Jack Thompson (not the actor)

[Abeguy]

Jack Thompson is a lawyer who is fighting to say that violence in todays teens is caused by the violence in todays video games.
Here is where you can argue the topic

If it goes in Off-topic you can move it, I just thought it'd go nice here

I personally think Jack is a looney for thinking all that, for this simple reason
COMMON SENSE. unlike GTA, which is Jack's favorite target, where sex and violence blends together, he says that THAT is causing aggression, therefore violence in todays teens. In REAL LIFE there are no health bars, or multiple lives. Though there are bullet proof vests, those only cover so much and also under that is our NON-bulletproof skin and the pink squishy stuff inside, no body in their right mind would go and put themselves in that risk just because they played a video game for crying out loud!

But thats just me, what about you?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in676446.shtml
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051019-5458.html
http://www.joystiq.com/2005/10/17/th...s-he-was-just/
http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/...ensorship.html
little sites with some stuff

for more, go to google and type in Jack Thompson cause I'm tired of bringing the hyperlinks here

[Nate]

Jack Thompson cares less about criticising video games less than promoting himself. Nothing more need be said.

[Leto]

I personally think Jack is a looney for thinking all that, for this simple reason
COMMON SENSE. unlike GTA, which is Jack's favorite target, where sex and violence blends together, he says that THAT is causing aggression, therefore violence in todays teens. In REAL LIFE there are no health bars, or multiple lives. Though there are bullet proof vests, those only cover so much and also under that is our NON-bulletproof skin and the pink squishy stuff inside, no body in their right mind would go and put themselves in that risk just because they played a video game for crying out loud!

When you put it like that, Jack actually holds some sense.

[oddveteran93]

Well, if someone's actually stupid enough to do something he saw in a video game than that person was aware when making that choice and can be blamed for it. I ssay that violence today is caused more by violent movies and drugs. And lets face it, many people have anger management problem simply because they had bad experiences and don't want to admit it.

[Daxter King]

He is evil! In a game informer artcile I read he said he would donate 10,000 to an orphanage with sick children if someone made a game where the main goal is to kill the creators of grand theft auto and their families. Several modders made a simple game with this goal and he said it was a joke! The guys from penny arcade then donated the money for the orphanes! The esrb has a rating system for the parents to look at, its the parents fault not the games. If your six and your parents let you play GTA the game isnt your only problem

[used:)]

He is evil! In a game informer artcile I read he said he would donate 10,000 to an orphanage with sick children if someone made a game where the main goal is to kill the creators of grand theft auto and their families. Several modders made a simple game with this goal and he said it was a joke! The guys from penny arcade then donated the money for the orphanes! The esrb has a rating system for the parents to look at, its the parents fault not the games. If your six and your parents let you play GTA the game isnt your only problem

Wow, what an ass.

Anyway, these stupid lawsuits must be put an end to. Parents must respect the ESRB rating for their childrens' sake. If they don't approve of the rating with the content on the game, then they can sue the damn companies. It's through these fools' own ignorance and stupidity that these evils are being generated.

[Nate]

If you read the Penny Arcade news site they had quite an entertaining feud a few months back. If I could be bothered, I would post a link but I can't so you'll just have to do a searchie.

[Leto]

Well, if someone's actually stupid enough to do something he saw in a video game than that person was aware when making that choice and can be blamed for it. I ssay that violence today is caused more by violent movies and drugs. And lets face it, many people have anger management problem simply because they had bad experiences and don't want to admit it.

Now you're just as bad as Jerry Jackson, or whoever the **** we're talking about. In saying that you blame violent movies, you're nothing but a little Jack Johnson whore. Just sit back and actually try understanding what you have posted.

Movies: How could these possibley provoke violence in situations other than causing offense? Video games: You are in control. You're sick little mind can kill the whore you just ****ed for the money.

Video games, are visceral. You are the mother ****ing murderer-rapist.

And drugs, what justification have you to base that gem off of? I do agree that P is an evil drug, and does cause violence, but what is a marijuana user going to do to you? Can't-get-off-the-sofa you to death?

I may be in a mood, but I generally hate people.

[Abeguy]

now, if it was control and choice, in Super Mario, you could rape the princess after you saved her, but you can't (thank God) in Mario you basically press the A button alot to win, you don't choose, thats just how you play the game.
Same in GTA. Its not my fault that you can't play "nice" missions to beat the game, the only choice at all in relating to the game is, to buy or not to buy, the violence and sex is just part of the game, the real only difference between video games and movies is that you move your fingers to keep the "movie" going.

[Leto]

But in games like GTA, you make concious decisions, yourself. I haven't played the GTA story once, I just drove around and shot people.

God, some people just don't get it. I agree with John Jackson in a way.

[Abeguy]

But in games like GTA, you make concious decisions, yourself. I haven't played the GTA story once, I just drove around and shot people.

God, some people just don't get it. I agree with John Jackson in a way.

I've never played story either, just enjoyed the radio and driving, and guns, and exploring

[Kimon]

Ahem.

A reader has just brought this matter to my attention.

From GamingHorizon.com:

"Earlier this month, gamer named Mitchell S. with the online screenname "Kuja105" who posts on a few online videogame forums (including GameFaqs.com and MetalGearSolid.org) committed suicide. On January 2 he posted a message in both forums detailing his intent to end his own life, citing overwhelming complications with school and finances.

A very brief period of initial disbelief was followed by a barrage of replies from fellow forum members pleading that he not take his life, trying to talk him out of it.

For days, no word was heard from Mitchell. Fearing the worst, members and administration from metalgearsolid.org began searching for contact information, spending hours on the phone trying to get in touch with him. Finally on January 4, Ryan K., an administrator at metalgearsolid.org, got him on the phone and spent hours desperately trying to talk him out of it.

Sadly, Mitchell soon ended his own life by consuming antifreeze and painkillers.

Later, members from the site contacted Mitchell's family to find out the grave news. They reported it to their online community, and posted a tribute to their passed friend on the front page of metalgearsolid.org." Full Report Here.
Mr. Jack Thompson then sent in the following letter regarding the situation to MetalGearSolid.org, one of the forums frequented by Mitchell, where he was known well:

"Your "gamer friend" will find peace through the Lord, Jesus Christ, but sadly it's too late for that.

There is a void in every heart. You can fill it up with the things of God, or the things not of God. This unfortunate soul chose to fill it up with combat games. The playing of these video games is masturbatory activity, meaning senseless self-stimulation. If you gamers could use a dictionary you would know that that term is not necessarily a sexual one.

The real tragedy here extends beyond the life and death of this one fellow. There are literally millions of young people and young adults whose despair is deepend by turning to the things of this world and then finding them meaningless.

All of you gamers need to put down the controllers and get a life. The utter inanity of the vast majority of postings here shows how vapid "gaming" really is.

You are one of the cheerleaders for this wasting of time and the wasting of lives. Do you feel any remorse for having contributed to this "culture of death?" Of course not. Hey, let's all play MORE games, and ignore all the really productive things to do with our lives.

Let's pretend to be shocked that a gamer might descend into deeper depression, as his gamer "buds," knowing he was killing himself, couldn't figure out how to call 911 themselves for him. That would have involved leaving their computers I guess.

Sad. Sad for all of you."

Here is an article written by friends and peers of Mitchell at MetalGearSolid.org.

Myes.

I don't care if Jack Johnson is right about video games, he's a closed-minded, heartless, attention-hungry fucksicle who speaks about things he doesn't know about. Shits to him.

[Leto]

He is indeed a religious cunt, but the legions of gamers disliking him are misleading.

He hold truth, although it is in very small quantities.

For ****s sake, in the Hot Coffee mod time, hating Johnson was like hating Bush, it's so utterly stupid.

[Abeguy]

I agree with that, but many things I don't agree with, to tired to post them all now

[a flock of seagulls]

I don't care if Jack Johnson is right about video games, he's a closed-minded, heartless, attention-hungry fucksicle who speaks about things he doesn't know about. Shits to him.

Aaaaamen.

He is indeed a religious cunt.

AAAAAAAAAAAMEN!
Seriously, he's ignorant.

[Kimon]

He is indeed a religious cunt, but the legions of gamers disliking him are misleading.

He hold truth, although it is in very small quantities.

Indeed, he has points, and some are not unfounded. However, his assholery and general attitude towards 'gamers' is biased and stupid, and I feel he's bitching for the attention.

[Leto]

Yes, but games are vicseral damnit! Just, everyone, for the sake of baby Jesus, get that into your skulls. There is a certain extent of interaction involved.

Now get back to your Jack-Thompson-bitching-fanboyism.

[Abeguy]

Super Munch, do you even play Video Games? except OW

[Leto]

Fuck you're stupid, Abeguy. Just look around the forums. I hardly even play OW anymore.

[Abeguy]

explains alot

[Kimon]

...What the fuck? No it doesn't.

[Abeguy]

why he agrees with Jack, he hasn't played videogames and therefore sees the videogame violence topic from a non-gamer view, when most of us see it from a gamer view

[Kimon]

why he agrees with Jack, he hasn't played videogames and therefore sees the videogame violence topic from a non-gamer view, when most of us see it from a gamer view

Jesus, Abeguy. He DOES play video games, he makes mods for Morrowind for fucks sake. And besides, even if he hadn't played in a while, it wouldn't change his views on how violent they are.

[Abeguy]

fine, I Didn't know he made mods for morrowind, OK?
for fugging crying out loud you seem like I killed a fugging kitten

[the brew master]

You probably did by making this thread...

Oh and Jack Thompson Sucks!

[Kimon]

fine, I Didn't know he made mods for morrowind, OK?
for fugging crying out loud you seem like I killed a fugging kitten

Everytime a person is IGNANT, God kills a kitten.

Anyway, my bad. I was in a mood. I guess it's just terse, nonsensical posts like "That explains a lot." set me off.

[Leto]

Saved me the trouble anyway, Kimon.

Abeguy: This word is bestowed upon you: smort.

[Abeguy]

and this upon you: Putz

[Kimon]

Awww, shit! MO****A GOT SURVD.

[Leto]

That only took you four days to think up. I must say, I feel most 'served'.