Flowers for Jack: If you can't beat him, send him pretty things
Sure, you many not like Jack Thompson - you
quite possibly downright loathe him (many Joystiq comments have expressed such strong emotions) - but every Grinch has
a beating heart, just waiting to be warmed. A group on LiveJournal, Flowers for Jack, wants to do just that.With all the money they collect ($483.16 as of tonight), Flowers for Jack will send anti-game activist Jack Thompson the largest bushel of "pretty, pretty flowers" to him possible, along with this letter, signed by anyone who wishes to add their name. The letter, while not finished, will "touch (but not aggravate with)" the following:
- Some sort of apology for the less-cordial correspondences he gets from less mature gamers.
- Finding his proper stated agenda (keep violence from children, or ban games entirely?)
- The word Pixelante, and how its being used now.
- His overall stance on the NIMF (He badmouthed them soon after they sent him the C&D, but they still have similar agendas)
- Presidential candidancy in 2008: just a rumor?
- what we can do to maintain lines of serious dialogue with him?
[Thanks, Brody Brooks and Andy]
[Update: I am a grammar king - if by king you mean loads of grammar errors. Fixed!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ritz @ Jan 23rd 2006 11:12PM
Oh the irony. I am so adding myself to that list. Too bad I don't have any money... :(
Adam @ Jan 23rd 2006 11:27PM
I've just added my name, because I think it's a great gesture (is that how you spell it?). Gamers need to be more mature about reacting to Jack Thompson. If we all stay calm and do things like this -- OK, maybe not exactly like this --, maybe he'll finally stop going too far with his insanity.
Oh, who am I kidding? This won't change anything in Jack. But it can affect the opinions of those he's trying to convince. If those in control listen to the gamers instead of Jack, he's harmless.
Brody Brooks @ Jan 23rd 2006 11:40PM
I donated my share and tipped off to this story, but I can't decide whether this really amounts to being moronic on purpose (as they preport it as) or spamming Jack's office with material objects.
Either way, it seems Jack himself has learned of this, so it's losing some of the flair. What could have been an "Holy crap! What the hell?!" moment will end up being a "No! Don't do that! Don't do that! Don--ahhh jesus." situation for him. Too bad getting attention is the only way to do these kinds of things on the Internet.
empt @ Jan 23rd 2006 11:58PM
so this group is gonna spend many hundreds of dollars sending flowers to a man who is going to turn around and throw them away? They think he is going to spend ONE second considering their words?
Come on folks, write the guy off as a nut, and donate the money to Child's Play. Don't toss that cash down the drain
He doesn't care what we think, and we shouldn't care what he thinks.
Zero_ @ Jan 24th 2006 12:12AM
I wasn't too annoyed at the guy for his views and actions against violent video games, but when he used the death of a gamer to get his way, that was pretty low. So, guess I'll sign this, to cheer up that little angry man.
Cael @ Jan 24th 2006 1:20AM
This interests me, though I think he deserves something along the lines of pills instead of flowers, but I think the impact it'll have on him is better than giving the nut pills. If I can track down the website for this whole thing, which is probably up there and I haven't looked close enough with my brainless, gaming self, I'm gonna sign it. I hope I get a hateful letter from him. >:)
Alyson @ Jan 24th 2006 1:28AM
Thank you very much for all the kind support!
BTW, AWESOME header graphics.. we were all thinking that, but we had overdrawn our silliness accounts X^D.
Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!
-Alyson, flowers for Jack-o
Ritz @ Jan 24th 2006 1:47AM
Correction. Found a way to donate. And now they are going to donate any money behond a $650 limit to child's play (which they are super close to). So, as AR says, either way, its a win-win situation... And to imagine this all started not more than 3 days ago...
D.C. @ Jan 24th 2006 2:49AM
Hmm, I dunno about this...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/danchastu/jackthompson.gif
Osiris @ Jan 24th 2006 5:07AM
Do you realise how many flowers they can get for $650!
I'm sure this is more for annoyment/embaressment, i doubt he'll even recieve any of it himself.
I hope this get some sort of coverage in the media when it happens, help to comicise his character.
GlitchCog @ Jan 24th 2006 8:22AM
Could this be considered harassment? You all know when he gets angry how he reverts directly to "sue" mode.
Dan @ Jan 24th 2006 9:01AM
"Presidential candidancy in 2008: just a rumor?"
Dear God, NO!!
Well, we've re-elected worse...
Captain Skull @ Jan 24th 2006 11:10AM
We had a legitimate charity, why did this get posted and we didnt? (www.pressStart.ca)
Also, great idea. I'll be donating to this. Civil but silly is the best course of action here. He will see all the people that are agaisnt him have a voice but arnt as violant and deranged(sp?) as we're made out to be
Slo-Mo-Shun @ Jan 24th 2006 12:00PM
I think the money would be more better uiltilized by sending Jack the biggest bag of flaming poo EVAR.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Jan 24th 2006 1:51PM
There comes a point when all a jackass needs is a swift kick in the gonads. Thumper is way past that point.
boneyard @ Jan 25th 2006 4:16AM
briliant idea, i signed up already.
kste @ Jan 25th 2006 8:52AM
Hoping he has hayfever...
Jack Thompson @ Jan 25th 2006 12:34PM
Thanks for the thought. As soon as I get the flowers, I will pack them up and send them to to Judge James M. Moore, Fayette County Courthouse, Fayette, Alabama 35555. He is the Judge presiding over our wrongful death case which arose out of Devin Moore's training on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to kill 2 cops and a dispather. We were all on 60 Minutes about it. I want Judge Moore to know that the flowers are an "in memoriam" tribute to the three good men cut down because Paul Eibeler, CEO of Take-Two/Rockstar is a sociopathic criminal who knowingly markets adult, cop-killing murder simulators to kids. GTA has spawned multiple murders around the country, including the school massacre in Red Lake, MN. Go ahead. Send me the flowers. They'll be sent right off to the Judge, with an explanation as to who sent them and then who forwarded them, and why. Go ahead; make my day. Jack Thompson
Zento @ Jan 25th 2006 11:41PM
Dear Jack Thompson,
I live in Minnesota, so what happened in Red Lake has scared and creeped me out far more than it ever could with you. In fact, we had a lockdown at my high school after a man with a knife entered and asked where a specific student was. So those two things have made me more than a little worried about school violence. But did I go and blame those two events on GTA, Manhunt, or any other video game, made by Rockstar or not? Not a bit.
I'll admit, I haven't really studied the Red Lake incident in depth, but with all the media coverage it got in Minn., I'd say my knowledge on it is better than average. And during the entire media blitz that we had, I don't recall any mention of the student's assualt having any relation to violent video games. I do distinctly remember a picture the student drew and posted on the internet though. What was it about? Him killing other people. He even wrote song lyrics about it. I'm no phsycology major, but I'm pretty sure that any kid that does something like that and actually posts it on the internet is pretty screwed up.
Now take me for example. I've played just about every game imaginable since I got my first NES as a child. And that includes Resident Evil 2, GTA, Mortal Kombat, and God of War. And where am I now? I'm not plotting some mass murder/suicide rampage. I'm posting this message from my dorm at college and worrying what my finger positions on my viola for my lesson tomorrow. That's about as far from a murder rampage as you can get in my mind. In fact, before I got my Nintendo 64, I had one of the worst tempers you could imagine. Granted, I was only 8 or 10, but I was still a little devil. But now, even after all the GTAs and REs I've beaten, it takes a lot to get my fired up like before.
So in the end, Mr. Thompson, the way you blame every bad thing that happens in the world on Rockstar or Take-Two reminds me of how I used to act as a child when I had a temper. For a grown man to be acting like that, now that's what really scares me.
And going back to the Red Lake student, he ended up shooting himself in the head. And I'm pretty sure THAT wasn't in GTA.
Phil Halliwell, UK @ Jan 27th 2006 7:47PM
"...Paul Eibeler, CEO of Take-Two/Rockstar is a sociopathic criminal who knowingly markets adult, cop-killing murder simulators to kids."
Oh man alive. You ever heard of the word slander, Jack? Doesn't look like it. Oh, I'm so sorry, I forgot - you have the ability to make the law up as you go along, don't you; you said so yourself...
http://www.joystiq.com/2005/10/18/jack-strikes-back-penny-arcade-in-legal-trouble/
Does Mr Eibeler promote these games to pre-teens and early teenagers? No he doesn't, and neither does his company - they merely make them. They are marketed to adults. The GTA games are marked with a Mature/AO (thanks to your self-righteous babble) rating in the States, the BBFC here in the UK gives them an 18 (ie, only for sale to those aged 18 years and over)... but the shops still sell them to pre-teens and early teenagers, or to parents who buy them for their kids, often well aware that the child has plucked the game from the shelf. Don't see you going thermonuclear on Gamestation's ass, do I?
I'm more interested in the parents who buy games like killer7, Manhunt and the GTA series for their kiddywinks, with the ratings writ large on the cover, knowing full well what the series entails, then kick off that their beloved offspring are being corrupted by these games - one can almost hear strains of "Blame Canada! Blame Canada!" in the background. Well, gee, if the game stores stuck to the ratings, and didn't sell such a product to an underage kid or to an adult who clearly has no clue about what they're buying for their little darlings (or couldn't care less until it's too late), your pitiful abuse wouldn't look half as sanctimonious as it does. Although I don't think that would stop you somehow.
I also resent your previous statement that we gamers should get a life. I have more of one than it would seem you do, sir. Through my numerous interests, I have had experiences that I wouldn't swap for anything. The adrenalin rush of watching World Bowl XI with four mates in Scotland. Laughing until it hurts amongst good company at anime conventions across the country. Music concerts at Wembley and Sheffield Arenas that I will never forget as long as I live. Winning a 1-on-3 bout of Tekken 3 at an anime meet in 1998, being watched by a sizeable crowd, with a reaction from the assembled as if I'd just won the FA Cup.
Lifelong friendships have been formed at these events - and I've even been lucky enough to find lovers on occasion. There is a simple difference when it's boiled right down: taking pleasure in doing things that one enjoys, relishing new experiences and making memories that can be looked on in hindsight with a smile - or spouting bile about something one has no intention of even trying to understand, jumping to irrational conclusions, and tarring whole swathes of two generations with the same brush. Who's the one without a like now, eh?
I have a life, Jack. I also have a mind of my own. You do NOT tell me what to think, what to say, what to do - you do not, and never will (God willing), have that right. Everyone in these forums knows that gamers are not your intended audience anyway - we know that it's the Religious Right and the gullible masses that neither know or care about video games you're barking your hollow wee nut off at. Anyone who knows even the slightest bit about gaming beyond GTA knows you're gesticulating from your sacrum.
I'd take you in a game of We Love Katamari any day, but you already think gamers are on drugs...
Cheezyphish @ Jan 28th 2006 12:58PM
Dear Zento,
All i have to say is amen, brother, amen. this is exactly how we should respond to jack's constant comments on this site, no matter how ludicris and pointless they may be. Why he is spending his time posting self defenses on the web, no one may ever know. Heres a hint jack, if you are reading this (and I know you are) try making claims that have crediblity or focusing on a topic that really matters, like why there are soliders needlessly dying every day in Iraq, gay and lesbian people getting the rights they deserve, the plummetting econemy, the skyrocketing gas prices, the constant job outsourcing, the tourture of PoWs deemed illegal under the Geneva Code, the steady decline of the environment, the problems in Israel, the brewing tennsion with Iran, the fact that underage minors are managing to get a gun to use their so called "murder training" or one of the many other REAL problems in the world today. Have you ever even tried playing a videogame before? Im just wondering how you can oppose something that you know absolutly nothing about.
Jack Thompson @ Jan 31st 2006 3:09PM
Dear Zento: As to the video game-inspired school killings at Red Lake creeping you out more than me--sorry, wrong again. I've represented parents whose daughters were shot and killed by a gamer in Paducah. Have you done that? No. Have you spoken with the FBI Special Agent in Charge who investigated the Red Lake shootings and found the role of GTA: Vice City in that? No, you have not. You gamers love to talk about things about which you know nothing. You know the price of every game, and the value of nothing.
As the "Amen corner" above, my "constant comments" at this site are in response to this site's obsession with Jack Thompson. What, I don't have a right to defend myself? Interesting view of the First Amendment, that. Anyway, send me the flowers and they're right off to the Alabama Judge in memory of the offiers slain because of GTA: VC. Oh, and as to Paul Eibeler being a sociopathic criminal, check this out. He puts out adult-rated sex to kids (ever hear of Hot Coffee?) which is a criminal act. As to whether he is a sociopath, ever play GTA? Truth is a defense, which is why Paul Eibeler, voted MarketWatch's "Worst American CEO in 2005," hasn't sued me.
You gamers can't handle the truth now can you, which is why you resort to 12-year-old pranks like sending somebody flowers. Pathetic. Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson @ Jan 31st 2006 3:13PM
Oh, two more things: Yes, I've played the games. I'm astonished that you would assume I know nothing about what I know everything about.
Secondly, WHERE ARE THE FREAKING FLOWERS?????
Jack Thompson
Phil Halliwell @ Jan 31st 2006 7:26PM
New US promotional slogan for the UK Tourism Industry:
Come to Britain. We don't have Jack Thompson.
Is there amy way we can block out this muppet's ranting, mods, like in a regular forum? He's starting to bore even me now...
Jack Thompson @ Feb 1st 2006 5:03AM
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?
WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS? Jack Thompson
Phil Halliwell @ Feb 1st 2006 6:29PM
And you have the bare-arsed cheek to call us children.
Grow up.
Revo @ Feb 1st 2006 8:21PM
I'm somewhat inclined to think you're just an impersonator at this point. A crazy as Jack Thompson is, I'm not sure if he possesses the 5-year-old's mentality required to post what you just did.
Very noble cause, by the way, even if Jack doesn't seem to appreciate it.
Phil Halliwell @ Feb 2nd 2006 2:08PM
Not necessarily, Revo. Check back through some of the items the muppet's posted on...
www.joystiq.com/2005/10/18/jack-strikes-back-penny-arcade-in-legal-trouble/
www.joystiq.com/2005/10/21/jack-thompson-calls-for-a-truce/
The latter in particular... read it from Chris K's post (#21) onwards. Made for interesting reading.
Could Conrad & Co confirm that the poster of items 18, 22, 23 and 25 on this thread are from everyone's least favourite sheet stain, please? It would at least confirm that he's edging ever closer to a complete emotional and nervous breakdown (get ready to crack open the Tizer).
Revo @ Feb 4th 2006 5:00PM
I wasn't totally serious when I said that I didn't believe he was for real, but I certainly had my doubts. Thanks for clearing that up though.
Zento @ Feb 6th 2006 11:43AM
Since you, Jack Thompson, offered to fix some things about my post, allow me to do the same thing with yours.
Post #22: "I've represented parents whose daughters were shot and killed by a gamer in Paducah. Have you done that? No."
Response: You're absolutely right. I have, in fact, never shot girls, or anybody else for that matter. I have, however, shot pop cans, with the pop cans coming out just fine in the end, thanks to my horrible aim. That little experience taught me that just because I can shoot a gun in a game doesn't mean I can actually shoot a gun.
Post #23: "Yes, I've played the games. I'm astonished that you would assume I know nothing about what I know everything about."
Response: Ok, so you've played games. Big freakin' deal. The only problem is that you said you have played games, not video games. Scrabble, Candyland, and Mousetrap don't count as video games. And your second sentence I find mind-numbing. If you are a lawyer, you should at least be able to follow the rules of the English language.
And as for post #25, you basically proved that you are not above using childish pranks yourself, like you said we gamers do in post #22.
So how can I sum this up? I think you already did in post #22..."Pathetic. Jack Thompson."
Also, there's no need to put your name in again. It already shows up at the bottom of the post.
Jack Thompson @ Feb 7th 2006 11:59AM
I just got the flowers. Anybody want to interview me about what I am going to do with them? Jack Thompson
305-666-4366
Ray Quincy @ Feb 7th 2006 1:35PM
Jack-
Keep the flowers. As has been said many times, this has been a gift from us gamers to you.
You say that killers may have been influenced by games. That is probably true. However, killers are also influenced by nearly everything in the world, including books (not least of all the Bible, which has been what Charles Manson claimed to get his inspiration from), movies (after all, movies such as The Matrix say that killing is fine, because it frees the soul from the evils of the Matrix- and this from a movie with strong Christian symbolism in it), and even music. After all, it was at a Rolling Stones concert that one of the grisliest murders of the previous century occurred. Were we to censor every little thing that has killed before, we would be left with nothing. Dandelions have killed those with allergies before. We need water, but it doesn't stop us from drowning. In fact, water has kiled far more than Grand Theft Auto, and those deaths CAN be attributed to water, without any doubt whatsoever.
I just hope you realize that not all gamers are alike. Not all of us are as immature as those of us who have threatened you with death. In fact, we're not all uber-nerds, either. I am a member of the National Shakespeare club, have a 4.5 Grade Point Average in all-International Baccelaureate classes, and have published multiple short stories. Everybody is different, Jack. Even the gamers. Even the lawyers.
Jack Thompson @ Feb 7th 2006 1:42PM
John B. Thompson, Attorney at Law
1172 South Dixie Hwy., Suite 111
Coral Gables, Florida 33146
305-666-4366
February 7, 2006
Paul Eibeler, CEO
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
622 Broadway
New York, New York
David F. Girard-diCarlo, Chairman
Jim Smith, Partner
Blank Rome, LLP
Philadelphia, PA Via Fax and e-mail
Re: Flowers Forwarded to Take-Two and Its Law Firm/Lobbyist Blank Rome
Dear Mr. Eibeler, Mr. Girard-diCarlo, and Mr. Smith:
Today I received a floral arrangement from an Internet video game-enthusiast web site to mock my concerns about the mounting body count caused by violent murder simulation video games, such as Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt, for which deaths Take-Two and Blank Rome share responsibility.
This harassment of me follows Take-Twos and Blank Romes lead in characterizing me in the media and in an Alabama courthouse as, variously, a bisexual pedophile, mentally ill, paranoid, and so forth. Take-Two and Blank Rome have thus knowingly incited, through your coordinated antics, the sending of sexual aid products to my wife and me at our home, as well as death threats, for which one teen was recently arrested and jailed in Houston, all in violation of federal and state laws.
Now your collaborators send me flowers. How pretty they are, in contrast with what Take-Two and Blank Rome do for a living. Let me tell you what is going to happen to these flowers.
They are today being forwarded to the three of you, in the memory of all of the people who now lie in the ground because of your reckless design, marketing, and sale of mature-rated murder simulators to children, facilitated by lawyers who know no shame.
District Attorneys and State Attorneys General, including the SEC and the FTC, are now onto what Take-Two and Blank Rome have done to mentally molest minors for money, and I find their collaboration with me to be an abiding bouquet I treasure.
There are people dead in Medina, Ohio; Red Lake, Minnesota; Troy, New York; Cold Spring, Minnesota; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Oakland, California (the trial started yesterday); Lake Worth, Florida; Fairfax, Virginia; Leicester, England; Fayette, Alabama; and now Gassville, Arkansas, to name just a few, all dead because you money-grubbing sociopaths put profits ahead of children, private mendacity ahead of public virtue, lies ahead of truth.
Do whatever you like with the flowers. Discard them along with the decency you discarded long ago. I really dont care. Grind them up and smoke them if you like.
These flowers were sent to harass me. You encouraged their sending. They are forwarded to you in the memory of the innocents that each of you three men helped kill. They are also forwarded in the memory of all those victims yet to come whose killers you have knowingly helped rehearse for murder.
Tell your wives and your children of what happened this day, because one day, He will remind you what you have done, and you will in fact be ashamed. Then your shame will be too little too late.
Sincerely, Jack Thompson
Copies: The Florida, Alabama, and Pennsylvania Bars
Media
Many Others
Ray Quincy @ Feb 7th 2006 2:42PM
Jack-Keep the flowers. As has been said many times, this has been a gift from us gamers to you.You say that killers may have been influenced by games. That is probably true. However,
killers are also influenced by nearly everything in the world, including books (not least of all the Bible, which has been what Charles Manson claimed to get his inspiration from), movies (after all, movies such as The Matrix say that killing is fine, because it
frees the soul from the evils of the Matrix- and this from a movie with strong Christian symbolism in it), and even music. After all, it was at a Rolling Stones concert that one of the grisliest murders of the previous century occurred. Were we to censor every little thing that has killed before, we would be left with nothing. Dandelions have killed those with allergies before. We need water, but it doesn't stop us from drowning. In fact, water has kiled far more than Grand Theft Auto, and those deaths CAN be attributed to water, without any doubt whatsoever.I just hope you realize that not all
gamers are alike. Not all of us are as immature as those of us who have threatened you with death. In fact, we're not all uber-nerds, either. I am a member of the National Shakespeare club, have a 4.5 Grade Point Average in all-International Baccelaureate classes, and have published multiple short stories.
Everybody is different, Jack.
Even the gamers.
Even the lawyers.
DESTRO @ Feb 7th 2006 4:18PM
anyone else find it funny that Jack's phone number starts with 666?
Wonderflex @ Feb 7th 2006 4:31PM
Thompson,
No matter the target market, if a game is rated M and it get's into the hands of a child who's fault is that truly? Can a child walk into EB, Best Buy, or any public place for that matter, and start playing it? Of course not.
The simpilist of fact that you can't handle the truth. The truth of the matter is that if a child, or anybody under the age limit of, "M," is playing GTA then it's because their parents don't have a tight enough reign on their children.
"But you can't control what they do at their friends houses!?" If you are a responsible parent you can, becuse you'll know exactly what goes on in the homes of your childs friends. If a parent is so worried about their children's viewing of games, then maybe they should find out how their game time will be supervised whilst they are away from your home.
Would you let your child go into a friends house without first finding out if they have unlocked firearms? In the same respect, if you have the same fear of games piercing their mind, as you do of bullets piercing their chest cavity, then shouldn't you take the appropriate measures to secure your child from playing them?
Parents need to learn to be parents again, instead of simply assuming that the world will do it for them. I'm a Christian, and do I personally want to play GTA, or think it's a propper game? No, I don't. But just because I personally would like to see it go away doesn't mean that it should. A game rated for adults can be played by adults, rather or not I choose to play it.
In the end, it all boils down to the fact that we have a lot of parents who really don't see the games as bad. The more propper steps would be to encourage parents to see which games are, or aren't, appropriate for their children, and then act on their beliefs. Don't cave in simply because little Johnny wants to play, "O'reilly Factor: When the Camera's Off;" even if other parents let their children play it or not.
When he's the appropriate age then he can make the decision for himself; and if you've taught your child that it's not okay to play games of that nature, then hopefully they will make the right choice. And if they don't, you can at least rest assured that you did your job of keeping them away from it durring the time they weren't even intended to play.
Why not try attacking the tabacco industry? At least lots of many nu-gamers are addicted to graphics more than they are gameplay, so they'll be passing on to the next gen soon, leaving GTA:SA in the past. Tabacco doesn't seem to be quite as easy to shrug off for the next trend. Why not help some of those kids out?
Aubuchon @ Feb 7th 2006 4:34PM
I love you jack
Stephen Arnold @ Feb 7th 2006 4:42PM
John "Jack" Thompson,
I have many questions for you, and actually would like to see about setting up an interview with you for my game news blog/podcast. However, your posts here have been... less than respectable. How can you, an educated man and attorney, accuse an entire segment of society of being "immature" when you yourself are behaving no better than a 5-year-old? What gives you the knowledge (much less the right) to label every single person who plays video games as being "depressed" and "[in need of a] life."
You behave no better than a young child, and that behavior is in-turn drawing out childish behavior from us.
And why, after asking for flowers from us, did you turn it around on us and accuse us of harrassing you? With the flowers came a letter of intent, and some well-thought-out questions for you. You blatantly ignored our expressed intent for those flowers and then claimed that we were harrassing you (of course, you were the one who resorted to demanding "WHERE ARE THE FLOWERS?" repeatedly).
You're certainly showing your true colors, John. I wish the news media would report on this side of you, rather than taking all of your character-assassination, defamation, and libel as hard fact.
Aubuchon @ Feb 7th 2006 4:48PM
Oh... and also, Can I have the flowers? Can you forward them to me? I would love to recieve flowers from you! Seriously, I feel I deserve them after being "mentally molested" and all.
Mathew Ricci @ Feb 7th 2006 4:54PM
What strikes me here Mr. Thompson is that you fail to see ANY good in the culture of video games and the people who support it. I hope for your sake that you do not fully intend to run for president in an upcoming election. As I'm sure you know there are a great number of gamers above the age of legal majority who are quite capable of voting yet for some personal reason or another do not usually do so. I assure you they won't sit back and be silent if you run and you will see the largest voter turn out the United States has ever seen, a vast majority of whom will vote against you.
While we're on the topic of violent murder simulators, perceptions of the public, and politics let us not forget Jack that the legally elected government of the United States is at present fighting wars overseas that are being televised around the world like never before. Does this in your mind make the American government liable for deaths as well as children have a far greater access to cable news services such as CNN then M rated games? In fact why stop there? The fact that you have indirectly raised awareness of such "murder simulators"as Grand Theft Auto to previously unheard of levels you too are now culpable in any homicide which occurs as a result. Better stop your campaign Jack lest some other lawyer decide you're as fair a target as Take 2 Interactive and the video game industry.
Seventy5 @ Feb 7th 2006 7:02PM
This showcases the reason why John Bruce's guerilla tactics and rhetoric will ultimately lead nowhere. An honest attempt to open a dialog with him is publicly contorted (by him) into some feeble attempt to again paint gamers as childish and that we, as a community, are harassing him. A quick look through posts on this message board, as well as gamepolitics.com show his tendency to harass, generalize and insult gamers at large. His claims that he simply wants violent games to stop being sold to minors take a back seat the minute he gets a forum to insult gamers and spit his rhetoric. He has made no honest attempt to resolve the issue & shows his true colors as a money hungry, opportunistic attorney with delusions of grandeur and the idea that he will change the world.
There is an underlying issue here, and that is children playing violent games. I can't say if anyone can be influenced by a game to kill someone as I'm not a psychologist. However, I think common sense would prevail in most cases where that might be an issue. An 8 year old has no business playing GTA or Halo. BUT, that doesn't mean that John Bruce Thompson, Hilary Clinton or anyone else for that matter, has the right to stifle anyone's first amendment right. There is a huge factor that is missing in most of the arguments that I've seen on this subject, and that is the parents. Hilary tries to make parents out to be victims, because there are so many factors in living these days, who has time to be a parent? I am a parent, and also, literate. I can read the little warning labels on video games (and movies & music for that matter) and I can decide what is & isn't appropriate for my kids (yes, I have 3). I don't expect (or want) the government to do my job for me. I don't care how busy your life is, your prime responsibility in life is your children (if you are lucky enough to have them). If I'm worried about what my kids are playing, I look at it to determine if it's appropriate. That little M that so many parents apparently can't see, that tells me that a 12 year old shouldn't be exposed to the game who's box it's on. It's just too bad that they didn't think to put the reasoning behind the rating somewhere on the box. Oh way, they thought of that too!
I have been a gamer for 15+ years. I am a responsible father, homeowner & tax payer. I've never even had the thought that I could go on some shooting rampage after a session of GTA. I never thought that killing was ok. I'm sure most gamers can agree, and for the others, it's more likely that they are psychotics who happen to play video games, rather than gamers who go crazy from them.
The fact that John Bruce attempted to tie some racist, homophopic lunatic to videogames, with no information to the contrary (unless he has some inside track, which is unlikely) just proves the type of person that he is. How he calls himself a christian while spouting off such hateful words about people (gamers) without knowing a thing about them, that is beyond me. I'm hopeful that his continued antics land him jobless, without a license to practice law. If he had any value to add to this game violence debate, it died long ago with his tact, sense of respect and any shred of ethics that he may have had.
By the way John Bruce, you mentioned earlier "our case" in regards to the Devin Moore suit. If I recall, you were removed from that case. Please don't claim ownership of something that you, at this point, have been kicked from. It only goes to exaccerbate your self-important nature.
Edgar Baez @ Feb 7th 2006 7:28PM
Jack Thompson has no faith in humanity.
Andre @ Feb 7th 2006 8:17PM
Jack, marry me?
Ritz @ Feb 7th 2006 11:57PM
Enjoy the flowers, Jack. I managed to find 10 dollars to donate towards thier purchase. Those kind folks who organized it at http://flowersforjack.livejournal.com may instead donate my money to childsplay in your name though, considering my money have have come in late. Along with another $500. And to think, if it wasn't for you, there would be five hundred dollars less worth of games in childrens hands in hospitals, where they are more than needed :) Thanks Mr. Thompson! Your a great guy.
Nathanael Ritz
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Katherine @ Feb 8th 2006 5:29PM
We are simply feeding his media exposure, which in turn fills his pockets with money.
I don't believe for a moment Jack does this for the "good" of the children.
It is shown with his lack of willingness to have an open mature forum with the non-heckling side of the gaming world.
I now feel I should refer to you as "Hollywood Jack," for your theatrics and my disappointment that you can not you can't leave the hype long enough to really do good in the community.
In God we Trust.
Mike Wilson @ Feb 8th 2006 5:51PM
Have you ever stopped for a single moment and thought maybe, just maybe, that playing violent video games are a SYMPTOM of future violence? I mean, sociopaths have a history of mutilating animals, but does that mean that the cats and dogs out there are turning our kids evil?
I totally understand that you're doing all of this for shock value, to try to sell your HORRIBLE book, and it IS horrible, I've read it. So it doesn't even make sense to try to vocalize reason with a man just trying to whore a buck off of the sensationalism of child murders.
What's worse. The "violent" video games that some child murderers might play, or the money grubbing lawyer trying to make a buck off of the deaths of the innocent?
Last note; The crime rate is going down in USA and in Canada. Since video games are supposedly training children to be mass murderers, shouldn't those numbers be going the OTHER way?
I wonder if you realize how completely full of crap you really are.
Alex @ Feb 8th 2006 6:51PM
Jack -
I am a Bible student at a Christian university and have been an active part of the church since I have been old enough to take part. Since you tell us that you are a Christian, perhaps we can understand each other.
I won't bother trying to refute your belief that all video gamers are somehow maniacal, homicidal maniacs, since you seem content to ignore everything thrown at you in this regard. I will instead address the offense I take at being generalized as depressed and having no life. I've done quite a lot in my 20 years. I've marched with my high school band in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, as well as the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. I've also performed in a classical concert in St. Patrick's Cathedral, also in Dublin. I am the principal French horn player of my university's wind ensemble, and I spend my weekends sharing meals and watching movies with my friends, many of whom certainly cannot be considered gamers. So would you please cut the stereotyping? It's incredibly rude, and has absolutely zero basis in actual fact. You've taken a handful of extreme cases and used those to represent a diverse community encompassing millions of people. The logic of this eludes me.
In accordance with Luke 17:3, I find it my duty as a Christian to rebuke you for your exceedingly un-Christlike behavior. Even if I did agree with you that gamers were evil, your manner of dealing with them is entirely inconsistent with Christian doctrine. Jesus Christ loved sinners. He took considerable criticism from the religious leaders of the day because of his manner of treating them with love and respect. I suggest you read up on Zacchaeus (Luke 19) and the adulterous woman (John 8) to see what I mean. Your behavior looks nothing like that of Jesus. Instead, it reflects far more accurately the behavior of the one group Jesus consistently blasted: the Pharisees. Like them, you are insulting, self-righteous, and arrogant. Like them, there is none of the love which Jesus preaches in your heart. There is only hatred. Please explain to me how this is in any way Christian.
Do also note that I've taken the Christian approach toward you. While you insult and stereotype me and those like me, calling us pathetic or depressed, and telling us to get lives, I have refrained from insulting you. True, I've rebuked you, but both Jesus and Paul regularly did the same, and with far harsher language than I used. In compliance with the verse from Luke I cited earlier, I'm prepared to forgive you if you acknowledge your error. It's time for the insults and the self-righteousness to stop. Please Jack, learn to love as Christ has commanded us to. You'll find yourself much happier without this rage burning a hole in you.
Addison Ryan @ Feb 8th 2006 9:06PM
i cant believe that a man that spends the majority of his professional time chasing questionable polygons could accuse us of being in need of a life! you have a wife and children, dont you? go annoy them!
Matt @ Feb 9th 2006 12:03PM
Wait, somebody sent "sexual aid medications" to Jack's house? Damn, wish I would've thought of that...
Ryan @ Feb 9th 2006 3:51PM
Well said, Alex. I too am a Christian and active gamer. I agree that it appears as though Jack has failed to embrace the exact virtues he claims as a defense of his "logic". There is no Christlike-ness in his behavior from the correspondences I have observed. He cares only to be put into the spotlight and be paid to rant. I truly believe that it is his intention to use this campaign against violent video games as an avenue to obtain fame and/or riches. He's figured out what "sells" for a lawyer, and how he can exploit it.
I consider it disgusting to continue to insult and generalize an entire segment of the population based on the behaviors of a few truly sick individuals. I am married and love my wife very deeply. I often play violent video games with her (co-op play), and we both enjoy them immensely. We are actively involved in our community and church. We enjoy snowboarding together, hiking, and socializing with our friends. I feel that video gaming is one way of releasing stress and letting out tension. It is a healthy pastime, and I feel more able to perform my regular duties and tasks afterward.
Jack, it is untrue and unjust for you to assume that all gamers are little assasins in training, for we are not. I understand your need to make a living (I have a full time job, while also attending college), but I feel that your methods are less than honest, and you have taken the low road.
P.S.: Accusing us gamers of harrassment for sending you /Flowers/ (which you suggested in the first place(?)). Wow.