February 17, 2008 -
With his Friday appearance on Fox News, Miami attorney Jack Thompson has managed to once again introduce the video game violence issue into the aftermath of a tragedy.In the past, some observers have referred to Thompson's media tactics as massacre chasing. Frankly, it's hard to disagree. Beyond that, one has to ask - given that NIU shooter, Stephen Kazmierczak, was 27-years-old - why are video games an issue at all?
Even if you buy into the notion that violent video games lead to real-world violence (and there is zero scientific proof to support that), the NIU shooter was far closer to 30 than 15. Short of an outright societal banning, how would Counter-strike - or any of the far bloodier games on the market - been kept away from Kazmierczak?
The bottom line at NIU, as at Virginia Tech, is that the shooter was a heavily-armed, deranged, homicidal adult. No video game rating system, no amount of retail enforcement of same, could have kept him from playing Counter-strike. No video game law - even if it were somehow constitutional - would have blocked him from buying Counter-strike or any other M-rated game. That's because such legislation typically seeks to prevent under-18's from purchasing violent games.
Moreover, Thompson has said in the past that the goal of his anti-game violence crusade is to keep mature game content out of the hands of kids. Stephen Kazmierczak was no kid. So, what's Thompson's point?
TV face time, perhaps?
UPDATE: Thompson e-mailed this to me in response:
Do you think the NIU shooter started playing these murder simulation games last week? You do know how long ago Doom came out, right? His friends say he was into this crap for years.
A follow-up question elicited this from Thompson:
He started on them years ago. They retarded him. Are you retarded too? apparently
Comments
We started reporting on his pathetic ways and now he thinks that the free publicity we're giving him is doing him some good.
As far as the response, I wouldn't hold my breath on a decent response from Thompson, as others have said. It's doubtful he knows how to respond to a simple request for logic without throwing a temper tantrum about video games.
Considering how much unfettered joy Jack has shown in the past over death and other tragedies befalling gamers and their families, I think we can see another reason he enjoys school shootings so much.
The only thing that can save our society now is the complete banning of ALL video games. Also guns, pornography, alcohol, movies, magazines, books, and any form of sex.
Actually, no. That's not what his friends say. They said:
"Friends said what Kazmierczak lacked in social graces, he more than made up for in the classroom. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from NIU, and University Police Chief Donald Grady said he was well-respected among faculty, staff and students." -Northwest Herald
Here's what his roommates said:
"He played a lot of video games, especially Counter-Strike, really loud," said dorm mate Ben Woloszyn, 24." -New York Post (Tabloid)
Kazmierczak often would play the video game Counter Strike, a first-person shooting game, the roommates said, but they were quick to add that the game was nothing unusual for dormitory halls. -Northwest Herald
Let's see, nothing about friends claiming he was a player of violent games for years. Gee, what a surprise. Now, I'm not saying he didn't play Doom fifteen years ago (and really, so what if he did?) but no one, not his friends, not his roommates, have said so.
Andrew Eisen
Fails to answer question-check
Insults as many as possible-check
Makes him look like an ass-check
Avoids truth-check
Makes an NIU student even angrier-check
I wouldn't be surprised.
No wonder people disdain our legal system.
Also, I think his use of the term retarded is derogatory. He apparently wasn't retarded mentally from the records of his schoolastic accomplishments. I can't speak of emotionally, we ahven't been informed of his mental issues.
It seems that JT is using retarded in a purely derogatory manner. DS games that used the term "spastic" got recalled, can the Florida Bar recall Thompson?
'cause if we could, I'd be happy to sue. I live near Miami, so it wouldn't be too hard.
@ arkly
theoretically you could sue him for slander because as far as i know, he didn't say " In my belief " at the beggining of his statements. so you could su him for slander and harassment. and theres plenty of evidene to support that.
But i think people forget that these drugs can profoundly impact your brain chemistry and that suddenly going off of them can produce dramatic chemical instability in the brain which can encourage dramatic behavioral changes. What we really need to be asking ourselves is whether incidents such as these tell us anything about our culture or whether they are aberrant events that, while tragic, are not systemic.
It's a subtle difference, but a real one. His rectum is where the human excrement comes out. His mouth is where the bullshit comes out.
Right. Video games make people retarded.
Pardon the bluntness of this Dennis and EZK, but... fuck you, Mr. Thompson.
There, i said it, i'm done.
Mortal Kombat, and various sequels of the chain
Alien Vs Predator 1, 2, and expansion
Grand Theft Auto
BioShock
Timeshift
Halo 1, 2 and 3
Call of Juarez
Condemned
Resident Evil:CV
Doom
The list goes on. And yet I am as mentally stable as a University Professor.
Although I may be inclined to put into practice everything I've learned if JT wins any of his ridiculous cases.
I blame Thompson for teaching us the value of blaming someone, or something else for my own actions.
Given the staggering number of people who play these games, it's safe to assume that at least some of the victims in these shootings have also been 'retarded' by these games. Are you prepared to say that those particular victims were retarded into believing they would simply re-spawn upon being killed (just like they would in the game)? I'm sure their families would want to know their children died due to their retarding by video games.
*sniff*sniff* I smell another lawsuit against game makers. Can I get a percentage of the settlement for showing you another direction to take Jack?
Well, can't imagine why anyone would consider disbarring him. I mean, other than to destroy a latter-day Paul Revere, obviously.
And Jack Thompson is in the same social circle, so he knows what the mans friends said? Hmmm. It's funny how he's all geared up to proclaim CS the bad guy for warping him and then it's pointed out how he was already an adult when it was released. Suddenly it's back to good old Doom. There's always an answer, isn't there Jack? And when there isn't (as in Cho having only played Sonic the Hedgehog) then you can just ignore the issue altogether and still call it a win!
"He started on them years ago. They retarded him. Are you retarded too? apparently"
For a man who has:
- tried to subpeona the president
- tried to get the IP addresses and names of people who make fun of his PUBLIC comments and appearances
- sent explicit gay porn as part of his defense in a court case
- been thrown off a court case for bizarre behaviour
- been made to take a psychiatric evaluation because of his lunatic obsession with Janet Reno
- has been proven to ignore any/all facts that oppose his agenda while making up facts that support it
Maybe he should really direct that question at himself. I would pay good monies to be a fly on the wall when he looks back and realises what he has done with his life and how he has behaved, then throws back his head and roars "I'VE BEEN THE RETARDED ONE ALL ALONG!"
It's a little known fact that the Final Solution was created over a game of Death Race.
Jesus. I've seen better comebacks on 4chan.
Why, you ask?
Because we COULD have someone respectable, intelligent, and well-spoken as an anti-game crusader. Instead, we have Jack, who does more to harm his "cause" than anything we could ever say in our beloved hobby's defense.
So... speak on, Jack. Speak on.
I'm surprised that none of the companies involved hasn't started slammig him with libel actions on account of his grossly uninformed claims.
But I imagine that the US being the US, Thompson has some sort of legal entitlement to talk crap and bring unproven lawsuits against anyone he chooses, but is protected by some amendment or other.
Game Over.
Was he referring to video games or legal studies?
Forget about what he was referring to, is 'They retarded him' even a sentence??
I'm really glad Mr. Thompson, in his position as a prominent attorney, is acting so maturely about this. What's next, is he going to call MSNBC "a bunch of stupid-heads"?
Jack talks about corrupting young minds and that things need to be done to stop it. However if we shield children from all the bad things, how will they learn to live with life after they leave home?
Look! Tinfoil hattery and racism! Awesome!
Wow, this NIU even is bringing out all the nuts. Thompson, LaRouche, Fred Phelps, and bozos like you.
Also considering Jack’s history with Dennis, he’ll probably also fire off some responses along the lines of, “Are you a moron? The answer is obvious. I’ve been repeating the same thing to you and your braindead cronies for years! Duh.” You can almost anticipate like clockwork what he’s going to say. Like I’ve said before, he’s practically sounding like a broken record. Sad, really."
Almost to the letter. It's unbelievable how easy it was for you to predict Jack's childishness …
February 18th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
What video game did Hitler play?
After further review, I judge that question to be one of the greatest ones ever asked. Kudos to you!
Gas prices rising? Video Games
War with Iraq? Video Games!
People Sodimizing Giraffes? His hobby...I mean, Video Games
- The legislation is wrong for that. Bunch of AGE-PREJUDICED SONS OF BITCHES! I am 16 and I CAN and WILL get M for Mature games. I get R rated movies (Horror). I am considered mature enough by my parents. That doesn't make them bad. It doesn't make me bad. My mind is straight. I do not confuse the game for reality. I don't try to kill anyone. I do nothing wrong. This goes to show that all the "games make people kill" thing that's so popular right now is nothing but BULLSHIT!
They should just leave us gamers alone AND stop trying to find another way to fuck over us minors. It's unconstitutional...