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Thompson Says Florida Bar Requested Psych Test 83

Posted by Zonk from the not-a-great-year-for-jack dept.
MBCook wrote with a link to a GamePolitics story about another chapter of the Jack Thompson saga. Sheila M. Tuma, a person associated with Thompson's Florida Bar evaluation, has requested that the colorful lawyer 'seek psychological testing and accept a 91-day suspension of his law license.'. Though they attempted to confirm this with the Bar, no one was inclined to give the site a comment. "The e-mail explaining the situation was sent to GamePolitics by Thompson himself. The recommendation comes following issues stemming from Thompson's Bully case last year where there were issues regarding his professional conduct."
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Thompson Says Florida Bar Requested Psych Test More

Thompson Says Florida Bar Requested Psych Test

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  • What a Goof (Score:4, Interesting)

    by MightyMartian ( 840721 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @01:36PM (#19732985) Journal
    The man is a complete nut; an attention-seeking media addict. Who really needs psychological testing are the media outlets that continue to give this lunatic a platform.

    • Re:What a Goof (Score:4, Insightful)

      by endianx ( 1006895 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @01:39PM (#19733031)

      Who really needs psychological testing are the media outlets that continue to give this lunatic a platform.
      Like Slashdot? And you and I?
      • Pot, Kettle. I'm sure you have a lot in common to talk about.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by penp ( 1072374 )
        Damn, you beat me to it.

      • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

        by twistedsymphony ( 956982 )
        I don't know if Id say we're giving him a platform... I believe the GP is talking about "generic talk show" who invites Jack Thompson "video game expert" on the show to speak with the parents about the dangers of the murder simulators they bought.

        Talking about him is one thing... putting him on a pedestal and parading him around like he's some kind of expert with a valuable opinion is a completely different animal.

        I actually think it's benificial that /. talk about his goings ons because when it gets

      • Re:What a Goof (Score:5, Insightful)

        by MinutiaeMan ( 681498 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @03:06PM (#19734227) Homepage
        "The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no limit to this fever for writing; every one must be an author; some out of vanity, to acquire celebrity and raise up a name, others for the sake of mere gain." -- Martin Luther predicts the Internet, ca. 1530
        • Martin Luther is to Jews as Jack Thompson is to videogames.

          I may disagree with Jack Thompson, but I'll support and defend his right to voice his opinions. If his views are more popular (which might have been true at one time, but they seem to have become more marginalized at present) then it is, at least in part, a failing of the opposing side to convincingly present its case.

    • Re:What a Goof (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Red Flayer ( 890720 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @02:01PM (#19733315) Journal

      Who really needs psychological testing are the media outlets that continue to give this lunatic a platform.
      Why is that? The media companies that give him an outlet make money off his attention-whoring -- they are acting quite rationally.

      The real problem are the people who listen to, and believe, the demagogues -- in Thompson's case, because it's easier than addressing causes of violence other than cultural acceptance of it. This is particularly true of those in positions of power.

      Going a little further, the problem (in the US) is that our electoral system + apathetic populace + corporate mass media == positive return on demagoguery. But I really don't want to get sidetracked down that road, so:

      Jack Thompson is not a fool; he might even be unstable; but he fights for something he believes in, and does so pretty well, albeit via use of questionable methods. To belittle him is to belittle the effect he has on free speech issues wrt gaming, and that is a foolish thing to do. If you consider him an enemy, you should analyze his strengths as much as his weakneses.

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by provigilman ( 1044114 )

        I actually think it's benificial that /. talk about his goings ons because when it gets out of line we're prepared to deal with the inevitable aftermath that I'm sure most of us see from friends, family, and co-workers who just happened to see some expert on TV the other day who said that....

        Talking about Jack Thompson on GP and /. isn't giving him a "platform" anymore than talking about Hitler in history class gives nazism a "platform". This man is attacking our chosen form of entertainment, to ignore h

      • "The media companies that give him an outlet make money off his attention-whoring -- they are acting quite rationally."

        This is only true if you believe that making money by spreading disinformation is a rational act. Most people with morals would disagree.
        • These are media companies led by conservatives. Their morality is "Trap, Dominate, Fuck".

        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          by Red Flayer ( 890720 )
          I think you missed my point -- companies don't have morality. And acting within the moral code of corporate management, the morally correct action is that which maximizes profit without exposing the company to undue risk.

          At any rate, you're conflating rational thought with morality. Morality often entails making irrational actions within the framework for decision-making.

          Note that I'm not supporting this; nor making any kind of judgment about it -- it's just the way that it is.
          • I think you missed my point -- companies don't have morality. And acting within the moral code of corporate management, the morally correct action is that which maximizes profit without exposing the company to undue risk.

            I don't buy that line of bullshit. Companies are run by people, and the 'moral action is the profitable one' is just excusing amoral people for their deeds.
            • You're still anthropomorphizing an organization, comprised of a multitude of people who don't all share the same morals, so it breaks down, typically to the level of the lowest morals.

              I chose to not pass judgment (as I'm in agreement with you for the most part), but morality is in large part contextural. I'm pretty sure you're an absolutist, and we'll never see eye-to-eye on that...

              I'll stand by my belief though, that a moral action within its context can be considered amoral by those outside the context
              • Unfortunately your logic leads you to a path where pretty much anything is moral, all you need to do is find the correct context. That context may only exist in one person's mind.

                Many things are labeled moral or immoral which really are not appropriate to be categorized that way. To some, sex before marriage is immoral. I don't subscribe to listing those kinds of things as moral or immoral. However, attempting to gain by harming others is pretty universally considered morally wrong, just as murder is.

                In

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by brkello ( 642429 )
        He has no strengths other than his law license. The only thing he has going for him has nothing to do with anything he has done. It has to do with the older generation demonizing video games. There is always something the older generation just doesn't "get". And this happens to be what it is right now. Mix children with something that the older population hasn't been exposed to and you get an irrational fear. Jack feeds of this fear for his own self glorification.

        I honestly doubt Thompson believes wh

        • He has no strengths other than his law license.

          How about:

          Persistence
          The ability to get negative media coverage for his target-of-the-day
          The ability to get coverage of his antics
          His appeal to those in power (also of older generations)
          The ease with which his pet issue can be used as a "save the children" issue.

          Again, by ignoring his strengths, you ignore what he can actually do -- which, unless countered, can have a serious effect on free speech. He's a PR machine for his side of the issue -- and even if h

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Sigma 7 ( 266129 )

            His appeal to those in power (also of older generations)

            Do you mean his ability to product anti-video game laws? Those were shot down instantly.

            The ease with which his pet issue can be used as a "save the children" issue.

            In the latest incident with Virgina Tech, the media (other than Fox) was beginning to show that they were tired of that argument, especially when it was discovered that there was minimal involvement with videogames.

            In addition, the neologism "massacre chaser" was created right after this incident as well.

            Again, by ignoring his strengths, you ignore what he can actually do -- which, unless countered, can have a serious effect on free speech.

            His strengths are easily countered. Each time you see statements, whether it is from him or from other anti-video

      • If you consider him an enemy, you should analyze his strengths as much as his weakneses.
        Lawful evil, impervious to rational arguments, gains power from other people's tragedies, +1 against freedom.

        • Lawful evil, impervious to rational arguments, gains power from other people's tragedies, +1 against freedom.

          Chaotic evil. Thompson has shown a disregard for the Constitution and lack of anything approaching personal honor or code of conduct, as well as behaved in a way which has made others doubt his sanity. Being a lawyer doesn't make him lawful; it simply means he knows the legal system.

      • Jack Thompson is not a fool; he might even be unstable; but he fights for something he believes in, and does so pretty well, albeit via use of questionable methods. To belittle him is to belittle the effect he has on free speech issues wrt gaming, and that is a foolish thing to do. If you consider him an enemy, you should analyze his strengths as much as his weakneses.

        Most (if not all) of Jack Thompson's cases gets thrown out of court because he consistently fails to follow certain rules and guidelines. He seems like an incompetent lawyer from looking at his history in the courtroom. I wouldn't say he is doing well at all if his goal is to get rid of violence in video games. Furthermore, I think we should belittle him because he lies and is a big asshole to people who stand up to his lies and distortions. Disrespectful people like JT don't deserve respect.

      • The media companies that give him an outlet make money off his attention-whoring -- they are acting quite rationally.

        Are they ? Jack Thompson is a raving lunatic. Is helping a raving lunatic gain power for short-term gain rational ? Especially since anti-videogame hysteria could easily turn against other forms of media.

        Besides, I'm not at all certain that basing all decisions on what makes most money makes you sane.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by MontyApollo ( 849862 )
      After the Virginia Tech shootings, a local radio station interviewed him and kept referring to him as an "expert on school shootings" but never mentioned that his notoriety actually comes from attacking the video game industry. He slipped video game bashing into every other comment. He would talk about some school shooter and remark that he shot everybody in the head like video games train one to do, then a few comments later he would say some shooter had shot everybody 3 times each - just like video games
  • .. a complete idiot he tends to jump the gun and blame gaming on everything. Example the Virgina Tech shooting.
    • and blame gaming on everything.

      I think we all knew what you meant, but for some reason I just thought this was really funny.
  • They're just making it official he's crazy. Heck, I'm a "right-wing nutcase" and I think the guy is off his rocker.
    • "Heck, I'm a "right-wing nutcase" and I think the guy is off his rocker."

      Self-contradictory; a real right-wing nutcase would automatically assume him right ignoring all facts to the contrary (given his views are decidedly God-driven and conservative, Billary support notwithstanding). You're what we like to call a "thinking conservative", AKA the ones who can appreciate leftist views even as they believe right-wing views to be better. (Switch 'left' and 'right' and you have a "thinking liberal" - please d
      • Billary? Is that like Caesarpatra?

      • "Heck, I'm a "right-wing nutcase" and I think the guy is off his rocker."

        Self-contradictory; a real right-wing nutcase would automatically assume [...] You're what we like to call a "thinking conservative" [...]

        He could even have meant something like what I am: flamingly liberal on most issues, but aware of some of the mistakes that "The Left" makes, and of a few valid points that the conservatives make. Hence, in the view of many of the Liberals I meet, a right-wing nutcase.

  • Paris Hilton (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Gertlex ( 722812 )
    Jack is such an attention whore... And we dig it just as much as the rest of the world digs Paris Hilton's everyday antics.

    The two would make a good pair... Thompson and Hilton: The Publicity Whoring Masters

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by MrShaggy ( 683273 )
      we could even make it a game. Have Thompson and Hilton duking it out, as they both sit in psych wards. Media attention can make you more stars. At the end of it all, we could even have them all doped up at the end. One trying to make the world an ecstasy and coke-loving paradise, the other chasing everyone down, beating them into submission with a large pointer.

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by The13thSin ( 1092867 )
      That's an insult to Paris Hilton.

    • That makes sense. (Score:4, Funny)

      by Valdrax ( 32670 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @02:12PM (#19733503)
      And we dig it just as much as the rest of the world digs Paris Hilton's everyday antics.

      Really? I thought that Paris Hilton got so much attention was because there were people who actually liked her.
      That argument actually makes a lot more sense than the impression I had.

      I don't know. I've never been able to understand celebrity worship.

      • I don't know. I've never been able to understand celebrity worship.

        Well, on one level I don't understand celebrity worship, but really, I think almost everybody has their celebrities. For most/many/some slashdotters they may not be actors, but it could be Joss Whedon, Linus Torvalds, Theo de Raadt, ESR, Richard Stallman, and even--as the GP mentioned--Thompson. Same kind of celebrity tracking, just a different kind of celebrity! (I'm think of names I see fairly regularly on slashdot..)

        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          by Valdrax ( 32670 )
          Well, on one level I don't understand celebrity worship, but really, I think almost everybody has their celebrities. For most/many/some slashdotters they may not be actors, but it could be Joss Whedon, Linus Torvalds, Theo de Raadt, ESR, Richard Stallman, and even--as the GP mentioned--Thompson. Same kind of celebrity tracking, just a different kind of celebrity! (I'm think of names I see fairly regularly on slashdot..)

          Well, yeah, I care about their newsworthy actions because they are usually doing somethin

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Thing 1 ( 178996 )

            Of course, I'm almost certainly preaching to the choir here on Slashdot.

            Yes. Yes you are.

            [...] I'd really rather be punched in the face than hear the term "Brangelina" EVER again in my life.

            I know a guy what can help with that...

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by cgenman ( 325138 )
            Wait! I said Brangelina! I said Brangelina! Oh! I've said Brangelina again!

          • mean, I care about what movies Brad Pitt's gonna star in 'cause he's one of my favorite actors, but I'd really rather be punched in the face than hear the term "Brangelina" EVER again in my life. That's the sort of nonsense I just don't understand. People who pin their hopes and dreams on mundane details of the daily lives of people they'll never personally know disappoint me.

            Pin their hopes and dreams ? I think you're mistaken. Those people consider Mr. Pitt's everyday life the same as you consider his

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by Alsee ( 515537 )
            Exclusive nude beach celebrity photos of Richard Stallman!

            -

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Fozzyuw ( 950608 )

      The two would make a good pair... Thompson and Hilton: The Publicity Whoring Masters

      Only, I won't download Jack's amateur video.

  • what? (Score:4, Funny)

    by AdmiralWeirdbeard ( 832807 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @01:54PM (#19733213)
    they want him to undergo psych evaluation and so to prove he's not crazy, he goes and tells the media about it?

    yeah, that sounds like a real good way to prove your sanity there, asshole. For your next trick, i suggest a chicken costume while singing opera and walking around daytona beach. That'll teach 'em to think you're crazy.

    Fuckwit.
    • I think Jack Thompson comes from the "there's no such thing as bad publicity" school of thought.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Khaed ( 544779 )
      He's not that bright of a person. He's a shifty asshole, but he's not really a smart shifty asshole. If you see the e-mails he sends out, it's very apparent that he's just... sort of a stupid guy.

      I haven't believed that Jack Thompson cares much about the things he argues for in a while. I think he's just got very, very serious problems and gets off on the attention. He's like a real life, professional troll. He enjoys stirring up shit, and being in front of the camera. He likes that gamers are pissed at
      • "He's like a real life, professional troll. He enjoys stirring up shit, and being in front of the camera"

        Is Paris Hilton his soulmate then?

  • Been done before (Score:5, Insightful)

    by orclevegam ( 940336 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @01:55PM (#19733227) Journal
    He's actually been ordered to take Psych test before and he managed to pass them. The guy is a moron, but unfortunatly he's not clinically insane. What will happen this time is probably the same thing that happened last time. He'll go do the test, pass it (although probably give the psychologist giving the test some interesting data to work on), and then make a huge PR event out of the fact that he's legally sane. He's got a few screws loose, but he's not missing any of them so they can't actually diagnose him with anything. They need to just disbar the guy and have done with it.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by UncleTogie ( 1004853 ) *
      Actually, according to this [floridabar.org] link, he's presently not allowed to practice law in Florida. One state down, 49 to go!

    • and then make a huge PR event out of the fact that he's legally sane.
      It makes one wonder why he'd rather be declared legally sane instead of just being regarded as sane for behaving in a sane manner. Do you know what passes under the law as still being legally sane compared to what the general populace thinks of as sanity? I mean, look at Jack Thompson!
    • According to one of the comments on the gamepolitics thread the earlier psychological test that Thompson took was for a possible obsession with sex. I've not heard that before and the commenter doesn't provide any source so who knows how true it is.

      However, if he is given a fuller test this time I wouldn't be surprised if he gets diagnosed with some anger management issues as well as some things like paranoia, a persecution complex as well as delusions of grandeur.

      • According to one of the comments on the gamepolitics thread the earlier psychological test that Thompson took was for a possible obsession with sex. I've not heard that before and the commenter doesn't provide any source so who knows how true it is.

        The previous test was stemming from his harassment of Janet Reno who he was accusing of being a lesbian.

        From the wikipedia page (which also sites the source as an article in Insight):

        In 1990, after his election loss, Thompson began a campaign against the efforts of Switchboard of Miami, a social services group of which Reno was a board member. Thompson charged that the group placed "homosexual-education tapes" in public schools. Switchboard responded by getting the Florida Supreme Court to order that he submit to a psychiatric examination. Thompson did so and passed, and since then has stated on more than one occasion that he is "the only officially certified sane lawyer in the entire state of Florida."

        And the url for the wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_%28atto rney%29#Campaign_against_Janet_Reno [wikipedia.org]

    • He'll go do the test, pass it (although probably give the psychologist giving the test some interesting data to work on), and then make a huge PR event out of the fact that he's legally sane.

      If someone feels the need to hold a press conference just to announce that they're legally sane, you know everything you need to know about their sanity.

  • Eh, this is going nowhere fast (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Steeltalon ( 734391 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @02:03PM (#19733345)
    Psychological examination probably won't prove anything and his mental acuity isn't even really the thing that seems to cause problems. It is his professional demeanor or lack of therin. His conduct is unacceptable and his disbarment should be based on that. I'm sure that they're just hoping that he fails in order to give them "solid" justification to get rid of him.
    • I think you're probably right. The broad umbrella of "antisocial tendencies" notwithstanding, being a complete, stubborn jerk isn't exactly a form of mental illness yet. Thompson's not a narcissist or a megalomaniac or a sociopath or anything like that -- he's just incredibly rude and disrespectful to people that don't see things his way, and he knows that his campaign to restrict access to violent games to minors requires a certain amount of grandstanding to rally supporters of the same goals.
  • Someone thinks that Jack Thompson might not be playing with a full deck?
    Dear God! Hell must have frozen over solid!

  • Just like a person who knows nothing about math or science can pass the test if they study hard enough, I believe he can pass those tests... if he gets his homework done and studies hard. As long as he's declared over 60% sane it'll be fine and he'll go on living the same...
    • I'd like to take that last comment and stick it right in front of my eyes... I better get studying my writing to learn at least how to spell words such as "studying". And over use of the three periods seems a problem for me also...

  • It all depends: (Score:5, Informative)

    by Cadallin ( 863437 ) on Tuesday July 03, 2007 @02:14PM (#19733525)
    I have some knowledge about State Bar Association Ethics Boards, from first hand accounts. It all depends on what they want to know. In the case I know about, the guy being investigated got to pick two doctors, the Board one. His Doctor's testified that he "was not a threat to himself or others" which is doctor-speak for "I couldn't justify to a judge having him involuntarily committed." It doesn't mean any more than that. Fortunately the Ethics board was well aware of that. When asked if they believed he would do the things things that prompted the inquiry again, they admitted it was possible (in the usual non-committal sort of way, but lawyers, unlike juries, understand what that stuff means). The Board's Doctor said the same things in a more formal kind of way. The Board recommended in their report to the State Supreme Court, that he not have his license ever reinstated (he had already been suspended from practicing law due to his actions).

    It really depends on the Board. I think its very possible, given his previous history of warnings in the Florida legal system, that Thompson is about to get slapped pretty hard. They aren't happy with him already. As I said, he's received a number of warnings, and has been removed from cases by judges for his behavior.

    • Why the psychiatric angle at all? Can't he be barred for "Extremely unprofessional behavior not appropriate of a member of the bar" or something along those lines?

      It does still say he's a "member in good standing" though, I wonder if you can be a member in poor standard or the alternative is to just be disbarred?

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Aladrin ( 926209 )
        To flip him over the edge. Get him ranting and raving about having to take yet another (apparently it's not the first) psych exam and generally make an ass of himself right before the real hearing, where they disbar him for "unprofessional behavior" or whatever they can.
      • Unfortunately in this case, Lawyers have one of the best Unions in the Country (Another being the American Medical Association). It is very hard to get a lawyer disbarred. They basically have to make themselves a big enough embarrassment to other lawyers that they complain (Running around pissing off Judges is a very good way though, and Thompson's done plenty of that). Suffice it to say that Lawyers are very cliqueish and tend to protect their own right up to the point where it becomes a huge public fia

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Alsee ( 515537 )
        I wonder if you can be a member in poor standard or the alternative is to just be disbarred?

        Either you are a "member in good standing" and can legally practice law, or you you aren't. "Member in good standing" == "Not Disbarred", or perhaps even "Not Disbarred, YET".

        It's funny how Jack Thompson has at times tried to use the phrase "member in good standing" as some amazing proof of his legitimacy. It would be almost like someone saying "I have *not* been locked in prison", and playing it like some badge of h
  • He was also asked to do this by the Bar in the past. The result of that one was Jack suing the bar and settling. I think the guy is off his rocker but until I see he is actually disbarred its just another attempt at keeping his name in the headlines.
  • If his behavior won't be somehow framed as some form of psychological disorder, how would a psychologist, based on everything he's said and done, describe Mr. Thompson?
  • For a second, I thought this would be an article about a Law & Order episode.
  • The recommendation comes following issues stemming from Thompson's Bully case last year where there were issues regarding his professional conduct.

    Translation: "The recommendation comes following issues stemming from Thompson's Bully case last year where there were issues regarding his inability to refrain from ranting like a raving lunatic and exposing his genitalia to the courtroom while prancing around like a chicken with jock itch."
  • I love it. This article is both tagged "haha" AND "hahahaha", 'cause only one of those wouldn't be quite enough.

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