Jack Thompson is a douche bag
He's spent a career building bank on back woods kind of bible thumping and book burning logic. In 1989 he was responsible for the first decency fines ever levied by the Federal Communications Commission-- he led the 2 Live Crew federal obscenity trial, which resulted in the first verdict in United States history to find a sound recording to be obscene. Granted it was in Dade County, Florida, but still. And along with his buddy Charlton Heston (of NRA fame), Thompson persuaded Time Warner to pull "Cop Killer" from Ice T's 1992 Bodycount album.
So I'm writing this op/ed piece for http://www.gamershell.com/ about videogames and violence, because Thompson renewed his crusade last week by suing Sony, Take Two (publisher of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto Vice City), Gamestop and Walmart for $300 million. He's saying they all played a roll in training Devin Thompson to go on a carjacking kill spree in June of 2003. Devin Thomposon is accused of killing 3 cops.
Jack Thompson, the douchebag right-wing attorney, has a Web site where he urges people to contact him about violent video games. So I emailed him to try and get his side for the story I was writing. Here's the exchange:
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: jackpeace@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 6:11 PM
Subject: interview questions
Jack, I'm working on an article about video game violence. I've read alot about your crusades against video games and the Devin Thompson trial and wanted to get you to clarify your position for me. With Thompson, do you believe that he would not have committed these murders had he not played these games? Is there a law in Alabamma that forbids retailers from selling M-rated games to minors? Do you have as much of a problem with less realistic violence, like with games from the 1980s? What about Dungeons and Dragons, which was demonized in the 80s and blamed for several youth murders and suicides? What about violent sports game simulations; hockey, football, boxing, wrestling? How much consideration do you give to the idea that the responsibility for shielding kids from violence should lie with the parents instead of game developers or retailers? I need to get this story in over the next few days, so please email me back soon. Feel free to call me at 201-239-0449 if you need more details. Thanks,Shaun McCormack
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
kiss the game industry good-bye
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: Jack Thompson
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:27 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
do you care to answer any of my questions?
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
nope
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: Jack Thompson
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:39 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
why do you have a web site urging people to contact you if you don't want to talk about this stuff?
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 4:14 AM
Subject: Re: interview questions
read again whom I want to have contact me. have the games so disabled your frontal lobes that you can't understand the site?
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: Jack Thompson
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 4:23 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
"This site's purpose is to give you the means to contact Miami attorney Jack Thompson if you know of someone harmed as a result of violent entertainment, including violent video games." I'm writing about Devin Thompson and the three officers he allegedly killed. In your opinion, don't these people fall under the umbrella of "someone harmed as a result of violent entertainment"? Why are you resorting to personal attacks?
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 4:36 PM
it says if you are harmed. bug off
So I'm writing this op/ed piece for http://www.gamershell.com/ about videogames and violence, because Thompson renewed his crusade last week by suing Sony, Take Two (publisher of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto Vice City), Gamestop and Walmart for $300 million. He's saying they all played a roll in training Devin Thompson to go on a carjacking kill spree in June of 2003. Devin Thomposon is accused of killing 3 cops.
Jack Thompson, the douchebag right-wing attorney, has a Web site where he urges people to contact him about violent video games. So I emailed him to try and get his side for the story I was writing. Here's the exchange:
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: jackpeace@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 6:11 PM
Subject: interview questions
Jack, I'm working on an article about video game violence. I've read alot about your crusades against video games and the Devin Thompson trial and wanted to get you to clarify your position for me. With Thompson, do you believe that he would not have committed these murders had he not played these games? Is there a law in Alabamma that forbids retailers from selling M-rated games to minors? Do you have as much of a problem with less realistic violence, like with games from the 1980s? What about Dungeons and Dragons, which was demonized in the 80s and blamed for several youth murders and suicides? What about violent sports game simulations; hockey, football, boxing, wrestling? How much consideration do you give to the idea that the responsibility for shielding kids from violence should lie with the parents instead of game developers or retailers? I need to get this story in over the next few days, so please email me back soon. Feel free to call me at 201-239-0449 if you need more details. Thanks,Shaun McCormack
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
kiss the game industry good-bye
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: Jack Thompson
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:27 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
do you care to answer any of my questions?
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
nope
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: Jack Thompson
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 9:39 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
why do you have a web site urging people to contact you if you don't want to talk about this stuff?
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 4:14 AM
Subject: Re: interview questions
read again whom I want to have contact me. have the games so disabled your frontal lobes that you can't understand the site?
----- Original Message -----
From: shaunmccormack
To: Jack Thompson
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 4:23 PM
Subject: Re: interview questions
"This site's purpose is to give you the means to contact Miami attorney Jack Thompson if you know of someone harmed as a result of violent entertainment, including violent video games." I'm writing about Devin Thompson and the three officers he allegedly killed. In your opinion, don't these people fall under the umbrella of "someone harmed as a result of violent entertainment"? Why are you resorting to personal attacks?
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Thompson
To: shaunmccormack
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 4:36 PM
it says if you are harmed. bug off
posted by Shaun McCormack at 2:21 PM
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