Jack Thompson won't talk to bloggers, but he'll talk to CBS

by Ben Zackheim { Feb 27th 2005 at 3:01PM }

ps2

Jack Thompson, self-important, "douchebag" lawyer who's suing Sony, Take Two, Gamestop and Walmart for $300 million for selling games like GTA, sat down with CBS' Gamespeak and let us have it. The guy is just another example of an emerging breed of human — self-important soap boxers with half-thought-out ideas that are meant to make a quick buck, and get booked on Larry King. Are they breeding these things now? There are definitely issues we need to work out as an industry. No question about it. But this guy sinks the conversation and goes right for the sewer.

Here's a choice snippet:

Is gaming escapism?

"Yes, just as Ted Bundy escaped into pornography. It is not a release of aggression. It is training for aggression."

The lawyer's comments may be laughable at first, but then the interview takes a chilling turn. His thinly veiled fantasies of seeing a lot of gamers and game execs get slaughtered is in black and white, folks:

"You just watch. There is going to be a Columbine-times-10 incident, and everyone will finally get it. Either that, or some video gamer is going to go Columbine at some video game exec's expense or at E3, and then the industry will begin to realize that there is no place to hide, that it has trained a nation of Manchurian Children."

Which makes the end of the interview even more frightening.

"They are about to pay a wicked price, and I aim to make sure they pay it."

Sure, he's referring to the lawsuit. Right? We can only hope that's what he means. Hey, just in case, can we make sure this guy is nowhere near LA during E3, please?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

striegs @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

Growing up, Mr. Thompson's school must have been too poor to afford those pages of the textbook that dealt with the first amendment.

Congratulations, Mr. Thompson, I now bestow upon you Joystiq's Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of Utter Douchebaggery.

By the way, what's up with the pic? Some people might get the wrong impression that that's Jack himself during a bout of gaming-induced madness. Not that any kind of madness would be a new experience for him, but...

JR @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

It is unfortunate that THIS is the view of games and gaming that the general non-gaming public will see. It is very very dis-heartening, maybe we need someone with a straight and real view on gaming in the mass media.

Will @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

this guy is sicker than the games he's attacking. there are perfectly mature people who play gta and have no intention or urge to go shoot someone. it would be nearly impossible for a retailer to measure the mental stability of a purchaser of a "m" rated game. it is also immoral to stop or further hinder sales due to a lack of trust in the general public. implying anything along those lines is like completely ignoring the number of deaths that occur due to alcohol abuse.

Greedy @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

This guy is an idiot. If Ted Bundy was influenced by porn, did anybody sue the porn studios?
He also said that Full Spectrum Warrior works for the army in desensitizing soldiers, wouldn't it work for people too? My point: Apparently it isn't working for the army, as they AREN'T EVEN USING IT!

(insert stereotypical anti-antigamer rant here)

The only point where we agree is that kids shouldn't be playing uber-violent games.

KC @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

blaming killing on a video game is utter crap. there is a big difference between pushing a button and watching shooting on tv and holding the gun and pulling the trigger. And if gangs are using these video games to train others then i think that someone should push for to be sold under the preface of educational. because that is just as crazy

Kitsune @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

This man is sick, hoping people get killed so he'll be proven (in his mind) to be right.

I wonder if he's planning to sue various religions for all the people killed in the name of God? That makes absolutely as much (if not far more) sense to me.

tpp @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

He's not crazy, he's just found his niche of ambulance chasing. I guess you could call it an unhealthy obsession to greed.

If it wasn't for video games, he'd find something else to pay his bills and he has in the past. He has a long history of exploiting victims' families and extorting the innocent.

flampoo @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

The guy may be an ass, but he brings to light several valid points. There's very little in place to prevent children from obtaining these games. And despite our best efforts, a parent can't know everything. I remember hiding my first Too $hort cassette from my parents for YEARS. I also remember how hard it was to get porn at that age. Now we have another medium with content intended for adults and all that's done to thwart the purchase of these games by a minor is to stamp a letter on the outside? If the same approach was taken with porn I would have had a collection the size of the Library of Congress. I love these games, but I'm an adult. I wouldn't want my children playing them. Retailers need to take action.

flampoo @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

Tim? @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

I absolutely adore how he suggests that gangs trained their members to steal cars by using GTA.

Gang leader: Aiight, so you know how to tief a car now homies?

Gang member: Werd. Stand by the door and push triangle...yo.

Gang leader: Alright...let's save before we go, in case the fuzz crack down on us. Jimmy, go round up homies. You know, push up while targeting them.

...what an idiot.

Funky J @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM

Funny how in other countries that people rarely hear the video game connection in defense of their actions.

Manhunt was blamed in the UK, and the judge sensibly threw that out of court, and had a go at the media for it.

I like the way he is abusive to people who are asking legitimate questions.

He obviously got his Lawyers degree online, because he doesn't understand the way to answer questions.

He doesn't even answer the ones from CBS!

"Does age or sex play a factor in violent, aggressive behavior?"

"Sure, the sex and violence centers of the brain overlay one another, which is why the increasing mix of sex and violence is troubling."

THAT'S NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION.