Gamers wage war on Mass Effect basher's book, garner apology [update]

Anyone who has stared into the pitch-black eye of madness known as the Fox News Network's "coverage" of Mass Effect and its "Luke Skywalker meets 'Debbie Does Dallas'" gameplay, is probably now familiar with psychology specialist Cooper Lawrence, who laughingly admitted on the show that she had never played Mass Effect, but still assured the program's viewers of the game's vicious, child corrupting qualities.
We imagine the chuckles came to an abrupt end when Lawrence checked the Amazon ratings of her newest book, "The Cult of Perfection: Making Peace With Your Inner Overachiever," whose middling review had been torn asunder by incensed gamers -- many of whom took the time to mention that they had never actually read the book, but hated it anyways. Amazon recently took down these negative reviews -- a shame, as we're sure they'd provide more entertainment than the actual book ever could.
Lawrence has since apologized in a New York Times article, claiming she was misinformed about the game, and that she's "seen episodes of 'Lost' that are more sexually explicit." Nice work, Lawrence. You might have settled things with the gaming community, but now you've pissed off the DHARMA Initiative, who are capable of doing much more than just downvoting self-help literature.
Update: X-Play's Adam Sessler recently spoke his mind about the "Mass Stupidity" debacle -- his video comments can be viewed (and enjoyed) after the jump.











Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
fischju @ Jan 26th 2008 1:05PM
90% of the reviews came from channers, it really exploded there.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 26th 2008 1:36PM
The gaming community is an all too powerful adversary. Much too powerful for the likes of Cooper Lawrence.
Scotto @ Jan 26th 2008 2:04PM
I personally saw the same story and video posted on Slashdot, and Ars Technica. Don't know about the rest, because I don't read the rest.
- Scott
Mike @ Jan 26th 2008 12:58PM
Look that MISINFORMATION was broadcast across the whole NATION.. putting a little story in a paper isn't going to cut it. Even if it is the New York Times. She needs to go back on air and correct her statements.
kojo87 @ Jan 27th 2008 12:40AM
"Look that MISINFORMATION was broadcast across the whole NATION"
sounds like a typical Fox "News" broadcast to me...
T3H WICKERMAN (TMNT DF) (BWF) @ Jan 26th 2008 12:58PM
video game hell hath no fury like a video game player scorned?
Easo @ Jan 26th 2008 1:01PM
I'm with Christopher, the apology was half-assed and she only did it because her book got bombed. So until she swallows her pride and admits she was wrong on nation television, I'll do my part to bring her ratings down.
MaulerX @ Jan 26th 2008 1:31PM
Kudos for the apology. Lawrence and Fox
must be feeling like total fools.
Fox should just flat out correct their false
reporting or face legal action.
T3H WICKERMAN (TMNT DF) (BWF) @ Jan 26th 2008 1:02PM
"She deserves whatever she has coming to her" oh as an actress said to a bishop!
Smuggie @ Jan 26th 2008 1:13PM
Is it me or is that picture of Cooper Lawrence with her mouth open kinda sexy?!?!?!?
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 26th 2008 1:16PM
Yeah, I too view her as an object, a umm, hot body.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 26th 2008 1:15PM
I'm going to keep up my daily 1 star reviews until I get an apology where she says, explicitly:
"I am completely ignorant"
Snipermonky @ Jan 26th 2008 1:16PM
"... claiming she was misinformed about the game, and that she's "seen episodes of 'Lost' that are more sexually explicit."
To bad Geoff didn't fire that one off during the "debate". Amazing how a simple scene in a game is blown out of proportion, where as the magazine industry promotes skinny girls in little or no clothing on their covers and billboards in the media.
Uninformed? The game industry has been targeted for years... It's easy to pick on someone who doesn't fight back but when they do, well, ask Cooper.
Doom @ Jan 26th 2008 1:16PM
Gamers are childish.
OH NO SOMEONE ON FOX NEWS LIED ABOUT A VIDEO GAME
THIS IS CLEARLY A CONCERTED EFFORT TO CRIMINALIZE VIDEO GAMES AND PUT ALL GAMERS IN RE-EDUCATION CAMPS
WATCH OUT FOR THE GAMEROCAUST, MANNNN
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 26th 2008 1:20PM
I know right? Instead of doing something we should just stand by and allow people to label us as perverts and the things we love to do as pornography. That makes better sense.
Slaziman @ Jan 26th 2008 1:22PM
It's ignorance, and people that talk about things they are ignorant about should be punished.
Doom @ Jan 26th 2008 1:32PM
Yeah, I mean, I know I can't play video games if someone on FOX NEWS disapproves of it.
THIS IS PERSECUTION!
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 26th 2008 1:33PM
I think FOX news is the childish ones for all the slander spewing out of their mouths.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 26th 2008 1:39PM
Doom you better watch where your going with this. If you have a book out there pray we don't find it.
Slaziman @ Jan 26th 2008 1:44PM
They can hurt the gaming industry by building a negative image of games, so less people will buy them. Thus we get less great games.
So they ARE hurting us directly.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 26th 2008 2:01PM
Doom I can't believe you call yourself a gamer after saying shit like that. This isn't just a person saying crap like this, it's someone who(whether we like it or not) has a major influence over incredibly stupid people(that sadly populate this entire world). If we're ever going to get out of the sterotype that all gamers are fat and lazy or perverts, we need to stop these lies.
So like I said, I can't believe you'd say something like that. Unless you're not really a gamer.
GET OUT OF HERE CRAB PEOPLE!!! YOU'RE NOT WANTED HERE!!!
Scotto @ Jan 26th 2008 2:16PM
Hey, you dumb bastard. You might have noticed that most of this country's legislators have been for years trying to pass laws based on misinformation about video games.
Letting misinformed idiots like Lawrence on the air does it's part to create a national pandemic of people screaming for the ESRB to be reformed, and for any game with a swear word in it to be removed from store shelves. Next thing you know, it's an election issue, and they are passing laws based on a fundamental lack of understanding of the subject matter.
Just because on-air slander and lies don't affect you immediately and personally, doesn't mean they aren't a significant piece of a current or future problem.
Lack of knowledge and understanding among the public is part of why R rated movies are available at Best Buy, but AO video games still are not, despite ostensibly being rated for the same crowd of people.
- Scott
Scotto @ Jan 26th 2008 2:23PM
Hey, you dumb bastard. You might have noticed that most of this country's legislators have been for years trying to pass laws based on misinformation about video games.
Letting misinformed idiots like Lawrence on the air does it's part to create a national pandemic of people screaming for the ESRB to be reformed, and for any game with a swear word in it to be removed from store shelves. Next thing you know, it's an election issue, and they are passing laws based on a fundamental lack of understanding of the subject matter.
Just because on-air slander and lies don't affect you immediately and personally, doesn't mean they aren't a significant piece of a current or future problem.
Lack of knowledge and understanding among the public is part of why R rated movies are available at Best Buy, but AO video games still are not, despite ostensibly being rated for the same crowd of people.
- Scott
Doom @ Jan 26th 2008 3:51PM
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, GAMERS ARE GOING TO BE ID CHIPPED AND THROWN IN GAS CHAMBERS
Politics' impact on gaming is somewhere in the 470s of 'important issues the nation must address'. I do indeed like video games, but not to the point of needing to spam Amazon in order to restore gamers' reputation as mature members of society who have lives outside of just gaming and spamming Amazon to restore gamers' reputation.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 26th 2008 4:35PM
Oh what so because you have a "life" you can't feel passionate about your hobby? I have a life as well, I go out with friends, I watch movies, hell I don't even play video games that much. But just because I have a life outside of gaming means I should just standby as someone spreads lies and basically insults the gaming community. Sorry, I just can't do that. And if you can't get angry at the fact that this level of ignorance still exist, then you should be angry that someone was invited to fox in order to discuss this topic and was basically ignored. Last time I checked, that's not how news is supposed to work. The people should be allowed to hear both sides of the argument fairly. Fox has a track record of being both biased and completely rude to guests(I'm looking at you Bill). That alone should make you write a letter.
KiraXD @ Jan 26th 2008 6:32PM
so then why not just apologize if its no big deal? because it IS an effort to criminalize games... your comment was stupid lol.
Doom @ Jan 26th 2008 9:19PM
Yes, I should write a letter. IT'LL TOTALLY GET FOX NEWS TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS, DUDE
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 26th 2008 9:39PM
Doom, you care enough about video games to keep coming back and posting, you should care enough to defend your hobby when people act biased and ignorant towards it.
Btw, NOBODY THINKS IT'S FUNNY WHEN YOU TYPE SARCASTICALLY IN ALL CAPS. STFU U TWELVE-YEAR-OLD, AND STOP ABUSING THE GODDAMN CAPS BUTTON. IT'S NOT FUNNY.
Mr.ESC @ Jan 26th 2008 1:17PM
"a shame, as we're sure they'd provide more entertainment than the actual book ever could."
Oh you bet and the user images were made of Win and Epic too Amazon pulled those too.
Mr.ESC @ Jan 26th 2008 1:19PM
I mean't "too bad amazon pulled those too."
So what? Is all over then?
Slayer @ Jan 26th 2008 1:17PM
She's still a ignorant bitch.
Korova @ Jan 26th 2008 2:39PM
It least she admits it. that is the first step to enlightenment.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 26th 2008 1:18PM
While it's nice that she apologized, I still wonder why she still has a job. As a supposed "professional"(though I've heard she's not really a psychologisst) she's supposed to research in whatever topic she's involved in. She failed to do that and I've heard(from reviews that actually read her books) that she doesn't really do much research in her books as well and just really uses common sense.
But you know what's funny? She wouldn't be in her position if she wasn't slightly attractive. Hell look at her book which has her posing. The fact is the thing that she's fighting against is the same thing that's gotten her a job and all those guest spots and radio shows. Whether we like to admit it or not, sex sells.
joke @ Jan 26th 2008 1:23PM
New York Times is the biggest newspaper around, including online, and is distributed nationally. However, the type of people watching Fox News do not read it so this is aimed at the wrong audience.
I don't expect Foxnews to ever make a retraction or apology. They are more interested in ambushing people to gain ratings with their faux controversies.
Scotto @ Jan 26th 2008 2:16PM
I personally don't care if Fox News retracts the story, and apologizes. Think about your average Fox News viewer - do you really think they are interested in "facts" or "truth" anyway?
These are the same people who thought video games were the devil beforehand.
- Scott
Slayer @ Jan 26th 2008 5:55PM
Yeah I agree with you there. The damage is already done.
NeverSage @ Jan 26th 2008 1:24PM
Alright, now that she apologized, we should all be done with the Amazon spamming. Fox is the only enemy left standing. Sally forth!
DangerMouse @ Jan 26th 2008 1:28PM
Lesson of the day - don't fuck with the internet.
StarFoxA @ Jan 26th 2008 2:29PM
Yes, yes indeed.
Hoshin @ Jan 26th 2008 1:32PM
How do I unlock the nudity?
Halp plz!
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 26th 2008 1:35PM
If there's one thing I learned today it's that when you fuck with gamers, you fuck with Adam Sessler. And that's a man you don't want to fuck with.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VBTh1xy5XAI
Oh shi-*boom*
DangerMouse @ Jan 26th 2008 1:41PM
Wow, he did the "finger quotes" multiple times. I can't take him seriously after seeing that.
Sesur @ Jan 26th 2008 1:47PM
That was simply beautiful.
born2kill @ Jan 26th 2008 1:38PM
Shes not sorry. Shes just saying whatever her publicist tells her, to salvage book sales period. I dont care whether she appologize in the papre, on tv, or anywhere else, because based on the certainty that she showed in the interview, any apology she makes is 100% disingenuious.
Sesur @ Jan 26th 2008 1:42PM
I don't know what you guys were reading, but I saw no apology in that article. She admits regret and being misspoken, but never actually apologized to anyone about anything.
NON-APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED!!!1!
Sesur @ Jan 26th 2008 1:45PM
That was simply beautiful. A++
Sesur @ Jan 26th 2008 1:46PM
NOOO! Damn reply system.
Macroy @ Jan 26th 2008 1:50PM
That last paragraph is awesome.
nutman @ Jan 26th 2008 1:57PM
It's really sad that she did not even see the 'sex scene' before going on a news program to talk about it. Fox news still needs to admit their mistake as well. Sign this petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/foxnews9/
MichFan @ Jan 26th 2008 2:01PM
At least she admitted she was wrong. As a long-time Fox News fan, I have to say I'm peeved at the channel for not having the class to retract the idiotic comments their so-called in studio experts made after the segment. This was the kind of one-sided, unprofessional BS that drove me away from other news channels many years ago (e.g., those old enough to remember the pulpit CNN gave to Tipper Gore re: music lyrics -- BTW, nice job Tipper, things have really cleaned up there LOL).