Jack Thompson responds biblically to Take-Two

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 18th 2007 at 3:30PM }

Last weekend we reported that Jack Thompson plans to sue Take-Two over concerns about the release of Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. A few days ago Take-Two countered saying that Thompson was simply bringing another nuisance suit to the courts. Thus, the circle of Jack Thompson life continues. We could attempt to ignore Jack Thompson the same way the Associated Press attempted to ignore Paris Hilton, but then we couldn't tell you about Jack's latest email to the press (full text after the break).

Thompson begins by saying that he has been "praying" for Take-Two to sue him and that this "misstep would enable [him] to destroy Take-Two" and his "prayers are finally answered." He then goes on to quote scripture. He closes with, "Amen, and Praise be to God Almighty, maker of Heaven, Earth, and yes, the maker even video games." This is a whole new level for Jack Thompson. Get ready to experience Thompson v2.0.

Dear Gamers and Gamer Publications on the Internet and Elsewhere:

I have been praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid, so arrogant, so dumb, even dumber than what they have to date done, that such a misstep would enable me to destroy Take-Two. With the filing of this SLAPP lawsuit last week, my prayers are finally answered.

This lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, is, without a doubt, the single dumbest thing I have ever seen any lawyers do in my thirty years of practicing law -- while in continuous good standing to do so with The Florida Bar, I might add, the shock radio and video game industry's efforts notwithstanding.

I encourage folks to read Psalm 35, a Psalm of David, which is brilliant in its entirety (since God Himself wrote it), but for those who don't own a Bible or who think their hands will catch on fire if they touch one, here is the salient portion that applies to this lawsuit:

7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit,
which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares;
and let his net that he hath hid catch himself:
into that very destruction let him fall.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD:
it shall rejoice in his salvation.

The pit Take-Two has dug for itself will be patently clear next week when I strike back. Oh, and by the way, the entire Take-Two management and board will be gone on March 23, so this pit-digging comes at a very bad time indeed.

Amen, and Praise be to God Almighty, maker of Heaven, Earth, and yes, the maker even video games.

Jack Thompson

Tags: counter suit, grand theft auto IV, GrandTheftAutoIv, jack thompson, lawsuit, JackThompson,Lawsuit, manhunt 2, Manhunt2, take-two

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

AirIntake @ Mar 18th 2007 3:19PM

Wow, religion has really warped this man's mind. If there is a God, I'm sure he hates Jack Thompson.

Mike @ Mar 18th 2007 3:26PM

That's very funny!

I love being atheist. I just feel sorry for the moderately religious people who get put under pressure because of this.

Trauts @ Mar 18th 2007 3:38PM

Does Jack Thompson respect Jack Thompson?

bigisy @ Mar 18th 2007 3:39PM

That excerpt from the bible describes Jack more than Take-Two. What with the initial suit he put forward resulting in the counter-suit. Caught himself in his own net, yes?

Chris Putnam @ Mar 18th 2007 3:41PM

"Oh, and by the way, the entire Take-Two management and board will be gone on March 23"

Is he saying he's going to murder them in a blaze of heaven's fires of vengeance?

See Jack? We can twist your words around too!

copa @ Mar 18th 2007 3:42PM

Wow, JT said something really crazy again!

"We could attempt to ignore Jack Thompson... but then we couldn't tell you about Jack's latest email to the press"

We COULD attempt to be responsible, but it's so much more fun to reprint JT's attention-whoring letter, exactly like he wants us to!

Doug Lowenstein was completely right about you guys. You get exactly what you deserve.

Sadistic Freek @ Mar 18th 2007 3:44PM

This egotistical f**ker probably looks in the mirror, talks to himself and thinks that he's praying to "God Almighty." If I was remotely religious, I'd pray to Zeus almighty to shock this megalomaniac into a vegetative state.

Eff him for thinking he should impose his beliefs upon others. People like him, especially those that are in government, are the reason I'm hating this country. Just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean it's wrong you effing jerk.

Tyler @ Mar 19th 2007 1:04AM

Fanboys unite against the common enemy!..i wish

AirIntake @ Mar 18th 2007 3:47PM

@copa

Why don't you fuck off. Living in the dark about JT is not going to make him go away. The best thing we can do is to be informed about his bullshit shenanigans so when non-gamers ask about his lawsuits we can have something intelligent to counter them with. I'm sure you think Hitler would have stopped WWII if the news would've just stopped printing stories about him, right? Dumbass.

Adam @ Mar 18th 2007 4:16PM

I'm a Christian, deeply rooted in my faith. But this is just insane. To take God's word out of context to use it for his own sadistic purposes is just wrong. Plus, for all that is wrong in this world, he's praying for the downfall of a video game company. Jack, if you're going to pray, how about praying for the salvation of those you despise.

Wait, many of them are probably already Christians. They're just not insane.

I can just picture Jack Thompson sitting there, hair disheveled, Bible open on his desk, eyes wide with drunken excitement, barely able to keep his fingers on the keyboard while he types his letter of destruction.

Pika132 @ Mar 18th 2007 3:49PM

Jack, you of all people should know that God did not write the Bible or the Psalms. I am ashamed to be of the same species as this man.

Tao @ Mar 18th 2007 3:53PM

How dare he quote scripture only to fulfill his personal vendetta against video game companies such as Take Two. He is only going down this slippery slope to appeal to bible-belt Americans who are unwilling to take a stand unless the lord's name is put to fanatical use. It does nothing but leave a bad taste in the mouths of Christians, atheists, and peoples of other faiths. What God would take sides according to our whim, rather than by their own judgment?

Steve @ Mar 19th 2007 12:42AM

Copa: The problem is what if the gaming press ignores him and the mainstream media don't? Then you'll get a one-sided presentation of things - all of it, more than likely, on old Jacko's side.

Paris Hilton is an attention-whore, but her antics make her a danger only to herself, so it makes sense to ignore her. Jack's antics on the other are very dangerous in that they influence the ignorant (ignorant at least on the subject of gaming) we need to do what we can to counteract his pandering to anyone who will take up his anti-gaming "crusade" (in this case he is very obviously pandering to the religious). Ignoring him is only an option if the mainstream press ignores him too.

Poisoned Al @ Mar 18th 2007 3:54PM

@AirIntake

*BUZZT!* Godwin's Law Violation!

Muku @ Mar 18th 2007 3:58PM

Wow someone's a little hell bent on revenge. If he's so religious, why is he so into "destroying" a company? I thought religion was suppose to teach you the opposite, or that's always the impression.

Seems like someones been reading the bible too much. And it's nice to see his idea that all gamers or pretty much most, don't own a bible or would ever touch one.

Seems like little Jacko here is a psychopath. Hopefully while he thinks he is carrying out some kind of revenge, we can see the courts thinking he is an absolute nutcase and going against him.

Sorry Jacko, you are not God, so quit trying to act like one. Oh, and keep your damn job and religion seperate. Don't try to push on to us your take on religion.

just me @ Mar 18th 2007 4:01PM

I'm so tired of reading about this guy. Why does anyone give him attention or press coverage?

kyou @ Mar 18th 2007 4:01PM

Well, I'm glad they didn't ignore him because this, is too funny.

"Amen, and Praise be to God Almighty, maker of Heaven, Earth, and yes, the maker even video games."

So, which games did he make again? Bible Games? This reminds me of Clerks II. "... so the Transformers are a gift from God, Randal!". Hey, isn't GTA a gift from god too? Hmm...

ThatGuy @ Mar 18th 2007 4:05PM

"I have been praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid, so arrogant, so dumb, even dumber than what they have to date done, that such a misstep would enable me to destroy Take-Two."

Speak for yourself, moron. There's no one more pig headed and arrogant than Jack Thompson. I hate it when religious asshats believe themselves to be of higher moral ground because you don't believe what they believe. This man is not the genius he thinks he is.

I also think it's creepy and sad that by saying he's "literally" been praying... Yeesh. This means he kneels over his bed every night and prays that Take Two is going to die.

El tonto @ Mar 18th 2007 4:02PM

Jack is an idiot. He lives his life on unproven fiction (religion).....yet he thinks people who play videogames are crazy....at least videogames exist Jack!!!!

Pikachelsea @ Mar 18th 2007 4:02PM

Wow. Jack Thompson, thanks so much for doing your part to be that bad apple that gives all Christians a bad name. Really appreciate it.

R.Kneyber @ Mar 19th 2007 9:36AM

Jack Thompson FTW!

clipper @ Mar 19th 2007 11:37AM

Jack, you of all people should know that God did not write the Bible or the Psalms. I am ashamed to be of the same species as this man.
by Pika132

sidenote but according to tradition god wrote the five books of moses (or at least dictated them to moses), ann when he says that god wrote the psalms i think hes referring to the fact that David (again acorrding to tradition) wrote them in a state of spiritual rapture, and there akin to prophesies.

copa @ Mar 18th 2007 4:13PM

"The best thing we can do is to be informed about his bullshit shenanigans so when non-gamers ask about his lawsuits we can have something intelligent to counter them with."

If a non-gamer asks about a videogame censorship lawsuit, the intelligent way to "counter" it is to discuss videogame content, the role of ratings, and illustrative comparisons to other forms of media that have free-spech protections.

See what I did there? I showed how you can progress the discussion without getting into JT's cult of personality.

But no, your idea of an intelligent response is waving a JT press release in the air and shouting, "Whoah, that Jack Thompson is one craaaaaaaaaazy motherfucker!"

Take a look at Swilinski's post again. He received a press release from JT, and decided to repost it verbatim on a high-traffic blog. Gee, do you think that's exactly what JT wanted him to do?

At least Alexander was honest about it this time. In the past, Joystiq editors have been making a bunch of pretense about how they are making high-minded decisions to cover JT. Alex just reposted the press release because he felt it, and wanted to get a bunch of hits on a Sunday.

My guess is that he will also be outraged the next time that someone characterizes the gaming press and the gaming community as immature.

"Why don't you fuck off. Living in the dark about JT is not going to make him go away."

Ignoring Hillary Clinton will not make her go away. Ignoring Joe Lieberman will not make him go away. But yes, ignoring Jack Thompson will make him go away. He has no power or relevance outside of what the gaming press ascribes him. It was the gaming press that gave him enough credibility to consult on failed state legislature initiatives.

Bonafide @ Mar 18th 2007 4:16PM

Wow...let a man make one comment referencing religion in any way, and people go nuts!

This dude's comments don't exactly reflect a Christ like attitude. He comes off as a little bitter and vengeful. I'm a christian, and I'm not exactly screaming for a theocracy, nor are the majority of biblically based Christians that I encounter. That's not the point of Christianity anyways.

But his comments have at least opened a discussion...where do you guys think morality comes from? What about right and wrong? Is there such a thing, or did some geniuses years ago determine what should be right, what should be wrong. If that's the case, where did our conscience come from? Why are some things looked at inherently wrong despite culture, time period, etc? (lying, killing, comitting adultry, dishonoring ones parents)

I'm interested in your thoughts...cheers

D.J. @ Mar 18th 2007 4:17PM

Wow... guys, on behalf of all moderately educated Christians, i want to apologize. JT, may know and read his Bible, but he's clearly displaying the fallibility of man and not by any means the beauties of Christ and the fact that God and Christ as mroe about finding the GOOD in things than dwelling on pointing out the flaws of people (and hobbies) and then taking them to court and parading around like a fanatic.
As a Christian, guys like Jack Thompson who feel they are somehow vindicated just because they sit in a pew on Sunday to toss around their OWN(read: not God's) self-righteous agenda. This guy is a jerk, so... for what it's worth, please don't take what he's doing and saying and apply it to anything you know about Christianity or Christ. This guy's a wacko. Simply put.

D.J. @ Mar 18th 2007 4:19PM

hm... a few typos in there... dang, I should read over my stuff. Guess I'm a lil fallible too. haha

Point: Jack Thompson is nuts and not a good representation of Christ or His church.

Grendel Pr1me @ Mar 18th 2007 4:27PM

Yeah, because when God listens to prayers, it's always the lawyers who get first crack at it.

Especially the lawyers who seem to speak as if they've been smoking crack all day.

crowley @ Mar 18th 2007 4:31PM

Ho, please, could you just stop talking about this man? He doesn't deserve the attention, and that's just what he's looking for anyway. Just ignore him. Please.

Sensai @ Mar 18th 2007 4:33PM

You know what Jesus is saying right now?

'God save me from the Christians.'

Neebs @ Mar 18th 2007 4:45PM

"I encourage folks to read Psalm 35, a Psalm of David, which is brilliant in its entirety (since God Himself wrote it), but for those who don't own a Bible or who think their hands will catch on fire if they touch one,"

(Henceforth I will be addressing Thompson as if I was addressing him, so beware)

You ignorant little twit! You say you are a lawyer on the Florida bar in America but yet you cannot help but including a complete INSULT to other religions! In America, where we have freedom of religion in our Constitution -- which you, as a lawyer, pretty much work for -- you somehow, in a strange fight against video games which you can twist into a holy war and pretty much think you are a modern prophet. Your god is false, we live beyond an age where we need to believe some tale from thousands of years ago. Yeah, it sucks to have what you believe in insulted. Doesn't it?

Capt. Castellanos @ Mar 18th 2007 4:46PM

"but for those who don't own a Bible or who think their hands will catch on fire if they touch one, here is the salient portion that applies to this lawsuit:"

you gotta admit,
thats one hell of a funny line.

beats1234 @ Mar 18th 2007 4:50PM

haha the picture is of nuts

miles foreman @ Mar 18th 2007 4:53PM

RE: Bonafide

Interesting questions. I was just reading about Atheism on Wikipedia yesterday on that very topic. Here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism#Atheism.2C_religion_and_morality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_ethics

Sorry for the threadjack, everyone.

Noxat @ Mar 18th 2007 4:57PM

#18 you make some good points but I think its better to know whats going on, and yeah I think with someone like JT he won't just go away if we ignore him, thats like expecting a bully to quit flicking your ear because you ignore him. Secretly, he knows it gets to you.

I consider JT news akin to celebrity gossip found in tabloids and all over the news and internet. It causes a big furor at first, everyone is talking about it, but nothing is really effected and everyone just forgets until the next set of shenanigans.

Matt @ Mar 18th 2007 5:05PM

LOL, he is superstitious too? I should have known.

Vagabond Artist @ Mar 18th 2007 5:05PM

I don't think God wants us to go around litigating against companies and destroying them... but that's just me.

TSD @ Mar 18th 2007 5:05PM

Better watch out Take-Two, Jack Thompson's got God on his side!

And obligitory: He's never seen anything so stupid, arrogant, and dumb? He must not look in the mirror!

Chris @ Mar 18th 2007 5:07PM

Wow, good job JT. Way to further the stereotype that all Christians are manipulative republican bastards who only use their religion to further their political careers. I hate him with a new passion now.

Jt @ Mar 18th 2007 5:11PM

When I was in high school, I visited a seminary for a religious award I was pursuing as a Boy Scout. In the recreational room for all of the priests, there was a PS2 with GTAIII. I had mentioned something about it when it was time to ask questions and the response was "It's just a game, this isn't something we endorse in real life. It's fun to play every now and then, it's like a movie or a novel."

I guess it is all how you decide to look at it, I highly doubt people buy GTA as a killing simulator. It's not like Gran Turismo where you can get the shifter, the chair and the wheel and expect to feel like your driving. Almost all of the things you do in GTA are not possible in real life, and you have no controller to simulate real life actions with. It's just a game, and it is no more realistic than a novel or TV show.

pwnde @ Mar 18th 2007 5:41PM

Please continue to write about JT. Because the day JT disappears, and someone else take over his job, we could be screwed. Imagine if someone competent replaced JT, someone who didn't use biblical references in his letters, someone who acctually knows the difference between a Xbox and a Playstation.

So please, write about Jack, so we can keep him in his position, so that no one more competent replaces him in the near future.

Jessica @ Mar 18th 2007 5:30PM

JT said:
"Oh, and by the way, the entire Take-Two management and board will be gone on March 23, so this pit-digging comes at a very bad time indeed."

What the hell is he talking about? It really reads like a threat to harm the people who work at Take-Two on that 3/23. Is there a missing bit of information, a stockholders meeting elsewhere, a conference they will all be at?

On another note...
There are plenty of moral atheists. It's pretty easy to look into your heart and say, huh, it's wrong to do stuff that hurts otehr people. Try to be nice, try to be good to those around you. Many of us really don't need an ancient text, translated and interpreted to the nth degree, to tell us how to live good lives. We just try to be nice, it's not that tough.

Embiggen @ Mar 18th 2007 5:32PM

"7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit,
which without cause they have digged for my soul."

*dug

emmzee @ Mar 18th 2007 5:34PM

Please note that Jack Thompson's ravings do not in any way represent the opinions of reasonable, educated Christians. Especially not Christian gamers, of which there are many.

fragglefart @ Mar 18th 2007 5:35PM

What a total fruitcake.

Dan @ Mar 18th 2007 5:36PM

From wikipedia...Switchboard responded by getting the Florida Supreme Court to order that he submit to a psychiatric examination. Thompson did so and passed, and since then has stated on more than one occasion that he is “the only officially certified sane lawyer in the entire state of Florida."

HOW DID THIS MAN PASS A PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION, WAS IT PERFORMED BY A FREAKING BADGER WITH NO EYES AND EARS!?!!?!!?!?

emmzee @ Mar 18th 2007 5:38PM

On a side note:

"There are plenty of moral atheists. It's pretty easy to look into your heart and say, huh, it's wrong to do stuff that hurts otehr people."

No one (well, almost no one) would argue that atheists can't be moral. The question is whether there are epistemologically valid foundations for objective morals from a purely naturalist worldview.

"Many of us really don't need an ancient text, translated and interpreted to the nth degree, to tell us how to live good lives."

A small correction, all recent translations are not 'translated to the nth degree', but are translated by a team of knowledgeable scholars from the original Greek manuscripts to English.

But, I digress. Back to the point: I too wish Jack Thompson would just get debarred and/or go away and stop making a fool of himself.

reppy @ Mar 18th 2007 5:39PM

Jesus is quite possibly one of the coolest guys ever. I'm not really religious per se, although I'll admit I do believe there must be some sort of higher power out there.

I believe it was Ghandi who said, "I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

I find it a bit funny that some Christians so love the fire and brimstone aspects of the Bible, but do not take to heart Jesus' calls to help the sick, poor, etc. Jesus himself said, "As you did it unto the lease of these, you did it unto me. As you did not do it unto lease of these, you did not do it unto me." Well, that's paraphrased and maybe a little bit off, but the point remains.

Maybe if they followed that a bit more I could look the other way on some other things.