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Jack Thompson Sues Microsoft
An anonymous reader writes to mention that Jack Thompson, in his latest bout of zealotry, has set his sights on Microsoft for their recent release of Halo 3. GameAlmighty has posted the letter to Bill Gates. "Here's the deal, Mr. Gates: Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means. I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers of Halo 3."
April fools was last month.
----- You know you have ego issues when you register a domain in your name.
...because the low Earth orbit clutter problem just got a lot worse with all the pigs up there.
I mean, they must be, since I'm going to be rooting for Microsoft to win a lawsuit.
Reality has a conservative bias: it conserves mass, energy, momentum...
I never thought I would root for Microsoft, but I hope they destroy Jack Thompson.
Who do you root for in a case like this? I mean, I don't always approve of Microsoft. And Thompson, well... ...I take it back. Go Microsoft! Wipe the floor with this punk!
---GEC
I'm but the humble pupil, seeking to snatch the scratchbuilt pebble from the master's fully articulated hand
Why does this guy feel the need to force his "morality" on everyone? What makes him right and everyone else wrong? He's likely just the biggest douchebag in the world, but I was wondering if anyone, anywhere can defend him.
I just wasted your mod points! HA!
First, the title of this article is a misnomer. He's threatening to sue. He hasn't sued yet.
How is Microsoft supposed to take drastic measures to ensure retailers don't sell its games to people under 17? I wouldn't be upset if Microsoft started a "17 means 17" program, where if they received proof of a retaler selling "M for Mature" games to people under 17, they would cut off that retailer from all shipments of Microsoft products for 6 months. But is it practical?
If it was Wal-mart, would Microsoft cut them off or give them a stern warning? When I was young and working temp gigs at Disney, I spent a few days calling video stores that had broken street date on video releases, getting a store manager on the line, then handing them over to a Disney manager to chew them out and threaten them with not getting future releases.
But one thing that was interesting was one of my co-workers told me how Costco got away with it all the time. They were such a huge retail channel for Disney videos, Disney couldn't afford to threaten Costco, so they just had to take a "grin and bear it" posture in those cases, filing a protest but unable to make threats.
I'm sure Microsoft doesn't want to see young kids getting their hands on violent games and they're not doing tobacco industry style strategy sessions on how to sell "Halo 3" to 10-year-olds. OTOH, how much can they actually do when they're not the ones actually controlling the point of sale?
Start a happiness pandemic
Who do I root for?
I think that God was trying to blast Jack Thompson with his lightning bolts and got Jerry Fallwell instead. A pity.
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
Now I have to support Microsoft because there is someone even slimier.
Just don't give this cranky egomaniac the attention he craves so desperately and hopefully he'll STFU.
I will not be happy until every last video game is banned. Video games are the cause of all of society's problems. Stop creating them, you godless hackers.
Are you threatening me?
You know, I think I would back M$ on this one.
--
A linux user.
Microsoft is like the publisher for Halo 3 right? So they have nothing to do with direct retail... This makes sense how? Wait never mind. I just realized who sent the letter.
Has he done anything successfully? or in line with the annoyance of a judge I recently read about is he just trying to claim victories to sway people when the facts don't actually back up his claims.
And, hehehe, of all the companies most people would never, ever want to tangle with on a legal front, unless they were totally utterly sure of their position. Of course he is sure, which is what makes it so funny.
The games probably safe for a 12 rating anyway.
He's a lunatic that feeds off attention.
Why give him ammunition?
I can't decide who root for...
Is there a "make both parties lose permanently" option?
...and that's the way the cookie crumbles.
Somebody throw a plasma grenade on this idiot.
Hahahahahahhhhahaaahahaha
*breathe*
haahhahhhhaahhahahha
The phrase "more better" is acceptable English. suck it grammar Nazis
Yeah, thanks Jack. I really appreciate having to drive all the way to Best Buy (~30m) just so my 16 year old son can go buy Quake 4.
And what's this nonsense?
Yeah... killer training... because pushing buttons on a controller is exactly like firing a rifle.
Seems like more grandstanding. I'd say Thompson is off his meds... but frankly, I'm not sure he was ever on them.
A Human Right
The most outstanding thing about Jack Thompson's wiki article is its length. The list of things he has done in the last ten years makes for a bit of a mind-numbing exhausting read.
n ey)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(attor
Answer: Humanity.
It'd make a good video game...
I don't seem to recall there being an actual law saying that you couldn't sell AO games to minors. Isn't it just a guideline?
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?
...so who do I root for here?
Paleotechnologist and connoisseur of pretty shiny things.
...stick a plasma grenade up your arse!
I'm totally pressing drug charges against the Colombian government, and getting it put in jail for all the cocaine that is being sold all across america!
Well it's the same concept he's using, it'll work right?
Schwab
Editor, A1-AAA AmeriCaptions
i must have my purple alien bloodspray!
Jack Thompson's goal isn't to prevent Halo 3 sales.
It's quite clearly to get himself and Microsoft's lawyers in the same room at the same time. That much concentrated evil will surely create a gateway to hell and let through all the imps, pain elementals, and cyberdemons. Then his purpose for preventing people kids from playing Doom will become clear as his armies rampage unhindered and he begins his thousand year reign over all the nations of the earth!
The television will not be revolutionized.
Right, where to begin, first, This guy is clearly a media whore looking for the next journalist to blow, using sensationalist terms like "hyperviolent", someone get this guy a dictionary. He's probably threatening microsoft because they're big and thhey don't wnat bad press, they haven't done anything yet! It's a threat based on what may or may not happen a few months from now.
Secondly he apparently did this to bestbuy, guess what, NOT THE SAME THING! Bestbuy is a shop, microsoft is a programming company, they will not get sued for selling to under 17s cos they only sell to businesses, they don't actually retail anywhere near a decent %age of the games. It's not up to them to enforce the law on the retailers, it is the retailer's obligation, no one elses and certainly not this random lawyer.
Thirdly, why is this relevant to the public? It doesn't concern us, we should not be sent a copy of this, why has he done this? May I suggest he is advertising this n order to further his reputations and to try and pre-empt microsoft in anything they do in their media campaign?
Finally, who is he to be sueing anyone, it doesn't affect him remotely, the nearest he's got to violence from video gmaes is videos of video games played in order to illustrate how just his cause is not giving the full picture at all.
I feel i could have written this better, but I'm in a rush (as all 16 year olds are), just illegaly downloaded Halo from the pirate bay and can't wait to see that cool real gore!
I cant get to the site in question that might explain WTF is going on here.
Why would Microsoft be held liable for its distribution system?
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Never thought I'd defend MS, but this is a bigger problem. You can't expect the creator to be responsible for the sales of resellers.
Seriously, every time you think he can't *possibly* lower the bar on stupidity any further he goes and outdoes himself. Sure, he's proven himself to be totally ignorant of his pet hate time and time again but surely even HE ought to realise the producers of games probably don't get much say in the way retailers operate. Still, the world would be a much drearier place without nutters like him around for the rest of us to laugh at.
Hi Ya all,
I don't see any value in what this guy has to say.
Surely there must be someway to commit him to an institution for our safety?
I love the Icon list for this post.
Cyborg Gates on a foot stomping the Lady Liberty icon who stands above what seems to be a dildo stand.
I seriously hope that idiot goes through with this. It'll be amusing to watch Microsoft counter-sue idiot into oblivion.
Isn't there a law about threatening a lawsuit? Could this finally be the last straw that causes idiot to be disbarred entirely? Not that he couldn't still hire another idiot to act as his attorney, but I suspect it'll become more expensive for idiot to continue threatening companies in this manner.
... because really, they're just distributing a video game. This attack on gaming is stupid, just like many other laws trying to prevent social activities. It's a futuristic combat game, there is nothing REAL about any of it. The supposedly realistic world the game takes place in is a complete fictional fabrication. Unless Jack thinks Microsoft has a fucking time machine and knows that this is the true future. :-)
... cause that's like real. Or how about violence in film? That is a depiction of real people, handling pseudo-weapons that are designed to look like real weapons, and through the use of special effects, depict the actual killing of people in as much graphic detail as possible (cause it looks cooler). He really needs to stop acting like a fucking crusader for the war on video games. I am under the impression that there is no "moral majority" backing any of his actions, and the generation of adults who grew up playing video games will just want Mr. Thompson to shut up.
Why doesn't he focus his effort on banning violence from news reports
And if he brings up the recent VT shootings, from what I understand of Cho's background, that he didn't play video games.
Can someone please throw a cream pie at Thompson, like ASAP? Someone already nailed BillyG with a pie, someone needs to get Jack.
He's obviously not suing (or threatening to sue) with any expectation of winning. He doesn't care about winning any of the cases he brings (although winning is a nice bonus)- he just wants the publicity it brings to his cause. The bigger his target, the more publicity.
Jack Thompson (aka smackywack) just reminds me of the kid trying to sell the lemonade at an insane price, using the logic/excuse, "I only need to sell one.".
He just kicked the 800-pound gorilla in the nuts.
This is so wonderful. This story just made my day.
You are still innocent until proven guilty. What's changed is what they do to innocent people. - notnAP, #26891325
Kudos to Jack. It's about time someone stood up to Microsoft, or any other company/corporation not concerned enough with violent content to ensure it does not reach teens. Obviously, it does nothing to prevent an (in my opinion) irresponsible parent from making such a game available to a teen to begin with, but hey! We can cull the herd later. Best of wishes . . . hope you win!
... Laywer Jack Thompson was killed in a tragic incident at his home a few minutes ago, early reports seem to indicate assassination by means of a thrown chair. The state of the scene have led police to believe a large ape like creature is to blame, local Zoo's have been contacted.
"I may be full of crap about this game, and I may be wrong, and that's fine." -Jack Thompson
greatest troll that ever lived
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
A truly wonderful occurrence as a mentally lacking persona is taking a hulking giant head on. Only that, he is no david.
and this is a chance for microsoft to clean up some of the bad karma that they have accrued over the last 25-30 years.
Read radical news here
As a parent I wish to let someone have the responsibility of bringing up my kids right, I am tired or trying to stop them doing things that they shouldn't...
I am going to buy Halo 3 for my own enjoyment, and I want Jack Thomson to personally come to my house here in PA and keep them out of the room so they don't see the graphic violence as I take the convenant and flood once more... You go Jack, I assume because your self righteous head is so far up your own self righteous ass, that you won't even need me to pay you...
I love you Jack, you are my hero, I hereby grant you all of my parental responsibility, since you are so much better at it than me. I urge parents on slashdot to do the same.
The man is an idiot, I bet the guy who reads Bill's mail got a good laugh. Jack Thomson should NOT breed.
Can we please return parental control back to parents? I was under the impression that Thompson et al preach traditional values and the "reinstitution" of family. If you really want to feed the lawyers, please ask the courts to force families to be responsible for raising their kids, not to take the responsability away from it. Thank you.
Note to self: get a sig.
Not that I would be against a law to state that it is illegal for someone to sell mature video games to kids, but come on a violent video game is way less dangerous then drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. 99.9% of kids can play violent video games and not be any way affected by them. And those that are affect usually have other contributing factors that make it so. There is no way Microsoft could assure that there game is never sold to children. Look at all the before mentioned products, they still get sold to kids all the time even though its illegal by law. Jack Thompson is fighting the wrong people. He needs to be helping parents learn how to be parents. Most young kids don't have the money to buy a 50 - 60 dollar game. Let alone a several hundred dollar console.
"[...] I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means."
The appropriate legal means of imposing one's moral standard on others is simple: STFU and deal with things as they are.
I can't figure out whether I want the media to just ignore the guy, or to put a camera on him 24/7. He always seems on the brink of doing something so incredibly awesomely stupid that it will permanently ruin him. One of my favorite things about Jack Thompson is that he ALWAYS references his past accomplishments. "I have done that before successfully as to Best Buy, and I shall do so again as to Microsoft and all retailers---". Instead of firing off pointless lawsuits, that only attempt to bully game makers and retailers, why don't you set up an infrastructure to INFORM non-gamer parents what games are acceptable to buy for your kids. If you are going to attack microsoft, you obviously have the time and money.
It's the same argument that has been used against gun manufacturers. Look, you shouldn't sue the manufacturer for providing a product that is used to hurt others -- n.b., in the case of video games, there is no 'hurt' involved. Sue the god damn person that SOLD the product, if you need to sue anyone. Better yet, Jack Thompson should just forget about halo 3, and do us all a favor: STOP EXISTING. The responsibility is not the one who made it, but it is the one who gave/sold it to the offending party. I'm sick of morons.
This article takes a whole new meaning if you are from Australia. Its kind of like saying Mick Dundee is sueing MS. (BTW - Australian Jack lives here http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0860233/
So does this mean that I am going to be approached by hoodie wearin underage teens who want me to buy them a video game. Letting me 'keep the change' as payment for my effort...now only if electronics retailers also sold liquor and smokes they could keep the driving these kids have to do down to a minimum and they could probably get some sort of tax break for reducing pollution! Or maybe liquor stores should carry M-Rated video games (SWEET JESUS THAT WOULD ROCK)!
The quote (bah, I didn't RTFA) says nothing about age.
Just let him do it, and then when he sues, Microsoft can just tell him that they didn't sell to anyone under 17" of height. Or cm, or mm, or lbs, or you get the idea.
is just a money-grubbing little parasite. Its obvious he's only trying to make himself some money.
Anyway who the hell is he to sue on my behalf without asking me, or decide what I can and cant see?
Can I sue him for limiting my freedom to purchase what I want?
The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.
________
Entranced by anime since late summer 2001 and loving it ^_^
Everyone knows Thompson only markets games. His lawsuits are sideshows for excited teenagers and parents to get informed of the hottest new title.
I call bullshit. MS is only doing this to get street cred with the kids about how "realistic" or "adult" their latest Halo is.
...than to think of these two particular parties slugging it out, appeal for appeal, in the US court system, for years and years and years...
All you americans OVER 10 are wellcome to come to México and Drink while you play any game you want. FOR FREE!!!!!!! (or a couple of Dollars)
Y Jack, eres un reverendo pendejo y de seguro te graduaste de la misma escuela que el pinche PEJE o algo así.
...a large ape like creature is to blame, local Zoo's have been contacted.
Quijibo on the loose!
lol oh ya!?
Is it absolutely certain that the game won't be rated T for Teen?
IIRC, you need a credit card (which is not available to minors) to pay online, and that would be up to the parents, unless children have figured out alternate methods of payment...
Jack Thompson and Steve Ballmer star in "Alien vs. Predator II".
[Insert pithy quote here]
NUTS
Because as we all know, the louder people yell and scream, ALONE -- the stupider they look.
Just ignore him and let him do whatever he wants -- it's almost a non-issue.
On a related note, if you are a parent whose child is buying things without your knowledge that you wouldn't approve of well.... you suck ass as a parent. Go shoot yourself now.
The price is always right if someone else is paying.
He was able to have Bestbuy sell M-rated games to minors, yet he doesn't sue those shops but goes to the game manufacturer.
What logic is behind that?
If I was drunk while driving a BMW and harmed someone with it, would that person then sue me or BMW?
80 CC D8 AF AE D3 AB 54 B7 2E CE 67 C7
How do I know?
* The writing style is juvenile, and though Thompson may be a fool, he is a lawyer, which means he knows how to write official-looking documents, and that was too casual for even a professional memo.
* Who the hell has ever heard of GameAlmighty? Attention whores like Thompson don't CC legal threats to unheard-of small gaming blogs with about a hundred readers. They CC it to NBC or something.
* Who the hell has ever heard of GameAlmighty? Claiming to have received a letter from Jack Thompson is an extremely effective way to get hits.
* Thompson already sent a letter to Bill Gates, about Counter-Strike. If he was going to send a letter about Halo 3, it would likely go to Steve Jobs.
* Again with the writing style. It just feels very, very wrong. Can we get a literature/psychology professor/professional to analyze these?
I know I'm going to get modded down for this, but I'll be the one laughing. Or maybe you will, and I'll be laughing at myself. I could be wrong.
There's an old saying that says pretty much whatever you want it to.
Not that I'm advocating this (I'd rather he continue living in shame), but wouldn't it be delightfully ironic if someone shot Jack Thompson because GTA IV convinced him to do so? In his death he'd be proving the very thing he spent his life trying to convince people of.
At what point in time did it become the company's responsibility to enforce the law? Shouldn't JT be going after the Justice Deparment or Police Departments or something like that? If a law is not being enforced it's the law enforcement entity's problem.
Of course, if it isn't a law and it's just an industry accepted practice, shouldn't the industry that is committing the offence be held accountable? Why hold MS responsible is Walmart sells something in a way they shouldn't?
Can someone please explain this without using the word chewbacca?
these Morons should be barred from courts...
If the lawyers win and become sufficiently stinking rich, we might be able to persuade them to all retire and move somewhere else like Barbados or something.
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
Please crush Jack Thompson in a very public way. Show the world how mistaken he is, and make him a laughingstock.
For this, I would change my position and buy an XBox.
Thank you.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Anyone brave enough to consider the capabilities of a Beowulf cluster of Jack Thompsons?
Is trial by combat a valid option in the United States?
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
Here's what I got at the bottom of the page, it seems rather appropriate:
A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exceptions of handguns and Tequilla. -- Mitch Ratcliffe
... perhaps it's time Jack Thompson had his own icon.
It could look like that Marge Squirrel from that episode of The Simpsons when Marge was all upity against Itch and Scratchy.
Just a thought.
More Twoson than Cupertino
All I have to say about most of the above comments is that it's nice to know how many Slashdot users are not 18 yet.
Stop giving JT free press. That's what he feeds on, and if we stop talking about him he will become insignificant.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the ESRB's rating system have no legal ground at all? Therefore it's not illegal for stores to sell to u-18s....depends on store policy.
How about filing a patent on "including violence in software that doesn't prevent it to be sold to people under 17 years of age"? That way he could sue whoever infringes it...
Jack seems to want to make laws. If really wants to go and make laws, than he should go run for office somewhere, and get elected. He is really just annoying at this point. I do hope that Microsoft destroys him and his insane dreams.
END COMMUNICATION
Shooting at colorful monsters in a space environment with guns that look like water-blasters, is the real danger for our youth.
I personally dislike Halo, and opt for tactiacal FPS games, but I prefer seeing kids play Halo 100 times more, than seeing them play GTA, Saint's row, or even most of street fighter-like figting games.
Hey, that guy is a real moron, and the rest of the world should be protected from people like him. I hope they take it to court, and he pays for MS' $$$$$ lawyers.
I never thought I would root for Jack Thompson, but I hope he destroys Microsoft.
*DrugCheese rants*
Who the fuck is Jack Thompson? OH never mind just a ranting idiot out to control others peoples lives. Wonder when he will be running for Senator?
it deserves, which is none. Apparently, it's now up to publishers and developers to police their own games and make sure that stores don't sell their inventory to kids. How many stores are going to carry Halo 3? Sounds like M$ needs to get some hiring done to get every Wal-Mart stocked with an employee who's sole job is to check ID's. Seriously, WTF is this crap? It's up to the stores who sell the game to police it (If such a thing was required by law), not publishers. The STORES make the decision on if they want the game in THEIR stock, therefore it would (hypothetically) be THEIR responsibility. Porn stores work the same way.
Teenagers (13..18) were once considered kids in their emerging years. Now they are treated like adults. The new emerging group are the "tweenagers", a term that started out refering to 10 to 12 year olds, but now extends as low as 8 or even 6.
So now instead of parents having to deal with 14 year olds asking for adult treatment, they're now dealing with 8 year olds asking for padded bras "because everyone else has them".
Marketers will do everything they can legally do to create revenue. They have advertising and other forces on their side. Parents have no more tools than they have ever had. Marketing has got more agressive and will continue to do so.
Added to that, most parents are willing to just go with the flow. Typically these days most parents work (as opposed to 40 or 50 years ago when many many mothers did not). Most parents don't have the time or inclination to spend with their children to give them the guidance that they need.
So if the parents don't give the guidance, and soceity increasingly tolerates aggressive marketing, where is the control going to come from?
Engineering is the art of compromise.
We often refuse to accept an idea merely because the tone of voice in which it has been expressed is unsympathetic to us
...but for the most part, people are getting Halo 3 Beta through Crackdown, which is rated M. So if you own Crackdown, you should theoretically be 18+ anyways.
Besides, can a beta even get a rating???
Defender of Microsoft and Communism!!!
He's a lunatic that feeds off attention.
Why give him ammunition?
Because the news media is SUPPOSED to EXPOSE such abuses of power - to give us warning. Then we can dodge, and mobilize opposition, etc.
Keeping silent about such abuses perpetuates them. Talking about them gives their opposition more intelligence (in the military sense) for organizing against them, and lets them know that action is needed.
The most powerful propaganda technique is to selectively not report. The media already does this with entirely too many things that they want put over on the population. (Ever notice how they don't tell you about a lot of tyrannical laws until they day they go into effect, rather than warning you when they're in the legislature (when you could do something about it), or up for executive signature (when you might have a slight chance to abort it)?)
For once we've got a petty tyrant who's knotting THEIR shorts, too. So let's not play into his hands by trying to get the media to shut up and let him perpetrate his evil unimpeded.
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
Either Microsoft undertakes dramatic, real steps, through its marketing, wholesale, and retail operations to assure that Halo 3 is not sold, via the Internet and in stores, directly to anyone under 17, or I shall proceed to make sure that Microsoft is held to that standard by appropriate legal means.
So, in translation, "Either you do what I tell you to do or I'll try to force you to."
Well garsh, Microsoft should just lay down!
it would be one case I would hope Microsoft wins. Seriously, Jack Thompson is a blithering idiot. I find it quite funny that there are many games out there far more violent than the ones he chooses to single out, yet it is like he is oblivious, Oh wait, that's right... he is!
What really amazes me is the man hasn't gone after the Wii(at least to my knowledge). Come on, a game like Red Steel should be a big fat target for this guy. Not to mention Metroid Prime 3, which is a game that is making some buzz. You would think the controls used in these games would seriously disturb him, those Wiimotes are more like guns than any 360 or PS controller could ever be!
Which evil would you remove from the world:
* Microsoft
* Jack Thompson
* RIAA/MPAA
* US Patent office
* Spammers
* Cowboyneal
... sue him first.
UTF-8: There and Back Again
I hate Jack Thompson and his zealous jihad, but I somehow I find myself cheering him on. Its like half my body wants to punch the other half. OW!
Call me a troll or not, but everyone must admit one thing: A huge chunk of Halo's audience is under 17. Microsoft will never cave to J.T. simply because of that fact.
Bill Gates isn't even the CEO of Microsoft.
good luck with that jack.
and by 'good luck' I mean, 'I hope you die in a fire'
Snowden and Manning are heroes.
Yeah, because people can't lie about their age over the interent, right?
...that Jack used Windows to type up that letter? :P
The police have found the murderer in the ape suit. The identity of the assailant is none other than 37 Year Old Linus Torvalds of Portland Oregon. Known as the father of Linux, Linus Torvalds wanted to enact revenge on Steve Ballmer for falsely implicating him with the murder of Jack Thompson. The motive for his revenge was for the years he couldn't compete with Microsoft as stated by Linus himself. Mr. Torvalds stated "If Microsoft would have just given in I wouldn't have even thought of framing Ballmer. Linux just can't compete with the quality work of Microsoft"
The District Attorney commented "Mr. Torvalds will be charged for first degree murder. Further investigation reveals that Mr. Torvalds set up the rumor of Balmer throwing the chair at Mr. Lukovsky. The source of that rumor was started by Mr. Torvalds by threatening the life of Mr Lukovsky if he wouldn't co-operate."
Hey dude.
m ance but this URL is simply redirected to the root of Macupdate.
What does your signature refer to? It links to http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/18261,perfor
thanks,
-b
myselfmusic
i want them to hold the court proceedings in the hadron collider, maybe they'll make a black hole in there that will swallow both parties whole.
Call me crazy, but isn't it the job of the Beer and Wine Stores etc to make sure that underaged people don't buy anything? Budweiser doesn't need to police its own product, and there are actual LAWS regarding the sale of liquor. It makes no sense that a computer game company needs to police its product, when the rating system is only a guidline anyways.
insight through the mind
tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
It's yet to be seen, though, if the 800 pound gorilla even noticed the kick. I'm thinking pleather bean bag chairs vs a lightly tossed baby sneaker.
Personally, though I loathe Microsoft, I'm actually looking forward to MS's lawyers giving Jack's testicles the full Benihana treatment before serving them back to him...
Well only one party is coming out of this intact, and I don't really care which one.
Dear Mr. Thompson:
That's the dumbest fucking idea I've heard since I've been at Microsoft.
Regards, Bill Gates.
Yeah it sounds like trying to put a virus on symantec, or a troyan in windows me... anyways what is Halo 3?
?
Actually, MS's games division are really nice guys. At some point, MS basically decided to open a console division, and did so by throwing money at the most passionate game dorks they could find, then giving them space to do what they wanted to do. Because the division is reasonably young, and the older executives largely keep their hands off of it, it's not plagued by the infighting that the rest of MS is.
I originally wanted the Xbox to fail miserably in the market, lest the beast from redmond do to consoles what they did to operating systems. But, by and large, the games division has been run by a bunch of stand-up guys doing good stuff. And I'm not just saying that because I've met them, but also from what they've done. You have to admit, the Xbox 360 is no MSN.
The ______ Agenda
Why hasn't someone started one against J.T. for wasting the court's time and the public's money on frivolous suits? With this guy's case record, he shouldn't be allowed near a court room again.
Death by mob of angry 14 yr old Halo fans... I mean honestly, I can just imagine the swarm of high school students and gamers swarming his porch and beating him senseless with misc Bungie merchandise. This time I think ol' Tack Jhompson has bitten off more than his godly Christian jaws can chew.
YOU IDIOTS! Can't you see this is a ploy to make us go "Poor Microsoft...see they are the same as us..."
Wouldn't surprise me if MS was paying Jack T. to sue themselves to try and gain 'street cred'
Disclaimer: If I sound as crazy as Jack don't blame me, blame it on the Halo 3 demo.
Money is the root of all evil?
But I'm on Microsoft's side on this one
For the first time slashdotters are routing FOR MICROSOFT. Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Ok, let's just accept that Thompson is an ass and move forward. But of all the games to pick on, why Halo? It is by far not the worst first person shooter out there in terms of realistic violence. GTA, CounterStrike, Rainbow Six, Doom 3, you name it and there are many "worse" titles.
Microsoft may have deep pockets, but that is exactly why you _don't_ want to sue them.
Honestly, I don't know which side is "better", Jack or M$. I mean, they ARE both evil, and if either loses.... it's still funny. So, who is on who's side?
Agreed.
Jack is the biggest joke in the game industry already but he also costs people millions in litigation for his causes. You remember that old line "it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" it's become "it's all fun and game until someone litigates" and Thompson has proven he's willing to do that.
Hell just when you think Thompson might give the public a break for a month, he comes out again such as this.
So, if MS is accountable for underage people buying their software from stores they don't control, then does Jack Thompson think individual alcoholic drink prodcers should be responsible for preventing underage people from buying their products too? What can they do but trust retailers to do the right thing? This kind of rampant suing is ridiculous.
Jack Thompson!
With such a great name it's a shame that nothing he says can ever be seriously considered.
So goes the way of the extremist way.
Had he ever compromised, he would have felt himself lost.
But now, nothing means nothing anymore.
Poor Jack, all laughed at his back
And now his front.
(c) Geek Poetry 101
"Look, Smithers! I'm Davy Crockett!"
I'm curious, the type of work Mr. Thompson does, regardless of whether or not this bit about suing MS is true, is time consuming and thus expensive. Who's paying the bills? Lawyers don't generally work for free on this type of case. So how is he making $$ from these types of cases?
Dear Mr. Thompson,
Bring it.
Your friend with the solid gold swimming pool,
William Gates
Suddenly, "This is the dumbest fucking idea I have ever heard while I have been with Microsoft!" was heard outside Billg's office...
Anyone?
Does this jackass do anything about keeping real unlicensed firearms out of the hands of unsupervised adolescents and children? Why doesn't he start his own game company and make nonviolent games that are so good they drive all the other game companies out of business? Aren't chess and backgammon about war and conquest? Does he have anything against games that have actual bone-breaking violence in them such as football, lacrosse, and automobile racing? Do you know how many professional jockeys were crippled or killed last year? Something that happens on a computer screen pales in comparison to that real human misery. How many people have to call this man an insufferable hypocrite before he dries up and blows away?
Maybe I'm just a comical psychopath, but every time I hear of Jack Thompson and how he's going to sue all the violence out of this world, I get this recurring daydream of a cheap-suit-wearing scumbag attorney getting blown away by a bunch of satanic chanting school kids armed with 1920's style barrel-loading automatics. Then I get this other daydream where he gets viciously pounded to a bloody mush by a strap-on wielding statuesque porn star Gianna Michaels.
And then I take my meds and it all fades away. No, seriously, this guy's a big old hypocrite. He was born as a result of his folks making whoopy, and he lives in the USA because his ancestors fought independence wars for their freedom. Just because a bunch of looney teenagers go around shooting their classmates up, doesn't mean he can prance around like he's an angel of litigious mercy. I say make a snuff film featuring tommy boy.
-Billco, Fnarg.com
The "Soviet Russia" jokes get tired of you!
I forget...
Am I supposed to root for the Ulcerated Gaping A$$hole, or the Huge Flaming Ulcerated A$$hole?
Is there any way for both of em to loose?
Thompson has said that games like Halo train kids to become violent killing machines. If video games train us in anything, it's how to click a mouse button quickly.
I am tired of Mr. Thompson's flawed argument that anyone effectively "trained" on any violent video game anywhere. Firing a rifle/pistol/whatever in a video game is nothing like firing its real-life equivalent. For starters, breathing comes into play, as well as the weight of the weapon and the motion of the trigger finger. A video game controller allows you to separate all these things from the motion of the crosshairs. Your thumb and pinky move separately rather nicely, the controller itself is fairly light weight, and when you breathe, the joystick doesn't move. Nobody can train for firing a real, live gun by shooting at elites and grunts with illuminated pixels!
That joke is really not very nice to all those zoo animals to be compared to Balmer... :D
EOM
I never thought I'd be cheering Microsoft on in any issue. But it's Wacky Jacky Tommy we're speaking of here,
And pretty soon all you (21-yr-old) Mexicans will be allowed to come over here and drink and play any game you want -- permanently.
I personally blame Halo.
You don't fuck with success.
YES, Microschlock has a habit of doing this anyhoo (look at the clusterfuck that is Office 2007 interface).
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
Everyone root for Microsoft!!! This could be a blessing. Microsoft could sue Thompson out of existence. The unbelievable resources of microsoft vs. Thompson. He who has the most lawyers, money, truth and justice on their side always wins!
I Agree : Before Thompson and Microsoft, RIAA / MPAA is really a pain in the ***. Microsoft did gave us the Xbox, and maybe halo wouldn't be where he is now if it wasn't for all the money invested in it by Microsoft. Suing kids and making the life of your consumer a pain is really what I consider evil.
Oh wait, Microsoft do that too... But least often than the RIAA / MPAA.
Well, this moron has only THREATENED to sue MS, not actually gone and done it, but I digress.
This guy has me rooting for both Microsoft and Janet Reno. Quite a trick. Apparently, this yahoo doesn't like Janet Reno, as evidenced by this bit from the Wikipedia article on him:
Thompson gave Reno a letter at a campaign event requesting that she check a box to indicate whether she was homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual. Thompson said that Reno then put her hand on his shoulder and responded, "I'm only interested in virile men. That's why I'm not attracted to you."[10][11] He filed a police report accusing her of battery for touching him.
What a great line.
The man is incapable of making intelligent decisions about anything.
Someone should just take away his license.
He actually sued the Florida Bar Association for trying to take away his license.
This guy is a grade A moron.
They're using their grammar skills there.
I think his name is really Jeffrey Vernon Merkey.
We have Microsoft on one side, and Jack Thompson on the other side.
Clearly as a dedicated Slashtroll I can't support either a greedy software monopoly or a megalomaniacal attorney who wants to decide what games people can buy.
Where is the CowboyNeal option?
Lawyer discovers way to spew utter BS all day long, rarely have to go to court or do actual research, and have plenty of "think-of-the-children" groups pay him lots of money for his opinion and support.
I think Jack Thompson is laughing all the way to the bank.
Light a fire for a man and he'll be warm for a day. Light a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
After a long time, am rooting for M$FT.
If i were Bill Gates, i would say this to jack: "See ya in court. I have busted a multi-state lawsuit, defied the second most powerful economic power, i have more money than u have lived and live (counted in minutes) and i have the best defense lawyers in the country."
Its not a David vs Goliath fight at all.
Its a fight between a Minotaur (Jack)and Achilles (MSFT).
Iam rooting for MSFT. Halo is a GREAT game, and if this uneducated, double-digit-IQ mor0n thinks he can take down the single-largest-game of XBox 360, he is sadly, sadly, going to go down burning in flames.
"Doing what i can, with what i have." ~ Burt Gummer
This is like goatse vs tubgirl.
Most states do not recognize private rating systems under a legal jurisdiction. What can the state deem viewing appropriate to people under the age of 18 is pretty much only absolute when visual depictions of sex are involved.
Stores wanting to look like responsible businesses will have their own policy of id'ing anyone if its rated mature. Much in the same vein as the comic book authority or the mpaa rating system, the private ownership of ratings means that at the very least, legal responsiblity for a minor seeing an r rated movie, or playing an m rated video game is no where except on the parent themselves.
There is however precident that Thompson wants, he did lobby for Louisiana to make the M-rating half equivalent to the Nc-17. Again the problem can be broken down to the very simple fact that no private rating system is transparent enough to the point where every reasoning for the system is agreed upon. I don't see this court case actually going anywhere but at a settlement. If Jack thinks this is some kind of indiciation that he is in the right, he would have to be very insane to think so.
If there was a government rating system, then at least we can see the documents for ourselves and see how they rate media. It also gives an opportunity for the consumers to adjust the system by means of voting power. But as it stands a private rating system doesn't allow us that luxury, so for example movies that would be passable for Pg-13 standards will be rated R or NC-17, while ones that could be NC-17 would be rated R.
I never thought I'd live to see the day when I came down on M$'s side, but here it is...
This sig is false.
From his own TV series in "Jack Thompson's World Around Us", to playing a general with that god awful American accent in that god awful Broken Arrow ...
He should have stopped there.
(I'm Australian BTW, anyone over 25 should get it)
The grammar in this letter is appalling, it's the kind of thing you would give to people and get them to try and figure out how many mistakes they can find.
We have the nonsence quotes "Mature" and "broken"
This is then followed by the malformed sentance, Precisely.
Jack then backs this up with another malformed sentance combined with an attempt to seem hip, but forgetting which decade we are on. This is my favorite, Right On.
Finally we have the commentary that would seem out of place in verbal speech, but completely misplaced in a letter. Here's the deal, Mr. Gates:
Honestly, I could find twelve year olds would could right better threatening letters.
It somehow seems appropriate...
wait a minute here- what is the rating? pending yes? how is he freaking about this before the rating is released- what if it comes in under an "M" then isn't it like suing for your teenage son going to a PG rated movie?
I tried to email him, in a desperate attempt to educate him on how Microsoft is -not- a retailer in this instance, and it's up to the retail stores to enforce the proper sale of 17+ games, but it was returned undeliverable due to his mailbox being full.
:)
I guess many, many people beat me to it.
My head is going to explode. I actually want Microsoft to win a lawsuit. Hold me, mommy, I'm scared...
~Eien no Inori wo Sasagete~ Searching for my Hatsumi...
I hope Bill Gates puts up $50 million for lawyers to destroy this idiot. Get this guy on the defense and run him out of every dime he has. This guy deserves a taste of his own medicine, and Bill Gates is just the man to give it to him.
-- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
Because I'm having serious trouble picking a side here.
Do they still sell these in toy shops? Just as bad, if not worse than Halo3 as anyone can buy them.
I have excellent Karma and I am not afraid to Troll it.
I think Jack Thompson was an abused child. He probably grew up chained in his parents basement and this is why he carries a vendetta against game companies. All he needs is a little nurturing and a good kick in the balls. I am trully sorry for his children, they must have a shitty and funless childhood.
Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d encule de ta mere.
...so that fucking idiot can get laughed out of it.
Consoles have parental controls now, or at least the Wii does. It'd take approximately 1 day to patch the 360 to do the same if it doesn't already.
Jack Thompson is a cock bag.
I envy you. I'm at that point you just left. I've got a ton of things I want to do, everywhere from programming the next big MMO (hah, yeah right) to learning several spoken languages (specific ones) to ... well, just about everything. I -don't- have the family/etc, just a job, and I still have no time to do even a fraction of what I want.
Every time I come up with a new idea, I think it'll be the one that I can focus all my effort on and enjoy, but after thinking about it a while, I realize that it doesn't do it for me.
Was there some trick you used to focus on that 1 project, or did it just click and everything else faded away?
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
That's not half as crazy as one of the other articles detailing Jack's activities back in April. He apparently expects to get *paid* for debates after challenging someone else to them!
:-)
I like the Jack artwork at the top of the page. I always pictured him with a jester's hat, but this depiction somehow seems more appropriate
I love when people are so evangelical about games being violent. The world is violent, turn on the news. Why not sue the government to stop dropping bombs. Those images of people with their brains blown out all over the ground hurts kids.. and guess what, that's someone's dad, brother, son. Its not a set of bytes on your pc.
The real problem is not the games but the parents. Jack is way off base here. If you have kids going out and pulling a columbine and then blaming it on a video game, then there are much bigger issues here! If kids can not seperate real life from the fantasy world, I'm sorry, the issue here is not the video games.
Parents need to step up and monitor the children accordingly.
Damn you, Jack Thompson! Now /. want's to side with for Microsoft. It's so very, very wrong.
It's only a matter of setting up shop outside the US and offer Halo 3 and similar to the kids via the net. If it is illegal the demand is going to be high.
The very idea that people are turned into serial killers by a game is so insane that it is beyond words. So there was no serial killers before videogames were invented? - I think not.
It is only matter of entertainment, i.e. people that later become serial killers also play games, just like the rest of the population. There is no cause and effect here, only random similarity.
If there is a probable cause for the insanity that creates serial killers, it is being raised by parents with fanatic views on certain aspects of life, like Jack Thompson here(!). Often parental abuse enters the picture as well.
"For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." -- H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) --
Stop giving this cunt attention. Who really cares what he does? He's never going to change anything.
Is like taking a shower wearing a full-body wetsuit - sure, it's essentially the same thing, but at the same tie...it`s not.
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
He's a member of the old guard of lawyers, the fast-talking, slam-dunking moralizers. He doesn't care about the facts, facts have a godless liberal bias. It was proven that Cho Seung-Hui did NOT play any video games, much less trained on them- but that didn't stop Ol'Jack from jumping in the minute the first VT student's body hit the floor to claim that he was a GTA maniac.
The worst part is that he actually got airtime to say this complete fabricatio`on national television
So sad...
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
Who needs PR when you have Jack. All he needs to do is include release date and your advertising is done.
You just have to appreciate JT for the fact that he doesn't quit. I'd rather him be raising a stink now than someone else in a few years, when government's hand is even further up the video game industry's rectum.
It's two jerks, slugging it out!
(for the thought-impaired, I mean Microsoft and Thompson)
Please stop stalking me, bro.
Microsoft is probably the kind of company who can have him killed and leave no trace...
just throwing that out there.. you know... as a high priority suggestion..
This guy is a lawyer, how can he get away with threatening legal action if they allow a sale to "anyone" that is under 17. I am pretty sure there are a few places that Microsoft sells software that does not have a law restricting the sale of a game in that age group. I could understand if it was just a nutcase without legal training, but this is a nutcase that has passed the bar. You think he would understand that as a lawyer he is not allowed to threaten the wrath of law for retribution against legal acts that he personally disagrees with.
Anyone remember the episode of the simpsons when Mr Burns pushes a button and the wall slides up revealing his 10 high priced lawyers. Does he really think he can win against the legal team that went up against the US Gov't and the EU.
"Up your springfield my high priced lawyers sprung me on a technicality"
Bring It!
Sincerely, MS Legal Team
There is nothing inherently safe about liberty. That's why so many people died protecting it.
Just another lawyers vs lawyers justice show to make some money off the system. Cat shit vs dog shit.
The good thing: One of them will lose.
The bad thing: One of them will win.
I was about to say 13256278887989457651018865901401704640, but it appears this number is private property.
A judge already committed him for testing once. :)
He braggs he's the only lawyer in FL to be certified as sane. Just goes to prove you can be sane and a nut job at the same time - sort of like having tea & no tea at the same time
Not that it needs it....
Now that doesn't happen often... or.. well... ever...
-- Gaxx
You know, I could actually get behind this. Imagine a land of Halo 3 multiplayer with no 11 year old suburban white kids dropping N bombs in their squeaky little balls-haven't-dropped-yet voices. NIR-EFFING-VANA!
Just wondering if there's any legal foot to stand on if gamers wanted to sue Jack. It would be great! A class action suit for defamation of character since Jack likes portray gamers as brainless, aimless, idiots easily manipulated to violence by some poorly rendered pixels.
I am not sure if Jack Thompson was home-schooled or not. However, he does exhibit some tell-tale signs of it. He seems to be somewhat oblivious to how the real world works, and thinks that what he was taught as a kid is the whole truth. Pardon me if I offend anyone that was home-schooled, as Jack does not show any of the positive aspects of home-schooling such as increased book smarts... Now that I think of it, maybe he is just ridiculously stupid in all areas and mentally removed from society. Next step... physically removed.
Does Jack know about that game, in which young children can train in all manner of guerrilla tactics and gunplay? Maybe he should threaten to sue the makers of THAT game because they distribute it for free over the internet?
/. needs a "fuckyoujackthompson" tag.
Mr Thompson I would like you to meet some of the most experienced and devious lawyers on the planet. You are about to get reamed and no lube for you
You can't take the sky from me...
You can't take the sky from me...
I'm guessing the answer is no.
I've got several friends who are instructors in the US Marines and they train grunts to shoot guns and kill people. From talking to them, it doesn't matter how "Bad ass" you are, how violent people think you are, how many games you've played....the human pshyche is normally averse to taking another human life. You can argue all you want about violence, insensitivity, etc.. but the simple matter is this: When it comes right down to it....and you've got a living person within your site/crosshairs...most people will not shoot.
Once you get out of the fairy tale world of the movies and realize this simple part of the human mind, Jack's futility and silliness becomes very apparent (if it didn't already). Following his logic, we'd do away with ANY virtual realism because some crackhead could say, "I trained for *insert heinous crime* by playing *insert ANY game here*". Idiots were saying this about Dungeons and Dragons in the mid to late 1980s. We don't ban board games and dice because of a few retards.
...believe a large ape like creature is to blame...
Obviously too much Donkey Kong.
Monkeys aren't donkeys! Quit messing with my head!
"You're arguing for a universe with fewer waffles in it," I said. "I'm prepared to call that cowardice."
I'm having a hard time visualizing that battle. YouTube link, anyone?
I doubt if JT has ever played Halo. If he had, he would have realized how much fun the game really is...how it promotes competition, and not violence. What a poor schmo if he'll never realize the pleasures of anything other than Dance Dance Revolution and Tetris. Or maybe making blocks explode is too violent for him? *shakes his head*
From the Florida Bar association:8 98F95585256A830051348B?OpenDocument
http://www.floridabar.org/names.nsf/All/07D079003
ID Number: 231665
Address:
1172 S Dixie Hwy Ste 111
Coral Gables, Florida 331462918
United States
Phone:
305.6664366
E-Mail:
magiccity@comcast.net
There is no Jack Thompson, only Zool?
This is great news.
Jack Thompson has finally gone up against someone who has the resources and already standard practice of tieing up opposition in legal red tape for decades. I really hope Microsoft sue him back as an opening round.
I hope Microsoft and Jack Thompson waste so much of each other's time and money that both leave the rest of us alone for a while.
MORAL ENTREPRENEUR
To be in the business of persuading the society to make policy from particular moral viewpoints. In symbolic interactionism (or labeling theory) social policy is not seen as the implementation of a shared consensus about what is best. Rather the society is viewed as consisting of a plurality of understandings of what is best. In order for social policy to arise, some individual or group has to initiate a social movement whose task is to articulate a definition of a social problem such that a desired social policy is consistent with this definition of the problem. These individual or groups are referred to as moral entrepreneurs. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), the pro-life movement, the gun lobby, anti-pornography groups, Emily Murphy, and the anti-tobacco lobby would all be examples of moral entrepreneurs.
"Consider the lillies of the goddamn field."
Is the fact Microsoft has no responsibility over who buys this game. Much like the producer of a movie has no responsibility over who watches his movies. It's up to the PARENTS and retailers to enforce the 17 and over rule. I emphasize PARENTS because the ESRB was not made so retailers could babysit ignorant parents kids. That and what is acceptable to some may not be to others. (I have run across a lot of parents who refuse to let their teens plat Teen rated games) It's out of Microsoft's hands once its for sale. The rating is on it, and if retailers let kids buy it, it's certainly not Microsoft's fault.
Oh, and lol @ stopping production of Halo 3. That made me giggle.
Todays best!
-Seeing the problem is ½ of solution-
HACK!
Nope, like others have pointed out, THAT IS HIM! He spams everyone he thinks will give him coverage, and Gamepolitics confirms that this letter is legit(they like others usually ignores his spam, but ended up covering it due to posters mailing them about it).
As for the writing, you should have seen the crap he posted on Gamepolitics before they banned his IP, and the crap he filled in his recent lawsuit with Take 2 and Rockstar.
Dear Jack,
Go fuck yourself.
Sincerely,
Bill Gates
A letter to someone does not + "sues", ya gurmly frickoin dibships.
No one on Slashdot would do such a thing!
Remember back in the day when pro wrestling was king? That shit is marketed to kids like crazy, and I remember how shocked I was when I learned that it wasn't real. I know tons of kids who hurt themselves or others trying to do shit like that, not realizing it was staged. Jack really missed out on a great opportunity to save the children...
I do target shooting for fun, and I play video games for fun. There is NO relation between firing a handgun and shooting stuff in games, aside from hand-eye coordination. A lot of activities strengthen that so he can't say that improvement of hand-eye coordination leads to murder.
Yep, because little Timmy finding a laser pistol and capturing the neighbor's flag is one of the worst things we have to worry about these days...