August 23, 2007
Fire up the Tivo!Court TV's Star Jones will examine video game violence and video game legislation at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time today.
UPDATE: GP has learned that California State Senator Leland Yee will be on the program. Yee, of course, was the architect of his state's 2005 video game law which was recently declared unconstitutional by a federal court judge.
We understand that Katherine Fallow, an attorney who has helped defend the video game industry against legislation, will be on as well.
Not appearing: Jack Thompson, who writes in a comment to this GP article:
I was scheduled last night and this morning to be on this Starr Jones segment. I am now not going to be on. Want to know why? ...the video game industry people are afraid to go on the air with me.
ECA president Hal Halpin told GamePolitics he would have been pleased to provide counterpoint to Thompson's view, but is flying to PAX this weekend.
Thompson, coincidentally, nixed an opportunity to debate Hal at PAX...



Comments
Is that how things work these days. You no longer want to work in entertainment so you move to law and politics?
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
She was a lawyer who became a legal analyst who was then hired for the View who then became a "celebrity train wreck" who then became a legal analyst again.
Ah. I get it now.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Participating in the symposium were Judith Krug, Office for Intellectual Freedom Director, and Katherine Fallow, a partner in Jenner & Block. The presentation, What IF: Gaming, Intellectual Freedom and the Law is available as an MP3 audio file.
http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php?title=what_if_gaming_intellectual_freedom_a...
Hopefully she'll have some intelligent input on the subject. I fear she may flock with other limelight-loving, ambulence chasing, clueless "legal experts" we all know and loathe.
I predict Yee's comments will be something along the lines of "I'm disappointed that the court didn't side with me, hopefully the Supreme Court will agree to overlook the unconstitutionality of my bill. It's for the children afterall."
I have very little respect for Senator Yee and his stubbourn refusal to accept that his way is not the best to ensure kids do not have access to inappropriate media, but I have even less respect for someone who would use a racist remark like that.
I can agree with people who would berate him for his policies, his actions and his statements in the past, but to insult him because of his ethnicity? If I were moderating this site I would ban you. In making a comment like that, you conform exactly to the stereotype that the anti-gaming brigade has created, an aggressive, hateful, immature person.
So, the great, self-righteous defenders of freedom of expression, of the marketplace of ideas, and who also say that I am a joke and having nothing to say are such sissy cowards that they won't go on a cable news program because they are frightened out of their sorry wits that they can't stand up to the facts of this issue.
If I were the "retard" that they say I am, they would die to be on the air with me to make a monkey of me.
I've been on the Today show eight times and 60 Minutes twice for a reason. I know what I'm talking about, and the industry is scared to death of me. They should be. Hooah!
How exactly is calling Leland Yee's mother a whore and father JT racist? Offensive, and this is definitely isn't the place for such insults, but I wouldn't call it racist.
I don't think it's that racist, I'm sure many other sites of mainly other ethnicites have made crack-comments like that for white people (or Americans). Plus, it's not like Zigs meant it..
Star Jones and Leland Yee sure are industry people all right.
I think the reason people from the game industry don't want to be on the show with you is the fact that if you were, they would never get a chance to speak. You would interupt them after the second word and go off on a ten minute speal of your "credentials" and you 60 Minutes interview.
They would rather be on the show with someone who will let them voice their side of the issue.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Remember when Thompson described Rockstar employees as "Scottish sociopaths"? What does their being scottish have to do with their work? I have said in the past that he is stupid for believing that video games make people into killers, and that he is ignorant for refusing to accept other's point of view. What if I said he was stupid and ignorant because he was an American? Or becuase he was white?
I probably am overreacting a little, but I still think it's idiotic to bring a person's ethnicity into a debate regarding a television appearance they will make and their previous actions against video games. It adds nothing to it.
@ Jack Thompson:
"So, the great, self-righteous defenders of freedom of expression, of the marketplace of ideas, and who also say that I am a joke and having nothing to say are such sissy cowards that they won’t go on a cable news program because they are frightened out of their sorry wits that they can’t stand up to the facts of this issue."
So when your psychologist said "He said that he realizes that he may have offended some with his ad hominem writings, and he will be more moderate in his writing style in the future.", this is the result? Seems like you kept quiet long enough for them to perceive you as reasonable, then when you had your positive report you went straight back to being the rude, deluded person we are so familiar with.
And JT, even Fred Phelps and Michael Crook have been on major shows like that. Who are they? Look them up...see where you rank.
I agree with Zachary here.
You see Jack, the reason why most people don't like you, is not because of your views...its because your an asshole. You supply some decent facts from time to time, but they are instantly forgotten because soon after you post them, you fling an insult.
Why on earth would the industry want to go on t.v. with someone like that? Its like debating with a child. Because once the debate gets good, you start pitching hissy fits and calling people names.
You just have a real unorthodox way of portraying your views.
I mean Janet Reno? Wtf? Or Penny-Arcade? Gabe and Tycho owned your ass with that check they wrote...and you know it. And you only have yourself to blame for that one.
I would prefer not to wield the ban stick, so please adjust accordingly.
Sen. Yee, by the way, is an American citizen - and I don't believe that I can ever recall any cooperation between Yee and Jack Thompson.
-GP
seriously its COURT tv that means they want REAL lawyers (the hosts aside)
He also reminds me that Jack was offered a chance to debate Hal at PAX this weekend but declined...
meh what the hell i'll check it out
just felt the need to clarify
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
I’ve been on the Today show eight times and 60 Minutes twice
man it doesn get any better than this, certainly says alot bout these shows
OMFG! Court TV has surfed the internets!
It doesn't bother you that CourtTV cares more about the VG industry than about your presence during the show? No ranting about a conspiracy to keep you silent?
I'm disappointed.
GP: yes, I don't want phone numbers for 3rd parties posted here...