[...] Jack Thompson Refuses Penny Arcade Offer to Debate at PAX 07 Jack Thompson Refuses Penny Arcade Offer to Debate at PAX 07 The Penny Arcade crew was hoping to unveil a major surprise at PAX 07 in August - a debate between game-hatin’ attorney Jack Thompson and Hal Halpin, head of the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), which represents gamer interests. But Thompson refused because he wouldn’t agree to keep it secret - at least that what he says the reason is.[industry news] [gaming] [news] [game] [...]

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[...] The Penny Arcade crew was hoping to unveil a major surprise at PAX 07 in August - a debate between game-hatin’ attorney Jack Thompson and Hal Halpin, head of the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), which represents gamer interests. But Thompson refused because he wouldn’t agree to keep it secret - at least that what he says the reason is.read more | digg story Share: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

"I’m not a JT fan be any stretch but there was no reason for PA to put such a restriction on his appearance."

and if they don't, some idiots plan, Jack gets attacked, and then suddenly anyone with the same agenda as him aside from media attention has a perfect reason to have games banned form the Us completely.

I'm not a JT fan be any stretch but there was no reason for PA to put such a restriction on his appearance. For once in my life I'm agreeing with this lunatic.b

Looks like all of my gamer friends are right. Jack Thompson is a public nuisance and also at worst, a threat to society. And this person is just trying to make our society like a pile of garbage, I think he doesn't even fit to be a father and besides, Jack is not setting a very good example for his son.

Please, Jack. Respect our freedom and get your arse out of our lives.

I really think this shows just how out of touch the fool is from reality. The way I see it, sure it would be a supprize to see him appear on stage there. However, to announce a time, date, and location to a group of people which includes a few who mindlessly type "I'm willing to kill the guy" is anything but a bright idea.

A debate involving a figure to which claimed to of resceved death threats from various "gamers", to take place in a setting which is to play host to various "gamers", should of ment something. Sure things will be hostile, but all it takes is a single idiot to prove the fool correct. Many of us know this, but are we the idiots?

lol..."Hypocritical to the max"

What a hilarious statement.

I don't see why they would even invite him. While he is a self proclaimed expert on the subject is that really all it takes to get noticed? Time and time again he spouts nothing but nonsense and then to even partially take him seriously like this? At best his invitation would lead to a comedy show...

I think it is amazing that such an expert on the first amendment consistently fails to understand that the first amendment only applies to the government and not individuals...

with all due respect to everyone, jt is simply a griefer he thrives on being yelled at and doing nothing mre than causing trouble by not allowing the media to cover any trouble he caused simply would not be seen and therefore he is against all this. simply put he is the garbage that ruins the legal system

Jakc the reason why the debate was kept secret was so that we don't get a large supply of idiots just begging for a chance to insult you, probably give you rude gestures, and turn the whole thing into a circus. I don't think you would've gotten a ton of coverage anyway. He wanted to keep the affair as formal as possible and not advertising it to the trolls (our trolls) is a great way to do so.

For some reason every time I read a quote of Thompson's I imagine him going home, shutting off all the lights, and hiding in the closet while in the fetal position... rocking back and forth muttering, "Gamers... they're everywhere..."

What a coward.

God, no. What are the PA guys thinking? Nothing would be served having him at PAX--there would be no reasonable dialogue, no exchange of ideas--just a man everyone hates, and who would hate everyone who was there. It would be a freakshow, plain and simple, and I can't imagine making time to indulge either party at an event as full as PAX is supposed to be. Life's too short.

Pirates of the carribean, curse of the black pearl. Gimmie my points.
Now then.
I hope jack DOES NOT come. He does not deserve the publicity he gets.

"You guys are the ones who think that even adult entertainment materials should be marketed and sold to children because of “freedom of expression,”

I don't think PA believe that. So wouldn't that be libel/slander or which ever it is called there?

Ok so someone else design a way to debate with JT. I dislike JT as many do but the fact remains that PA has just as much to gain in PR even if they hide when and how. As a person said above JT can hire security and so can PA.

Find some expo hall in a cheap hotel near the airport. Is this PR event really needed at some expensive hotel?

Well no, this isn't another 'shooting fish in a barrel' debate, why would he agree to a real fight that he obviously can't win?

i wouldn't like to see Jack Thompson anywhere aside from homeless on the street, with the rest of the trash.

Hey, Jacky Boy, Ken Titus called and said to "Quit being a wussy."

It just shows that Jacky Boy knows that if he agrees to a debate with people who actually understand everything about the business, he's screwed.

Jack Thompson's understanding of our constitution should be an absolutely simple offense against his law license, and should be a red flag for any judge, bar, or client that has to work with him.

The same should be said for Hilary Clinton and her constituents.

To think that our constitutional rights should be compromised to protect the false concept of innocence in children is bad parenting, bad lawyering, and bad presidenting. To limit children's exposure to this material is one thing. To limit the industries exposure to "protect" children is a completely bass ackwards way of doing things.

These anti-videogame headfigures need to be questioned for their allegiance to America and freedom.

I look at it this way, they wanted to keep it under wraps so that could actually have a debate and not just people showing up the scream hate at him (which is what he wants). If he honestly wanted to have a debate and convince people he was right, he would still be negotiating the terms.

Also from a security standpoint, minimizing the amount of time someone has to plan something is vital. This is why even slight changes are made to the positioning of security and there are also small changes made to the layout of stages between events. Its simple and goes unnoticed by spectators but security actually thinks of these things.

I suppose we could see the situation from several standpoints.
While one might argue, as John Bruce did, that PA wanted to control who would be witness to the event (not one that I believe was happening, but it's a rational probability view), one might also intelligently argue that PA was trying to keep John Bruce from the increased swamp of ignorant bafoons who love to email John Bruce stupidity such as making threats, even if they didn't mean them.

Of course, John Bruce has had a history of running from debates for one reason or another. So, his argument that PA wasn't brave enough to let him participate reeks of deceit. Let's face it, John Bruce has had a lot of bluster, only to back down at the last second. The debates proposed with The Game Attorney Tom B. and Della Rocca on previous occassions were two examples. By this time, you expect John Bruce to puff out his chest... then run in the other direction yelling a familiar quote (possibly not quite correct as I've heard it only once) "he who runs away, lives to run away another day." Oddly enough, that person was also named "Jack".

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software

I'm glad he messed up his chance to go there. He shouldn't be getting more publicity, he should just be ignored by everyone.

As usual, Jack's in it for the money, that's why he wants the advertising, he knows that his 'reputation' means that he can profit from meetings like these, so he's just throwing a tantrum because Penny Arcade aren't using massacres for profit, which is Jack's favourite pastime.

Take a look at his behaviour after the VTech shootings, perfectly willing to blame games, but totally unwilling to debate his opinion unless he could make a profit.

i like how he describes the would-be audience as "hostile", that goes to show you the guy is scared out of his mind to be around the community of people he takes cheap shots at left and right with nothing to back his claims up.

Is anyone really not suprised by this? Jack made it clear when he declined his debate with Jason Della Rocca that he's only in it for the money and publicity. And when he can't dictate the terms of his appearance, he throws a hissyfit and cries his First Amendment rights *snicker* are being violated.

It's been established in our own earliest attempts at dialogue with him that Jack has never respected gamers and never will give them the time of day. So in his mind, why should he even appear at a place where he can't even dictate his own terms in front of a bunch of people whom he equates with Barbarians and Neanderthals? (Although like everyone else, it would be great to read the headline "Controversial Attorney Gunned Down at Convention"). The fact that his own son is a gamer seems to elude him.

@Yuki
It isn't that the ECA doesn't have the balls to take him on. It's just that they don't have the manpower or the resources at the moment. They're still embryonic at this stage and the right opportunity hasn't presented itself yet. I'm sure Hal Halpin has been dying to make a move against him. In fact, I plan on joining this weekend with the intention of representing my own state. I'd love nothing more than the opportunity to defend my hobby which I'm passionate about.

Such a sad asshole he was, I wish there was never a person like him in this world. It just makes me feel ashamed to be part of the human race. What a bummer.

I'm not inclined to care if JT did or didn't agree to debate - but the fact that he's grandstanding and taking a swipe at PA and gamers is pretty absurd. The stipulation that the debate be kept under wraps was part of the deal that was to be made. If you can't strike a deal you like, JT, you can walk away from it - no one was forcing you into a debate that you didn't like. But that doesn't mean you're right, they're wrong, and you get to grandstand about it. Business deals fail to be struck all the time, chief, there's no need to assume you're special and the victim just because not everyone in the world agrees with you.

JT likes to consider himself to be the David to the industry's Goliath. Does he ever realize - does anyone ever realize - that if this were true, it would only be because JT is trying to set up his own Goliaths to fight. JT picks fights with larger organizations than himself and cries about how he was victimized when he loses. Learn to pick your battles. When you keep picking losing fights just so you can't talk about how unfairly you were treated in your defeat, that doesn't make you a martyr, it makes you a jerk.

@brokenscope

i doubt it. unless he is psychic or is secretly one of the developers of the game.

Does he have any proof that you can cut off the testicles of an NPC in Manhunt 2?

So, basically, PA wanted to keep it secret for security reasons, Jack spilled the beans, and PA canceled it? Or, in other words, they think that that gamers will lynch Jack or something and prove him right?

There's a chicken-or-the-egg metaphor there somewhere..

Jack, the fact of the matter is that conventions like this don’t have the kind of money to hire security for such controversial people as yourself.

Sure they do. All he needs is hired muscle for a few hours, and that isn't too expensive. If he required armed guards, it would be a different story.

mr thompson we feel sorry for you being the caged bird in front of big bad penny arcade so i here by boycott all knowlage of this haynice comic from my head with this M1 gerand.[points and shoots]

dude go back to attacking wendys. or maybe the people at PAX felt that they didn't want THIS to happen to you before the event? its called tact. dude if i were you id keep my mouth shut and go along and do the damn thing cause you flame is running out and you need to grab ALL the attention you can.

As far as I have heard (or read) on other sites, the reason that the event was kept under wraps leading up to it was that the PA guys knew there would be massive interest in it, but were concerned about overcrowding where the event would take place. Even at the last minute, there would still have been enough people to fill the hall where it would occur.

This concern for people's safety and responsibility on behalf of the organisers has been turned around by this liar and used as his excuse to chicken out of the debate. When he can't choose who he is up against, he gets very scared. So far that is 3 debates (to my knowledge) he has bailed on due to differing excuses each time, the gamer lawyer Tom Buscl...(can't remember the spelling, apologies!), Jason Della Rocca and now another person who knows what they are talking about. When he did debate someone it was an author of a book who actually agreed with Thompson on some issues, so it wasn't so much a debate as a chat where he got to put forward his ideas!

"You guys are the ones who think that even adult entertainment materials should be marketed and sold to children because of “freedom of expression,”"

More lies, borderline slander maybe. NO-ONE thinks that adult entertainment should be sold to, marketed towards, or consumed by young children or anyone of inappropriate age. We do however think that this adult entertainment has a right to be sold, to be marketed and be consumed by those of an appropriate age. The problem is parents and the huge amount of people who see video games as children's toys and do not realise that there are some for kids, and some for older people, just like movies/books/music/art/etc.

Does this man even listen to himself anymore?

Did it never occur to him that with as much anger and hatred as he himself created in the game community, he would understand the need to avoid rousing the ire of a group of people already predisposed to hating him. Bad enough that he doesn't even realize that he's the cause of it, but to not understand that it's even there?

God damn he's a moron. I honestly wonder if it might be better in the long run if he showed up and got staked. Sure, some serious bad press for Pax among the MSM, but the game community would worship them forever as the men responsible for ending jacks stupidity. Lets face it, the ECA and the ESA don't have the balls to take him out through legal channels, maybe this is what has to happen.

you know, scratch that, he wouldn't be other the bad press anyway. Still, it pisses me off that this man even has a license. One would think that with all the ammo he handed the industry over the years, they'd have ended him long long ago in court.

Oh well. Personally, I hope he stays far away from Pax, last thing they need is to have a man who so wrecks of death at there show. Lets face it, this man makes a career out of chasing death to push his agenda, the stench of it has got to be soaked into him by now.

Thanks for being a grand world class douche jack, hope your get your license pulled and a major lawsuit handed to you one day. But I'm fairly sure I speak for most of the game community when I say.

GET LOST!!!

can someone please tell me how these games are marketed to children?

"If you want me to come to Seattle and address 6000 hostile people as to why the United States is the only backward nation in the world when it comes to the distribution of adult video games to children, then I will be happy to do it. But your position that only Penny-Arcade gets to tell the world about this event and in the way that only you all get to decide is patently ridiculous.

Man up and realize what the First Amendment is really all about, Robert and I’ll be happy to celebrate it with all my “admirers” in Seattle, including Gabe.

I’ve been in far more hostile environs than what you offer. You all need to grow a pair of what a kid can cut off in Manhunt 2. "


English Translation:
I'm afraid to have my ass handed to me in front of a crowd of 6000. The only way to defend myself is to miscontrue the protection of the first amendment in order to defend my inane actions. I can no longer legally attack Take-Two and it's products so I will also take a swipe at that before I stop spewing out pure stupidity on the internet.

Haha... I think debating with Jack Thompson is pretty easy, it's just like taking a candy from a baby.

"Man up and realize what the First Amendment is really all about, Robert and I’ll be happy to celebrate it with all my “admirers” in Seattle, including Gabe."

He has admirers? Ha, I bet he is lying through his teeth. I suspect the only "admirers" he have are mental patients and anti-game fools like him.

"If you want me to come to Seattle and address 6000 hostile people as to why the United States is the only backward nation in the world when it comes to the distribution of adult video games to children"

Is he kidding me? Europe has pornography out in plain viewing in street side shops (Im not speculating, ive been quite a bit around Europe), and plenty of other random nudity and violence in plain sight and well as its own violent games and movies. Japan has adult manga and others readily accessible, and although not sold to kids, hentai games about all over the place that makes the most violent games we have look like a Care Bear game. America is probably one of the most conservative nations in the world in regards to sex and violence. Jack Thompson never has his facts straight, but trying to say how degraded America is really is quite an insult to the American public.

Has JT ever explicitlly stated his interpretation of the First Amendment? All I recall is him say ing that it was not absolute, but never really elaborated on it.

Its unconstitiional to ask someone to keep a secret? Wow. thats awesome! No one has to obey NDA's and classified information is free for all! You heard it from Jacko folks. Making someone keep a secret goes againts what this country was founded on, damnit.

this just in lawyers cause violence !! ban them all!! (my proof a normal quiet person like shakespeare once wrote "kill all the lawyers") therefore the lawyers turned shakespeare violent

@ Cullarn

While JT wasn't around when Shakespeare wrote, "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers," you can't deny he makes for a convincing argument in favor of it.;)

I vote "No." I don't think lining Jack's pockets is in any way a positive move, and he will not debate for free.

@Giselle

Glad to hear your work load will be lessend. At least SOME good came out of this. You don't have ot keep gamers from hurting him, and you don't have to keep him from damaging property.

Man, do I hate to do this but I agree with Thompson.

Think about it from his perspective, whether you like it or not. His mission is to get his word out that video games are evil. He is not here to convince you of his opinion. He is here to ensure that you hear his opinion.

And a secret debate simply does not accomplish his goals. he needs this to public. he needs to be publicized well ahead of time. Having a debate sprung on 6,000 unsuspecting PAX-goers one hour ahead of time does nothing to move Thompson's agenda forward.

It was right of him to refuse the offer as presented.

If I was in the position the guys at Penny Arcade are in i would probably react by telling him "well you just can just fuck off then if you don't want to come".

But I'm not Penny Arcade - and I hope they can avoid bringing negative publicity down on Penny Arcade and video gamers by over-reacting. If they can convince Jack Thompson to go through with the debate and argue well enough (while avoiding the worst of Thompson's bullshit and fallacies) then it could be a good thing publicly for video games in the States, as it will no doubt be publicized on the web by Penny Arcade fans attending the con :)

I doubt it will happen - so far Jack Thompson has successfully dodged all of these kinds of things video gamers have tried to convince him to do - to engage in public debate and openness etc. I think he'll stick to underhand tactics and nonsense, both of which he'll use to avoid attending the PA con.

The United States is REALLY big on censorship. The parents of America are downright lazy. I mean, the media shouldn't be the ones teaching the kids. Is the parents job to teach their children real from fiction. If a parent buys a M rated game for a 7 year old. That's their fault. Not the gaming industry. I wick Jack would get that through his fucking head.

[...] Jack Thompson Declines PAX Debate Offer - GamePolitics reports that anti-video game activist Jack Thompson has declined an offer by the organisers of this August’s Penny Arcade Expo to debate a member of the games industry. PAX organisers had been wanting to keep the debate a secret for security purposes until one hour before the event took place but Thompson apparently backed out because of that feature, saying that keeping the debate a secret was somehow a violation of the First Amendment. [...]