Thompson Declines PAX Debate, Blames Penny Arcade

GamePolitics is reporting that Jack Thompson, who was invited to debate at this year's Penny Arcade Expo is now blaming the PA gents because he turned down the debate. Essentially, PAX organizers were aiming to keep the debate a secret until the event actually happened. When Thompson declined the invitation, he did so in a public forum, revealing their intentions. He now claims that he turned it down because PAX wanted to use the event as a publicity stunt ... somehow. From Jack's letter to GP: "What GamePolitics or others need to do is get to the bottom of why they really wanted to announce the debate one hour before it occurs. Now THAT would cause a stampede that would not allow them to have passes in the hands of those who want to go. I'm surprised, Dennis, frankly, that you have so naively taking this dodge. I believe what happened is that they thought I would never accept the debate offer, and they planned to use that for p.r. purposes."

Say What?

[Cinnibar CP]

Worried that PA would receive publicity over this incident, Jack Thompson provided... er.. free publicity.

You got it!

[nege]

" I believe what happened is that they thought I would never accept the debate offer, and they planned to use that for p.r. purposes."

And then you didn't. And now they will. GG Jack!

Re:Say What?

[doombringerltx]

Does JT ever do anything that doesn't make him look like a douche?

There was that one time.... oh wait, no

Can't blame him...

[Crasty]

The guy is a nutjob (oh damn, I just got sued) but even a total assclown (gah, restraining order!) knows he shouldn't enter a place where everyone there wouldn't mind if he disappeared of the face of the Earth! (No that's not a threat.. Jeez!)

He obviously brought it to media attention because any attention is good attention. The guy has to be the center of controversy whenever possible. (He's a closet gamer, don't let him fool you. He only started throwing lawsuits when Rockstar released GTAIII on PS2 as a temporary exclusive. He only had an X-box, and the rest is history)

There goes my PAX booth

[Anonymous Coward]

I was going to set up a FREE BRICKS booth at PAX. but I guess that's down the crapper now

Jack Thompson == genius tactician

[Chris Burke]

Yes, he's playing directly into their plans! He knew PA would expect him to decline the offer, and thus he declined. He knew they would expect him to make a hystrionic claim that PA was once again conspiring against him, and thus he did. The goal is to make PA think that they completely understand Thompson and can predict his every move. Thompson will continue to play into this belief until they invite him to a private chat at their home to discuss the issues of violence in media. Again, exactly as they will be expecting, Thompson will suggest a game of his own to "break the ice". Two cups of tea, one spiked with iocane powder, which is tasteless, odorless, dissolves instantly in water, and is one of the deadlier poisons known to man. The PA crew must pick a cup and both drink from it, while Thompson drinks from the other. Then while they debate which to drink from, Thompson plays his card and does the unexpected -- he cries "what's that?!" and points, and while they aren't looking, he switches the cups. As they drink, he cackles and reveals his nefarious scheme!

Except before it is revealed who will fall victim to the poison, ninjas attack and behead all three of them. The last one to leave steals the Pac-Man watch.

At least, that's what the comic I drew while I was high said.

There is no Jack Thompson

[roystgnr]

I'm surprised nobody's figured it out yet - the whole character of "Jack Thompson" is a Penny Arcade publicity stunt. The "John Smith" style name and the bitingly satirical parody of "think of the children" paranoia should have been enough to make everyone suspicious, but even if that wasn't enough, the whole scam should have been obvious after they hired that ranting homeless guy to play "Jack" on TV. I guess all you have to do is dress a crazy guy up in a suit and the news media figures he must deserve a microphone too.

Re:Fun

[kv9]

One day, somebody will eventually get the chance to poke him hard, and he'll crumble like the house of cards that he is.

how many points is a Jack-Thompson-Splatter in Carmageddon?

Re:Fun

[Anonymous Coward]

He's a guerrilla figher, sniping from a distance, doing hit-and-run smear pieces, never getting engaged in anything but the slightest and tritest discussions.

One day, somebody will eventually get the chance to poke him hard, and he'll crumble like the house of cards that he is.

So, if we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate!

One Room...

[7Prime]

All I want is to put a video camera in a room with Jack Thompson, John Dvorak, Bob Cringely, and George W. Bush, and see which one makes the most amount of sense.

Jack "video games will rape your kids" Thompson
John "I support John McCain because he likes Steve Ballmer" Dvorak
Robert "self-proclaimed sex-symbol dorkus" Cringely
George W. "God put sand on this earth so we could nuke it into glass" Bush

Tough call...