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Legal Issues

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Feb 17th 2005 10:03am





Blame The Video Game Lawyer Is Back

from the responsibility?-pshah! dept

We've written about Jack Thompson before. He's the lawyer who seems to think that every violent act committed by children in the last half a decade can be pinned on the makers of the video game Grand Theft Auto. He's filed numerous lawsuits against the makers of the game, which never seem to get very far. However, he seems to be quite persistent and has now filed another lawsuit against the game company, blaming them for a teenager who shot three policemen after he was arrested for grand theft auto (the real kind, not the game). Apparently, Thompson doesn't seem to think teenagers should be responsible for their own actions. All this does is give them an out, allowing them to blame the video game, rather than take responsibility for what they've done. The fact that millions of people play these games all the time and don't then go on a killing rampage suggests that Thompson has a pretty high hurdle to prove that the game caused this sort of behavior. However, it's pretty clear he's not about to stop trying any time soon. Even if the kids involved in these crimes did play games like Grand Theft Auto, and even if they had trouble distinguishing between the game and reality, doesn't that suggest that those kids have serious problems that need attention, rather than simply shifting all of the blame to the video games?

13 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Jack Thompson

    identicon
    Bob, Feb 17th, 2005 @ 12:15pm

    So, Jack (Ass) Thompson has turned his attention to video games. Several years back, he was attempting to censor Rock and Rap. He's clearly on a crusade to use the force of law to reshape the media to his liking, civil liberties be damned. According to his website, he's actually proud of being called a censor.

    Frankly, I wish someone would figure out a way to sue people like him for attempting to restrain free speech, trade and the like.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Now anyone can get away with murder!

    identicon
    Jeff Rivett, Feb 17th, 2005 @ 1:57pm

    Want to murder someone? All you have to do is play Grand Theft Auto, then do the deed. If this idiot lawyer has his way, you walk away.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: Now anyone can get away with murder!

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 17th, 2005 @ 2:54pm


    It would be sweet irony if someone killed HIM and used the “Grand Theft Auto” defense.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Ok so I'm great at...

    identicon
    Makdow, Feb 18th, 2005 @ 3:36pm

    So this guys whole reasoning is that video games "trained" these kids to kill... so if thats the case then I should be the best golfer in the world (tiger woods) the best QB (madden) the best mayor ever (sim city) a kick butt race car driver (you choose) the most brillian general (any RTS game), and for the heck of it I could fly a space ship too as I have in all kinds of simulators...

    Please everyone that disagrees with this guy please email him and tell him off
    [email protected]

    I actually got a reply from someone (probably a clerical worker) it was hilarious

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    a simple proposal

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Oct 19th, 2005 @ 1:43pm

    I don't know if the full extent of this story has hit the main media, but seeing as he is still considered an expert analyst by said media I propose that the internet community do something. Anyone that does a little research about Jack's background online will find that he needs to lose the title of expert. If the media (CNN and other news stations) haven't or won't run the full story, then I say fill up their email with short unprovocative requests that Jack be investigated and the truth be presented. They may ignore the occasional email, but the numbers that the gamin community is capable of can not be ignored.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 9th, 2006 @ 10:13pm

    I feel like an empty room, but eh. Nothing seems worth doing. I haven't gotten much done today.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 16th, 2006 @ 3:41pm

    retty much nothing seems worth thinking about. My life's been completely dull , not that it matters. I've just been staying at home waiting for something to happen.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jul 1st, 2006 @ 6:17am

    I haven't been up to anything recently, but so it goes. Such is life. What can I say? Pretty much not much exciting going on to speak of. I haven't gotten much done lately, but I don't care.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jul 2nd, 2006 @ 12:20pm

    Not much on my mind right now, but it's not important. I've just been letting everything happen without me. I just don't have anything to say right now.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jul 6th, 2006 @ 6:43am

    I haven't been up to anything these days. So it goes. I can't be bothered with anything these days.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jul 7th, 2006 @ 3:03pm

    I just don't have anything to say , but shrug. So it goes. Not much on my mind recently. I can't be bothered with anything recently.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jul 11th, 2006 @ 8:07am

    I haven't been up to anything today. I don't care. I've just been staying at home not getting anything done. Basically not much happening right now. Maybe tomorrow. I guess it doesn't bother me.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  

    video games and crime

    identicon
    Deborah, Sep 5th, 2009 @ 3:45pm

    Although I do agree that video games should not be made the primary fault, I do believe that the stability of and mental and emotional stasis of the child's mind will play a big factor. But then again it is not the child's fault,it is the parents for buying it.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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