O_o?

[rhanlav]

You know, I keep reading about Jack Thompson's exploits over at Game Politics, but then I found the Wikipedia article on him. Oh my lords, why hasn't this man been thrown out by the Florida Bar Association? Are our standards really that low?

Really, the quote about Video games and Islam... Oy vey! O_o

--Salen

Comments

o/~ Who let the fools out? o/~

[kharne83]

Honestly, I don't get this crap. Espicaly since the linking itself don't make sence:

first off, Gaming is fairly recent: Mortal Kombat's the oldest game I know to get major recognition for violence (Well, the oldest you can go without looking obscure anyway), it was released in arcades in 1992 so it's about 13 years old. In comparison the crimes these games are blamed for have been around much longer.

Honestly, if there's a link it's more likely the violence made the games than the other way around: the violent concepts behind any given game have been around for years or even centuries before the likes of ID and Rockstar came along. Killing is old news, humans have been shooting, stabbing and maiming each other just fine without the game industie's help, and we'll still be doing it long after the games are gone. I don't see what the argument in all of this is.

Re: o/~ Who let the fools out? o/~

[rhanlav]

He needs someone to blame, and its easier to blame video games than to say someone was a really bad parent who trained his son to shoot at civilians with his military training in Expert in marksman. And he needs money. Lots of money. I'm still trying to figure out how a Lawyer of medical malpractice gets off on going after videogames anyways.

Re: o/~ Who let the fools out? o/~

[kharne83]

Probably for the simplicity: Video games are a hot topic, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to link violence to violence...

His conduct is what makes it really bizarre however: Looking through some of the external links (namely the E-mail exchanges with others) Anyone who attempts to talk to him is met with psychotic agression, random physical threats and crude insults. Very ironic given that what he's accusing gamers of.

Honestly, with the way he acts I though it was the second coming of Derek Smart!

[sel_da_visky]

We're a nation of 'put the blame' and scare tactics. High crime? Blame poverty, video games, movies, etc. The blame is never put where it belongs, teachings of hatred and prejudice reinforced by daily doses of news, weekly religious sermons, and occasional terror reports, all done in the name of ratings, power, and political leverage. It's all about the greed.

It's not violent movies...other countries have them as much, if not more, than us. It's not our past...many countries have far bloodier pasts than ours. It's not the video games...Japan is where some of the most violent come from (including the above mentioned Mortal Combat). It's not the poverty...other countries have far worse unemployment rates than us, even considering Bush. BUT that won't stop us from laying the blame somewhere else. Lawyers loooove money and going after big targets like video game makers make them lots if they can even pull out a settlement. Putting the blame where it belongs? Pfeh...no money in that.