Flowers for Jack, part deux [Update 1]
by Ross Miller 
{ Feb 7th 2006 at 3:30PM }
Update: For clarification,
Joystiq has no part in the Flowers for Jack campaign other than reporting its existence. We do not run it, nor do any of
our writers have a hand in the Flowers for Jack project.It was late last month when we reported on a campaign to send flowers to anti-game activist Jack Thompson, and yet that post is still actively commented on, even by Mr. Thompson himself (who, among the more eccentric posts,
The letter serves, as promised, as a "a letter of apology...to some extent...on behalf of the 'gaming community' for the generally juvenile behavior exhibited to your home and your persons as of late." The letter notes that those aggressors "have likely destroyed any chance we have of opening, much less maintaining, any respectful dialogue with you." The letter further goes on to praise the community donations for this floral project, noting that it demonstrates the community's willingness to "support a cause of civility and maturity."
The letter continues by asking Jack Thompson for his "main agenda, stated clearly," as well as thoroughly analyzing the etymology of the term 'Pixelante,' purported to be coined by Mr. Thompson himself. Other questions asked include:
- His current opinion of and/or relationship with the National Institute for Media and the Family.
- His plans--if any--for future forays into politics, including a rumored presidential run in 2008.
- The possibilities of a debate with Attorney Tom Buscaglia.
- To quote the letter, "What can we, as a community, do to maintain some kind of non-threatening open forum with you? Are there any people, mediums, or sources we may go through that will receive your earnest attention? If there is, I can assure you it will receive ours."
[Update: clarified that the letter was indeed not sent alongside the flowers. Jack has made no mention of the letter, so it is not certain whether he has received the letter or not.]
The letter, as it was posted by Mr. Thompson on our previous post.
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-Two’s and Blank Rome’s 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 don’t 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
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-Two’s and Blank Rome’s 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 don’t 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
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
IanC @ Feb 7th 2006 3:40PM
Typical Jack
Asz @ Feb 7th 2006 3:43PM
Wow, only JT would think of flowers as something meant to incite harassment. I wonder if there are pictures of the flower arrangement anywhere? I'd love to see how threatening they really were.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Feb 7th 2006 3:45PM
That didn't surprise me.
Tony @ Feb 7th 2006 3:47PM
His response isn't surprising at all. How many more examples do we have to see of him acting in ways that are generally worse than the people he condemns? Whether it's claiming his charity proposal was a "joke", insinuating things about anyone that enjoys the medium, etc.
I really think the best thing to do right now is a media blackout on this guy. Now that I'm OK is out, there's nothing reall that should pop up that will give this guy any more attention aside from things he causes himself. I wish every one would just ignore it because, honestly, considering the reaction of his fellow laywer/political people around him as of late (kicked off that case, for example), I don't think he's much to worry about.
People have brought this up before, but I mean, how much longer must it be until websites with the power to bring attention to this man stop giving him the opportunity?
Aresef @ Feb 7th 2006 3:57PM
Publicity really ruined FfJ. If it was just a covert underground effort, and Jacko suddenly ended up with these flowers and the letter as a surprise, it would have been much more effective. Instead, he was expecting them.
Macobyte @ Feb 7th 2006 3:59PM
Alright. This removes all doubt about Mr. Thompson's true intentions. The people he himself mocks and persecutes make an honest effort to resolve this entire situation, and he continues to treat us, good people, badly just to make himself look like the tough lawyer either he wants to be or was once a long time ago. Mr. Thompson, consider all respect or potential for respect of you in the gamer community as flushed down the toilet, and make no mistake about it: You are the one that pulled the handle. I am sorry, Mr. Thompson, but it appears as though there will be no middle ground reached between many good people and a bitter old man. This is a sad day for your career.
JGE @ Feb 7th 2006 4:00PM
What a tool. Pick the manufacturer of your liking - Craftsman, Stanley, DeWalt, Makita... I personally am thinking Snap-On.
GunForHire @ Feb 7th 2006 4:02PM
What a jerk. He of course didn't want to acknowledge the fact that there are gamers out there interested in having meaningful intelligent discussions with him so he'd rather use them as an excuse to have a go at Take Two...
Andy J @ Feb 7th 2006 4:05PM
I'm frankly tired of pretending to care about this man. He doesn't speak for everyone by a long shot so to treat one man as the problem seems a bit ridiculous. I'm not even going to comment on his reaction to the flowers because to do so would indulge in a small way to his intention. There have been alot of good things that have come from the gaming industry and I think everyone here would love to know more about the positive side. If for no other reason than to combate JT's negative outlook, please Joystiq, post more positive blogs.
I do realize this has been a slow news day...
J- @ Feb 7th 2006 4:09PM
Look at http://flowersforjack.livejournal.com/profile
I dunno.... taking care of a crap ton of flowers is a pain. The flowersforjack profile indicates there's a bit of mockery in this, and how can we get mad at Thompson for recognizing this as the mockery it is?
Now, admittedly, ignoring the letter with it is a bit much, as well as claiming Take Two et al are responsible. But I do see this as a kind of low-level form of harassment.
But that's my take. I can't stand the man either.
Cuccoman @ Feb 7th 2006 4:10PM
the responsible adult in me sees that it was quite rude of him to turn our search for answers, and that he could have easily wiped the sh*t out of his eyes and saw that he could have answered the questions with honesty and sincerity. my inner child sees this man ad the typical "adult" mindset that has his opinions and conciders the "children"(us) to bee too feeble-mided to form our own opinions. in general i agree with tony that he should just be ignored.i also think that our efforts in kindness will always be lost on him, since he seems to think that sincerity = mockery. we have been nice. we have been rude. some of us have actually threatened him. but the fact remains that he is closed minded and that he has his opinion, and nothing, short of devine intervention, will sway him. i say we ride it out, and wait for him to give up
Vagabond Artist @ Feb 7th 2006 4:13PM
well, I take his reaction as a sign to, as an industry and fanbase, ignore the man.
He's not interested in a true dialogue, just making noise to get attention for future political runs.
seriously... ignore him....
....starting....
...NOW!
Kyle N. @ Feb 7th 2006 4:14PM
What an asshole.
The Flowers for Jack letter sounded pretty reasonable to me, and this guy just goes off on one of his pre-pubescent temper-tantrums rather than be a man and answer the questions in a mature manner.
Spooty @ Feb 7th 2006 4:15PM
I think whomever sent the flowers should file a libel suit against him for the blatent lies he is forwarding to media outlets in his response/vile letter. The sender made very clear their intentions and reasons for sending the gifts. His closemindedness to a genuinely sincere attempt for civil discussion should give him what he deserves; an outing to the media for his yet undetermined cognitive state. Unless...does he really consider flowers harassment? Technically those little bastards do cause greif for many people every year. Allergies and all...
JRock3x8 @ Feb 7th 2006 4:36PM
Is there no reaching this person? Does he just laugh when the gaming community does something sincere? Is any of this even real anymore? I'm starting to question whether any of this is actually coming from him because no sane person I know acts this way.
I just can't understand someone who takes only one side of an issue and won't even give creedence that the other side of any argument might have a shred of legitimacy.
I think in the end he further discredits himself every time he does this and maybe if he does it a few more times, the real powers that be (Clintons, Bushes, etc) will completely discredit him.
Brian @ Feb 7th 2006 4:41PM
"You encouraged their sending."
Poor Take-Two. They're again being blamed for something they didn't do.
...And who called him a "bisexual pedophile"?
Rodney L. @ Feb 7th 2006 4:46PM
I agree with #11. No matter people do try to talk to this man, he's going to turn it around and fuel his own delusions. It's best to ignore him and let him burn himself out. Keep encouraging him and he will keep barking like an annoying Chihuahua. What I am curious about though is what is the underlying cause of him "crusade" for lack of a better word? There HAS to be more than being a political opportunist. Then again, I guess I that is enough for megalomaniacs. Does he have children? What is his record as an attorney? There are so many other way bigger issues that can be dealt in this country and the world, for that matter. There has to be something else going on!
Jack Thompson @ Feb 7th 2006 4:55PM
Listen up, Joystiq Jackasses:
The reportage of the flowers stunt involved Joystiq in the stunt. If you can't understand, then the games you play have fried any remaining vestigial portion of your frontal lobes.
Secondly, the graphic depiction of me in the "Flowers for Jack" pic above is superimposed over the poster for the movie "Charly" also called "Flowers for Algernon," which is about a mentally disabled person. Google "flowers for algernon." Thanks to Joystiq, then, for graphically labeling me a "retard."
This is supposed to be love offering? I'm not as "retarded" as you seem to think I am.
The entire stunt is an attempt to minimalize the loss of life that everyone in law enforcement and in the public health fields knows is linked to these murder simulation games.
You all think it's funny. Talk to my bereaved clients in Alabama and Paducah and see how freaking funny they think it is, you moral midgets. Jack Thompson
Brian @ Feb 7th 2006 5:00PM
That's it. I can't take it anymore. My goal for the rest of the semester is to gather as many Jack Thompson quotes as possible, and put them on a website.
Also, I'd like to ask him something.
Personally, I am a Catholic. I love videogames. Now, if Jack Thompson really is a the elite christian nut that he has us believe he is, I ask him this: Can't he see that he's being used by the devil? Wouldn't a classic definition of someone being used by a devil be defined as a Christian that is doing things to non-Christians to make them hate Christianity? I mean, C'mon. I'm a Catholic, and it's people like Jackie that I hate Christians. Now that's irony.
Seriously, though. Think like some sort of mega-christian for the moment, and think about it. Wouldn't you say that someone is being used by the devil if they say that they're crusading for Christianity, and that they are a huge Christian, and then they go around spewing hate, and making non-Christians hate Christians all the more? I just want to see if Jack will answer that question, or if he will just say that he is suing me because I 'harrassed' him on a public forum (Joystiq.com).
Aubuchon @ Feb 7th 2006 5:03PM
Jack Thompson, I Love you.
jc @ Feb 7th 2006 5:06PM
Wow, it can use Google... maybe he had his kids help him use the computer. He did miss the movie 'Jack' graphical connection, maybe he doesn't like Robin Williams because he is a gamer as well.
Personally, I don't think the flowers is a stunt to minimize anyone's death... but a joke to show how foolish Jack Thompson is acting.
Blame is the worst game you can play... grow up Jack.
Rodney L. @ Feb 7th 2006 5:07PM
See, if this was indeed Jack Thompson, I rest my case.
Interesting that some of his other postings didn't to include in link to his site.
Dan @ Feb 7th 2006 5:13PM
Everyone in the law enforcement and public health fields knows that these deaths are linked to murder simulators? There've been plenty of studies to the contrary, Jack.
What we really hoped to get out of this was an open dialogue, but apparently that's something you'll never give us.
Zento @ Feb 7th 2006 5:14PM
"I'm not as "retarded" as you seem to think I am."
So, Jack Thompson, you're saying that while you are not as mentally retarded as we seem to think you are, you are still, in fact, mentally retarded?
I assume that is what you mean, because if you meant to say that you weren't in any way mentally retarded, you would've outright said it.
But if you what you said is really what you meant, then let me be the first to say thank you for clearing that up. Many of us were really starting to question the state of you mentality, but I guess that issue has finally been settled. Perhaps we should send you another set of flowers as thanks?
IanC @ Feb 7th 2006 5:15PM
The reportage of the flowers stunt involved Joystiq in the stunt.
lol, maybe in your crazy world Jack.
Tony @ Feb 7th 2006 5:23PM
This just in: "Reporting on any news makes you responsible for it! Jack Thompson rewrites the laws of accountability!"
Several of the people here didn't even really comment one way or the other about this flowers thing. Personally, I've always found it stupid. The average person is simply tired JT's rhetoric... something he himself has even popped up in the comments here now.
I really have to echo #9 in the fact that this man speaks for so few people, even those that would seemingly agree with him in basic principle. He's burned far too many bridges to remain relevant.
I really do enjoy that everything he writes contains insults, while he simultaneously gets upset that other people poke fun at him.
Again:
How much longer must it be until websites with the power to bring attention to this man stop giving him the opportunity?
Adam Blinkinsop @ Feb 7th 2006 5:27PM
Argh.
PaulBlake @ Feb 7th 2006 5:34PM
"Seriously, though. Think like some sort of mega-christian for the moment, and think about it. Wouldn't you say that someone is being used by the devil if they say that they're crusading for Christianity, and that they are a huge Christian, and then they go around spewing hate, and making non-Christians hate Christians all the more?"
Generally, the best test of whether someone is a Christian or not is whether they follow the teachings of Christ. Watch out for people who say "It says in the Bible...": Their next line is likely to be a quote from someone other than Jesus.
If you spew vitriol and insults at every turn, shun the idea of "turning the other cheek", and lie about people's motives*, you are not a Chrisitian.
* I'm talking about Flowers for Jack here. I'm not talking about Take Two. Take Two is a company. Of course they're in it for money. Flowers for Jack, however, was meant as a peace offering, akin to an olive branch. JT has shamelessly and bitterly batted it away.
potatoman @ Feb 7th 2006 5:35PM
Why oh why must these right wing nutjobs make Christianity look bad? And blaming murders on children's games? Please. Kids sneak into R rated movies all the time, but there's no opposition to the MPAA's rating system or their enforcement policies. Someone name one problem that the ESRB ratings system has that is not present in the widely accepted MPAA system.
bluebren @ Feb 7th 2006 5:40PM
All I can think of now is how people spent almost $1100 doing this.
I gotta call this one like I see it-- anybody who cast more than a cursory glance at the FfJ blog and the comments therein would have a hard time thinking this was an act of pure, unadulterated goodwill. On a scale of 1 to Sarcastic-- well, it's up there. To wit: "...malicious, hateful ... Stubborn, unrealistic fools like Jack Thompson ... Let's embarrass him ... sending him a doorway full of roses just because we hate him. ... throw some attention to a crazy bastard." And that's in their public introduction, on an Internet he scours daily for mentions of himself. The odds that he was going to think "Gee, what sweet folks! I better write them back"-? Slim.
To FfJ: It's called friendlocking, guys. Use it.
To Mr. Thompson: For whatever reason, a bunch of strangers DID just spend over a grand on you. You live or die by your image-- you know this, or you wouldn't make such scenes all the time. NIFM already dropped you when you were saying stuff like this to people it made sense to call enemies; what happens when people hear you said it to people who send you lavish bouquets?
js5981 @ Feb 7th 2006 5:46PM
People, if you ignore him he'll eventually go away. Kinda like the band Creed or Fred Durst.
Violent game loving, Non-Violent Gamer @ Feb 7th 2006 5:58PM
Jesus LOVES you Jack Thompson...
After you win your crusade against the hundereds of millions of gamers in the world who are apparently all morally inept murderers...
..will you then start crying about your clients affected by the movie industry...and then when you win that war...
...will you then start spewing other prejudices (that you feel are justified by your clients suffering) against those who read books classic/otherwise that have violent plots?! (No more Shakespeare in schools!! These books are clearly murder simulators!)
And then when you've taken away all the video games, stopped the production of movies, burned all the books, then what will you do?
-Eric- (the entirely NON-VIOLENT, violent video game
lover)
Juan Carlos @ Feb 7th 2006 6:18PM
He's a lawyer? I did not know that.
Since when do lawyers care about morality? He's obviously hunting a class action suit. Godamn ambulance chaser.
Jonathan Jobe @ Feb 7th 2006 6:46PM
Can anyone out there check the IP of the person claiming to be JT and verify if it could actually be him? Also, to everyone who gave money to Flowers for Jack, I'd recommend not wasting your money on someone who very few people take seriously. Instead, donate that money to Child's Play or something like that.
Mark @ Feb 7th 2006 6:59PM
Oh Jack, keep it up, your idiotic banter humors me to a level I can not explain.
designerwhite @ Feb 7th 2006 7:04PM
Has anyone considered started a chuck norris-esque website for both jack quotes, and outrageous claims of jack's evil lawyer powers?
Someone get on that.
Joshua D. McGill @ Feb 7th 2006 7:14PM
"The entire stunt is an attempt to minimalize the loss of life that everyone in law enforcement and in the public health fields knows is linked to these murder simulation games"
Dear Jack Thompson,
As someone who works in emergency services along side of the law enforcement community and the public health community, I am living proof that that above quote of yours is an utter and complete lie. Good Day
The_Thriller @ Feb 7th 2006 7:20PM
Just for the record, only a portion of the money was used to send flowers to Jack. The rest was donated to Child's Play.
Kevin @ Feb 7th 2006 7:22PM
From reading Jack Thompson's various responses in Joystiq, I can see that he is a devotely Christian man. Being one myself, I would like to apologize on his behalf, no matter how much he refuses to do so himself, because the way things are going, Christianity will continue to be slandered through childish, immature, and ignorant methods, be they frivilous lawsuits or inane comebacks on a gaming message board.
These deaths were done by crazy people. Games do not explicitly make people crazy. A great number of factors - chemicals in the brain, household conditions, abuse, isolation, etc - do. In fact the number of factors that add more to a persons dementia then video games is so long that listing them here would be a waste of space. Taking on the gaming companies is to make money and gain publicity at the expense of the parents of the deceased. It is an insult to the memories of the dead, and the fact that they're closest loved ones are going along with this scheme is atrocious. By attacking video game companies alone, it is essentially shifting the blame from those who have sinned to an entity that, although sharing some accountability, is still far less influential then how a parent nurtures an individual, or even mentally challenging novels.
So again, I apologize on behalf of Christians who are not fanatical on a senseless topic. Let the parents mourn and move on. Don't extend their grief by subjugating them in it for as long as these court cases continue.
Stephen Baynham @ Feb 7th 2006 7:35PM
Jack, you are retarded. That wasn't a "Charlie" movie poster, it was the cover of the book the movie is based off. You remember books, right? The things that competetant lawyers read.
Kajex @ Feb 7th 2006 8:38PM
...
Kevin.
You said it all.
Nin10dude @ Feb 7th 2006 8:38PM
What did they expect? Jack Thompson is a sick man, just trying to get attention. He'll never admit that anything we do attempts to be good in the slightest, because if he did, he would lose his attention. I mean, right now, as he reads this, if he does, I bet he'd think to post "You are sick and decieved person.", or something along those lines, and then some pun that contains a cuss word.
I don't even like, or have even played GTA, Manhunt, or anything. I don't want Bully. I don't even play violent games, I like Nintendo's games. The most violent game I own is Super Smash Bros. Melee. I'm just mad because he's generalizing ALL of us into creepy 40 year olds, sitting at our computers, plotting murders. And when we're not doing that, we're playing GTA.
Over 10 million copies of GTA have been sold, Jack. How many homicides have there been, where the murderer was a GTA player? 50, at max? How many of those have had indisputible proof that they were linked to GTA?
I'm not saying any of those deaths were okay at all. But what I am saying, is stop blaming all gamers for this. The murderers were already very sick, demented people, I don't think that just playing some GTA would control someone to go kill someone.
And the last thing I would like to say, is that I am a Christian, too. But I believe that God is much more forgiving than you think. I don't think He cares too much if you play some GTA, no where in the ten commandments does it say "Thou shall not pretend to kill in a vey unrealistic video game."
Muskie @ Feb 7th 2006 9:58PM
You know, I played All the GTA games. and you know what?
In the first playthrough of all SIX games, I never Went anywhere near a pedestrian. Never picked up a hooker. Hell, I obeyed every road rule but the speed limit! Yes, I stopped at traffic lights, drove on the correct side of the road for the US, obeyed the speed limit (mostly), only Killed people who were already shooting at me [A constitutional right in the US, I believe?], and, after stealing a car, yould you believe, after use, I parked it in front of the local police station?)
And you know what? I managed to finish all the games without any unnessescary bloodshed, and breaking a Minimum of road rules and laws. You know why? Because it's POSSIBLE to do. Playing GTA that way is actually quite a good challenge! Try it, it's hard to do, but it's very rewarding.
Mr. Thompson, Just cause it's Possible to do all those violent things in those games, doesen't mean thta you HAVE to.
Muskie
Ross Miller @ Feb 7th 2006 10:53PM
Just a note, all the posts mentioned to be Jack Thompson are, in fact, from Jack Thompson.
James Snook @ Feb 7th 2006 11:00PM
Someone please send this whining victim of a man We Love Katamari, if he can't play that and relax we know he is not born of this world.
Brian @ Feb 7th 2006 11:11PM
#43:
I think any of them with the hyperlink are Jack Thompson.
ie: by Jack Thompson
Because surely... SURELY... he isn't this insane.
Brian @ Feb 7th 2006 11:21PM
Okay, well I have no clue how to hyperlink on Joystiq because basic HTML doesn't work. Anyways, I'll put the links in parenthesis.
------
#43:
I think any of them with the hyperlink are Jack Thompson.
ie: by Jack Thompson (http://www.theflabar.org/)
Because surely... SURELY... he isn't this insane. (http://www.joystiq.com/2005/10/18/jack-strikes-back-penny-arcade-in-legal-trouble/#c280537)
The_Predator @ Feb 7th 2006 11:27PM
He would have been burning books if he was born in a different era. Best ignored, these types.
Richard @ Feb 8th 2006 12:20AM
This Jack character thinks that all violent video games are about killing people for no good reason. Games like Halo, Halo 2, Duke Nukem, Metal Gear Solid, Red Faction, Red Faction 2, and other fun games of this sort that have you play hero. I have played the GTA games, and I have heard of the "Hot Coffee" scandal. The graphics sucked for the GTA games and you can't see anything that was sexually explicit. A screenshot should be taken of this scene and sent to media outlets so that the public knows that you can't see anything worth censoring. If you want a violent children's game, check out "Little Mermaid" for the Sega Genisis.
Zero_ @ Feb 8th 2006 12:29AM
Has anyone actually sat down with Jack Thompsons and asked him sensible questions? It seems Jack avoids such confrontations and goes on with his ignorant opinions.
What undisputed evidence is there that Take Two's GTA was responsible for the deaths, apart from the killers playing it? If we go by Jack's logic, if the killers breathed oxygen, would that make oxygen dangerous?
I don't see how the flowers are harrassment. Wasn't there a letter that clearly acknowledged that it wasn't? I mean, Jack Thompsons should be the one who has harrased people by telling them to "make his day".