a jack thompson email with kotaku
polycounter lvl 18
http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/q-a/jack-thompson-declines-to-speak-out-on-gaming-violence-025471.php
the way this jack thompson speaks bothers me.
i think he is too concerned with being right than trying to help. the fact he is a lawyer doesn't really help him look any better. granted he's a smart guy, i just think he's playing the sensation card too often with his comments. he's very blinded, i understand why he has to be, but it isn't helpful.
the way this jack thompson speaks bothers me.
i think he is too concerned with being right than trying to help. the fact he is a lawyer doesn't really help him look any better. granted he's a smart guy, i just think he's playing the sensation card too often with his comments. he's very blinded, i understand why he has to be, but it isn't helpful.
Replies
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/24/tech/gamecore/main676446.shtml
[ QUOTE ]
This is a dialog between myself and Mr. Tjhompson, the first part is at the bottom and works up...enjoy. Sorry about the length...
I have met Col. North and he thinks Im a great patriot. Just FYI now this is MY last warning. DO NOT RESPOND!
Original Message
From: Jack Thompson [mailto:jackpeace@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:58 AM
To: hvarn@sc.rr.com
Subject: Re: Open letter
You're a disgrace to the Corps. Ollie North would want you to know
Original Message
From: Cpl Hansel Chad Varn
To: 'Jack Thompson'
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:43 AM
Subject: RE: Open letter
Closed minded? Thats the pot calling the kettle black. In history the voice of ONE has changed the world, shame you forgot that. Nerd? Thank you for the compliment, my God you are a bully. I HAVE FORWARDED THESE TO Senators Clinton and Lieberman, so they may see how rude you are indeed.
Kind Regards,
Cpl. H. C. Varn
Original Message
From: Jack Thompson [mailto:jackpeace@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:31 AM
To: hvarn@sc.rr.com
Subject: Re: Open letter
you're right. you're an audience of one. if you do the math, Einstein, you can see I am wasting my time bothering with a close-minded nerd. bug off. last warning
Original Message
From: Cpl Hansel Chad Varn
To: 'Jack Thompson'
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:27 AM
Subject: RE: Open letter
Because you have no substance to your charges, Ill bet if I was MSNBC, CBS et al youd have some great comment pre-typed and ready to go. You see you should make the time, as the politicians youre trying to bring on board are the ones we citizens elect and as constituents we can make or break political careers. I think you have some serious childhood issues you may want to sort out.
Regards, Semper Fidelis,
Cpl H. Chad Varn
hvarn@sc.rr.com
www.chadvarn.com
Original Message
From: Jack Thompson [mailto:jackpeace@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:21 AM
To: hvarn@sc.rr.com
Subject: Re: Open letter
I don't have time for your "charges." Go semper fidelis yourself.
Original Message
From: Cpl Hansel Chad Varn
To: 'Jack Thompson'
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:20 AM
Subject: RE: Open letter
No sir, you embarrass the nation. Pity you cant respond to my charges against you. Like a bad B-movie you can only offer pithy one liners. Im making sure all communications to and from you are forwarded to the many arms of the gaming and national press.
Regards, Semper Fidelis,
Cpl H. Chad Varn
hvarn@sc.rr.com
www.chadvarn.com
Original Message
From: Jack Thompson [mailto:jackpeace@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:15 AM
To: hvarn@sc.rr.com
Subject: Re: Open letter
get lost. you embarrass the Corps
Original Message
From: Cpl Hansel Chad Varn
To: 'Jack Thompson'
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 8:58 AM
Subject: RE: Open letter
Actually sir, I am an English major, 6 year veteran of the US Marine Corps and the parent of two loving children. Too many games my arse; I figured why bother with correct grammatical form when you havent bothered with correct thinking and logic, instead you offer a subtle insult. Oh by the way, how do you fit into those goose-stepping boots? To think the six years I spent defending folks freedom you would like to just throw away. Not on my watch Mr. Thompson, my brethren and I have paid too dear a price. Oh here is the first sentence reworked with your precious damned verb. You sir, are a blithering idiot! (Blithering is a verb intransitive BTW). In your day, politicians attacked comics, now games are the new scapegoats. Pity your ilk wont blame the real culprits of societys woes and the many Columbines theretofore produced; POOR PARENTING. Your scarcely even understand the media you are so quick to attack. When was the last time you played a MODERN video game, without being guided through it by those who cater to your goal? A majority of the gaming industry produces quality, entertaining and less controversial titles.
Regards, Semper Fidelis,
Cpl H. Chad Varn
hvarn@sc.rr.com
www.chadvarn.com
Original Message
From: Jack Thompson [mailto:jackpeace@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 6:51 AM
To: hvarn@sc.rr.com
Subject: Re: Open letter
your first sentence is missing a verb. too many games, no doubt.
Original Message
From: Cpl Hansel Chad Varn
To: jackpeace@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 6:41 AM
Subject: Open letter
Mr. Thompson,
You sir an idiot. You are about as educated on the video game industry as I am on nuclear medicine (big hint, Im not!). One again you and your pundits of political lunacy are using the video game industry as your whipping boy. Funny how Hollywood churns out vulgarity after vulgarity yet you raise not one eyebrow? Funny how your kind forced the music industry to put labels on albums with obscene language. At least the video game industry self imposed ratings on its product. Thus far it had worked. As a worker in the industry I see idiot parents buy stuff for their kids without regard for the warnings. Perhaps you should blame them not the ESRB or its leadership. Being a republican myself, you make me sick. After reading your open letter I was reminded of the McCarthy hearings in the 50s and how witch hunters such as yourself almost turned America into the spitting image of Nazi Germany. Video games DO fall under constitutional protection. DO NOT go down that road you are trying to go down. It leads to a place our forefathers would definitely fear. People like you are book burners, no better than Hitlers goose-stepping SS. I can only pray that your efforts fail.
Submitted,
Cpl H. Chad Varn
hvarn@sc.rr.com
www.chadvarn.com
[/ QUOTE ]
Thompson says "Kids took guns to school for 200 years in this country without turning them on one another."
I don't see how he can possibly argue that there would be as many school shootings (or just kids with guns) if the USA had stricter gun laws.
I'd say that even if some messed up kid who's been playing too much Manhunt and getting delusions wanted to kill a bunch of his peers, if he didn't have access to guns, it would be much more difficult.
It's not like they're giving away free semi-automatics with every copy of GTA.
I find it interesting how this is pretty much confined to America. I'd guess that the UK and Canada have, proportionally, just as many kids playing the same games, yet I haven't heard of anywhere near as many incidents of school murder or kids going on rampages.
The difference? Tighter gun laws.
Ignorance keeps the CD player of human history stuck on 'Repeat'.
I noticed that in one of the above-referenced interviews, Mr. Thompson claimed that GTA was being used as a 'gang activity trainer'. I've only played GTA3, but I expect that the sequels are similarly unrealistic as carjacking simulators.
/jzero
It's not like they're giving away free semi-automatics with every copy of GTA.
[/ QUOTE ]
maybe they should
matter. If they do they have to point out the real
problems to all these hypocritical assholes.
How do we know this address is simply made up or even more someone simply answering for/as him versus being him?
Simply put, why would he even bother to respond? (More importantly why the fuck did that bluesnews guy have to start conversation with a putdown - Yea, thats really helping our case there.
(whois website)
Organization:
Jack Thompson
Jack Thompson
1172 S. Dixie Hwy., Suite 111
Coral Gables, FL 33146
US
Phone: 305-666-4366
Email: jackthompson@attbi.com
Still very well could be faked information by someone. Highly illegal, but even so.
Satan keeps that special Circle of Hell nice and scalding, for impressive attorneys (words which here mean, "scumbag media ho's") like this guy.
/jzero
2) He's a tool that doesn't know what to say, to who or when to say it.
3) Has anyone baited this guy to see what his response would be. Something along the lines of a thank you letter from some sally-hearthrob-soccer-mon thanking him for being so brave and couragous? He would more than likely tell her to F-off too. I bet he would fall all over himself if some news anchor shot him a mail...
If they are real he is absolutely retarted. It's just amazing how many people want to point the finger at so many other things than parents not paying any attention to their kids anymore.
Sure, if you dont teach your child that injuring or killing someone is wrong... your kids not going to cary that deeply rooted in his logic. Kill people in real life -> bad idea.
How many times are we going to go after the first hair-brained idea that pops into our heads and accualy research from the broad scale to figure out whats really going on here.
Ok whatever buddy. Just ignore this chode goblin.
I wonder if theres a defamation law suit in this. the guy's arguments are clearly unfounded and damaging our industry. Surely EA for example, could slap him with a massive lawsuit... right?
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It's been suggest at where I work, althought I don't think anyone has actually passed the suggestion off to EA(who's our publisher).
[ QUOTE ]
During his career, he has been asked to submit to psychiatric testing by the Florida Supreme Court, while undergoing a bizarre First Amendment campaign. He made some accusations against Janet Reno after losing his bid to become Dade County State Attorney. But let's not get into that.
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http://www.tomshardware.com/column/20050730/index.html
So its worse and sadder than him simply looking for fame. He may be really mentally fucked up.
There's a simpler solution that wouldn't hurt anyone but porno-mod makers. Simply insert language in the EULA that prohibits you from making and distributing dirty mods. The stock photo industry already does this, making it a violation of their license if you make porno pictures with, or even near, their stuff: "Pornographic, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful use of Licensed Material is strictly prohibited whether directly or in context or juxtaposition with specific subject matter." In doing this, the maker of the porno mod is held responsible, and the original creator is held harmless.
Then, to prove this point, somebody should sneak into Jack Thompson's house and steal his digital camera, take nekkid pictures with it, and then return it... Ban cameras, Jack!
/jzero
"Pornographic, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful use of Licensed Material is strictly prohibited whether directly or in context or juxtaposition with specific subject matter." In doing this, the maker of the porno mod is held responsible, and the original creator is held harmless.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would take offense to that because you are limiting digital/web artists. There are a few contemporary artist who use game engines in their digital work. In placing the same limitations on them versus a group of guys making a game would really kill the potential of this media to house critical ideas.
Even more because I wanna be one of them someday AND my artwork is dirty birdy.
Do bear in mind, however, that this is the guy who once said that Grand Theft Auto allows players to rape and kill pregnant women and/or children.
[/ QUOTE ]There, thats a flat out lie. Why wasn't he sued to a pulp for that one?