Talk:Jack Thompson (attorney)/Archive 1

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Misunderstanding of millstone verse

The point of the millstone verse is that the consequences for those who cause a child to stumble are worse than a millstone being tied around their necks, but Jack Thompson has turned it into "If you have a choice between letting a person cause a child to stumble and tying a millstone around their necks, then tying a millstone around their necks is the better option." --Hackwrench 19:31, 18 October 2005 (UTC)


Thompson: Police against Penny Arcade?

According to this article [1], Thomson "has tried to enlist the efforts of the Seattle Police Department in a dust-up with gamer website Penny Arcade." I don't want to put it in, though, in case it's not fact.... anyone close to the source and know if it's true? --169.152.251.99 18:22, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

Penny Arcade posted a picture of the actual fax he sent to the Seattle PD. The PA site seems to be very slow so I cant grab the image link, but it is on the news page for Monday.
He did infact send a fax to the police department. I've emailed "Tycho" and asked for permission to use the image of the fax in the article. Havok (T/C) 18:29, 18 October 2005 (UTC)
Source on where GamePolitics got their info is still pending, although it's likely they got it by e-mail. GameSpot also got one, here's [2] their article on the subject.
No problem getting to their site here (better routing I guess, since Level3 fixed that router terminating in blackholes).
I'll have it uploaded in a jiffy...here you go. [3]
I especially *like* his weasel approach, trying to "score points" with the police department saying that PA attack him because showing on the media about law suits he filed against games companies for being liable for the murder of two officers and have PA painted as two punks who ridicule the police.
Yeah, good work son.
Why they wrongly burned poor people on stakes for no reason and made it impossible to do it now a day when it is needed for real?
Lawyers, politicians, mafia, sony online entertainment...so many witches...82.80.1.104 23:16, 18 October 2005 (UTC) Ori Klein

Need Corroboration

Does anyone have a primary document corroborating this line from the original: "In 1992, Thompson was named a "top ten" censor by the American Civil Liberties Union."? I went to try to find the original list and couldn't anywhere. Plausible as it seems that Mr. Thompson would receive such an honor, I worry about spreading a myth without the original reference in hand. I've struck it for now for this reason but would like to see it return if we can find the primary source (eg the ACLU publication). --Collabi

I personally remember reading the article in question in 1992, and Thompson acknowledges it himself on his webpage. While I'm usually wont to trust the man without proof, that title does seem like something he would accept proudly, not fabricate.
I've added it back in for now with the addendum that he mentions it himself on his website, and his feelings concerning it. If that still doesn't quite sit right, feel free to pull it again until we find corroboration--I know it's out there somewhere. Might be worthwhile to call the ACLU themselves; they could probably point us to the original article, either in print or online. --GarageBay9
Found this [4] text only press release. Independently hosted and listing all those named. I'll link it for now, if anyone finds anything better. --Arcon 02:10, 2 August 2005 (UTC)
He is an ACLU Top Ten Censor of the year...
Press Release from ACLU says: "-- Former Marine colonel Oliver North and Florida attorney Jack Thompson, ``who led a campaign of harassment against musicians and record companies over Ice-T's song 'Cop Killer,' and other music with messages they dislike."
Then his website, stopkill.com says it
Advanced Media Network (advancedmn.com) also had an article noting he was a top 10 censor of the year.


Removed to reduce POV

The quotes in the videogame section regarding the links to Manhunt in the UK case seem out of context and look to have been included purely to bolster a non-neutral viewpoint. They would be better included in a page regarding the specific case in question. They should probably be removed from this article. --Zoganes 00:00, 2004 Nov 27 (UTC)

Fair enough, I'll move them into Talk, but I thought it was notable that Thompson had decided that the Police Force was a games magazine. --Sockatume 00:59, 27 Nov 2004 (UTC)
Worthwhile bits of this (just the external links) moved to "Controversy" in Manhunt (video game)


Possible addition to the external links

Gamepolitics has a transcript of a recent Jack Thompson rant, i think it would be good to create a small "Cases/Appearances" section to cover his more newsworthy acts. -Superslash

Agreed

POV

There are some definate POV issues in this article. The last line says that the man is insane. As much as I hate Jack Thompson I don't believe biased words are appropriate for an encyclopedia entry.

Seconded. The first paragraph is also pretty poorly worded. One really shouldn't have any difficulty portraying Jack Thompson as a raving lunatic simply by reporting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The article's cryptohostile tone just confuses the issue.
Update - Well, I think I fixed the first paragraph. I didn't actually snip out any info, so one line seems a tad clunky and tangential, but methinks the entire thing is fairly objective. The article makes Thompson look like a frothing nutjob, but it does so simply by reporting the facts, without any selective omissions or tricks of phrasing. The article could definitely use some polish, but methinks PoV is no longer an issue. Opinions? Anyone think "slanderous" is problematic? The word is factually correct; Thompson's false accusations have been pretty well documented. The links already present in this article provide plenty of exemplars. The problem is that it connotates all sorts of judicial issues: there's a difference between spreading slander and actually being culpable of the felony or crime of slander.

Update: "He tries to manuipulate people by saying EA and Will Wright are supporting Adult custom content specificaly, when actually, Will Wright supports all custom content for the game, because he wants people to be creative with their own game". Reckon the PoV just got a little slanted 'round these here parts.

Putting all else Jack do or say aside, anyone who lash out at Will Wright is someone who requires psychiatric care. And I do believe I don't need to explain why. Seriously, come on, Will Wright? 82.80.1.104 23:47, 18 October 2005 (UTC) Ori Klein

Sims 2

I'm too darn lazy, but is someone going to add anything about his recent push to ban The Sims 2? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 23 24.194.36.16 (talk • contribs) 15:23, 2005 July.

It's already in there. Twice. As I mentioned above, the article could use some polish. The Sims 2 thing probably deserves its own section, and one of the two mentions should either be baleeted or expanded upon. I recommend the latter. I might get around to it soon, I'm a tad busy with all sortsa miscellany. Scratch that, the article could still use the aforementioned polish, but the Sims 2 case seems to be just where it should be, unless you plan on adding a link in the ToC to each and every computer game lawsuit the man's been involved with. As for the repetition, it seems workable to me. The first mention of TS2 is an example where one is called for, the second is a clarification, sorted chronologically for ease of reference. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 23 85.64.210.95 (talk • contribs) 16:05, 2005 July.

Serious Bias, Threats

"Jack Thompson is a complete douche bag. If I found him dying on the sidewalk I would make sure to find the sharpest stick I could possibly find and poke him until he died. I would probably be having so much fun that I wouldn't even notice. I wonder how long it would be before the point broke off/became dull. Do you think he would try to fight back? Gosh, I hope not. That would be a pain in the ass."

Like the previous post, I really don't like Jack Thompson. However, there is no purpose to inserting immature threats, name-calling, and one's personal point of view into the article.

Does this sort of comment even warrant a discussion topic? I thought the idea was to revert that sort of nonsense on sight, and lock the article if this sparks a revert war.
I agree, everyone would like to see this sad excuse for a person to go away but to say that he should be killed and to personally express wishes to harm him, esp on such a public site is not only immature but also irresponsible. I am going to school for interactive media and game development and as i get closer to being in the industry i find it more personal when this guy attacks us, when someone like yourself makes verbal threats torwards someone who is making such statements about how violence is just imitating GTA or the sort you are simply reinforcing what he is preaching and you are not representing those people who enjoy media outlets in the way that shows we are higher on the food chain than he is. If you want to complain and voice your opinion of wanting harm to come to jack thompson do it in a private place where it stays between you and yourself.
In such a scenario I would probably attempt to kill Jack, however, the law forbids it and I abide the law. Other than that, no, a single quote of someone's thoughts does not merit a discussion in here, unless you want to open for it its own page. Junk this, as in delete. 82.80.1.104 06:16, 19 October 2005 (UTC) Ori Klein

Picture?

Could we get a picture of Thompson, perhaps? Anyone know of a good one? --213.163.7.195 09:30, 25 July 2005 (UTC)

All I found were these two ([5],[6]) and they're pretty small. --Arcon 14:09, 26 July 2005 (UTC)
I found a slightly bigger image of picture one that you linked to Arcon from http://www.wcpo.com/news and added that, hope it's ok? --jasmine 01:56, 27 July 2005 (UTC)


protected with text that doesn't belong

""HAHAHAHAHAHA I was the one that email Thompson about Sims 2 Holy **** I can't believe it worked. I tried this as a joke and I seriously doubted Thompson would even read my email, especially with all the hate ones he probably gets. BUT he did! He read it AND replied thanking me immensely on the find.Lol sorry people, [darn] didn't think it would end up like this. I guess he would've found out eventually anyway."

Linkis:http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=914811&topic=22380019" needs to be removed. --Yelyos 04:16, July 28, 2005 (UTC)


Recent additions

I like to say a word or two about a couple of recent edits made in the past 12 hours.

The open letter, which is appears to be written by Thompson, has already been provided in a link in the article [7], and should be removed.

The second addition, though, may be legitimate, but unconfirmed:

Excerpt from article:

  • Him attacking the Sims 2 was the Fault of someone From Gamefaqs named Micheal Dude. His Message:

"HAHAHAHAHAHA I was the one that email Thompson about Sims 2 Holy **** I can't believe it worked. I tried this as a joke and I seriously doubted Thompson would even read my email, especially with all the hate ones he probably gets. BUT he did! He read it AND replied thanking me immensely on the find.Lol sorry people, damn didn't think it would end up like this. I guess he would've found out eventually anyway." Linkis: http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=914811&topic=22380019

Translation:

  • He is believed to have received certain rumors, but failed to investigate the authenticity of the claim, as demonstrated by a GameFaqs member who claimed to have sent an e-mail to Thompson with false information about The Sims 2 [8].

Simply claiming that he sent the e-mail is not enough. Unless there is hard evidence, like say, the e-mails themselves, this passage may be providing inaccurate information. I'm placing a dubious tag after the sentence. Feel free to remove this passage if it isn't deemed encyclopedic. ╫ 25 ring-a-ding 04:24, 28 July 2005 (UTC) ╫


Removed Comment

Why is someone deleting my update re: GTA lawsuit?"It is widely believed that the most refereshing activity on the planet is kicking Jack Thompson in the balls." Amusing... but no. Removed. --GarageBay9 09:13 July 26