BREAKING: Jack Thompson Reacts to Court Defeat in "Bully" Case
BREAKING: Jack Thompson Reacts to Court Defeat in "Bully" Case
October 13, 2006
GP just had an e-mail from Jack Thompson regarding today's ruling by a Florida court that Bully is not a public nuisance.The decision of Judge Ronald Friedman put an exclamation point on what turned out to be a remarkable week in the ongoing culture war over video game content.
Here's what the controversial attorney had to say:
"Immediately after the non-hearing, which violated his own order to give me a hearing, I filed an emergency petition for a writ of mandamus... asking the Third District to compel production of the game and to give me a real hearing on the TRO (temporary restraining order). The Third District denied it."
"...I am a Christian. I am not charged with winning these battles; I am charged with fighting them. I have done the right thing."
"The BBC itself says this is a game with a lot of violence in it, and what is absolutely absurd is the notion that Take-Two can release this game to major media like the BBC and not thereby waive their right to keep it out of the hands of a plaintiff."
"The judge never viewed the entire game, as he promised he would. He took unsworn testimony from 2 Take-Two employees, with no right by me to cross-examine."
"The judge's spiteful 'production' of the game after the game was released, on 'Tuesday morning' was childish. The judge, then, violated an order to give me a hearing that he signed. He violated his own promise to watch the game to conclusion (he did not), and he denied the TRO with absolutely no idea what a video game is and the expert testimony, which he did not want to hear, as to what the harm would be."
"When kids start showing up in ERs with slingshot wounds at the hands of Bully enthusiasts, don't blame me."
GamePolitics will have more on this later, including copies of legal motions filed by Thompson today.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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Comments
“When kids start showing up in ERs with slingshot wounds at the hands of Bully enthusiasts, don’t blame me.”
Im sure kids already show up with wounds from slingshots......
The trailers we have seen do not contain anything that Mr. Thompson decsribes, and we now know that neither does the game. We must all tip our caps to this judge, and his sound decision. This should never have even seen a courtroom, and he seems to have sent Jack packing without delay.
This isn't about being a Christian, it's about finding that next big area of Tort law. This just isn't it, 'ol buddy.
Hang it up.
The First Amendment wins again, thank you, good night all.
Note to Jack: Political suicide is NOT the way to win. Maybe you should walk away gracefully without turning around an launching your own 'childish' remarks just because you lost. Grow up, you wimp.
Jeez, can't you take the decision like a man? Seriously, if you're just "charged with fighting" these battles, why get all pissy and childish when they don't go your way? Get over it, stop fligning around accusations of malpractice and actually act like a reasonable, rational human being for once. Destructoid's coverage certainly makes it look like you're capable of it.
I can't help but wonder though, would you be complaining about the judge violating this promise of a hearing if he'd found in favour of your position?
BTW, the only instance of the word "violence" on the BBC's report is "School violence is part and parcel of the game". So very, very, Jack.
Obviously not.
Wow, denied by two courts in one day. That's gotta be a JT record. ;)
Another notch on the belt for the game industry. It's so much fun to watch Jack hang himself by his own rope.
What strikes me as most amusing here is the idea that Jack is accusing the judge of not doing his job, which is to uphold the law. This ignores the fact that Jack really has no such cause, since his job seems to be based on his own desire to take away the rights of parents to raise their own chidren.
If only he would put all of his effort into trying to educate parents on how they can stay informed and make their own decisions, maybe he might actually do some good.
Seems REAL LIFE(tm) doesn't agree with you there, Jack Thompson.
Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.
Let's ban Dennis the Menace and Bart Simpson too!
‘Tuesday morning’ was childish. The judge, then, violated an order to give me a hearing that he signed. He violated his own promise to watch the game to conclusion (he did not), and he denied the TRO with absolutely no idea what a video game is and the expert testimony, which he did not want to hear, as to what the harm would be.”
*blank look*
I've reread that paragraph 3 times now and am no closer to understanding than I was the first time. It makes no sense whatsoever.
You are absoutley correct! We we wont. 'Cause it won't happen.
- Warren Lewis
Take Two can choose who they do or do not give the game to. Jack doesn't have some mystical right to a copy. He needs either a court order (which he doesn't have), an invitation from Take Two (ditto) or $40 on Tuesday (if he doesn't have it, maybe his son can go buy it in a double-secret-reverse-anti-sting).
Also, the judge said , according to Jack that he wanted the game for "his full review of the game while it is being played, up to or more than 100 hours." Full review does not mean playing 100% of the game. It means seeing it until he believes he's seen enough. Apparently the judge felt, after a couple of hours, that he was satisfied.
Jack's "experts" can also not hope to provide relevant testimony. The effects of games in general are still debated and, with no first-hand knowledge, they can't possibly offer relevant testimony to Bully.
And when kids continue (since slingshots have been around for several thousand years) to show up at ERs with slingshot wounds, I will not blame Jack... unless he shot the kid with his giant slingshot.
This whole thing is a joke. Jack Thompson is a joke. He is the entertainment world's equivalent of an ambulance chaser. He continues to lose lawsuits and make a fool of himself in the public forum.
What's wrong with you Jack? Don't you know when you have lost? Don't you realize that you are the butt of jokes, not only among gamers but even among lawyers?
Your tail is between your legs. Now it's time for you to go home.
How is that a "non-hearing"?
Slingshots, however, are suitable for hunting small game, effective against rats and pigeons. Dangerous ammunition capable of hospital-degree injuries includes steel balls- something you can't sneak past metal detectors. And in any case, that would depend on the slingshot being used and how well it is made- my guess being that a professionally made slingshot could be more effective than a half-assed model made in the woods. Of course, then we'd have to register rubber bands as potentially dangerous weapons.
Redefine defeat as a victory doesn't change the fact that it was a defeat.
"The BBC itself says[...]"
Sorry, "itself"? What does the BBC have to do with it? And they actually said that violence was part and parcel of the game, which doesn't mean what you think it means.
"The judge never viewed the entire game, as he promised he would."
It cannot be done. You cannot view an entire game as you would a movie or read an entire book. Games react to the player. You have as much chance as hearing the entirety of a person's speech.
"The judge’s spiteful ‘production’ of the game after the game was released, on
‘Tuesday morning’ was childish."
He did what you asked^H^H^H^H^Hwhined about.
"He violated his own promise to watch the game to conclusion (he did not)."
Probably can't be done, and wouldn't want to be done either. How much worse could the game get? If you haven't killed anyone by the 20th hour of play, what makes you think it'd be a bloodbath by the 30th?
"He denied the TRO with absolutely no idea what a video game is and the expert testimony, which he did not want to hear, as to what the harm would be."
I've never read more than about three lines of the Bible. However, I know that it is a book and I know roughly what it is about, so I say I'm an expert on it. Dun work like that, boy. You do not know what a computer game is, Jack. You are not an expert on them.
"When kids start showing up in ERs with slingshot wounds at the hands of Bully enthusiasts, don’t blame me."
You seem to be doing a pretty good job of encouraging school violence, you know. You are the one flooding the media with talks of "Columbine simulators" how there are schoolyard violence training tools available for the PS2. Until you came along, people were simply vaguely aware that a game about fighting bullies was coming out. In this email you suggest that people should fire slingshots at each other.
Yes, you do. You talk about it and say it will happen. That's as much "encouragement" as the game Bully could do.
Above all though, you lost. You can't stop people from having fun - harmless fun, at that - but you just keep on trying. That's the funniest thing of all.
Maybe I'm not "popular." Maybe I don't "win cases" or "get things done." Maybe people "send me sex toys" and "make fun of me on online forums." Maybe I'm "homophobic" and "close-minded." Maybe I don't "respect the first amendment" or "tell the truth"...but I'm a Christian, so if you disagree, then you're...how do I put this?..."Satan."
Jack demands to have the game reviewed
Judge does so. 100 hours of the game must be played.
Jack makes request that there be a judgement after 4 hours.
Jack whines because it wasnt' tested enough.
Anyone else here's brain hurting right now....
Jack, for once in your miserable life shut the Hell up and go sulk in a corner somewhere. Face it, man. You LOST!!! You took on 2 Live Crew the EXACT SAME WAY back in the '90s and you lost! You took on video games this time and you lost AGAIN!!! This should tell you something; namely throw in the towel and find another cultural scapegoat. Maybe it will sink in when you get your ass handed to you in New Mexico a few months from now.
And for gods' sake (yes, I used "gods" plural. I've become disgusted with Christianity because of people like you and have turned Pagan. They don't force their beliefs down other people's throats, unlike you), don't try to spin this into a victory. You just can't. It's impossible. Everyone's seen you for what you are now: a demagouge, a bigot, a charlatan and a sham. That you've proved it by showing just how sore a loser you are compounds it.
I'm going to assume you like Bill O'Reilly. Well, to use two of his popular catchphrases on you, "You're out of the box! You're in the no-spin zone!"
Enjoy what's left of your career while you have it, Jack. Both this and the Posey case will finally be what undoes you. Trust me.
You may think you're the good guy, but you're wrong. WE are. And like it or not, the good guys won.
I'll close with what my friend Yuki likes to say, "In what world could you have possibly EVER beaten us?"
That slingshot comment is priceless- and another indicator of his mental illness.
The judge said up to or more than 100 hours, read: any amount of time I deem necessary. The judge (not Jack) decided after a few hours that he was ready to rule. Jack just got a press release out about it... for some reason.
@Rachel
And they tell me that if I keep up these "frivolous" lawsuits, that I'll end up living in a VAN down by THE RIVER!
I celebrated this minor but nonetheless great victory by joining the ECA and pre-ordering GameStop's special edition of Bully. Too bad I missed out on the Wii preorders this morning :(
http://jackthompson.justgotowned.com/
To me, Jack is basically the living embodiment of the PA cartoon of how otherwise normal people sometimes are on the internet.
Every personal account of him tends to describe as a pretty calm, if horribly misinformed and dogmatic person. His TV appearances tend to bear this out. He comes across as pretty normal.
But... when you get into email conversations with him (see: Scott Ramsoomair, PA, etc) or happen to observe him on a message board (like the old LJ version of GP), you get to see the... less pleasant... side of him.
What a load of *is killed via slingshot barrage*
"Pollawunga chumble sprootz. Blahblah yabbadoobydoo eejeemera wonka pow! Jibble jor goonka whackamole."
I hope that clears up any confusion.
Ah yes, "Gabe's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory"
About the ruling: Yep. Exactly what I predicted. I'm not at all surprised by his comments.
I'm just wondering if maybe I've been missing it or if I'm crazy or what.
Don't bother e-mailing Saturday Night Live. The only person that can make Jack Thompson look like a bigger ass than he already is. And that person is Jack Thompson.
http://www.wsrockets.com/temppic/jacktomp.jpg
Please don't lump Jack in the the right wing. Speaking on behalf of The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy(tm), we don't want him.
If this is true Jack actually has some legal grounds here against the judge
“When kids start showing up in ERs with slingshot wounds at the hands of Bully enthusiasts, don’t blame me.”
Don't worry we won't, and unless the projectile used was really sharp, hit the victim in the eye or was somehow swallowed or lodged in their throat I don't think a lot of kids are going to be hurt from slingshots (unless they used the big one you brought).
Having personally survived a number of "slingshot wounds" with little more than an annoying welt, I would think this to be an unequivocal improvement over kids showing up in ERs with gunshot wounds. But then, maybe Jack just likes guns more than I do...
Isn't every day unlucky for him?
That's what he does when he's not outlawing video games. I'm not kidding. You can't make that up.
Fact is, all those "complaints" would have been denied as existing if John Bruce had WON and the other side complained.
As to my prior complaints about how the judge acted on Wednesday... I still have concerns. They don't disappear simply because we won. Maybe he was biased on Wednesday. Maybe he wasn't. But what was described to us still has me suspicious.
Can John Bruce's argument that the judge didn't play the game all the way through be vaild? Fact is, according to how I understand it, the game was supposed to be played for around 100 hours. But, of course, if John Bruce had WON, he wouldn't be complaining now, would he?
Still, I wonder if this is business as usual in the FL legal system. Sometimes, it feels that way all over in the US.
Am I glad for the win? Yes. Am I concerned about the legal system? Yes.
Am I dumping loads all over the carpet laughing so hard about John Bruce and his temper tantrum PLUS the denial for appeal?
ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY!
nightwng2000
NW2K Software
I mean, cmon. Sling shots hurt!
:)
I also hope the judge find Thompson in contempt for his lashing out at the ruling. I'm not sure if that can count as contempt since the case is over, but surely there are some bar rules about that sort of thing.
Considering how long winded and in-the-know it is, I doubt it is a fake letter....
Bully is not yet out. Nobody in the public has played it yet. The game itself - which isn't available, remember - thus cannot possibly have been responsible for any crime. Instead, he is saying that when it is released, some unknown person might theoretically be inspired to commit a crime based on what they saw in the game.
Regardless of whether or not playing games can turn someone into a killer (hint: it can't) the fact is that Bully has not yet done that. Unless I slept in a lot longer than I intended to this morning, there is at present no precrime agency.
He really is a poor sport.
Still, Gotta hand it to defense on this one, they made thompson look like a fool, sadly however, I doubt the media will report that.
They'll all be "The judge won't protect the children" desptice the fact that the game is likely no worse then tv shows and movies that have been aroudn since the late 70's
Oh well.
On the plus side, I'm picking up bully next friday just to check it out first hand.
Hey dennis, ever think about having user subimitted political reviews of controversial games? I bet that would tick of ol JT and get him to demand that he be allowed to submit reviews as well.
Just kidding, but it would be cool if GP reviewed games that carried some form of politcial message or were in the news. After all, it's not like you'd be short on volunters I bet.
Video games not on tape? Absurd! Uncouth! Banal!
"You are not an expert in bullying or virtual reality, and I had an expert in both, and you never heard from them because you did not want to hear from them."
Note that Jack has a degree in both Lunch Money Thievery and Pixels. Also, I don't recall experts on bullying and virtual reality, but I bet they're top-class in dodgeball and Super Dodgeball.
"Dr. Provenzo could have explained why interactive consumption of this very violence is so dangerous, as opposed to passively consumed violence on television..."
I could've explained this as well, but I wasn't there, which begs the question: if you have a doctoral in telling people things are violent, are you right?
"Take-Two's lawyer, Rebecca Ward, lied in your courtroom when she told you that a "Teen" rating is an age restriction at the point of sale. That is an utter fabrication, and you are on notice that it is an utter fabrication. Ms. Ward is very good at fabricating things for a client that routinely engages in criminal conduct, and you bought all this hook, line, and sinker."
Well, Jack, I'm sure this fabrication of a fabrication fabricates fabricational fabrications.
Slingshot wounds? Is that the BEST you can come up with, Jack? Let me guess, next you're going after waterguns because they make people wet? Thank you, I needed a good laugh.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cody_Posey#The_Crime
(http://www.google.ca./search?hl=en&q=site%3Anews.bbc.co.uk+bully+videoga...)
Bully 'unsuitable theme' for game
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4135988.stm
A computer game called Bully in which players apparently hurt other pupils in a school has been condemned by anti-bullying campaigners.
MP attacks school bullying game
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4380020.stm
A video game featuring school bullying must be treated in the same way as a violent film, an MP has said
East Midlands: Computer games
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/4509848.stm
The East Midlands Politics Show looks at how the video and computer game industry is regulated in the light of Keith Vaz MP's current Early Day Motion asking for the game 'Bully' to be banned.
Clearly, no there is no obvious "condemed by the BBC" anywhere in those articles. However, perhaps Jack Thompson actually meant the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The BBFC is a rating group in the UK. I have been unable to find out from the internet whether BBFC has assigned a rating to Bully. I would venture that it has not yet been rated. If you look at one of those articles above, there were some protestors that wanted the BBFC to rate the game harshly. You can compare these people to Jack Thompson.
Enjoy.
He's acting like the game's Jason Voorhees in disguise.
I just read the destructoid article. They link the bbc article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6046932.stm
I guess he didn't mean the BBFC.
"That is an utter fabrication, and you are on notice"
...Is that Jack Thompson or Stephen Colbert?
Wako Jacko: 0
A Christian Jack? but I thought you were the Lord Himself?
http://www.grumpygamer.biz/index.php/2006/09/23/jack_thompson_thinks_he_...
BWAH HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
I love Rockstar, I love Take-Two, and I can't wait to play Bully. I'm even going to give it as Christmas presents for two of my nephews! They love to play Rockstar games...
Bully goes on sale, OCTOBER 17, 2006. Jack fails again, he can't stop Rockstar. Rockstar rules!!!
What tail? Jack doesn't have a tail, Jack doesn't have any balls either!
*sigh* the really sad thing is, Jack won't quit because apparently he still has a couple of moronic brain cells left (someone get him drunk as hell and kill those last bits of stupidity already!), and still believes that Mario is satan, Doom caused Columbine, and that Bully will be responisble for crap that's already happening. What's next? PONG and Pac-man cause obsedity and ping-pong ball-related deaths? (oh s**t, I shouldn't have said anything, he's bound to read them and get ideas!!!)
Reminds me of a line from the TV show FireFly...."Nothing worse than a monster that thinks he's right with God."
So Jack is down from "murder simulators" (kids are gonna die!) to "slingshot wounds"? The dude is really off his rocker...
Zeph
There are ways other than legislation and lawsuits to change things that you feel are wrong. Talk to people, pray for people, pray for the nation as a whole. Act in the manor of Christ or in the words of St. Francis "At all times preach the Gospel; and when necessary, use words."
Look I'll admit to not liking what I've heard about this game. That being said I'll simply refrain from buying it. I've no desire to legislate or sue people because of things I happen to disagree with.
"Being a Christian myself I have to say Mr. Thompson that you’re missing the point. "
I have given thought to starting a project where I would list, in alphabetical order, verses or portions of the Bible that Jack has violated and example quotes showing him to be in violation.
Just to make the point of "Hey, WE'RE Christians... and that over there... that's not us."
Well, it's kind of hard to keep up claims of Bully being a Columbine simulator when in four hours of showing stuff, the worst was slingshots and baseball bats.
Sure you could still do it, but it's a lot harder to do it convincingly. Claims that people will start using slingshots and bats on each other because of this game is a little easier to do convincingly at this point in time.
It's still all complete BS, but then again, pretty much everything that comes out of JT's mouth is.
So, what you are really saying Jacky, is that god wants to you to fight... and lose.. bwahaha..
The only sad things about the is that mainstream media only covered the filing of the suit.. Its doubtful they will cover the self destructive ranting.
I think Jack's concerned with who might start using slingshot, after getting the idea from Bully.
It's actually not an entirely invalid concern, if you think about it - they're pretty easy to make and can do a bit of damage if you fire the right thing. There is one important factor to consider, however - if someone goes to the lengths to build or procure a slingshot in order to injure someone at school, isn't it highly likely they'd just have found some other way to do it without getting their hands on a slingshot?
"There is one important factor to consider, however - if someone goes to the lengths to build or procure a slingshot in order to injure someone at school, isn’t it highly likely they’d just have found some other way to do it without getting their hands on a slingshot?"
That's the point on the head Jack doesn't want us to consider.
Let's suppose Jack wins beyond his wildest dreams and all video games are banned. Would it really stop even one violent act? No, because games aren't the problem. Even if you accept Jack's argument that games are the final causal link in a chain of problems that lead to these violent acts, taking out the games doesn't stop the violence, because if it wasn't the games, it'd be something else. Ultimately, games are the excuse instead of the cause.
Therefore, there is no societal interest in banning or even restricting games.
Now, that was the eighties, Jack hadn't even heard about videogames, and the most violent thing you did in them was eat up ghosts.
Now he's claiming that any future injury caused by a slingshot by a game playing kid will be a result from having played Bully. Thank God he's lost pretty much all credibility he could have had by now, but those tactics are what makes stupid censorship laws prosper.
By the way? Who thinks this guy is actually a troll paid by the videogame lobby to make politicians who want sale restrictions look silly? Because I do.
I doubt he's being paid by the game industry to troll. I mean, you'd have to be paid pretty damned well to actually go through with what he does without believing in it.
Secondly, as a laywer, he should care that he did not win. How many courtcases has he ever won ? Sounds to me Jack is an incompetent laywer to me, not worthy of defending people for outstanding parking tickets.
For these who either have not seen the movie or seen it years ago here is the scene. The main characters are using cans as target practice with the intention of finally ridding themselves and the community of It the clown. Now sometime later in the movie (it is a 3 hour epic after all) we are shown, at various times, It the clown being struck in the head with streams of light pouring out.
Here are the ratings from imDB:
"Certification: Argentina:13 / Iceland:16 / Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) / Australia:M / Canada:PG / Finland:K-16 / Germany:16 / Singapore:PG / Spain:13 / Sweden:15 / UK:15 / USA:Unrated"
So that brings me to my point, why has Stephen King/The movie company/Lawrence D. Cohen(teleplay writer) or Tommy Lee Wallace, the director, not been brought to court for "..kids start showing up in ERs with slingshot wounds" at the hands of It fans? (Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bulger read section on 'Video violence')
Besides this game was done 15 years ago. It was called Skool Daze for the ZX Spectrum. Virtually the same elements as Bully but in glorious pseudo 3D. I suggest JT should have a good rant against all the sites that it can be obtained from. I'm sure in his polarised bizarro world, this 15 year old classic game counts as a "Columbine simulator". Oh, and any book such as the Just William series, Harry Potter etc. which DARES show kids having a rebellious streak. Columbine simulators one and all. Jerk.
Also, I believe the clown in It is called Pennywise.
"In thirty years of practicing law, it is the oddest thing I have ever seen, and the most judicially arbitrary thing I have ever seen."
This is how the rest of us feel about you, Jack.
I honestly doubt it. No company of any kind would use some form of extreme PR that tacts itself on tragic events and insults gamers over the internet.
“In thirty years of practicing law, it is the oddest thing I have ever seen, and the most judicially arbitrary thing I have ever seen.”
This is how the rest of us feel about you, Jack."
Wow. I guess he doesn't own a mirror.
WHY DOES HE TRY TO KEEP SAYING THAT HIS VIEWS ARE THE VIEWS OF CHRISTIANS!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!
Thompson: -4
Really, Bully looks fine... stop trying to attack rockstar games already.
Ive been playing violent video games since 9... and guess what, im completely SANE, i havent shot up cops, i havent caused crimes... in fact im a great example that disproves all of old jacks arguements.
THE ONLY REASON THIS WOULD MESS PEOPLE UP IS IF THEY ALREADY HAVE AN EXISTING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM.
Also he doesnt represent christians... i know two who played Doom 3 to the end... thats right, a violent game.
Now how about he makes this 17 year old happy, and work on reforming Americas gun laws, or one of the many problems in America.
Well i can honestly say that i cant wait to play this game.
Also harah to the judge and anyone who ever tries to ban any sort of game should be put into a mental asylum. Also games DO NOT ENCOURAGE VIOLENCE u are silly. I have been playing games since i was old enough to be able to understand how to use any type of multimedia device. And i have yet to go on a bloody ramage through my school killing everyone. one more thing u say you are christian and u believe in god and this game you think goes against what christians believe in then why does god let this game be made.
SO HA GAMERS RULE
HARAH TO THE GODS OF GAMING
Your comment was awesome about that pig, Jack Thompson. He is a wuss, who can't accept defeat. Jack Thompson sucks and he's a bum and a worthless swine.