Jack Thompson is going to write a letter to YOUR MOM

[Azier the Swordsman]

Lovable Jack Thompson did it again. Only this time, he wrote a letter to the the chairman of Take Two Interactive's MOM.

[quote]Dear Mrs. Zelnick:

Your son, as you may know (or maybe you don’t know), is Chairman of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., whose most popular video games are the Grand Theft Auto murder simulator games banned in some countries but sold to children here.

Your son last week was reported to have said the following about Grand Theft Auto IV, due to be released Tuesday, April 29: “We’ve already received numerous [GTA IV] reviews, and to a one, they are perfect scores. My mom couldn’t write better reviews…â€

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Wow what a loser, lol.

[Fish and Chips]

I generally take all Jack Thompson news with a grain of salt, since I honestly have a hard time taking the man seriously for all his juvenile antics, assuming he can even take himself seriously anymore. This, however, I am angry at him for. He is as conscienceless as his alleged gaming industry.

Jackie boy needs a new hobby.

[blkmage]

Jackie boy needs a new hobby.

He'll have time to find one, now that he's disbarred and all.

[rocklobster]

I think some of what he does has merit. I mean there have been reports of GTA-inspired crimes. However, this is too much. Doesn't he realize that there are more influences on our culture besides video games? What about ultra-violent movies, the WWE, (ok, I like it, but even I can see its harm), and stuff like that? They're just as detrimental to our society as games like GTA, if not more. And probably more influential.

[Sheenar]

I generally take all Jack Thompson news with a grain of salt, since I honestly have a hard time taking the man seriously for all his juvenile antics, assuming he can even take himself seriously anymore. This, however, I am angry at him for. He is as conscienceless as his alleged gaming industry.

Yeah, he has definitely gone a bit too far this time. That poor woman.

[GhostontheNet]

The letter is tasteless, although sadly probably not the worst one Mrs. Zelnick and her family has read. Still, having been a gamer since before the release of the original Grand Theft Auto, I often wonder whether Take-Two Interactive (formerly Rockstar Games) is simply amoral, fond of pointed social satire, or both. One thing's for sure: their games are always controversial and thought provoking on issues related to video games and society.

[Radical Dreamer]

Wow, I'm almost speechless. I mean, seriously? How rude is it of him to assume he knows about their family life or how she raised her child? What business is that of his? And how rude of him to blame her for the deaths of those people! I have so many problems with this that I can't even articulate them all right now, but I can say that if I were a mom and I got that letter, I'd be thoroughly, thoroughly **** off. What a jerk.

[Htom Sirveaux]

Wow, that's an old one. I think he was actually disbarred since then.

[Bobtheduck]

Wow, that's an old one. I think he was actually disbarred since then.

I thought my comment on this was posted, guess it wasn't... It's about a year or more old, yes... Saw this on kotaku forever and a day ago.

[Nate]

He'll have time to find one, now that he's disbarred and all.

He isn't actually disbarred yet, though the verdict is due out this month (don't know what day specifically though). However, given his antics at the courtroom and the mountain of paperwork against him, I'd say he's likely to be disbarred.

I mean there have been reports of GTA-inspired crimes.

There have also been reports of Twinkie-inspired crimes. Just because someone blames something doesn't make it the motivation for a crime. Otherwise we'd have to defend Fred Phelps.

They're just as detrimental to our society as games like GTA, if not more.

The logical fallacy in this sentence is you have assumed GTA is detrimental to society. It is not. Otherwise I'd be in prison right now, seeing as how I've been playing it for years.

I think some of what he does has merit.

Oh, what part? The part where he bans free speech? The part where he tells anyone who plays video games to kill themselves? Or maybe the part where he put hardcore gay pornography in a court filing? Nothing Jack Thompson does has merit, ever.

I often wonder whether Take-Two Interactive (formerly Rockstar Games) is simply amoral, fond of pointed social satire, or both

I'd say both. The GTA series is quite obviously social satire (and excellent satire at that), but on the other hand you have games like Manhunt. In their defense though, if the games didn't sell they wouldn't keep making them, so I'd say that says more about society than the company.

[Stephen]

Thank you Nate. I was going to right a post kinda tearing this tool...but I think what you did was plenty. I want to know where I can sign, to see Nate beat Jack Thompson to death with a bag of children's games. Barbie, Casper, etc. The irony would be such a fitting end.

[uc pseudonym]

Obviously I know nothing about Mrs. Zelnick, but she certainly would have the opportunity to write a great response.

[CAAOutkast]

He isn't actually disbarred yet, though the verdict is due out this month (don't know what day specifically though). However, given his antics at the courtroom and the mountain of paperwork against him, I'd say he's likely to be disbarred.

There have also been reports of Twinkie-inspired crimes. Just because someone blames something doesn't make it the motivation for a crime. Otherwise we'd have to defend Fred Phelps.

The logical fallacy in this sentence is you have assumed GTA is detrimental to society. It is not. Otherwise I'd be in prison right now, seeing as how I've been playing it for years.

Oh, what part? The part where he bans free speech? The part where he tells anyone who plays video games to kill themselves? Or maybe the part where he put hardcore gay pornography in a court filing? Nothing Jack Thompson does has merit, ever.

I'd say both. The GTA series is quite obviously social satire (and excellent satire at that), but on the other hand you have games like Manhunt. In their defense though, if the games didn't sell they wouldn't keep making them, so I'd say that says more about society than the company.

American Society Sucks,plain and simple. And as for Jack Thompson,he's an annoying baffoon that gives moral traditionalists and fundamentalist christians a bad name. I say close this pointless topic now. And if this Pinhead does anything else..let's do ourselves a favor and Ignore him.

[Htom Sirveaux]

American Society Sucks,plain and simple. And as for Jack Thompson,he's an annoying baffoon that gives moral traditionalists and fundamentalist christians a bad name. I say close this pointless topic now. And if this Pinhead does anything else..let's do ourselves a favor and Ignore him.

Oh wait, before anyone closes the thread:
http://www.purepwnage.com/shorts/reality_vs_fantasy.html

*sings* "All sorts o' weaponnns . . ."

[JesusFreak84]

Oh wait, before anyone closes the thread:
http://www.purepwnage.com/shorts/reality_vs_fantasy.html

*sings* "All sorts o' weaponnns . . ."

That was disturbingly catchy...

Who's even still taking Thompson seriously? o.o

[Stephen]

I say close this pointless topic now

No backseat modding.

[Kkun]

No backseat modding.

WHAT'D THE FIVE FINGERS SAY TO THE FACE?

[spoiler]SLAP[/spoiler]

[CAAOutkast]

No backseat modding.

Yeah,sorry about that.

[TriezGamer]

Who's even still taking Thompson seriously? o.o

A few people with a lot of influence.

[User Name]

I don't really care about Jack Thompson anymore, but I hope that woman didn't feel too offended. I don't know how it would feel to have someone saying something about your son being a sociopath, or even implying that the mother would train her son to be like the Strauss Mr. Thompson describes. Even if he was Christian, like we are, I find it almost embarrasing for someone to make such a bad example.

Mrs. Zelnick, did you train up your son, Strauss, to make millions of dollars by pushing Mature-rated video games to children? Any kid can go right to little Strauss’ corporate web site and buy GTA IV with no age verification. Strauss is even marketing the new Grand Theft Auto IV on World Wrestling Entertainment tv shows seen by millions of kids. If you trained up Strauss to do this, then shame on you.

I pray Jack will realize his own errors. Video Games with no age verification or violence indeed do have detrimental effects on children. But he isn't helping in the most.

[Nate]

For the record, Thompson is now officially disbarred. Technically he isn't fully disbarred until 25 more days, but, the only reason for that is so that he can close out his business, so yeah, he's disbarred.

[Monkey J. Luffy]

Heres something we'll all enjoy:
http://www.gamesradar.com/f/eleven-classic-jack-thompson-face-palms/a-20080610135018578022
Note: PG-13 warning ahead, but still hilarious