Thompson: Impeach Utah Attorney General
Thompson: Impeach Utah Attorney General
January 23, 2007
In yesterday's GamePolitics coverage of the increasingly ugly situation surrounding Utah's pending video game legislation, we mentioned in passing that controversial Miami attorney Jack Thompson had issued a call for the impeachment of Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.Several readers wondered about the content of Thompson's letter, which we chose not to include in yesterday's GP. But you asked, so here it is (MS Word format).
In regard to Thompson's dust-up with Shurtleff, GP posed three questions to the anti-game attorney last evening. Those questions, along with his answer, follow:
GP: What has (bill sponsor) Rep. Wyatt had to say about your attacks on A.G. Shurtleff?
GP: How do you see demonizing the state’s A.G. as an effective strategy?
GP: Do you fear that the ugliness (surrounding your legislative efforts) in Louisiana and now Utah will dissuade people in other jurisdictions from working with you, going forward?
JT: Listen, goofball. Wyatt today endorsed everything I said. Secondly, morons like Shurtleff need to be called out as morons. The bill has no chance of surviving as a law if Shurtleff scuttles it. Finally, if you weren't such a coward and would allow me access to your site, you'd know even more of what is going on. You are absurd.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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Comments
Basically, he has opinions, but is too spineless to defend them like an adult. I just don't see any point in letting somebody who behaves in such an unprofessional and childish manner back onto these boards.
I think it was 57, but Cecil475 should have the official count somewhere, I think.
If you mean stories posted on the site it was mentioned before that the reason in that JT happens to be at the core of most of these cases and as such is going to be mentioned. If you were aiming at people who post here who are showing their own views on people and more importantly the stories, I have to object. We are exercising our freedoms to share our opinions with like minded people, and on occasions those who disagree and want a healthy debate. GP, if I am outta line here feel free to delete my post. I will not be offended.
GP - you've let me down. Thompson thrives off attention; it's the only thing that validates his childish ego trip - which incidentally places him at the forefront of a crusading moral army, american flag in hand, civil liberties underfoot.
By continually using his tawdry exploits as news threads you are helping him justify his own existance as the aforementioned. It's good that you banned him - everyone who posts unbased abuse on any forum should be warned and then, if they continue, banned.
Maybe saying this has breached your terms of posting, which I haven't read (sorry) but I doubt I'll be back here for a while anyhow.
Holy crap! I was just using gamer-specific language! HALP GUISE B4 I- I mean, Help guys! Before it's 2*COUGH* Too late!
THOMPSON: "I won't let little things like FACTS get in the way of bolstering my career."
The email exchange between scott and Jack is still hilarious.
(Incidentally I linked this to my aunt, a Pub. Defender in Los Angeles, I think she'd find his shenanigans funny.)
Basically, he's a spineless child who's found a 'safe' way to throw temper tantrums and insults at everyone else.
Who knows what goes on in the mind of Jack?
Ben
-bjclark@gmail.com
GP: Why?
JT: Cause I SAID SO YOU COWARD!
Can't beat the logic.
Bad idea. Jack Thompson 'appearing' to be mellow means nothing. He has proven many times in the past that his behavior can and will change at the drop of a hat. One minute he's civil and friendly, the next he's a raging moonbat throwing a tantrum.
He was also banned several times during GP's Livejournal days but Dennis kept allowing him to come back, only to ban him again when Jack started throwing legal threats at other posters and crapflooding the comments with offtopic 'press releases'. To sum it up, it's absolutely impossible to allow him back and expect him to behave. He's been given a 'trial basis' many, many times.
It's not like he EVER showed the courage to tackle even one challenge to his opinions in a civil manner.
If you're speaking of JT...all you have been doing is stating the blatently painful, unequivocal, obvious.
If you weren't so busy poking holes in my legislation's constitutionality and pointing out my hypocracy, lies, and factual misrepresentations, you might actually see what I'm trying to say! I'm doing it for the fame! I don't care one whit about the children, and my family is embarrassed by my utter lack of tact. Quit making fun of me just because I can't be bothered to learn from my mistakes or be honest! If you don't, I'll sue you all!
Jork Thampson
(Yes, the preceding is satire. REAL author is Mnementh2230 - I'll take the flak for this... I probably should have thrown a "knucklehead" in there somewhere for good measure, but enough is enough)
You are raising your eyebrows in skepticism but this is a brilliant and glorious idea, and those of us who are fans of Jack's unique way with words will thank you for it.
No, there are no real evidence that the AG would have a conflict of interest.
First off, the free advertising thompson has mention is incredibly weak evidence. That free advirtising is not meant to promote the AG but to promote the ESRB rating system; and because of that it only makes sence that it should be the game industry that pays for it. Not to mention that if the game industry didn't pay for it, the money used to mak the adds probably would have come from gov't taxpayer money, not the AG's personal wallet; thus making even better that the industry pay for it. And the ad's themselves are not proof the AG is pro-games since the adds are meant to help parents and is not meant to help the game industry. The only way jack's could use the ad against the AG is if they were ads for promoting the AG, such as for his election campaign; but as we know, the ads were for the game industry's rating system, not the AG.
Second, The AG's stance against the bill is also not proof that he is pro-game industry. The reason he presents that stance is out of professional opinion not personal. In all reality it's part of his job to give the state his professional opinion, a professional opinion that a number of judges in other states would agree with him on.
Third, Jack completly ignores the AG's history and knows nothing about him. Most notably we can look at the AG's stance against "25 to life"... someone who was supporting the game industry would not either take and opposite stance or no stance at all, but the AG showed that he was against it.
On-topic, Jacky Boy continues to prove that he still can't practice what he preaches.
I suppose Penny Arcade can be funny, but only if you read through all 700+ comics.
@ Chris
No, man, you don't want him to post on this site. He has nothing but insults for gamers and he needs to be banned from this site for good. If you doubt that, then talk to a guy who posts here called Fathertime. He says that when Jack Thompson used to post here, he used to compare us to Nazis. Trust me, man, you don't want him posting here. He will drive people away. He is a bad person, although some people here would disagree with me on that, I think he is a bad person or a ridiculously mixed up person. By the way, I don't know if you saw what I wrote about your comment running down Jack Thompson saying that he needs to be put in a mental institution and disbarred. I thought that comment was awesome. That's what I always say. Keep posting things like that and people will like you on this site.
I think Jacko's main problem is that AG Shurtleff is the kind of person that respects your right to say things he doesn't agree with. Which leads to things Jack finds unsavory also known as "not fighting the video game industry tooth and nail. Instead working with them where appropriate, and criticizing them where appropriate."
Anyways, I'm fairly sure that AG Shurtleff doesn't have a conflict of interest, at least at this time. Objectively speaking, he does not stand to gain if the law fails. His recommending against it is simply a lawyer advising his client that something is a bad idea. His PSA's raising awareness of the ESRB ratings and the need to use them do not gain or lose importance no matter what the status of the law. Since he does not stand to gain if the law fails, or lose if the law succeeds, I don't think there is a conflict of interest.
Are you kidding? I'd frame the letter and display it proudly in my office. When you piss off someone like Jack Thompson, you know you've done something right.
He almost was disbarred, once, and there are a couple of occasions where he should or would have been held in contempt of court, except that circumstances (not entirely out of his control) conspired to let him escape.
Actually, from a slightly-more-than-cursory glance at his career, it seems to me that he's said and done more than enough inappropriate things to have been disbarred several times over. Seriously, check out his record. It looks like the only thing that's saved him up to this point is that nobody but the gamer demographic knows about his insulting and often unsolicited emails, or that whole issue with Penny Arcade, among other things.
The real solution to this problem is to get these documents out to the mainstream media, where other people can see them, because right now all they see is his "nice" mask (nice being a relative term - when compared with the truly nasty side he so often shows us).
I'm not saying that a public outing of Thompson's indiscretions would put a final stop to all this nonsense - far from it - but it would be a major victory.
And, in case Thompson ever reads this and wants to yell at me, I'll put one of my emails here: eye.of.the.dragonfly@hotmail.com
At least he can't call me a coward.
I doubt I'll respond even if he mails a slew of insults railing on everything near and dear to me. I'm not stupid, I saw what happened to Krahulik, Holkins, and Rasmoosair after they responded. No, the best way to deal with Jack's infantile slurs is to turn a deaf ear.
-EOTD
I'm waiting for the day that he sits there and just calls all the congress people a poopyhead and throws a temper tantrum
51 times give or take, and he wasn't given those chances, he took them, when the first few bannings should have gotten the message across.
@Mnementh2230
Have you heard from him since?
And this is from my forum post.
Well, he does say he's within his constitutional speech rights, or something like that. He tried to rattle our cages with his "hitler youth" rhetoric, while not realizing, likely willfully not realizing the irony in that.
He was given more than 50 chances to be civil, no, we didn't give him 50 tries, he took those chances, and he still would not clean up his act. He insulted us, called us nazi youth, called us violent, said we were on drugs, wished our loved ones harm, insulted our intellect, posted his address phone number and email so bait us into a trap, he's called us kiddies despite our ages, he's spit in our faces when we extended the olive branch in peace, defended child molesters and serial killers while trying to pin it on games, and the final straw was him demanding our personal information, which would have exposed us to numerous types of danger.
Ya, some crusader for the children he is. If he assumed we were all little kids, he would not have demanded that nor would he have said all he has to us.
Please, don't insult Mr. Green like that. He's the peak of intelligence and wit compared to Thompson.
You kidding? He'd marry himself if he could. He suffers from what a lot of us in society suffer from: being our own biggest fan and not realizing it (in other words, putting himself above others but thinking he's a hero).
Leads me to a question: Has anyone ever explained to him why he's such an outcast (because of his conduct, not his views)?
~Chris
roboticsithdrone@yahoo.com
This made me laugh. It's a rather unusual reference to be used in such a formal letter. Thompson is always trying to be taken seriously in the eyes of his peers, as well as the media, and I can't see how this helps.
I'll take you on the bet, my money is on thompson threatens action, implies action or says or else but doesn't do it. He is known making empty threats and when he does follow through on his threats they are never the stupidly insane one (such as action against for letting GTA on the xbox), and that while something thompson might say to scare/annoy us i doubt he would follow through on it. A good man once said "After all has been asid and done more has been said than done." that could easily apply to thompson, as well as other impulsive people.
No doubt about him having an enemies list, bet it is huge :)
Next!
I saved a bunch of stuff from his LiveJournal stalking days. But wikiquote would be a better bet.
@ Gamepolitics
(and you would be amazed at the amount of stuff we get from JT vs. what actually makes it into the daily GP.)
Heh. I can only imagine.
So Jacky boy was rude when anwsering Dennis' questions. It doesn't suprise me one bit.
It's a shame that wasn't asked for a printed mainstream publication. The public's reaction to those anwsers would be interesting. But the reality of that would be that if it were for a Newspaper/Magzine His answers would more civil anyway. As he only treats gamers (and any one else who disagrees with him) in that manner. And would not want anyone else to know he treats others in that reguard.
Again - posting from school.
- Warren Lewis
Regarding his letter. Occasionally, JT says something that I find outrageous even from him. This time, it was comparing AG Shurtleff to Mike Nifong, the prosecutor in the Duke (alleged) Rape case. Jack needs to look in a mirror before making statements like that. The Duke case is/was all about making a case where none exists for political gain (Nifong's re-election in a predominantly non-white district). Every time JT has coerced some family into retaining him as counsel and filing a civil or criminal case against a game company for allegedly causing an offender to commit a crime, he has been making up cases where none exist in order to achieve some political gain.
Personally, I appreciate AG Shurtleff's approach. He may not be the game industries bosom pal, but he has shown a willingness to work with our trade agencies to educate parents and retailers about marketing and selling games appropriately.
I think we should let Jack Thompson post on this site again.
Why, you may ask? My crackpot theory is that if Jack has access, he'll spend the majority of his time blowing hot air at us in the comments, and spend less time drafting clearly unconstitutional measures against the video game industry.
His new comments will also give us more proof as to what sort of man Jack Thompson is. When those in charge see the kind of abuse the man spews on a news site, how could anyone take him seriously?
Then again, he seems to be quite successful at spewing abuse despite his inability to comment. Maybe my theory is unnecessary and not a good idea after all.
Jack Thompson is the Tom Green of the game industry. Everything is a publicity stunt, there is no logic to his actions, and the only reason he's funny is because he continually makes an ass out of himself.
The only difference is that Tom Green knows he's an idiot.
(Personally, I appreciate AG Shurtleff’s approach. He may not be the game industries bosom pal, but he has shown a willingness to work with our trade agencies to educate parents and retailers about marketing and selling games appropriately.)
I think that is why Jack is slinging mud. Becuase he wants someone who is willing to fight the videogame industry rather than one willing to work with the industry and help parents with the ESRB. Therefore he must want him to be replaced with ssomeone who will fight.
Oh and I agree that he still has access to this site, as far as viewing goes.
Still posting from school...
- Warren Lewis
Also, and I'm sure he's been told this many times, but calling people "morons" and "cowards" is no way to argue a point. And using the word "goofball" in -any- sense doesn't help much either. If he really wants to get attention, he needs to clean up his act, and stop using charged language (such as referring to the ESRB as a "sham" several times in that letter).
By the way, I have yet to see Thompson (or anyone else) point to the "sworn testimony" before Congress that the ESRB s a "sham". Is he making this up, or can someone point me to the testimony? I'd like to see some evidence of that claim.
-EOTD
Root'em out
Root'em out
Root'em out, Joe!
Face we are Human first and as being human we have our opinions. And just because u strong believe in something and I dont doesnt make me a bad guy does it (probably in jack thompson world it does). Well anyways it tough to defend bill u have a strong opinion against. Its like asking a minority lawyer to defend a bill that is made to charged miniority differently in crimes. (Dave chapelle jokes aside).
I still suspect that the reason JT is so prominent is exactly because his articles generate such huge comment threads, and his newsworthiness or lack of it is essentially irrelevant. GP and JT have developed a symbiotic relationship. They're not at all adversaries as has been suggested, they're simply exploiting each other for their mutual gain. It's win-win for both of them from a publicity point of view, but I hope its obvious it makes for poor journalism.
My position regarding his relevance also remains unchanged. I think that GP covering JT is like a scientific journal covering the Time Cube theory. Another reader expressed the view that if GP doesn't constantly counter JT's insanity, people will start to believe it. I don't think that's giving people a lot of credit. One could just as easilly argue that spending so much attention and effort on JT simply legitimises him and makes it more likely that MSM will continue to use him as the standard countering view.
Of course, it's not GP's place to try to safegaurd gaming, or influence the MSM, but rather impartially report on gaming as it relates to politics. My argument is not so much that GP is helping JT make his talking points, but rather that GP is exploiting his notoriety for hits and (IMHO) is providing a distorted view of his significance, and in doing so is compromising its journalistic integrity.
"He'll cry misquote," is a non-starter for me. Let him. Who cares? Who'd even believe him?
Lastly, if "GP came to your work place," I would restrain them and call the police. I work at home. ;-) But if I put up a public forum and invited people to comment on all aspects of what I do, then yeah, I might be receptive to criticism in that forum. The tone of the GP forum tends to be maybe a touch bombastic and off-the-cuff, but I see your point that I could have approached the subject better. On the other hand, they don't seem to have a problem with JT's approach...
Please think about this, however: certain issues become very topical for short periods. Think back to the Boston GTA ad-banning, for example.
Legislation is out #1 focus. Here's an important bill and he is right in the middle of it.
And, to be perfectly honest, I believe there is some value in hearing from the critics. In particular, in his case, his comments and actions are very revealing.
Anyway, like I said, sorry if you took my remarks the wrong way.
You will notice however that the stories, even when reported in a completely neutral manner, have the air of absurdity about them, and that is due entirely to Jack. This may come off as seemingly tabloid, but you cannot dismiss. Imagine for a moment that you have never heard of Jack. All these laws that are being passed and failing on appeal... where are they all coming from and why are they so similar and unconstitutional? Suddenly when you add him to the mix, the pieces fit. Sure the final picture is laughably stupid, but at least it makes sense.
GamePolitics has covered many stories and perspectives since I've been reading it but he has been a constant source of both frustration and hillarity since day one. It will take exposure of all his methods and outbursts for people to get a rounded picture of him as a man and a laywer, not just as how he would like to be presented himself.
Yes, there may be a conflict of interest as far as the ESRB is concerned, however, the AG would not refuse to defend a law simply on those grounds alone. He wouldn't have made it to the position of Attorney General if that were the case.
To be honest, Shurtleff HAS to work on precedent, and the precedent is, time and time again, that these bills, no matter how often the author attempts to find 'loopholes' in the contitution to abuse, are against two amendments.
Basically, when getting a law passed degrades to the point where people are looking for ways to 'cheat' in order to get them passed, you know things have sunk into absurdity.
Funny bit is, didn't Jack make a rather abortive attempt at getting GP shut down at one point because they were reporting things that dared to prove him wrong? Called this a 'Terrorist Site' iirc.
He kinda reminds me of Cartman in the "Cartoon Wars" episodes of South Park.
Basically, what Jack wants is for the Government to dictate what people should do, not the public themselves. If that ever comes to pass then you may as well use the Constitution as toilet paper. Not even the 'Censor Happy' UK would put that kind of power into the hands of people with an agenda that may be completely removed from the needs of both the Gaming Industry and their customers.
-Auto
I put it in inverted comma's because I don't think it's particuarly true myself, but it IS an image that a lot of people hold of this country. It may even have been true 25-30 years ago, but we've grown up a lot since then.
Pity JT can't.
In GP's defense: He sees that same, "Why report about JT," question several times a day. And you first post wasn't very thoughtful. But your second comment, had you posted it first, would liekly have netted a less dismissive response.
I actually agree with you on the level of reporting on JT's ill-deeds - summary, condenseations and no direct quotes. But, JT then calls out GP as misinterpreting his letters, etc. Really it's a no-win scenario. But, he is a major player in the video game debacle amid politics. Not reporting on him would have been like not reporting on Pat Pulling back when D&D was the devil. So, GP has to walk the line between the readership's wishes (Many here were asking for the letter to be printed), and not playing JT's game. I personally think GP does a bang-up job with this, obviously you disagree.
If GP came to your work place and told you how to do you job, would listen? Would you listen if he made sense, as part of your second post did? I don't know, but I know how I would react if GP tried to tell me how to do my job without even taking the time to explain his reasoning.
I do agree that GP gives a lot of press time to JT, and in a few cases (this one article) there doesn't seem to be a good reason for it - because I think GP's articles covered this isse well already. But readers asked for it, so I can't blame him for running it. And I personally enjoy seeing how ridiculous JT is getting now that a bulk of court precedent is turning against him. Lastly, no one forces you to read/post in articles pertaining to JT. There's something to be said about the fact that articles with JT in them have ridiculous thread lengths, and other 'good' game politcs new stories - ESRB/Clinton mending of fences, etc. - hardly get any posts. People want to read about/ talk about JT.
IMO GP and JT are arch-rivals. Like Professor X and Magneto. Except JT isn't as cool a villian as Magneto is. But I digress . . .
It's kind of sad to know he's still obsessed with getting in here to flame us. How long has it been since we dropped the ban hammer anyway?
Are you a lawyer or some punk at the school playground? Seriously! It boggles the mind that a fifty-something could be so immature.
Why don't you fight for something worthwhile in this world? People are starving to death. Genocide in Darfur. We have a war that even under the best circumstances is not going as well as we would have hoped. Crisis in New Orleans. And you're sitting here crusading against video games?
Oh, bravo, JT. Do you want a medal?
If you look at the whole of it, Gamepolitics does cover the majority of game-related political news, and JT does happen to be a sizable source of it. Whenever possible, GP DOES condense his main points and uses as few quotes as possible.
"You’re pandering to your audience’s less noble drives here, it’s cheap tabloid journalism."
That's kind've a low blow- you don't seem to keep in mind that they "pander" to the audiences "less noble drives" because the majority of the game-legislature is aided by JT himself.
Keep in mind, that if NOBODY wrote up about JT and pointed out how wrong he is, all people would hear is about how RIGHT he is- People will accept what they're told if only one side is given, if nobody is there to say "look, this guy is WRONG and he's screwing you people over because of it."
Yes, it's true that he is getting what he wants- more press time- but as long as GP and other news media are exposing him for the dummy he is, nobody is going to take him seriously, he'll be known as someone you can't trust, and in the end, he'll fade in the backgroud, just as all other scaremongerers have, like Joseph McCarthy and Fredric Wertham, as infamous figures that almost certainly had voices in their heads.
That being said, the man is entitled to his opinion and free speech to voice that opinion just the same as Thompson is. If you cut all the fat from Thompson's letter (quite a chore), he wants to impeach Shurtleff for being honest.
As for allowing JBT himself to post... part of me is screaming "no, bad idea," but at the same time I really think that in the interest of discourse, we should offer JBT this outlet, so long as he agrees to remain civil.
The real question is, how many gamers would offer Jack Thompson any kind of civility? I know that a good number of the regulars here would be able to restrain their frustration and hold off on insults and profanity, but frankly I question the maturity of some posters here.
Gamers - especially when talking/posting online - aren't known for their rationality, and some of the replies posted to GP stories are much worse in every respect than anything JBT's ever thrown at us.
If we're going to demand that JBT treats us with some respect, we've got to extend the olive branch first, or else we just end up confirming his accusations for him.
For a period back on the old LJ system, I used to sign off all my posts with my full name, city/country and full cellphone number (I was a little disappointed nobody from GP tried calling me).
But if JBT comes back, I'll start doing it again. I've got nothing to fear from him; his legal threats mean nothing in the UK.
"Email me again and I'll sue you for harassment."
JT, I'm pretty sure you read this: if you were on the New York Times website consistently harassing and belittling its customers, I can guarantee that you would be banned. Why is GP any different? You seem to think that, as gamers, we are somehow a lesser form of life. This kind of hatred can only lead to your destruction both mentally and morally.
I challenge JT to debate with a gamer, game developer, or ESA representative and show some respect. Actually listen to what they have to say, and then make a sound argument against it. Suffer through a few comments that you disagree with and then refute them intelligently afterward. Show the world that we really are just goofballs who are wasting our time, with real logic, instead of just insulting us like children. It would be the respectable and professional thing to do. Anything else is just a circus act.
If you must cover him, you could still reduce the height of the soapbox you're giving him. You're pandering to your audience's less noble drives here, it's cheap tabloid journalism. Stop quoting him, stop giving him an open mic, and just condense what he says to the essential points (if you can find any). Stop throwing gasoline on this sensational but ultimately pointless fire.
Like I said before, there's a whole world of game POLITICS out there. (I thought your shot about cheat codes was unnecessary and came out of nowhere.) Get a couple more unpaid correspondents from the EU, Japan, Australia, China, etc. GP is a really cool concept and its filling an extremely important function, but it's become very myopic. I'm just about ready to take your advice and find another feed.
I suggest you go read Cicero's The Republic and The Laws. Maybe it will help you understand the basis of todays legal and political systems.
Hell, I have two companies to run every day, and barely the time to even keep up with news (gaming or otherwise). How can such a busy, "important" lawyer like JT have the time to read these sites- let alone send emails.
JT must spend as much time on the internets as any WoW "addict".
There is no way I'd ever take this guy's letters seriously if they were sent to me.
GP is a business, and Thompsons mouth could potentially scare off clients/readers/etc.
I'll give him my home address. Why not? I'll just post it here actually.
455Hole ST FUlton, NB.
Nope, never heard from him since.
The man is right in the middle of Utah’s legislative initiative regarding video games. He is on the offensive against Utah’s attorney general. It’s all enormously political and it revolves around video games. It’s what we do here.
If you would prefer to read about cheat codes, game reviews, etc, by all means, there are plenty of sites for that. But however you feel about Thompson, when he is involved this deeply in a political situation, how do we not cover it? WHY wouldn’t we cover it?
A;; Jack wants is a high-horse to advertise from, he's not interested in debate, since when have facts had any impact on his decision, and has he EVER involved himself in a reasonable discussion with anyone who doesn't agree with him? His responses at the top of the page prove he is still incapable of operating at that level.
He's like a cheap car salesman, leaping up and down for attention, and frankly, I'm glad he's not allowed on here.
Just use common sense, if you are a parent, spend two minutes and type the games name into wikipedia and read the plotline or visit the games website.
I propose disection... for SCIENCE!! ~Sora, VGCats, KH2 Parody
More than at any moment, I realised just how little concern Jack had for anyone's wellbeing except his own at that point, he'd happily put people at risk of all sorts of things if it meant he could get his own way. Especially when he tried to claim it was a 'legal requirement' to do so if you were responding to him.
Basically Jack will lie, cheat and put other peoples lives at risk to obtain his own selfish goals. Even if I did agree that regulation was required (and remember I live in the UK, where regulation has been in place since before I was born 34 years ago) I most certainly would not allow someone like Jack Thompson to be involved with that regulation, he is nothing more than a greedy, self-serving coward who doesn't give a damn about the wellbeing of gameplayers as long as his bank account benefits.
It would be great if GP could post them, sort of a ‘Jack’s Greatest Hits’ to remind everyone why he’s banned. "
That, and maybe a few of Jack's venomous bile-spewing tirades, so that we'd have something to point people towards to show a side of Jack that get's edited out of Dateline NBC (though, frankly, if they got Jack to go completely off the wall on one of his rants, it'd get better ratings then subdued Jack.)
Jack Thompson, he can't help speaking from a holier-than-thou position. Not to mention that most people are holier than him.
Jacky T can't help himself, he's not only delusional, but seems distraught and extremely tired. He obviously is not in his right mind, or else he wouldn't call someone saying "trust the esrb" and commenting that the bill doesn't have much chance and he would rather not have to defend it.
Dennis: don't you just love how JT can't really use any proper insults, so he has to result to calling someone an insult that's easily 20 years old?
you just have to love the blanket statement that "wyatt endorsed everything I said" and yet there's no proof in either the positive or the negative.
and as much as he has said he doesn't care if he gets back on GP, it's obvious he does, or else he wouldn't include the "Finally, if you weren’t such a coward and would allow me access to your site, you’d know even more of what is going on. You are absurd." line.
So according to his logic: it's absurd to block JT so that JT cannot get onto the messaging system and thus fling ad hominems like a monkey throwing feces.
I'd say it's the exact opposite.
Try the wikiquote site (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson)
And he calls US immature.
Apparently in politics, this is "heated discussion". Resorting to childish name-calling I mean... Remember Louisiana.
Pot, meet kettle.
Wow. Not only does he start off his reply by insulting the interviewer, GP, but then he starts insulting other people too. I guess no one ever taught him that he shouldn't toss stones while living in his glass house.
But since Jack said I should do it, ok moron, err I mean Jack Thompson, I will call you a moron from now on. :)
Attacking an interviewer is pathetic and just shows how weak his position is. It's like swearing in a debate-the instant you start swearing is when you've lost your side of the argument.
But really, this is getting tiresome. There's an awful big world out there, much bigger than JT. I think GP has beat this dead horse for all its worth. He's completely irrelevent, he's just here for comedic/shock value to pump GP's hits. It's getting real old. Isn't it time GP started blocking Jack's email?
JT has a history of bad spelling, typos, poor grammar, etc. He still expects to be taken serious even with his virtolic comments to gamers and about the gaming industry in general. Jack and Reality are mutually exclusive.
On a good note even with the bill going to committee, Utah still is a first where a leading politician has come out against the bill and stating that the bill has severe constitutional issues. Despite Jack's claims it's Federal Judges who decide constitutionality and this law has already been ruled Unconstitutional in Louisiana. (the Utah bill is virtually identical.)
Of course Jack is still playing his normal game. He is setting it up so he can blame the Utah Attorney General when the Law fails to pass constitutional muster. He did the same thing in Louisiana.
How professional. Jack is still Jack, it seems.
It would be great if GP could post them, sort of a 'Jack's Greatest Hits' to remind everyone why he's banned.
"Hey, your parents seem really nice. I like them."
"They beat me."
"Well, they're still nice to me."
*eyeroll*
Jack has no respect for the press, the courts, the rule of law, the constitution, the electoral process, intelligent thought, himself, his religion, and the people.
Wow, I don't think he ever read that book "winning friends and influencing people".
Listen Jack, You were banned from this website because the site administrator, along with most people who post here, found you to be immature, and abusive. Ergo, you were banned. That is how the internet works. Contrary to what you may think, you being forbidden from posting on a website is neither Illegal or unconstitutional. unlike your laws. Which are Illegal/unconstitutional. My e-mail address is mastergamer38@yahoo.com if you want to contact me and whine some more.
OH ZE IRONY!
I still think that would have been a bad idea. In my opinion, that tactic was sort of a "Let me sue you for harassment, or I'll sue you for anonymous harassment" moment for Jack
Nothing good can come of Jack, so lets keep him at arms distance and call him a Ninny.
The bill has no chance of survival anyway, as it's still a violation of the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment.
I would want your explaination please.
The fact that he apparently can't understand why he was banned here is proof enough he's going crazy.
For somebody who complains about tgamers being stupid all the time, he sure is stupid when it comes to technology. I mark that up to the typical old goat being scared of technology and that his way of life might change.
At one point he was demanding the IP addresses of every person that said bad things about him in the comments section! If that doesn't merit a ban then I don't know what does. I also remember him being given "an extra chance to be good" about a dozen times. He worked hard for that ban.
There is a silver lining though, at least the whole things been funny. Also, it's probably a good thing he can't read the site any more. He'd go into a tirade overly virtually every article. I honestly think he's gotten crazier than ever lately. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion with this guy, it never ends.
"Finally, if you weren’t such a coward and would allow me access to your site, you’d know even more of what is going on."
Maybe he doesn't know how to get around it? I saw him make a post a week or two ago, so I think he was travelling and in a motel room at the time.
It has no chance of surviving anyway, Jack. Every bill like it that has passed has been struck down as unconstitutional. This one, if it gets through, will be no different. What part of that don't you understand?
Dennis, you give Jack three sound, thought-provoking questions and THAT'S how he starts off his answer?
And about his getting banned.... I think he has no right to complain about it. He did bring it upon himself after all. It's like getting fired for grossly insulting your boss, and then complaining about getting fired. (Maybe I should've said that sooner.)
As for that e-mail...
Comparing the possible case involving this bill to a rape case... I see no point in that...
Using the term "trash-the-client"... Actually saying "knock it off" in this letter... Neither screams of professionalism, I think.
And the mentioning of a comedian and a sitcom character. I'm not even going to comment on that. Oh, but someone tell Crybaby Jack that he forgot to put "Professor" in quotation marks.
I'd give this letter a big thumbs-down.
Oh, and Jotun, you say Jack makes you ashamed to be part of humanity? I say he makes me want to believe in parallel universes and hope to visit one.
(Then again if parallel universes do exist, I'd figure Jack would be a total douchebag in every single one of them anyway. ^_^)
Be aware of GP's Comments Policy before you post:
http://gamepolitics.com/comments-policy/
I've deleted several comments in this thread already.
Thx,
GP
You see, Jack? As I said before: You are truly changing the lives of gamers for the better. Thanks, buddy!
Thompson was banned for being abusive.
Thompson challenges ban...with abuse.
Now children, what have we learned in todays lesson?
Has Thompsons IP been blocked at GP then?
who is thompsn...
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I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area. If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?
But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself. Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children. Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story. Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age. The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself. Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head. Not gonna happen. Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.
The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status). In a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent. The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me. Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time. It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?
I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area. If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?
But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself. Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children. Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story. Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age. The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself. Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head. Not gonna happen. Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.
The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status). In a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent. The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me. Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time. It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?