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"Enhanced disbarment" recommended for Jack Thompson

kotaku.com — Anti-game attorney Jack Thompson walked out of his disbarment hearing in Florida today, Kotaku reports. The panel recommended he be disbarred and unable to reapply to practice law for another 10 years.

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  • LobsterBreeder, on 06/04/2008, -11/+63ahhaaha
    • Petebyte, on 06/05/2008, -0/+13When I look at Jack Thompson I see a deeply troubled man. It's not even funny any more. I am past the point of laughing at him or being angry at him. I just think the guy needs to work through some personal issues or even get some help.
      • Andrwmorph, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1I stopped being annoyed by him a long time ago when I realized that literally nobody takes his fascist ass seriously anymore.

        I'll never stop laughing at him.
      • Godlike, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Wasn't there a law and order about a once famous lawyer who came down with dementia and started ruining his career and going crazy in public? He kinda looked like Jack, too.
    • Pfkninenines, on 06/05/2008, -0/+3Anyone else realize that's the picture of him from when he was holding his new copy of GTAIV?
      http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2008/04/g ...
    • Reaper2806, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2I wonder though, is this the enlightenment that gaming isn't that bad? Or have they just noticed how much money there is to be made?
  • active1x0, on 06/04/2008, -4/+230***** yes.
    • nickj6282, on 06/04/2008, -14/+7I disagree. Hear me out:

      So far the biggest anti-game activist has been Thompson. He trumpets so loudly and incoherently that everyone listens, but he still gets nothing done.

      Can't you people see? Once he's gone, someone else will just step up and play the anti-video game blues. What I'm worried about is that this new person will actually be semi-competent, and actually accomplish something other than outing themselves as a crazy.

      Most of us here at Digg realize that the anti-videogame arguments are pretty much *****, but we aren't the ones that these activists are trying to convince. Just imagine what will happen with a (relatively) competent, calm, and reasonable person leading the charge.
      • dougmc, on 06/04/2008, -0/+9Just being disbarred won't mean he's gone.
        • voyvf, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1You're correct. However, for those who aren't aware that he's ***** crazy, it might just keep them from buying into his lies.

          We've all seen - thanks to Ted Stevens, among others - that not every politician is game and/or internet savvy. This way, they have a big red flag as to how unreliable Jack Thompson really is. A flag that any politician with half a brain might think twice about ignoring.
      • sexybobo, on 06/04/2008, -0/+11semi-competent people know it is against the first amendment to do what Jack Thompson is trying to do.
      • thedarkwolf, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1better the devil you know argument. I like it, dugg back up
    • oxilite, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1***** yes is right... When any old disbarment just wont do...
    • Xeller, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2So... that's like double-secret probation, right?
    • JaronDiggGuy, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2So simple, but so powerfully eloquent. Well played.
    • ericrous, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1FINISH HIM!
  • darthgoat, on 06/04/2008, -4/+81This will be a day long remembered.
    • Jaliyl, on 06/04/2008, -0/+25Last week of school, CoD4 gets new PC maps tomorrow, new Disturbed album, Aced finals, Mass effect for PC, and JT gets disbarred.

      This is possibly the best week in 2008, unless I get laid this year.
      • BearinG, on 06/05/2008, -0/+4"...unless I get laid this year."

        So its official, best week of 2008. ;)

        just kidding
    • AwakeningAZ, on 06/04/2008, -0/+8Something tells me that losing his ability to practice law won't make him shut the ***** up. And he's most known for not shutting the ***** up.
  • askwhy2008, on 06/04/2008, -4/+90I laughed. I cried from laughing. I laughed more.
  • Tob3z, on 06/04/2008, -1/+134Well you got what was coming to you Thompson. I'm lucky and live outside the US so didn't have to put up with your *****. Yet somehow you still managed to piss me off.

    Why do I feel that this isn't going to stop you though?
    • mywhitenoise, on 06/04/2008, -1/+45Because FoxNews always has room for an "expert" attorney?
      • bbqsalad, on 06/04/2008, -12/+1Nobody cares about Fox "News" tho sooooo
        • mywhitenoise, on 06/04/2008, -0/+16Too many stay-at-home mom's and Republicans care about Fox News, sooooo
      • noerrorsfound, on 06/04/2008, -0/+16Correction: He's a School Shooting Expert™.
        • voyvf, on 06/05/2008, -3/+3So were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Better not let him near the sporting goods aisle. :D
    • ISurfTooMuch, on 06/04/2008, -0/+11It won't stop him, but every time his name is mentioned, it can be prefaced with "anti-video game crusader and disbarred attorney". He won't lose all credibility (as if he had any to begin with), but some people may be curious as to why he was disbarred, and that will distract a bit from his lunatic ramblings.

      Oh Jack, you've been such an ***** so many times. I'm glad to see that the ***** you've spread has started to blow back on you. You've had it coming to you for years. HAND.
      • fotbr, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Foxnews will just call him a "former attorney" and won't give any details.
    • bwdd, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1You wrote that as if he's reading your post.
    • Tob3z, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2It wouldn't surprise me if he does. He has left comments on big and small blogs before. He likes to leave his mark where people are naming him.
  • Destroyman, on 06/04/2008, -3/+43Finally, this government does it's god-damned job!
    • ChildofDestiny, on 06/04/2008, -0/+10No, the government succeds in doing one thing right for once..
    • CarzorStelatis, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2What, you mean the Florida Bar disciplinary procedure which has very little to do with the federal government?
  • sketcher67, on 06/04/2008, -4/+148No one will take him serious anymore... well except Fox News.
    • dafunkmonster, on 06/04/2008, -15/+2FIXED: I spam every article I can with "LOL FAUX NEWS" *****. Please digg down and disregard all of my comments henceforth. I also love the *****.
      • dougmc, on 06/04/2008, -1/+9?
        Somebody forget to log out?
        (And note that there's nothing wrong with loving the *****.)
      • Fordi, on 06/04/2008, -1/+6Sorry funkmonster, but Fox has given Thompson more air time than any other network - they're deserving of the criticism in this case.

        (and, far as I can tell, most cases in general)
    • FZero68, on 06/04/2008, -0/+16It's Fox "News"
    • Cyber_Akuma, on 06/05/2008, -0/+9Who takes Fox News seriously?
    • ericrous, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Faux News will let anyone on who can rant at a 1st grade level.
    • mddawso, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1no one that matters at least
  • WaterMedia, on 06/04/2008, -15/+5I'm pretty tired of these Jack Thompson posts. They continue to give credibility to a sleazy chap...

    But this good news ensures I will be hearing about him less and less, as every article and newscaster will now have to say "recently disbarred lawyer Jack Thompson...". Not exactly credible anymore to big media. This pleases me.
    • Puffles, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2Are you saying this post gives Jack Thompson credibility?

      The fact that he was disbarred and is unable to reapply to practice law for another 10 years, makes him MORE credible?
      • Amablue, on 06/05/2008, -1/+1The mere fact that he gets in the news makes him more credible, unfortunately. Someone who doesn't read digg or keep up with gaming news all the time isn't as well versed on who the nutjobs are. The average person is more likely to take the views of someone in the newspaper seriously than they are the views of some random guy on the street.
  • djtyrant, on 06/04/2008, -2/+35Justice Served!
  • weaselfingers, on 06/04/2008, -2/+8It's going to be fairly difficult for anybody to find a hole in that defense.
  • BlitzacE, on 06/04/2008, -15/+9AMERICA! ***** YEAH!
    COMING AGAIN TO SAVE THE MOTHER ***** DAY YEAH!
  • bigmac375, on 06/04/2008, -11/+8***** you, and good day.
  • AndrewDB, on 06/04/2008, -0/+20I wonder what the differences between "Enhanced Disbarment" and regular "Disbarment" is...

    Either way: It serves Jack Thompson right... Justice has been served.
    • eliot2000, on 06/04/2008, -0/+40It's like the difference between killing someone and killing them a lot.
    • facelesscoward, on 06/04/2008, -5/+2Maybe they waterboard him.
    • Lukesed, on 06/04/2008, -0/+27You don't even have to RTFA to know this... it means he can't reapply for ten years.
      • AndrewDB, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Ah. Thank you. :)
      • utahnkid, on 06/05/2008, -5/+1Thanks for answering the question and at the same time letting everyone know you're a dick head.

        "it means he can't reapply for ten years"

        Is all you needed to say.
        • Lukesed, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Dude... it said so in the description. If you couldn't figure that out you can take a bit of berating.
      • BearinG, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1What about if it WASN'T enhanced ? Could he re-apply next week? (i'm asking)
        • Lukesed, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1It depends on the state, but in some areas they are allowed to reapply immediately, some have a waiting period that may be years long, others last for life. I'm not sure about Florida but since they specifically called it an "enhanced disbarment" I would assume that usually he would be able to reapply before ten years.
    • weaselfingers, on 06/04/2008, -0/+17It's basically the same as regular disbarment, except it comes with a bunch of extra weapons and a "Making of" DVD.
    • JustinPM, on 06/05/2008, -0/+733 HITS - ULTRA DISBARMENT!
    • jabelar, on 06/05/2008, -1/+0Enhanced disbarment means it will be an extra long time before he is allowed to apply to be reinstated.
  • skunkworker, on 06/04/2008, -19/+6I can't believe people actually believe Fox News
    Its all just Yellow Journalism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism
    and Sensationalism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensationalism
    And utter crap.
    • Reap, on 06/04/2008, -2/+8Wow. I read the article, and didn't remember seeing anything about Fox in there. Then I looked through all the comments... also nothing about Fox before you. Then I went back to the article, and searched for the word "Fox".... and it wasn't in the article. Are you in the wrong comment section, or just completely retarded?
      • skunkworker, on 06/04/2008, -4/+1Well go to youtube and look how many times he's been on fox news.
        • Reap, on 06/04/2008, -1/+5You know what's useful, if you're going to bring up something not in the article? Context. It's not that hard; here, let me help you out.

          I can't believe people actually believe Fox News when they use people like him as talking heads.
          Its all just Yellow Journalism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism
          and Sensationalism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensationalism
          And utter crap. Also, I apologize for being a gigantic tool who feels the need to state my hatred for a news network that almost everyone in this community despises, and to link to the definitions of common terms most people would know in an attempt to make myself look smarter than you all.
      • Fordi, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Fox has given Thompson more air time than any other network.

        Well, other than G4 - but he's usually opposite someone capable of making Jack look like a tool.

        Since Jack can be made to look a tool by anyone with a High School diploma, this isn't hard, and often Adam Sessler is sufficient.
    • Quaterni0n, on 06/04/2008, -2/+3Relevant to this thread or not, I dugg you up because it's all true.
    • DougieD, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Thanks for insulting my intelligence.
    • hypnotoad32, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1You forgot the wiki link for "utter crap".
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Pepsi
  • masterBeef3, on 06/04/2008, -0/+17Meh, for someone leading an unholy crusade against game designers' first amendment rights, I'd have to say Ol' Jacky getting an 'enhanced disbarment' is a fitting punishment. Now the douche can't even legally practice law for ten years; but then again, you'd have a hard time taking cases disbarred. LOL.
  • Raften, on 06/04/2008, -0/+6And the video game world is saved!
  • AshamedAmerican, on 06/04/2008, -0/+178*Achievement Unlocked*
    "Enhanced Disbarment - 10G"
  • whiteknives, on 06/04/2008, -4/+18***** JACK THOMPSON
  • kevin1987, on 06/04/2008, -1/+98I thought it said "Enhanced Dismemberment".
    • sencity, on 06/04/2008, -1/+18he deserves that as well.
    • bigmac375, on 06/04/2008, -0/+10that would be most excellent.
    • TantrooM, on 06/04/2008, -7/+2That would be a pointless process. He lost his penis long ago.
    • rwald, on 06/04/2008, -0/+7I did too, actually. Just wanted to affirm this wasn't a one-off misreading.
    • TontonJP, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Ya, me too... :P
    • p3ngwin, on 06/04/2008, -5/+2(mortal combat voice)

      FATALITY !

      (mortal combat voice)
    • DiNoZoNE, on 06/05/2008, -0/+7That's probably because you play too many violent video games :)
  • theatheist, on 06/04/2008, -0/+38finaly, something good turned out from the state of florida
    • WolverineBlue, on 06/04/2008, -0/+8Careful, wait for the recount...
  • Thrunq, on 06/04/2008, -0/+21Careful Men, he might go into Vigilante mode...
    • BearinG, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Wouldn't that be ironic, after everything and this, he goes POSTAL and starts shooting at people..

      I'm sure he'd blame his mental state on too much exposure to violent games..
  • kiwiboyus, on 06/04/2008, -3/+3You do it to yourself you do, and that's what really hurts!
    • Cenobite, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Can't get the stink off.
      He's been hanging round for days.
    • DubiousDrewski, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1You just made me dig out my Big Shiny Tunes 1 album. I think it was the best one.
  • anonm, on 06/04/2008, -14/+5how 'bout we ban you for comment abuse and being a douche?
  • neagerwat, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Does this not just disbar him from Flordia though? Cant he just take the bar in another state?

    Good to hear though
    • bagboyrebel, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1I think he could, but this does a lot to discredit his future rantings (as if they needed more discrediting).
  • bbqsalad, on 06/04/2008, -5/+3LOL
  • SmilinBob82, on 06/04/2008, -0/+4Could Florida finally be redeeming itself?
    Or maybe this is just too little too late...
    God I hate it here.
    • Icupnimpn2, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2I think this is a sham disbarment that will "officially" distance Jack from the State of Florida. Secretly, the Florida Bar will aid Jack under-the-table with all the supplies he needs to wage vigilante justice on the video game industry.
  • bklny, on 06/04/2008, -7/+1pWN'd LOL
  • lowfalls, on 06/04/2008, -2/+16Cue Nelson Muntz laugh.
  • DCJoeDogaswell, on 06/04/2008, -0/+18What we are witnessing is the slow, painful descent of a man into the depths of madness. How are you going to just walk out on a court date that pretty much determines your livelihood. This person is insane and over the last few years this has become more and more apparent.
  • thirdeyeopen, on 06/04/2008, -0/+11He claims that Clinton and Obama agree with him. I knew Clinton was into censorship, but is Obama? Or is he just dropping names?
    • BuzzFriendly, on 06/04/2008, -0/+6Well I doubt that any mainstream politician is going to come out and say "After a long day over at the UN I like to come back to the White House and kick up my feet for a good multiplayer game of GTA4"
      They all say what they need to say when they think they need to say it.
    • LazyLiberal, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2Oh yeah!! Dropping ***** names!!!
    • bagboyrebel, on 06/05/2008, -1/+3I'm pretty sure Obama is a supporter of the "parental responsibility" side of the argument.
  • fani, on 06/04/2008, -0/+31"And one by one evil-doers in the world were destroyed"....

    Hillary
    Jack Thompson
    ...
    • TantrooM, on 06/04/2008, -0/+92008 has been living up to my expectation, I love it.

      Take that Lewis Black, but he was right 2007 did suck.
    • Dhekke, on 06/05/2008, -5/+11. Hillary Clinton
      2. Jack Thompson
      3. ???
      4. Profit!
    • frieddonuts, on 06/05/2008, -0/+3Don't jinx it! It's November that counts the most!
  • FallenWings, on 06/04/2008, -0/+15I am so twirling my buster sword right now.
    • KMartSheriff, on 06/04/2008, -0/+6duh duh duh duuuuhhhh! duh, duh, duuuh duh-duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh!
      • Harabeck, on 06/04/2008, -9/+1Youre missing a duh, there should be for short ones at the beginning.
    • FallenWings, on 06/05/2008, -1/+1Also, obligatory "that's what he said" comment.
  • IanPR, on 06/04/2008, -0/+47GTA is a free will game.
    He doesn't HAVE to kill cops or have fun with prostitutes in the game.
    He CHOSE to.
    • Mr_Lyle, on 06/05/2008, -0/+5This will not be a popular comment but lemme just make it clear and I think this guy is a total ***** and deserves everything that's coming to him for all the ***** he's been disturbing for no good reason over the last 10 or so years...With that said, your comment isn't entirely accurate. While it's true that in GTA you can pretty much do whatever you choose to, be it kill cops, hookers and bystanders or not, in GTA4, there's a story mission where you HAVE to kill a whole lot of cops. I'm talking about the bank robbery mission (I'm sorry if that spoils anything for anyone but I figure after this long, it's ok). You can't finish the game without doing that mission, it's not optional and you have to kill a ***** of cops to pass it.

      Again, this comment isn't to bash GTA or agree with Jack Thompson in anyway, just pointing out the inaccuracy of your statement. At least as it relates to GTA4.
      • Evi1d33d, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2Remember that they are not dead just because they hit the floor. Often you'll still hear the cop calling for help and trying to move after their health bar hit zero. So you can finish the mission by badly injuring them but not really killing them (no headshots or overkills).
        • BearinG, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1I just threw grenades at the cars.. It was an accident..
      • sencity, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2That was the sickest mission in the game. makes me wish GTA4 had a feature that allowed you to replay individual missions after you've beaten them.
        • BearinG, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Not sure why you got dugg down but I thought the same thing after that mission.

          I wish there was a feature to replay any misson after you've finished the main quest. For me that would add lots of replay value.. without having to start from scratch.
  • BuzzFriendly, on 06/04/2008, -2/+5Sentence should be tens years in the Red Onion supermax prison with one our a day to play GTA4 with a few hardcore gay porno magizines in the room and a few copies of Guns & Ammo magazine to look at.
    • utahnkid, on 06/05/2008, -0/+3Holy crap. I've never heard of that place so I looked into it.

      "The day I arrived I was...told that I was at Red Onion now and if I act up they would kill me
      and there was nothing anyone could or would do about it."

      "When I was taken out of the transport van I had two stun guns placed against my body and was told that if I didn’t do what I was told, I would be shot from one of the gun posts located throughout Red Onion. I was told by [a lieutenant], “We will kill you here, so don’t mess up.”

      Maybe that might be a little overkill for our good lawyer friend.. Ok maybe not.
  • ISurfTooMuch, on 06/04/2008, -0/+35I'm surprised no one has posted this paragraph yet.

    "Before walking out of the courtroom, Thompson filed what he called "Thompson's Formal Objection to June 4 Sanctions Hearing." In the rambling, 4,500-word objection, Thompson questioned Tunis' ability to preside at his hearing, calling her incompetent and arrogant and threatening to have her removed from office "in the days and weeks ahead." He also went on to call the people run The Florida Bar fascists and denied that he was involved some sort of "petty culture war.""

    Way to go Jackie-boy. Insult the judge who holds your fate in her hands. That's really smart.
  • TantrooM, on 06/04/2008, -2/+14Um Howard Stern stayed on 'terestial radio' long after Jack pointed it out. He just went to Satellite radio on his own so he wouldn't be regulated. He wasn't FORCED there.

    And he wasn't the only one whining and bitching. Stop acting like the God of censorship. You over estimate your stature as a PAID angry idiot, there are many out there to take your place. And some of them do it for free Jack.

    For someone who claims God is on their side, you certainly have a history of ignoring Matthew 6:24.
    • TrevorBelmont, on 06/04/2008, -1/+6Matthew 6:24:
      "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."


      • TantrooM, on 06/04/2008, -0/+8http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23204875/

        "In his personal blog, Della Rocca also posts an interesting e-mail conversation he had with Thompson after the Virginia Tech shooting. In it, Thompson challenges Della Rocca to a series of gaming debates and explains that they each stand to net $3,000 or more per event. Della Rocca declined this money-making endeavor, though not before suggesting they instead agree to a free debate...which Thompson declined."

        So why am I getting dugg down for speaking the truth? There are idiots out there who believe what Jack spews, but luckily they are old. It was a collective that caused Howard to be critisized, not one man.
        • TrevorBelmont, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1People get a little pissy around here where Christianity is involved.

          Example: I assumed people wouldn't know the verse you were referencing. I, like most of these heathens, don't read the bible so I didn't recognize it either. So, I did a little E-legwork and quoted the passage you were referring to. Someone buried it, like I'd knocked on there door and asked them to accept someone as their personal something.
        • TantrooM, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2Just pointing out a passage in the Bible, no promoting or demoting, just giving an opinion. Jack references it all the time and the point of me not quoting it verbatim was because it would teach people that knowledge is power. I figured people would look into it (as you did) before hitting the Bury, but that says more about Digg users then me.

          Actually this line would be very powerful to those trying to remove His name from the dollar bill (Atheist or Christian). Doesn't putting God's name on money give money a holy tribute contradicting this line? But I digress, those that push to convert a person must not have faith that God would reach out to them Himself. It is a saddening event, and I am not one of those converters. Burying me down for the actions of those sad individuals is as disheartening as a Christian casting out a person because they are a different belief system.

          All is forgiven, I'll get off my soap box now.
        • utahnkid, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2Don't worry man, it's just because some idiots read it first and were quick to de-boost. No logical person could read that and not agree.

          And Trevor, that saved me the time of having to look it up myself so thanks. Anyone who de-boosted that is just ignorant.

          One thing that bugs me about a lot of Digg users is that they don't see the Bible actually has a lot of really smart and timeless bits of advice in it whether or not you believe in a God. If you take away some of the fantasy stuff and take it for what it is, a collection of stories, it can actually be a pretty good read with a lot of helpful advice.
    • goffy59, on 06/04/2008, -8/+2I censored you for quoting science fiction.
      • triont, on 06/05/2008, -0/+10I dugg you down for promoting censorship.
        • goffy59, on 06/05/2008, -4/+1Too shay!
        • TantrooM, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2That one was slightly sarcastic. I don't think he sees himself as "God's gift to censorship.", but "God's gift to protecting children from the possibility of corruption". In reality these are two sides to the same coin.

          He should work on getting a rating system for books, and the only reason he doesn't is cause there is no money in it... and that 'science fiction' novel would be most likely rated 'M' for violence and sex. In fact, the VT killer referenced himself (falsely) as a Jesus figure (who would Jesus spray with bullets?). Obviously they would use the excuse that not everyone who picks up the Bible would act that way, but then the same goes for GTA.

          And really? You called it SCIENCE fiction? It's theology.

          If you combine your two comments it's somewhat humorous, "I censored you...for promoting censorship"

          And that is 'Touche'.
      • utahnkid, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Nope, you're wrong Tantroo. It's "too shay" if you were taught from hooked on phonics.
  • wolfofwar, on 06/04/2008, -1/+4The judge is motioning to go from not just enhanced disbarment but also enhance barbment. Not sure what that quite means, but apparently it involved an iron firepoker, a bottle of lube, and some razor wire.
  • dafunkmonster, on 06/04/2008, -1/+2***** owned.
  • Mromson, on 06/04/2008, -2/+1I laughed so hard.
  • PlagueOfMorons, on 06/04/2008, -1/+18Future headline: "After dying his hair green, Jack Thompson was signed to play The Joker in the next Batman movie. Producers told the press 'He was a natural!'. Jack however replied 'You don't have the authority to judge my acting!' and sprayed Jokergas on them, cackled, and disappeared in a cloud of hype. He was later found in Arkham Asylum, counting the names of judges he planned to kill."
    • DCJoeDogaswell, on 06/04/2008, -0/+7"and sprayed joker gas" that was the part where I busted out laughing.
  • FishHammer, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5Now he's just going to resort to straight up bombing Take-two and EA games' headquarters while wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and a wig.
  • KaivenTor, on 06/04/2008, -0/+4YES. Even if this guy sticks around, he's been seriously discredited for writing anything to do with law (and perchance culture).
    Score one for every gamer out there. This jack*** was one of the people purpatrating sterotypes about games, gamers, and probably helped the media draw a number of conclusion they never should have. I never thought I'd say this, but Thank you Florida. Thank you very much.
  • Mr.Gone, on 06/04/2008, -0/+6I bet he wishes he could hit the reset button.
  • Calcularius, on 06/04/2008, -0/+45The only argument you’ll ever need against the
    video-games-cause-violence lie…
    =================================================
    Number of Violent Crimes per 100,000 people in the US since 1991
    correlated with game console releases in the US.

    1991 758.1 (Super NES)
    1992 757.5 (Turbo Duo)
    1993 746.8 (Jaguar)
    1994 713.6
    1995 684.5 (PS1, Saturn)
    1996 636.6 (N64)
    1997 611.0
    1998 566.4
    1999 523.0 (GameCube, Dreamcast)
    2000 506.5 (PS2)
    2001 504.5 (Xbox)
    2002 494.4
    2003 475.8
    2004 463.2
    2005 469.2 (Xbox 360)

    “I listen to scientists, health care providers, public safety officials, and I base what I do based upon their findings, not what some readers of Game Informer magazine wish was true because of how they waste their time.” – Jack Thompson
    • bigdoof, on 06/04/2008, -17/+2I bet you also think that global warming is caused by a decline in the pirate population. Don't fight poor arguments with even worse ones...
      • Fordi, on 06/04/2008, -0/+7It's definitely true that correlation does not indicate causation - but causation is normally accompanied by correlation. That, in this case, it is not casts doubt on the videogames-cause-violence assertion.

        This statement would be an example of corr:cause fallacy: It may be that, while violent videogames trigger violence in edge populations (those more likely to be violent in the first place), they occupy the time and energy of others that are less likely to be violent - resulting in a net loss of violent behavior. The above, however, isn't. It's a call for more concrete evidence.
        • bigdoof, on 06/05/2008, -3/+1Are you kidding me? The OP states that this is "the only argument you’ll ever need against the video-games-cause-violence lie." That's not a call for more concrete evidence. It's a declaration of fact.

          I think video game censorship is baseless and stupid. But the original argument is tantamount to saying "as we add more modules onto the ISS, violent crime goes down. See? I have a chart!" People like to slam Thompson's arguments, but use some of the most idiotic arguments and "statsitics" I've ever seen.
        • Fordi, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2As the primary claim cited by Thompson and his ilk is that violence has increased since videogames were introduced, identifying this as fallacy *IS* an important bit of information needed to debunk them.

          That said, you're right: it's not the only piece of information - but it's still an important bit to note.
      • Harabeck, on 06/04/2008, -0/+7Violent crimes have down as the number of violent video games has gone up. How does that not crush his argument?
        • bigdoof, on 06/05/2008, -1/+3Simple. Because there are far more variables and factors than just "video games" and "crimes," and we have no experimental controls for this. For instance, what if violent crime decreased largely due to increase police spending nationwide, but was opposed by a minor "corrupting" element produced by videogames? Who's to say that crime wouldn't be ever lower than it is now? And that's just using three variables instead of two. Now imagine the millions of variables that really go into this.

          My point is this: I agree that videogame censorship is useless and pointless. But trotting out two random statistics and declaring it a proof is no better than Thompson running his mouth about something he doesn't understand.
        • utahnkid, on 06/05/2008, -1/+3I can respect that bigdoof. Using bad arguments to win a good cause is just as illogical as using bad arguments for a bad cause. Good call
      • bagboyrebel, on 06/05/2008, -0/+4He's not saying that violent video games are what caused the drop in violence, but that if they supposedly make kids more violent then the numbers should be increasing instead of decreasing.
        • Calcularius, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Thank you. The argument is that simple.
      • Calcularius, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2No. But I can absolutely say that Global Warming has not caused an increase in pirates.
    • Calcularius, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1There is some validity in some of the comments that this is a bad correlation/causation representation. I am not trying to assert that the presence of video games has caused violent crime to decrease. I *AM* however asserting that video games did not cause an increase in violent crimes because, for whatever reason, there has not been an increase in violent crimes.
  • skinrock, on 06/04/2008, -0/+12I haven't heard Obama or Clinton talk about this subject during the democratic nomination race yet. And it's because people don't give a ***** about this. This is a stupid, petty issue and he needs to grow up and get over it. They are discussing issues like the economy, the war, natural disaster relief, etc. Issues that Thompson couldn't even comprehend.
    • Fordi, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Hillary was all over it before she ran - and her stance on the issue was one of the primary reasons I ruled her out early (she wanted to replace the MSRB with a gov't board).
  • darkmane, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2So, just to be clear, I'm pretty sure every disbarment is "Enhanced". Since evidently all it means is that there is some period of time that he cannot re-apply to the Bar.

    Now other than that, it sounds like he was in his normal form and Tunis was not impressed.

    Good for the Florida bar, hopefully when he sues them to get re-instated this time the insurance company won't settle like they evidently did last time. I'm sure you all remember the story, JT talks about it all the time.
  • boricuaenigma, on 06/04/2008, -0/+4Well, now he has more time to actually play video games, and learn something about the subject matter. He should start form the beginning. I wonder what he would think of pong, or pacman. I can see him say "Pacman promotes the interaction with the dead, and consuming of body altering drugs". Heck, I'm curious to see what he thinks of solitaire.
    • DNABeast, on 06/05/2008, -0/+3It encourages the youth to 'play with themselves'.
      • boricuaenigma, on 06/05/2008, -0/+0Then I've been doing that since the Coleco Vision.
    • Parkinsons, on 06/05/2008, -0/+2Solitaire promotes anti-social behavior in teenagers. Combined with enhanced hand-eye coordination, it is a school shooting waiting to happen.
  • Biohazard6601, on 06/04/2008, -0/+10the harder he tries, the more gamers everywhere laugh at his lack of information and futility
  • sotose, on 06/04/2008, -5/+6I read "Enhanced Dismemberment" at first but I guess disbarment will have to do.
    • Andrwmorph, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1I like the dismemberment idea more
  • MrESaulved, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Good, you can ignore him now.
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