May 24, 2008
Danny Ledonne, creator of the controversial Super Columbine Massacre RPG game has posted a message on Facebook concerning a radio interview this evening:On Saturday, May 24th at 7pm EST, Danny Ledonne will appear on Free Talk Live radio to discuss his completed documentary "Playing Columbine: a true story of videogame controversy".Joining him during the show will be attorney and activist Jack Thompson, one of the interviewees from the film. Ledonne and Thompson have previously appeared separately on the show; Thompson was also the first FTL guest to hang up on the hosts. The upcoming program can be streamed at http://www.freetalklive.comand the archive will be available online as a free .mp3 download after the show.
GP: I've seen the final version of the film and it's quite good. We hope to have a review posted soon.
UPDATE: The two-hour program can be heard in mp3 format here.
Comments
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
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?
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
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?
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
After listening to Thompson's side of the story, I have to admit that I don't think he's a complete waste of air. He's a little ecentric, certainly offensive to the gaming community, but from what he said and what he wants, I think is fair enough.
A game that is rated for "Mature" audiences shouldn't be sold to minors. (Read: Sold, not played by). Parents will still retain the rights to decide what material their child may partake in, and I really don't think that is or ever was a problem. That said, Thompson just comes off as a complete jerk, especially when taking shots at me for playing games. (Anyone remember his comments about reading the bible without regards to the fact that not everyone is christian?)
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Don't let Jack fool you. Going back to his days as an opponent of rap music, his modus operandi has always been to throw up some obstensibly rational and agreeable-to-all motive behind which he hides and furthers his true and ulterior motives. Think he doesn't have a petty and personal vendetta against Strauss Zelnick which goes beyond and has nothing to do with M-rated games being sold to minors? Wrong. For example, years after the dust had settled and everyone had done forgotten about 2 Live Crew's obscenity case, he was still terrorizing Luther Campbell because Campbell, according to Jack, was slipping money to University of Miami football players. What's that got to do with allegedly obscene rap lyrics? Nothing, I would argue. But it had everything to do with Jack's personal dislike -- maybe "hatred" is a better word -- for Mr. Campbell (who, it should be noted, eventually filed for a restraining order against Mr. Thompson).
He's not "a little eccentric." He's a vile, arrogant, self-centered, self-serving, petty, vindicative, certifiably-insane, midly-retarded, scum-bag.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Let me say it this way. If what he had said in this interview was true. (Big "If"); then I don't have a problem with it. Games like GTA 4 should not be sold to minors (while parents should be able to decide). Supposing that he would stick with that point of view then Jack and I agree. At the same time though, I still view him as a religious zealot. He's insulted me as a gamer more than enough times to not make us "Good buddy ol' pals", and the legal precedings he keeps putting through our system (and thus clogging up the works and wasting tax dollars) is unacceptable.
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
If you want to bring up Jack and his personal vendettas, let’s not also forget how he hounded and stalked Neil Rogers; sitting in a parked car across from his house and noting all the people that came and went, as well as trying to run him off the road! And how about in the bar trial where Clatus Junkin confirmed that Jack told him to “go fuck himself” and reduced a female Blank Rome attorney to tears? Yeah, real upstanding Christian guy, Jack is.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Or Janet Reno, who he hounded constantly for more than 15 years. Never gave that woman a moment's rest. And for what? If you ask Jack, he'll try to sell a load of crap about his concern for the public good and her being a lesbian and therefore subject to blackmail and her Parkison's medication rendering her delerious and unfit to hold office, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Again, that's just the false motive behind which he can try to justify 15 years of harrassment. The real motive? He applied to her for a job when she was Dade County's State Attorney and, Janet, being no one's fool, was keen enough to discern that Jack wasn't fit for her Office (nor, as it ultimately turned out, the practice of law anywhere else). That's what really motivated him.
Did I already assert my "scum-bag" argument? I'll just repeat it in case I didn't: he's a scum-bag.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Bravo, Danny! Like others, I was intially put-pff by SCRMPG. However the trailer for your documentary, and your radio interview, changed my mind. Once I fully understood the intention of what you were doing; that this was a meditation on the true causes of Columbine and not some crass attempt at sensationalism as others were trying to paint it, and how you came across on radio, my respect for you shot up 100%! Who says video games can't be art? :)
And you're right on the money about non-violent gamers being "statistically insignificant." I've said pretty much the same thing to my friends and family on this aspect.
As for the whole thing on religion, your views are your own. I'm an agnostic myself, mostly due to my own personal experiences with organized religion, but I digress. I understood the point you were trying to relate Thompson's faith vis a vis his views on video games. Thompson is what is called a "True Believer" (and not the Marvel kind), as he is one of those Christians that view every single thing that Jesus did as a matter of undisputed historical fact, never allowing himself to entertain the possibility that some of those stories could have been embellished at the very least. And if one allows onself to ascribe to that sort of blind faith, it also allows for one to blindly accept the most outlandish of other concepts (i.e. "Video games teach kids to kill"). That being the case, I'd wager Thompson also believes in Santa Claus, too.
This is probably also why Thompson stubbornly clings to his belief that if the video game companies tell the retailers not to sell M-rated games to children, we'll be better off. This runs counter to everything I've come to understand about how businesses operate in a capitalist-based economy. The publisher makes an agreement with the retailer to sell the product. From that point their involvement ends there as it is now totally up to the retailer how to sell that product. If Take 2 told a retailer like Wal-Mart, Target or Best Buy how to sell their games or to sell them to only a certain type of customer, they'd go out of business (which I think is what Thompson actually wants; having video game companies put themselves out of business by way of economic suicide).
It's also ludicrous because if that were the case, other companies would be doing it already. But you don't hear about Playboy or Hustler telling Borders or Barnes & Noble they'll withdraw their business if they're caught selling one of their magazines to a minor. None of the major movie studios have threatened to do that with their R-rated movies either.
Anyway, thanks for posting here, Danny, and welcome to the group! :)
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Right you are, Manta. I was merely suggesting that if one is capable of believing in the literal miracles and resurrection of Christ Jesus, the "training" of young people on videogames is a comparatively small cognitive leap of faith. As Lorne Lanning pointed out last fall at the VGXPO debate, for Jack Thompson this really is a matter of personal faith rather than empirical evidence. Thompson himself says so in as many words; if you read his "Out of Harm's Way," the book is fraught with personal accounts of feeling the Lord work through him as he sues people that offend his sense of "community standards."
I sometimes wonder if the whole "rating" system is simply the curse of any medium born in the modern era. Certainly one could point to virtually any sexual or violent act as previously represented in painting, literature, or theatre - yet these mediums have completely escaped the modern market pressures of censorship. Granted books were once "banned" and some forms of theater and art installations remain controversial - yet these forms don't have age restrictions on them (and enjoyed rather well-received representations of Columbine!). It's as though all forms of artistic expression from the 20th century forward are to be thoroughly review, rated, and distributed only with proper state identification. - As though these art forms have become quantifiable products with nutritional contents marked clearly on the packaging. How sad.
I suppose I still feel emboldened and inspired by Ian Bogost's quote after hearing countless criticisms of SCMRPG rooted merely in the "desired response" that I allegedly ought to have engineered more clearly.
"Art is not supposed to be comfortable. Art is not supposed to be a "positive educational experience," ... Art must be allowed to be disturbing and dangerous. It must be allowed to make us uncomfortable. There is a place in art -- and in games -- for work that speaks on its own, without appeal to authority, educational standards, psychology, or anything else. Designing solely for reception is a weakness we must overcome. … discussing how games do or should be created or received, in the abstract, is not useful. Discussing how and how well specific games succeed in their attempts at representation is useful. That's what we call criticism, and it's something we desperately need more of in games in general. The world is a messy place, and we don't always, or even often, get to make sense of it in a clean way. We have to get our hands dirty. Art is one way to help us do that. And art does not take exit surveys." —Ian Bogost, Watercooler Games
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Of course, if Jack were here, he'd say the definition of art is what the Greeks considered "Good, beautiful and true." That's a pretty narrow definition, though in my opinion. And since it's been over a thousand years since the height of Greek civilization and art has evolved considerably since then, I think that definition can afford to be broadened. So I'm more inclined to go with Bogost's assertion.
I also had to chuckle at Jack's assertion that the reason why the Japanese have pornogrpahic cartoons and video games is that women aren't treated as well as they are here. I'd like to know what evidence he has to back that up? Considering this came from the same man who said Mongolia was a backwards country that didn't have electricity, that Switzerland was in the Netherlands and that the people of Scotland were all, "Beer-drinking, kilt-wearing sociopaths," his statement is automatically suspect. And it only further illuminates his own bigotry.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Yes actually Jack DID cite the ancient Greek definition of art during his interview for my documentary. Of course, that is a rather narrow definition. Moreover, though, I am curious if Jack would be willing to cite the ancient Greek definition of how to befriend younger men. Seems like he and little Jimmy Hopkins would part ways there.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Yet Again You Present More Points
That are some very interesting points you represent. I remember hearing about that Washington Post Article that was retracted. Granted I have to say that your point about marksmanship training in regards to the sniper massacre back in the late 60s or 70s at the Texas school would require something of marksmanship training. I honestly have to say in regards to Cho's mental state, the NRA, Fox News (Granted they are probably the scourge of the Earth when it comes to reporting news.) and various other people were playing the blame game. Some cried, "We need more gun control," "Blame Video Games," rather than focusing on the truth of what happened. This kid was mentally disturbed and in essence the slightest thing could have possibly made him snap. I have seen some of his memoir videos about how these kids are paid to go to school by parents. I drew a parallel that he seems to be a kid that came from nothing and is becoming something while the kids in the surround region, possibly a majority of the kids at VA-Tech are of the upper class, more wealthy families, I do not mean the prestigious wealth of schools like Stanford or Harvard. He sounded as though he was possibly jealous and angry because of his upbringing. I can't prove or disprove it, just a minor observation.
Moving on though, you present some very well obvious points. My general rule of thumb when studying something is try to use the great tool we call context. If a video, article, or some piece of information is taken out of that context and not viewed from every angle, the actual truth behind it could be distorted and possibly manipulated. I am not exactly sure what movie you produced, but if it is the one known as Moral Kombat, then I would definitely be interested, if not please correct me and point me in the right direction.
Something you are correct about is Thompson's real name is John Bruce Thompson, not Jack Thompson. Wondering exactly where that name came from anyway. Well, JOHN Thompson is a very paranoid individual to say the least. He could be considered by many media pundits could consider him prime bait for many people to come out and grill. Many of his studies including one study he cited back in 2005 of the American Psychological Assocation about the effects of media violence on people was very interesting but a prime example of how he was using misinformation. I did some digging and believe it or not the study was retracted and revised to say something completely different. Hence, the man's evidence is shaky at best. Ever since the controversy surrounding hot coffee, I have been following people Thompson, Clinton, the New York Governor, etc. Amazingly though Thompson is one anomaly that I have kept a large focus on. I actually would like to speak with him myself and see how his points represent. Granted though, I digress and have to go to the point you represent about the idea about a certain someone being born again and walking on water, I will not argue the validity of religion, but being a christian myself I have to say that many things he says and does are well how you say, asinine to say the least. Saying your something and being good at it are two different things. In other words, some things he does are very disrespectful, pity, insulting and otherwise very disgusting even for someone of my caliber. Correct me if I'm wrong but calling someone a closet, drinking lesbian because of a possible disagreement is something that would be considered unchristian so to speak. The point being, it's not becoming of a decent human being. Drawing later on in Thompson's career, he used another well strung deragotory remark for someone, that person "supposedly" placed their hand on Thompson's shoulder discussing with Thompson about the remark and then Thompson decided to file assault charges. This is what I would call is not just being the opposite of a christian but also an act of being an indecent human being. Please not I am using a wide statement about two past events in Thompson's career because I dont want to be considered liable to be sued for defamation of character by someone who might be perusing this post as we speak.
Point blank, Thompson claims to be a crusader of morals and fighting for our generation of children. The way he is doing and opting the government to do things is very inept and ineffective at best. Interesting that you continue this discussion.
Refuting VA Tech, Thanks for Replying Danny
I have not personally experienced the scourge that is the online Jack. I must say though, his composure is a possible ploy to say the least, but in essence though some gamers as myself have viewed nothing Jack as a free ranging, take no prisoners, break all the rules whackjob. But in essence though, he is trying to play by the rules until his disbarrment hearing. He knows that he is facing down the barrel of some serious charges, unless he wants to mess himself over right now I must say he will keep his composure. All in all though, the three jack thompsons are one in the same, believe it or not though I think even though he is a christian, he actually viewed the whole debate idea with Penny Arcade or whoever it was a long time ago as a get rich quick scheme. The man is very voracious and volatile if his views or opinion are threatened. The number one thing he will do when faced with a direct question is to possibly avoid it or avert attention away since he knows he is caught with bs. There is an old saying here in Sandi, I dont buy bullcrap, I sell it. That is what Jack tries to do and does it very poorly.
Also in regards Danny, I am pleased that you responded and would like to take the time to say your not a sickophantic psycho. I admit I was first disgusted by the game of Super Columbine Massacre but after hearing your perception and side of the story, I have nothing but the utmost respect for what you did. Even though your game is controversial, it does offer insight into questions like Why, how, and what was the purpose of these kids' actions. You also broke that stereotype about various other people. On your interview I must say I was very impressed when you broke apart the Cho angle about VA tech. It is true that a panel including the FBI found that the only video game cho played if violent that he was particular to was Sonic the Hedgehog. When Thompson refuted that and basically said, "His room mates didnt know what he was doing, he was like a ghost." Basically saying if they didnt see cho with these guns, why didnt they see this coming? Well truth be told, he went on the assumption that because the FBI and the police didnt find his hard drive, he is relying on the remote possiblity there were some dangerous and incriminating evidence on the hard drive, and possibly including violent video games such as Counter Strike. I have followed that story to the very last dot and page and believe me, if something I have learned, no one can ever assume anything. Well all in all though, I am particular to the VA tech shooting because using Counter Strike as a basis that it is a murder simulator is just coincdental at best, since it is regarded as one of the greatest mulitplayer games of all time. The ability to control your heart rate and whatnot is null and void, I seriously doubt anyone could train on something like that. If anything the police in some countries use Counter Strike as a training simulator but as a murder simulator, doubt it.
Re: Refuting VA Tech, Thanks for Replying Danny
> sickophantic psycho
Okay, is this some new coinage like "pixelante" or something? Since the actual word is sycophantic and it means something pretty much unrelated to the connotation it's being apparently used for. Look it up.
Re: Refuting VA Tech, Thanks for Replying Danny
Thanks for taking the time and effort to think about SCMRPG and the potential value of its creation. I daresay you'd enjoy my film! :)
Regarding the V-Tech case, Thompson speaks as though he is the only person to have seen Cho's hard drive. On a level he isn't willing to admit, he knows that his tenious theory relies on V-Tech since (in Thompson's words) it is the "9-11 of school shootings" that represents the "Columbine-like event with a higher body count." He also knows that his V-Tech argument is based almost solely on a Washington Post article which quickly redacted their mention of Counter Strike after it couldn't be substantiated. If Cho wasn't a gamer, Thompson's rhetorical house of cards falls completely over. Thus Thompson wills himself to see the Emperor's New Clothes in the form of Cho's Counter Strike obsession. After all, when you believe that a man walked on water, rose from the dead, and thousands of years later can still read your mind - well, anything is possible...
But on another level, Thompson has rigged the betting table so that his "videogames did it" card always wins. How? He's played the numbers; he knows most young men are videogamers and that most shootings are committed by young men. Thompson, despite working in a judicial system that maintains "innocence until proven guilty" works off the assumption of "gamer until proven otherwise." Therefore, the burden of proof is now on Thompson's opposition to demonstrate that Cho WASN'T a gamer - and Thompson knows that proving a negative is incredibly difficult.
When videogames play a minimal or non-existent role in the shooter's background, Thompson alleges conspiracy or cover-up since SURELY no one is capable of lethally firing a handgun at close range without having first weilded an XBox controller. Cho wasn't exactly engaged in a Charles Whitman-styled sniper shootings that genuinely require marksmanship training; the V-Tech massacre was a close quarters, small arms assault. It was his extreme mental illness, as evidenced by his writings, behavior, and previous hospitalization that allowed him to move room to room killing people - NOT Sonic the Hedgehog (or even the phantasmal Counter Strike connection).
Lastly, Thompson's spurious assertion that any and all non-violent gamers are "statistically insignificent" is precisely THE EXACT OPPOSITE of the truth; school shooters immersed in violent videogames are statistically insignificent while the peaceful videogamer is the vast statistical majority. If non-violent GTA players were "statistically insignificent," the bloodbath in the streets of every American city would be endless. So let's thank the better part of human nature that on matters of "statistical significence," John Bruce Thompson is flatly wrong.
Re: Refuting VA Tech, Thanks for Replying Danny
For anyone who is interested, here is the one single sentence from the Washington Post article (now since removed) that Thompson is basing his whole "obsessive player of Counter Strike" theory on:
“Several Korean youths who knew Cho Seung Hui from his high school days said he was a fan of violent video games, particularly Counterstrike, a hugely popular online game published by Microsoft, in which players join terrorism or counterterrorism groups and try to shoot each other using all types of guns.”
And here is the short passage from the Times article he often cites:
“When Mr. Cho entered Virginia Tech, which is crouched in theBlue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, his parents drove him to school with guarded expectations. Perhaps he would no longer retreat to video games and playing basketball alone the way he did at home. Perhaps college might crack the mystery of who he was, extract him from his suffocating cocoon and make him talk.”
That's it. That's the extent of Thompson's evidence. The Post story didn't say anything about obsessive play and the Times article didn't even mention violent video games, let alone Counter Strike specifically.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
I read through all the above and I have to ask: Am I the only one that thinks that his composure at this taping is purely a ploy for June 4ths sake?
I strongly believe that until that time, every time Jack gets public exposure, you'll see "this" Jack... the Jack we would like if we met on the street... the Jack that "respectfully disagrees" and stands corrected. And then he will submit all this evidence to the hearing on the 5th to make the case that the 27 counts are drummed up.
However, I also believe that after the 4th
...and lacking the need (or rather ability) for "lawyer" restraint...
...well...
...we've seen JT the Lawyer...
...we ain't seen nothing yet from JT the man.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
This isn't the first time for Jack to have such composure... He pretty much does it anytime he is talking publicly.
There's basically 3 jacks... public Jack, lawyer Jack, and Online Jack
Public Jack is the most respectful and well composed; he gets arguementive but not much worse than some other pundits (though he does spout lots of lies). He knows if he acts like his normal self, the public will label him a nut like so many other "crusader" types and they will not listen. So he ACTS respectful to make sure that the public hear's him but doesn't label him a nut.
Lawyer Jack, is they guy we see in the courtroom, Since he is not on TV or radio or what-not he feels less of a need to act respectful. This where he really stops playing by the rules; afterall, he never has the evidence to back up his case and thus lies and slander are all he has left. He makes an attempt to be respectful, but that only lasts until he starts loosing; the moment he starts loosing is the moment he starts revealing his true nature.
Online Jack, is the Jack we are most familiar with. Because he is talking to gamers and because he thinks no one in the public is listening and recording him, he reveals the exact kinda of man, or should i say child, that he really is. He feels no reason to hold back his true nature
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
I wish we can expose Online Jack to the public because it would be awkward for him to see his multiple personas all converge. Only then will the **** really hit the fan for his reputation. The courtrooms have already seen a sign of this. He also tends to be a bit less composed for independently run radio shows that are more "closed circuit" compared to national TV. In a perfect world you would need both excellent delivery AND truth to be credible. But most people would just be fine with excellent delivery because people will not question someone at that point. TV tends to make people act differently once they know they're on it, anyway. Trash talking on the internet: no balls necessary.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
I'm amazed listening to this. Jack Thompson carried himself surprisingly well in an interview where he needed to appease the right wing conservative. In fact, I'm ready to revoke the idea of "Wacko Jacko" that has been so popular. I'm only an hour and three minutes in, so if he keeps it up, then yes I might have a new opinion of the man.
That said, it doesn't seem like he's played GTA 4 that much, just spouting out what worked with GTA 3. I really wish people like him would go and actually play through before fear mongoring.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
I agree with you on JT carrying himself well, and I would support a revocation of the nickname "Wacko Jacko" as well.
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Not that I support that nickname, but just because he interviews well -- or at least is much better behaved then last -- that somehow doesn't make all his other actions "wacko"(current example, that judge's forged sig BS)?
I still say he is a nut who knows when to limit his nuttyness, but I do think the "massacre chaser" nickname suits him much better.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
I don't know about the "massacre chaser" thing, but I know he can be nice when those he speaks to are nice to him. A friend of mine e-mailed him with civility, similar to how I did, but unlike his response to my e-mails, he was miraculously kind to my friend. No insults or anything of the like in there. I'm seriously thinking of renouncing my title as JT's "anti-thesis" since it seems he is starting to show some signs of sociality at long last. This may be the last time you ever see the sig below:
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
HOLY FUGGIN' SHIT!!!
JT finally talks sense in an interview! SWEET!!
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
i'm a female gamer, and oh god did i want to call in. i live in nz though, so by the time the interview was done, i had long missed it. but what bothers me so much about all of this is that i actually worked for gamestop for four years, and i'm a big advocate of parental inform about mature rated games, and even if it was the kids 17th birthday the next day, i still wouldn't sell him a mature rated game, but jack seems to think that parental responsibility in the abscence of parents relies on the companies and retailers. and somehow when an m rated game gets sold to a child, he seems to think that it's the companies fault and that they're marketing the game to children, as opposed to a lazy/new employee or part timer, and that their action is the will of the company. i also agree with the above statement, that some of his claims about the rape victims opposing gta are a bit biased. i can understand their opposition, but it's on par with christians opposing movies like the craft.
Interesting Perception and Debate
Well after listening through nearly 2/3 of this debate between these four people I must say this. I have a new view of the designer of Columbine Massacre. After listening to this guy, he is very well educated and is not portrayed as some sickophantic psycho as some people portrayed him as. His name is escaping my mind but what I must say is when he created Super COlumbine Massacre RPG he did his research. Moving on though, what I was most interested in was the debate on Jack Thompson and how his logical mindset it. Granted this man is a lawyer and has done some things that could be considered corrupt in some circles, I will not delve into that, that is up to the reader to decide. But based upon my views and how I have seen him interview on various news stations, he is very skilled in dodging direct questions that would otherwise cut down his statements based upon video game violence. His statements are on shaky ground at best. When he feels that his agenda or opinion is threatened, he tries to focus the conversation to his clients and victims of various traumatic events.
Secondly Thompson is very good at distorting the truth, more or less he flirts with the line of blatant lying. Thirdly he has a selective opinion, when he uses the quote "Statistically Significant Sample," he is trying to distort the pereception that the average person who is able to discern reality from fantasty is not "significant" in his views. Granted though, in Lamen's terms he is merely saying this, "Your not important in my views, you have no value to me, please get out." This outright is very petty at best. If a person is statistic, you need to run across the whole board, not merely cherry picking what cases you want to use as ammunition for your personal agenda. All in all though, Jack Thompson is facing disbarrment will still be a die hard through and through.
In short, Jack Thompson carries a selective personality, distorts the truth to his way, does not see fit to accept the wider spectrum of truth, views the world is out to get him and sadly will not last as a lawyer for much longer. Granted he seems to be a decent human being in his talking on the phone inviting the hosts to his house. The man needs to look at himself in the mirror and ask himself, "Am I really telling the truth rather than my truth?"
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
I did notice some distortion in the truth. I remember that the stats of underage sells were disregarded by Jack as poorly done, and later he used those same status to help his arguement. Behaviour wise, he is much better in the interview. In the NPR interview, he wasn't this well behave.
Many people who personally meet Jack said that he is a good person if you don't bring up video games. I guess that Jack in going crazy over all the press from gaming websites.
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
It's heartening to know that Jeffery no longer regards me as a "sickophantic psycho." For some reason creating a videogame about Columbine inerrently calls into question the creator's sanity. It's a tough assumption to shake, I guess. I'm glad everyone here enjoyed (or at less was engaged) by the Free Talk Live debate. To Mr. Thompson's credit, he did invite us over for a bacon and pancake dinner...
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
Hey, hey, hey! Good to have you here, Danny!
I found it ironic that JT likes bacon, because me and a friend also like bacon. I was surprised, and my friend laughed his ass off, or so he says.
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
The bacon upset me, just before the show I had a plate of bacon. Maybe it is just a Florida thing, like inability to vote, or hot teachers sleeping with their students.
Or it could just be because bacon kicks ass and even Jack can't deny that.
Growing older doesn't have to mean giving up what makes you. - http://himynameistyler.com
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
"The bacon upset me, just before the show I had a plate of bacon. Maybe it is just a Florida thing, like inability to vote, or hot teachers sleeping with their students.
Or it could just be because bacon kicks ass and even Jack can't deny that."
First, that's just irony that's upsetting you. Secondly, teacher-student romances are not something I care about. I say that the only restriction on said relationships should be that the relationship must not cause the teacher to show some form of either partiality or favoritism towards the student he/she is dating.
Yes, bacon kicks ass, and besides, JT cannot, and, for that matter, will not deny it.
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
Actually, there was an APA study that showed a direct causal link between the consumption of bacon and violence among minors. So you can kiss your bacon-eating days good-bye. Hooah!
Oh God... I feel dirty....
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
Uhh... yeah, cute.
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Interesting Perception and Debate
...but he didn't offer to share his harem of babes so I went to see Speed Racer instead.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
If you haven't heard, here's our first interview with Jack where he hangs up on us:
http://freetalklive.com/files/thompson.mp3
Thanks for listening! (Oh, and we're on more than just the web: http://affiliates.freetalklive.com )
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Haha, that was funny, just like Jack to run away when challenged. Someday Jack's rhetoric will get him in trouble.... Oh wait!
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Well for one:
Ian Gillian as Jesus (like in Jesus Christ Superstar)
Bill O'Reily as his inner technophobe, homophobe, and xenophobe and the one that devises his oh-so-witty lines
Charlton Heston as the NRA persona telling him to blame school shootings on something other than poor enforcement of weapons sales
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
KILL THE HOMOPHOBES!!!
Shadow: GOD DAMMIT, BACK TO YOUR F***ING ROOM!!!
(Note: Yes, that was T.O.S. just now. He hates homophobes, whereas I don't care about them.
I AM A LOST SOUL, CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JOHN BRUCE "JACK" THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS. SOMEONE, PLEASE! END MY SUFFERING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Good list! What about the 'Desperately In Denial About The Possibility Of Error' voice? Or would that just be another phobia & fall within the o'reily portfolio?
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Logic: 2-8% of a group do something, not significant to the overall group.
JT Logic: 100% of murderers murdered someone, anything else doesn't matter.
Logic 2: 100 people, 2 do something, 100-2=98. 98 people haven't done the specific act.
JT Logic 2: 100 gamers, 2 murder someone, 100-2=98. 98 gamers are going to kill someone.
Logic 3: The gaming industry continues to progress in its self regulation of the media it distributes, surpassing all other voluntary regulations in physical media.
JT Logic 3: Because of ME! Now, we still need to put legal requirements on it!
See where I'm going with this? Good, I don't feel like typing out 50 more examples.
Growing older doesn't have to mean giving up what makes you. - http://himynameistyler.com
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
You know, I almost hate to say it, but an adventure game based around the activities of Jack Thompson just makes sense. He uses the logic in the same amazing way that Gabriel Knight 3 did.
Logic: To disguise yourself as Mosley, simply dress like him.
GK Logic: No! I must draw a moustache on his passport with a sharpie, then create my own fake moustache!
Logic 2: To don a fake moustache, I can simply cut hair from my head.
GK Logic 2: No! The hair must be obtained by using masking tape on a hole, then chasing a cat through it!
Logic 3: To attach the fake moustache, use some type of glue.
GK Logic 3: What? Everyone knows that only maple syrup should be used for this application!
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Who would provide the voice of JT? I think perhaps Christopher Walken, he manages to convey the whole "walks the thin line between odd but essentially nice guy & raving psychopath" pretty well. Wonder who'd provide the voices of JT's inner chorus of conflicting lunatics...
I'd suggest a monkey island style interface, possibly with the inclusion of insult based combat, the goal being to perplex the opponent with so much doubletalk that they have a seizure & collapse.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Just once in one of these last interviews Jack will ever have, somebody should bring up his Florida disbarment trial and how he's in hot water now from their Supreme Court.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Not to be a pain, but does anyone have transcripts of the show? That would be pure win.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
The dumb callers are annoying me.... always the same comment "I've played these games and I'm not violent so fuck you JT".... Jesus Christ, come up with something more significant.
Like maybe the fact that there are double standard between movies and games. That pornographic movies are NOT the same category as M rated games. Thats why we have AO rating. We can use that rating when we start importing Japanese Hentai games. What about the fact that the more important factors about these violent people like being abused as a child and mental problems. And that the common denomonator is NOT violent videogames. These games are so wide spread that you would have a better time argueing that eating dinner regularly makes you kill people. How about the fact that he only seems to think that opinions of these people on the margin are the only things that matter? Hey, lets go ask this rape victim if objectifying women in video games should be banned under penalty of death. And lets believe when someone facing 25 to life uses GTA as an excuse. How about the fact that women have been, and will be, objectified as long as testoserone flows through male veins? Did you know that women couldn't vote in early 20th century? Did they loose voting rights when GTA came out? Should we ban high schools from teaching the Scarlet Letter, Things Fall Apart, and all things Shakespeare? How about the fact that he constantly says "counterstrike halflife" when its just "counterstrike"? Maybe he hasn't done a very good research.
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE STARTED OUT TRYING TO BAN THINGS THEN CHANGED HIS POSITION IN ORDER TO GAIN MORE POPULAR SUPPORT?
What can publishers possibly do to stop the selling of violent videogames? What exactly happens when a movie theatre lets in a 12 yearold to a R rated movie? As far as I know no studio has ever threatened to withhold films if the theatre lets in underage people to see these movies. So why should video game companies?
The usual, and the only one I like, arguement against movie-game parellel is the interactiviy of games. Well guess what? If theres a sex scene in a movie, you have to watch it. In the games that are being attacked, its OPTIONAL. Violence? OPTIONAL. Seriously, when I get runover in GTA I just walk away cause of the cops. Now, I realize that lots of these stuff are actually not optional. You do have to kill a shitload of people and deliver drugs and whatnot. But it at least gives the option to skip some of it.
What about artistic merit of the games? No one talks about that either. No one killed anyone after seeing Braveheart or Saving Private Ryan. They got the fucking Oscars instead.
Oh and one last thing: he just never lets anyone else talk. Stupid callers+JT's unwillingness to give up airtime= horrible times.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Well, if I brought up the games, I would put it something like this...
"I have played the GTA games, but such games only make up 3% of what I play. Most of my time has been spent with puzzle games, so why is it that you[Jack] seem to focus on just one part of the whole 'what made them commit such an act' puzzle(so to speak)?"
Then bring up that one particular court case, maybe ask the same thing about books like the bible, music, etc.
I would have also questioned him about his hypocrisy(I've bugged him here about R-rated & un-rated movies several times, and why such the absurd punishments & fees ONLY for game companies & retailers), and his habit of seeing & calming things that are not there.
Hmm, other topics to bring up might be his "valid proof of age" bit, just what he thinks he is accomplishing with his highly flawed stings....
Oh well, late announcement on this show, GP's server issues probably didn't help, but maybe in a way this helped lessen the amount of dumb callers.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
Wow, Did the last caller (not cliff) ACTUALLY SAY "You should be swinging from a rope on a tree?" ..... Scary sick sh*t man. And those fanatical christians call GAMERS violent.
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
This was pretty enlightening, and I'm looking forward to the movie coming out.
Also, how hillarious was that last caller, 'you should be hanging from a tree'
Re: Audio Alert: SCMRPG Creator Danny Ledonne, Jack Thompson on
*laugh* I love JT's comment about kids brains being programmed to copy these things from a young age. I've been playing games since I was 3 years old (I'm 28 now) and I havent killed anyone, nor do I expect I ever will (Unless I go insane and join the military or something) I guess I'm just another one of those insignifigant numbers, ya think? I expect quite a few "gamers" are like me though, which likely makes us the majority, wonder if our friendly neighborhood nemesis realizes this.