February 26, 2008
Say what you will about Jack Thompson, the man has become the embodiment of those who look down on games and gamers.
That's clearly the reason why he appears in so many gamer-created parodies. Here's the latest...
Thanks to: Longtime GamePolitics reader Stephen Broida, aka Otaku-man, for pointing us to the vid...
That's clearly the reason why he appears in so many gamer-created parodies. Here's the latest...
Thanks to: Longtime GamePolitics reader Stephen Broida, aka Otaku-man, for pointing us to the vid...
Comments
My opinion is thus:
If this were a video of Dave Grossman, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, Joe Leiberman, etc. Dennis would post it. Why? Becasue it involves political figures and their anti game agendas. Why should we worry about hurting John Bruce's feelings?
There is no reason. John Bruce has made himself into a public figure of the game industry. He knew full well what that encompases. He should expect this sort of thing to happen.
I don't think that Dennis is trying to incite a response from John Bruce. Dennis doesn't need to post videos for that. Anything related to John Bruce and his actions will do that.
But here you have a gamer making a video to bring to light the falacies of a public anti game figure. Why is that not news? Would it have been more news worthy if a news columnist wrote a biting editorial on his antics?
That wasn't too bad. Well done.
I understand what you are saying its just that I fear recipocation from a person like Jack Thompson. If it was Clinton, Romney, Leiberman or any other political figure, I think it is different. I know that Jack Thompson is more or less powerless, or will soon be to be able to push his agenda.
I was merely expressing my concern and opinion that this did not consitute as news as compared to the other items commonly cited at GP. But yes, if a news columnist wrote a biting editorial on his antics would be more newsworthy than a video that GP was referred to. The news columnist is obviously of more influence as more individuals read the paper or read online than they do than watch videos. Videos such as these never really reach the headilnes of major news sites, or minor. The only one that I can really think of is JibJab.com. Outside of the video game industry, the majority does not know that much about jack thompson. If you were to show the public the video, and the paper which one would they find more informative?
What is more informative -- a political cartoon, or a biting news editorial?
I think you have a hang up with it being a video rather than the kind of media you are obviously more comfortable with. GP does a lot here around what is important to the gaming community, your average person who doesn't know much about video games, wouldn't be likely to peruse GP. So making a case about how the video wouldn't be as useful to people who wouldn't be likely seeing the site, as opposed to those who would be likely to view the site is a bit pointless, an intellectual exercise at best.
The video is satire. You claim you had no fear about repercussion from Jack Thompson in one reply, but then later say you do fear repercussion. But it still is satire, it is relevant to topics that come onto this site regularly, and it helps break the monotony of the typically serious articles on GP. JT can wave his arms all he wants about the video, but as it is satire, it is protected speech, and as much as JT may want to, he can't actually do anything to shut it down, nor can he get the government to interfere.
If I take what you say, that the average person does not visit GP, and will most likely not watch the video is very true. But what about that article on Jack Thompson that msn released? I'm sure many saw that. And it was referred to here on GP also.
I don't fear reprocussion from Jack Thompson as much as I fear Thompson using this later on to discredit GP in public. Thompson is very manipulative with his words, so I could see something like that happen.
Are you saying I am sympathetic towards Jack Thompson, or that I believe what he says? That's hardly the case as I am very much against his views and loook at his actions with disdain.
*checks* Ah, that's right, the WoW ballad song.
Yep, still awesome.
I wonder how long before he tries to sue for defamation and promoting violence against him.
He won't realize it. He's too full of himself to see past his own self importance.
Gotta have a comics section somewhere in every news outlet. :)
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
So how long before Jack threatens legal action due to the video's threatening his life?
That was a pretty amusing video. It gets extra points for using the Genesis light gun.
Jack's memory is notoriously short I've noticed when it comes to stuff like this. Another example was with the custom of him in MK Armageddon that he threatened to sue Midway over. So I wouldn't be surprised if after he tries to sue Purepwnage.com, he'll bring it up later and say something like, "Oh yeah I saw that video. Funny stuff."
It's noteworthy because it's lulzworthy.
Personally, I lol'd. Would lol again.
Maybe check comments before asking a question that already was answered. Especially given that there aren't too many comments yet.
Would you still read a newspaper with no funnies section?
Didn't think so.
I did check, but it's my personal opinion so even though I reiterated it, sure. But since it's my opinion, I don't want to devalue it by not saying what I want to say, even if I'm repeating something from earlier.
@Kurisu7885
I read the newspaper for the news. I read comic books for the funnies. I just don't think that something like this really belongs on GP, since this can be intereperted as a personal swipe against Jack Thompson by hosting and promoting this video. I mean, I know Dennis has his own opinion, and his asides to the stories he writes gives GP personal touch. However, I don't belive that if he is striving to be a reputable, journalisitc website that something like this does take a little bit away from GP, as GP also represents the ECA. As GP is part of the ECA, it also looks bad on the ECA's character too.
I do think the video is funny and everything but instead of hosting it directly on GP, he could have dropped a link..that could have been better.
@ Chaos
I actually have that video on my favorites.
Get crackin.
It is not news. That is agreed upon. But even the most serious of news sites need something to break the monotony. A funny video or something makes it nice.
I also don't see a real problem here. Dennis does not post plain humor articles very often. It would be a stretch to say that it happens as often as once a week.
But it is funny that every time he posts something like this, we get a few of those "How is this news?" people posting their complaints.
But as for the "hosting", he is not hosting the video here. He has embedded the video, but it is hosted elsewhere.
I realize that what you say is true, and I was just speaking out of my own opinion. Yes, I realize that he does not do something like this, but because the subject is jack thompson, it just makes this different, almost as if he is attacking Jack.
While I'm probably just making this out to be worse than it is, I just don't think that its appropriate for the person to whom the video is obviously referring to. Thanks for correcting me on the hosting, as it is actually embedded here as you say.
I didn't say they were a waste of time, I just didn't think it consitutes as news for this website.