his supermarket who constantly places his bread at the bottom of the bag, causing it to be slightly crushed.
So if I'm reading this right, he's suing both the Florida Bar AND the FL Supreme Court? Wow.
I'd be very interested in seeing if anyone could get comments from anyone at the Florida Bar regarding Mr. Thompson, let alone this suit. I'm pretty sure hilarity would ensue.
Insert Sig Here
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Please don't demean everyone else named Jack by failing to use his last name as well. Thanks.
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
QQ PVP Server, jack.
On behalf of the State of Florida, as well as all people residing in it, I would like to apologize for this fucking moron asshole.
13. Any legal action is absolutly excluded. (Pi World Ranking List rules)
Many people hate Mr. Thompson because they fail to realize the positive effect he's had on so many hopeless gamers in our society. His campaign to raise awareness of the fact that games are training simulations saved my life.
Thank you Mr. Thompson, thank you so much. I grew up playing Sega Genesis in the early 1990's, and without you I would be fully trained by now. I can't imagine how empty, meaningless, and flat out bizarre my life would be if I were still rolling along grassy hills jumping into ginormous mechanical bees operated by small bunny rabbits. Not to mention the constant urge to collect mysterious emeralds and find early PowerMacs to jump on, until I turned yellow, hovered momentarily in the air screaming, and then proceeded to run really fucking fast into a sign with my picture on it. Victory!
step 1) start a Jack Thompson shrine
step 2) write a Manifesto talking about how you were inspired by Mr. Thompson alone, and that you don't even own a video game system (i know, it disqualifies every slashdotter here, but i digress) for the actions that you are about to commit.
step 3) go on a murderous rampage
step 4) go to jail/die
step 5) JT blames it on video games anyway, and the media still believes the bullcrap he feeds them.
step 6) go back to step 1.
Don't call me back. Give me a call back. Bye. So yeah. But bye our, well, but alright we are on a shirt this chill.
Hey, i got an idea for the most offensive game ever. Let's make a game where you're an Islamic terrorist and the game consists of raping soccer moms, assassinating various political talking head such as Rush Limbaugh and Al Sharpton. Then you move onto going into killing sprees at various public places like shopping malls, public schools, and legislative meetings. the last level of course would end in necrophillac butt sex with Jack Thompson.
Pagan? Geek? Check out #paganism on Freenode IRC
"78. This was followed with other posts that Thompson should be struck with a baseball bat, shot in the face by an irate gamer, castrated and his testicles stuffed down his throat, and the exercise of other basic "constitutional" rights to advocate violence against an individual...Not!"
And also:
"71. Besides, science has now established the long-term effect of such violent entertainment consumption."
Has it? I thought at the moment the most likely was outcome of research was "inconclusive". Isn't there any citation required in these things?
And what the hell is #83 about? Jack the hero. Keeping the world safe by using his super powers of gullibility and stupitdy? I am confused though.. did the email wake him of was his troubled conscious keeping him up?
And my Favourite:
"82. The dangerousness of a corporate entity's allowing the posting of calls for the assassination and brutalization of a citizen via the Internet and the refusal of that company to remove or edit those posts after it becomes aware of it can be demonstrated in a number of ways, but here is just one:"
But it's OK for Presidents and Prime Ministers to publically conspire to Kill other people. That's allowed. And that the news agencies can repeat those requests again and again ad nauseum. That's fine. Don't stop with Computer games Jack... go all the way. They're all Stalinists.
I can't believe he actually uses that term: "Stalinist"... What year is this: 1954????? McCarthy Reincarnate?
Bollocks to him
Maybe if we're lucky he'll start taking his cues from Jack Valenti? You know, these things come in threes...
I love how everyone was so quick to look to counter-strike and other "murder simulators", while either glossing over or completely ignoring the fact that males in S Korea are required to serve 2 years in the armed forces. "*Gasp* The army couldn't be training people to kill, thats proposterous, its the video games."
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."