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Censorship Government The Courts Entertainment Games News

Manhunt Murder Attorney Speaks 78

Posted by Zonk from the i-thought-lawyers-were-supposed-to-be-mannerly dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Kotaku has an exclusive interview with game hating attorney Jack Thompson -- sort of. Actually it's a pretty funny, and telling, email back and forth between Kotaku's editor and Thompson that seems to reflect his disdain for gamers. Love the kicker - what an ass." The pleasant Mr. Thompson has been discussed previously on the site.
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Manhunt Murder Attorney Speaks More

Manhunt Murder Attorney Speaks

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  • Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @04:52PM (#10791732)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • If they are not billing for it, they are going to be very concise. When they are billing they are going to be lengthy which comes from the old English tradition that lawyers, when writing contracts, were paid by the word.
    • Wll, whoever-it-was managed to get "couldn't care less" right, so I'm sure it wasn't anyone who frequents web forums ;).

  • Real (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Reapy ( 688651 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @04:54PM (#10791758)
    Is that really the guy's email address? Either way it could be that he just didn't have time for a small website he's never heard of before. The first email he sent to the guy was pretty short. If i was asking for a huge favor, and interview that would bring big hits to my site, I would at liest have drafted a few more lines to the email instead of the short thing.

    It could be the guy was just being dismissive to the guy asking for the q&a. Well either way the guy does use gaming as a spring board for publicity and obviously doesnt mind climbing over the back of dead bodies to get his name out there, so I think I can agree that the guy is an ass.

  • Awesome. (Score:3, Funny)

    by Lowtekium ( 216265 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @04:56PM (#10791775)
    Awesome.

    Now we all know which email address to sign up for spam with...

    jackpeace@comcast.net

  • obviouly (Score:3, Informative)

    by he1icine ( 512651 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @04:57PM (#10791799)
    This isn't surprising. His audience are the Mom's out there who have no grasp on technology and believe everything they see on the Today Show. His mechanism is putting fear into people who should no better but don't bother taking the time to learn about the issues themselves.

  • another ambulance chaser. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by cyrax777 ( 633996 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @04:58PM (#10791806) Homepage
    He's just Another Ambulance chaser. The only reason this is on /. is because he is blaming video games.

  • Useless (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Fizzl ( 209397 ) <fizzl@fBLUEizzl.net minus berry> on Thursday November 11, 2004 @05:06PM (#10791884) Homepage Journal
    Why post a link to this kind of garbage article?

    There's no content to discuss about -- Just a rudely formed 'no comment'.

    • Re:Useless (Score:2, Insightful)

      by ET_Fleshy ( 829048 )
      I agree, while it was mildy amusing, why was it posted on here when it was so short? When it was done I kept searching the page for a "page 2" or "next page" link, well I didn't find any.

  • ...Duh? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Blackwulf ( 34848 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @05:12PM (#10791947) Homepage
    no, but thanks. i'm too busy destroying best buy and rockstar

    If you haven't figured out it was fake just by looking at this one "response"...I highly doubt a lawyer would use such incriminating terminology such as "destroying".

    However, IANAL, so I may be completely wrong.

    • Re:...Duh? (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      For a normal professional, respectable lawyer, you might be right. But you clearly haven't met Jack Thompson, who loves to talk about destroying his targets. From this [gamedaily.com] GameDaily interview:

      GD: What is the ultimate goal here?

      Thompson: To destroy Rockstar.

      GD: What does that mean in terms of...

      Thompson: (cutting in) So they don't exist anymore.

      GD: How are you going to seek to do that?

      Thompson: By taking all their money. It's very simple. You wipe someone out economically, they don't have any assets and t
      • This week he says...

        Let me know if you change your mind, we have a pretty big gamer audience.

        they're not my audience.

        Maybe not your intended audience, but they are certainly listening.

        I couldnt care less if theyre listening

        And yet, a short while ago...

        Therefore since they will not listen to reason, since they won't even communicate with me and others, we will destroy them, it's that simple.

        Of course, there is one more quote that should be added to this list. This one from Dictionary.com
        • I tend to think some people have a very distorted sense of what "listening" is. Some people think "listening" is to be in 100% agreement and compliance.

          "Wow, you have a good point! I have no choice but to agree with you 100%. I will now burn all my video games!"

    • Incriminating how? I don't buy that its real either, but this is the sort of stuff this guy says when he talks. He's not exactly the sharpest bulb on the tree.
    • IANAL, but I do work around and with lawyers. I've read their documents, I've heard them talk, and they can be just as charming as Mr. Thompson, especially if they're not billing hours. These are people that are totally absorbed in their work and probably have little time or care for what a small gaming website has to say.

      Unluckily for Mr. Thompson /. found these e-mails, which definately doesn't make him look very intelligent. Not that this will affect his case much, though.

  • Is it violence when you shoot yourself in the foot (Score:5, Insightful)

    by glowimperial ( 705397 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @05:16PM (#10792011)
    Way to alienate te most important part of the equation in your argument. The end users are the people who determine the content of their videogames. By ignoring them, you ignore the most powerful voice for change that you could harness. The companies and retailers that produce, distribute and sell these games do so because the gamers demand a certain product with a certain content. Without a dialogue with the end users, he will never advance his position.

  • Different e-mail address (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11, 2004 @05:16PM (#10792022)
    He messed up on the last address:

    From: Jack Thompson [jackpeave@comcast.net]

    Slipped and hit 'v' instead of 'c', otherwise nice fake

  • Kotaku's response (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 11, 2004 @05:26PM (#10792131)
    Hey there,
    It's Brian D. Crecente, editor for Kotaku and RedAssedBaboon and reporter for the Rocky Mountain News.
    Couple of things on the post about Thompson:
    1. His email address is very public and listed on his webpage.
    2. I didn't fake it.
    3. I doubt someone else is using his email address, but I suppose an underling could be.
    4. I've been a police reporter for 10 years and a gaming writer for five, and I always send out very short email requests for interviews. People don't have time for long messages.
    That probably don't convince anyone, but maybe it answers some questions. Feel free to email me if you have any others at Brian@kotaku.com or swing by redassedbaboon and chat with me there.
    • Brian,

      Without any identifying information, we have no choice but to either believe every word you say, or completely disbelieve every word you say.

      It's obviously not coming from a lawyer, who would not speak in the fashion that you have given. I don't have access to whois information from work, but maybe someone should whois stopkill.com, and see what the actual name/address/etc on the site is, because i bet the whole "way to reach this guy" is probably faked.

      Then again, I could be totally wron
      • Thanks to geektools:

        Organization:
        Jack Thompson
        Jack Thompson
        1172 S. Dixie Hwy., Suite 111
        Coral Gables, FL 33146
        US
        Phone: 305-666-4366
        Email: jackthompson@attbi.com

        Registrar Name....: Register.com
        Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com
        Registrar Homepage: http://www.register.com

        Domain Name: STOPKILL.COM

        Created on..............: Tue, Dec 03, 2002
        Expires on..............: Fri, Dec 03, 2004
        Record last updated on..: Sat, Nov 29, 2003

        Not the same address used in the FA, which i guess is also the o
        • Heh, the second 3 digit group of his phone number... Thats a good enough mark for me
        • Email: jackthompson@attbi.com

          Created on..............: Tue, Dec 03, 2002

          Not the same address used in the FA, which i guess is also the one on his site, maybe that one is just used for trolling people like us

          AT&T Broadband Internet (attbi) was acquired by Comcast in late '02 or '03. That would jive with the domain being registered with an attbi address, but Jack's current address being comcast.
      • Read this interview [gamedaily.com]. It seems like some lawyers do speak like this!

        I think I probably believe it's real.
    • I emailed him also, and got a strange response. It appears to be a copy of his brief. It's quite long, and rather interesting.

      In other words, I believe your story.

  • "Ad hominem" more than "ad malum" (Score:5, Insightful)

    by redelm ( 54142 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @05:52PM (#10792416) Homepage
    The last line "I couldn't care less" is extremely revealing. He seems to assume gamers are evil and will not reform themselves.

    It looks like he's more interested in punishing wrongdoers than ending wrongdoing. Kick-@$$ rather than make good. It does fit the political mood.

  • I don't think it's a fake (Score:1, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I did some digging on this guy a while ago. I shot him an e-mail that I thought was fairly well worded and I tried to be polite.

    His response:

    "Could you try to go to hell a little quieter"

    I'm not making this up.
    • "Could you try to go to hell a little quieter"

      I would, but the Imps and zombies make awful sounding howls that echo throughout Mars City, not to mention the serious firepower I'm constantly dishing out. After all, how do I silence a BFG?!

  • Really Jack Thompson? (Score:4, Informative)

    by dar ( 15755 ) on Thursday November 11, 2004 @06:07PM (#10792600) Homepage
    Do a google and you'll find others who have emailed this guy. Here's an example:

    example [bluesnews.com] Look for post #16

    I'm figuring the exchange is real.

  • Acid test (Score:5, Funny)

    by anon*127.0.0.1 ( 637224 ) <(moc.amrakduab) (ta) (todhsals)> on Thursday November 11, 2004 @06:20PM (#10792760) Journal
    Will somebody PLEASE put this guys theories to the test? Why can't Rockstar put a story arc in the next GTA which has the character bumping off some slimeball ambulance chasing lawyer who's sueing game companies?

    Then if nothing happens to this guy, we'll know he's full of shit. And if he does happen to get killed by some video game junkie... well, I'm sure he'll rest in peace knowing that his story was vindicated. We could all chip in and send a big burial wreath saying "We're sorry, you were right!"

  • no, but thanks. i'm too busy destroying best buy and rockstar
    He's also too busy to use the shift key. I'm sure that level of attention to detail goes over well in the courtroom and court documents.
  • Just look at his website, StopKill.com. [stopkill.com] It just screams ambulance chaser. I honestly think this guy is crazy.

  • Again? (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    (rolls eyes)

    Why won't this metropolitian moron give up on trying to cash in on Columbine years after the fact? His 15 minutes of fame ran out 3 years ago and his credibility went out the window last year when he sued Wal-Mart, even though Wal-Mart has had an ID policy in place since well before 9/11!

    Jack Thompson just continues to prove that he is a hearse-chasing, publicity-seeking, necrophailliac, gloryhound attention whore!

    Think about this, gang: with all the lawsuits he's either filed or has been a p
  • First page email traffic shows it's a fake. Spent a couple of
    miserable days back in the early 80's briefing
    a real lawyer (sic) about computer software. Some idiot tried to sue us because he was using UCSD p-system *fortran* for databases. It wasn't a happy time for me. Three days in Franz Kafka territory. Yikes - how do i explain "compiler" and "operating system" to an anally retentive SOB? (BTW: it's really difficult).

    So, I'll go back and giggle (maybe it gets better)

    Just had this thought: maybe the same
  • OK, we agree it's a fake. But, here is a
    strategy for melting CowboyNeal, CmdrTaco etc:

    1. Post rumour that GuildWars is cancelled to XXX site. Losenet would obviously be good.

    2. Post rumour that slashdot has the news.

    Bam. Server melts @ slashdot.org

    oops

    (very off topic, but there isn't an "off topic" thread - hey Commander we need one! pref hyperlinked for us organized geeks)

  • This is probably real (Score:3, Informative)

    by bigbigbison ( 104532 ) on Friday November 12, 2004 @09:53AM (#10797188) Homepage
    People are saying that this is fake. But based on other email comments I have seen from Jack Thompson, this is totally keeping in line with his responces.

    In a thread on a videogame forum [videogamingforums.com] there are people who claim that they have emailed Thompson and got such pithy responces as: "the rubbish is up your cranium, take it out," "you're biased against lawyers. grow a brain," "No, actually it's all about ignorant gamers," "You don't know my motives, so don't try guessing," and "children are allowed to buy them. do your research, junior."

    In another email exchange I've found, he basically says, that he would rather sue videogame companies than have laws passed [buzzcut.com].

    Finally, Thompson is also famous for being the lawyer behind the Two Live Crew obsenity trials, , and most bizarly, claiming that Janet Reno was unfit for office in Florida [tripod.com] because she was gay and people would blackmail her because of it (except by making a public deal of it, wouldn't that make it impossible to blackmail her) which resulted in Reno getting a restraining order against him.

    In short, Jack Thompson is certainly 100% capable of the odd responces stated in the article. There is actually lots more odd things that this lawyer has done. Do a search for "jack Thompson" and videogames and tons of stuff will come up about him.

  • Manhunt Murder (Score:3, Informative)

    by DrStrangeLug ( 799458 ) on Friday November 12, 2004 @10:57AM (#10797633)
    This summer we had a media frenzy when it was discovered that someone who played Manhunt had murdered a 17 (IIRC) year old boy. Funnily enough, not one of those sensationalist media outlets followed the sorry up when days later the police revealed that the VICTUM played manhunt, not the killer. If I really thought videogames influenced real life, I'd buy the new Leasuresuit Larry game in a second.
  • Does anyone know this guy's win/loss (or if he's ever won) record for these video game lawsuits he keeps pulling from his ass?

  • Why does Thompson get any attention? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Ath ( 643782 ) on Friday November 12, 2004 @11:20AM (#10797810)
    Other than apparently being a horrible attorney who has never won one of his "it's so clear and there is so much evidence" cases, what is he good for? He is just an attention whore who is standing by himself in the middle of a field. Why is it always his name railing against the videogames? Where are all the others that have proven his "facts"?

    This guy gets way too much attention, but I guess it's easy when you are the sole voice railing against a multibillion dollar industry for its violence. The rest of the public is busy buying and playing the games he bitches about.

  • Every time a child (say 17) goes out and murders someone, they quickly go to see what video games he is playing. Well obviousely he plays video games, hes 17 years old! Why people suddenly make the correlation is beyond me. Why not just blame it on the orange he ate that morning? There are so many kids that play violent video games that are just fine, actually way more than 99% I would guess.

    It couldn't possibly be bad parenting now could it?

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