1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Crusader against violent video games becomes violent media himself.

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Invisible Fan, Oct 14, 2005.

  1. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2001
    Messages:
    45,954
    Likes Received:
    28,049
    Jack Thompson is blasted by pro-family group
    Rob Fahey 15:32 14/10/2005

    National Institute on Media and the Family distances itself from vociferous lawyer

    Florida attorney and anti-videogame campaigner Jack Thompson has come under fire from America's National Institute on Media and the Family for claiming to have the support of the group in his regular open letters.

    The decision of the group to distance itself from the attorney and his headline-grabbing tactics comes despite the fact that like Thompson, the institute is a vocal critic of games such as Manhunt and 25 to Life for their violent content.

    The institute's founder, Dr David Walsh, wrote an open letter to Thompson, a copy of which was obtained by US website Game Politics. The letter was also sent to the likes of senator Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates and Doug Lowenstein of the ESA - the same Doug Lowenstein whom Thompson has previously compared to Hitler.

    It begins with Dr Walsh explaining that he established the institute ten years ago "to engage in research and education about the effects of media on children's health and development." Walsh writes that one of the areas of most concern to the institute is the effects of violent media.

    "I know that you share that common concern and I am well aware that you have frequently cited me and our organisation as a source of scientific information," Walsh continues.

    "However, over the past few months, I and members of my board have a growing concern that your use of our name, without our permission, has had a negative influence as we try to educate the public on this important issue.

    "Your commentary has included extreme hyperbole and your tactics have included personally attacking individuals for whom I have a great deal of respect... Some of the people that you have publicly criticised are not only people of integrity, but are people who have worked to improve the lives of children."

    Walsh goes on to note that Thompson has been using his name in correspondence even though they have no formal relationship, creating the impression "That we condone these tactics. We do not.

    "The result is that our position and reputation as a research based, non-partisan, solution-focused organisation has been jeopardised.

    "Consequently, I ask that you cease using the institute's or my name in any way that would give the impression that we support your efforts." Walsh also requests that Thompson remove the link to the institute's website from his own site.

    Walsh's letter comes just days after Thompson issued an open letter to the videogames industry in which he outlined his idea for a game where the CEO of fictional company Take This, Paula Eibel, is murdered along with her husband and children. Should any developer agree to make the game, Thompson will donate $10,000 to the charity of choice of Paul Eibeler, the CEO of Take Two.

    Mike Krahulik, the artist behind popular gaming culture comic Penny-Arcade and a founder of the hugely successful Child's Play charity, contacted Thompson after he made this offer to point out that Child's Play has raised over half a million dollars for children's hospitals around the USA since its inception.

    Commenting on Penny-Arcade.com, Krahulik reports that Thompson proceeded to call him directly - keen, no doubt, to congratulate such a successful fellow organiser of videogaming-related charity efforts.

    Or perhaps not. "Jack actually just called and screamed at me for a couple minutes," Krahulik said. "He said if I email him again I will 'regret it'. What a violent man."
     
  2. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Atomic Playboy
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2002
    Messages:
    59,079
    Likes Received:
    52,748
    Crusader against violent video games becomes violent media himself
    _____________

    [​IMG]
     
  3. RC Cola

    RC Cola Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2002
    Messages:
    11,505
    Likes Received:
    1,348
    I think Jack Thompson is crazy...literally. Everything I hear/read about him is so bizarre and strange. Supposedly, somebody emailed him and told him that he was a gamer, but he turned out normal. Jack's response was "How do you know you're normal? You most likely are not." And of course, there are stories like the ones on Penny-Arcade which are funny and disturbing as well. Even some of the non-video game stuff he's said is crazy:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(attorney)
    It is funny to see even the groups against violent video games turn their backs on him.
     
  4. RC Cola

    RC Cola Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2002
    Messages:
    11,505
    Likes Received:
    1,348
    This is just hilarious:
    http://www.penny-arcade.com/
    I don't have all the links in the quotes, but you can check them out at their site.
     
  5. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2002
    Messages:
    14,304
    Likes Received:
    596
  6. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2001
    Messages:
    45,954
    Likes Received:
    28,049
    What a freak...
    http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/107741.html
     
  7. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2002
    Messages:
    14,304
    Likes Received:
    596
  8. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Messages:
    14,382
    Likes Received:
    13
    Ultimately, I think violent games do plant seeds of violence in the mind.

    But I play them anyway.
     
  9. Agent27

    Agent27 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2003
    Messages:
    355
    Likes Received:
    0
    Anybody else want to design a violent video game where you go around law offices and courthouses murdering lawyers?
     
  10. bnb

    bnb Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2002
    Messages:
    6,992
    Likes Received:
    316
    I can't possibly believe video games influence behaviour.

    I mean...if images on a screen influence the way we act, companies like Nike would pay gaziollions just to have their logo plastered everywhere....

    perhaps Mr THompson is proof of his own theory about the games???

    :p
     
  11. Bullard4Life

    Bullard4Life Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2001
    Messages:
    1,470
    Likes Received:
    1
    Video games don't cause violence and I'll kill anyone who says otherwise!

    I don't know if video games plant the seeds, but I think they can exacerbate predispositions towards violence. I also think that they can serve as a safety valve to allow kids to blow off steam. I know plenty of guys that blow **** up on GTA to get their frustrations out. Of course, others like to go to the gym.
     
  12. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2000
    Messages:
    25,432
    Likes Received:
    13,390
    That sure is one interesting fellow. Why does anybody pay attention to him is beyond me, though.
     
  13. Drexlerfan22

    Drexlerfan22 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2002
    Messages:
    6,362
    Likes Received:
    520
    Why do people slow down to look at car wrecks?

    Same reason: morbid fascination.
     
  14. hotballa

    hotballa Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2002
    Messages:
    12,521
    Likes Received:
    316
    hahah, I love it when hypocrites get exposed!
     
  15. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2002
    Messages:
    14,304
    Likes Received:
    596
    http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051019-5458.html

    Bwahahahaa.

     

Share This Page