Adam Sessler and Jack Thompson debate GTA on NPR

i couldn't agree more ...

Is that to be compared to Joystiq stealing it's stories from GamePolitics?

They have this thing called sources. AOTS doesn't...

also, doesn't jack thompson's face look like a cutout in that picture? i swear, the first time i saw it, i thought it was somebody with a jack thompson mask holding a copy of GTA4

Is that why people that listen to NPR are better informed than people that listen to mainstream news?

Wow! Someone used the correct word "biased" on Joystiq. I'm shocked!

NPR has some liberal shows, but "morning edition" and "all things considered" are way more moderate than CNN or NBC news, without the fluff pieces that make the public dumber.

Squirrel, you sound like a typical closed-thinking conservative with the pre-conceived notion that liberals are going to destroy your "values" and take away your assault rifles. Keep listening to what daddy tells you, don't think for yourself.

Well, I am a conservative - so go ahead and attack! But, while I do not enjoy NPR, I could care less about it being a liberal medium or not. People believe what they believe, and NPR won't change that. Crying wolf about what people hear and see has always seemed like the weak link's route to getting support to me. Not my syle.

As far as Sessler - I like the guy and think he does actually speak for a lot of us in the gaming culture. I think slamming him is taking the easy road these days. What has he done that is so wrong? Not a damn thing I can remember. He seems like a funny guy who knows his sh*t.

i think Sessler shouldn't have concentrated on "it shouldn't be accessible to children." instead he could have spoken about the fact that the game does not REWARD senseless brutality, and if these actions are done near law enforcement, the player may be punished for them. but in general I agree, he's not a bad voice for the gaming masses.

also, the callers (specifically the last guy) were just AWFUL to listen to; he didn't help the cause by talking about drunk driving.

GRANTED
No one can take away my assualt rifles *click-click* NO ONE!!!

Hey Granted, last I checked....I did think for myself. You really think I'd let a cigar smoking egomaniac like Rush Limbaugh think for me?? Your nuts!! I'm one of the very few black independant conservatives out there...shocked, no?

After listening to the whole thing myself, it's clear that I was right about NPR not being a good place to have this debate. And Adam Sessler...well, he was in a no-win suituation in my opinion.

He does have a podcast type thing g4tv.com/soapbox

Think that was a flame back at jack's rude remark. He is such an ass. Guy: What agencies are you working for? Jack: (arrogantly) I'm not gonna tell ya.

Wow, getting owned by Neal Conan. damn

Oh, yeah, the picture takes me there. Right. Got it. ;P

Here's the link --> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90102764

The NPR host actually puts Jack in his place as opposed to Sessler.

"NPR radio is sponsored by Be a Brit Different dot com! Meet a real British person and discuss all things Britain!"

I lol'd. Are we brits really that interesting to you folks in the states? Thought not. ^^

@Haggard: No, I'm pretty sure we've got you guys all figured out by now. English tea courses through your veins, you randomly burst with fits of "Smashing good time!" when aroused, and you hunt wild fishnchips for sport. amirite?

But seriously, why are fries chips and chips crisps?! Madness!

It's faux-hawk, not fro-hawk.

Damnit Phoenix and your "too-lazy-to-google-to-see-if-it's-spelled-correctly-first" I so wish I could hate you!

But alas you are me so in order to survive we must get along.

This gave me a huge smirk of satisfaction.

Diddy Kong in Brawl or Mario Kart would have an entirely new meaning.

Maybe there is a legitimate reason to bash modern conservatism. It hasn't been particularly helpful these last 8 years has it? Read up my friend, you sound rather young and appear to parrot your parent's belief systems. True Conservatism died with Barry Goldwater, who believed in a secular, free market, foreign isolationist type government. Modern conservatism is the complete opposite of this. They have embrace corporatism, imperialism and forceful implementation of a subset of American ideals, infringement on our Constitution, homophobia, intrusion of privacy, theocratic principles. Conservatism in its true essence should never embrace the principles I stated above, modern conservatism under the Bush administration has set the country back 30 years, domestically as well as our foreign influence.

Conservatism was at the forefront of denying civil rights for all during the 60's, conservatism was responsible for going against the suffrage movement, conservatism led to prohibition in the 20's, conservatism in the South wanted to uphold slavery. History will show that our current brand of conservatism was just as harmful as the events I stated above.

Every political affiliation has its extremes, and Rockstar just decided to pick on the perverted values that 70% of the American populace is sick and tired of if you look at the presidential polls.

I would agree that "conservatism" today is anything but; however, those stations in GTA are getting kind of annoying. I say this not from a philosophical standpoint, but from a comedic standpoint. Every time they make a political joke you know (before they make it) 1)who it targets and 2)what the punch line is. It's unoriginal.

Otherwise, amazing game.

Actually, you haven't gotten very far or listened very hard. There are more than a few swipes at liberals in GTA IV. There's a whole radio station (PLR, a parody of NPR) and there's the NUCA, and all sorts of silly liberal parody characters walking around the city.

Yes, they nail conservatives a bit harder, but as they have had power for the past eight years, and it's a conservative jackass like Thompson who is trying to shut down RockStar, I think they have a legitimate reason to tease conservatives a little bit more.

And really, have you guys LOOKED at yourselves? You're SO EASY to make fun of, and you absolutely CANNOT take a joke! (and really, you can't tell them either. The best you've got is Dennis Miller, and he's only on loan while he's gone crazy.) When you guys get teased, you sputter, and gnash your teeth, and threaten people. It's almost like you replace humor with malice because of some crossed wires in your heads. You think everything is a plot or "the agenda" of your chosen enemies-- And I'm sorry, but that's f*cking funny, too!

Seriously-- We know there are dippy liberals among us, but the dippiest tree-huggingest, weirdest liberals don't hold a candle to the comedic material found in the average Bush supporter.

Oh, by the way; did you hear that Bush is now OFFICIALLY the most unpopular President in history? It's true. Do a Google search. Richard Nixon was more popular than Bush, even after Watergate and prior to his resignation! Bush beat NIXON, of all people.

See? That's like a thousand punch lines, right there!

Leobebes,
Holy shit man, talk about parroting others' beliefs instead of making your own opinions. When are people going to realize that there are no good guys? When the hell are you going to figure out that they're all wrong?
Sweet, we get it, being conservative has its flaws, but you would have to be blind, deaf and dumb (and also borderline retarded) to think that being liberal isn't just a kick to the other side of your ass.
If you want to talk constitutional infringement, imagine what would happen with Hillary in office and a senate willing to do her bidding. Buh-bye violent video games! Hell, once you've got that pesky "first ammendment" out of the way the world is your oyster.
And while it's really chic and popular to blame President Bush for the woes of the world, go do some research as to why Osama decided that we would be an easy target for terrorist attacks, you know, like slamming our planes into our towers. Here's a hint: read specifics on how Slick Willy dealt with the situation in Mogadishu and how guys like bin-laden responded.
As far as 70% of America goes, I don't know about you, but 70% of the people that I know are silly, vapid twats that believe in the latest liberal control scare (global warming) despite hard science to the contrary, will give up their freedoms for "safety" and don't consider newspapers a form of mass media. And these are the people we should be listening to? Good call. Refresh my memory, this is the same group that freaked the fuck out about Y2K, right?
In conclusion, you sound like the very type of person that you pretend to decry, which would be deliciously ironic if it weren't so commonplace.

Thing is, GTA is made in Scotland, and here in the UK you pretty much never hear anyone go "dirty liberals, wanting to cut into my wallet to feed the parasites".

Our conservative party by comparison is now far less right wing that neo-conservatives in America, so when we look over the atlantic and see evolution being not taught in schools, institutionalised homophobia and so forth, we do tend to attack American conservatives a bit.

Haggard - thanks for that few from someone who knows nothing about us here. To assume someone of conservative nature is a neoconservative shows how full of crap you are. Not believing in more socialist ideals does not make someone a homophobe nor does it assign their beliefs whether man was created or evolved.

You sound arrogant as all hell.

Shall we Americans give you our view on your country and Scotland, Ireland, Wales or Argentina? Thought not. You aren't as squeaky clean as you try to act.

@worst review ever

You decry global warming as being a sham and ignore the evidence presented by the NOAA which has one of the largest collections of legitimate scientists in the world? The planet is warming up, and despite what you say there is legitimate evidence that fossil fuels are LIKELY to speed up the effects of greenhouse gases. It's basic science. Ok then now let's buy your argument about liberals spreading fear about something that is just not true like you say, why is it so fucking bad to reduce petrol useage? Last time I checked the world's energy supply is controlled by some of the most unstable governments and regimes in the world. Why would you want to continue to line their pockets with our money?

I never once said that the world is black and white, the Democratic party is also filled with their fair share of neo-fascists (Hillary), but there is no denying that the conservative movement of the last 8 years has fucked us over more than what "slick willy" (b...b...but Clinton) ever did.

Leave politics at the door, this is no longer a Republican vs Democratic issue anymore. I would rather support a tree hugging, environmental zealot, global warming advocate than a corporatist, war mongering, fairy tale believing, itchy triggering, froth spewer. Last time I checked there was nothing wrong with preservation of resources as opposed to dropping bombs for the sake of "Democracy".

+1 one to you good sir.

Touche

I just find it intriguing that she said "killing women" instead of "killing people." I think it's an incredible amount of bs that she only seems to have issue with (or at least only verbalized an issue with) the ability to kill women in the game.