Jack Tompson might be after Microsoft after Virgina tech shooting

[7th lutz]

The killer of the Virginia Tech campus killings was a big fan of violent video games, mostly Counterstrike.

The part about the killer liking counterstrike can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR2007041700563_3.html

I know tompson was on tv, but I think he thought Rockstar was the maker of the game that caused the student to be a killer. He picked the wrong game.

The killer had more issues then playing violent videogames I think, but thompson will be blaming Microsoft for the people that were killed in the shooting.

Here is proof of the killer of other issues: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18148802/?GT1=9246

Part of the article states:

A Virginia Tech professor told NBC News that Cho’s creative writing was so disturbing that she referred him to the school’s counseling service, but he would not go. The professor, Lucinda Roy, the English Department’s director of creative writing, would not comment at length on Cho’s writings, saying only that in general they “seemed very angry.”

“I kept saying, ‘Please go to counseling; I will take you to counseling,’ because he was so depressed,” Roy said. But “I was told [by counselors] that you can’t force anybody to go over ... so their hands were tied, too.”

Fellow students in a playwriting class with Cho also noticed the dark and disturbing nature of his compositions.

“His writing, the plays, were really morbid and grotesque,” Stephanie Derry, a senior English major, told the campus newspaper, The Collegiate Times.

“I remember one of them very well. It was about a son who hated his stepfather. In the play, the boy threw a chainsaw around and hammers at him. But the play ended with the boy violently suffocating the father with a Rice Krispy treat,” Derry said.

That is something I don't think video games would cause those type writings. It appeared like the killer was just a violent, who needed help. This something Thompson will not look at.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Considering the large number of males his age that play videogames maybe
Thompson should go after something else that might of caused this........
Let's see what else do males his age do? Hm, wear clothes, eat junk food, breath air, sleep, hey anyone of those things could be the reason he did this!

[njiska]

This should probably be merged with the off-topic thread. i expect this subject to come up in there shortly.

[Azraelscross]

his plays that i saw weren't groutesque. they were just bad

[Kid Ice]

So did Jack Thompson actually say anything? This is just about what he *might* do?

[Trebuken]

I heard this on talk radio today. They came to the conclusion that he did not kill anyone because he played video games, but because he was a socio-path who happened to own a gaming system.

Besides, I can't think of a game that allows you to shoot yourself at the end, or youe ex at the beginning.

[ShenmueFan]

Tired argument on every side.

[DigitalSpace]

So did Jack Thompson actually say anything?

Yep. (http://kotaku.com/gaming/virginia-tech/breaking-idiot-blames-va-shooting-on-games-252702.php) :shameful:

[Oobgarm]

But the play ended with the boy violently suffocating the father with a Rice Krispy treat

Exactly how did this guy get into college? Let's hope it wasn't based on his skills as a playwright.

:hmm:

[Nebagram]

Jack Thompson will go after anything that has a joypad, an AV output and a multi-billion bank balance. I'm surprised people still take him seriously tbh.

[Kid Ice]

Yep. (http://kotaku.com/gaming/virginia-tech/breaking-idiot-blames-va-shooting-on-games-252702.php) :shameful:

But what did he actually say? I keep hearing "well he went on the news and blamed it on games" but I can't find any quotes.

[diskoboy]

Did anyone actually hear him when Fox news interviewed him?

He was going on about how he prayed with his 14 year-old kid every morning, then almsot started crying, then spouted off his usual shit.

It wasn't even 30 seconds into the interview he was attacking GTA.

But now he's a self-described "School shooting expert". LOL

[Three-P]

Jack Thompson will go after anything that has a joypad, an AV output and a multi-billion bank balance. I'm surprised people still take him seriously tbh.

I never took Jack Thompson seriously. In fact, I wonder why every state in America didn't already disbar his ass.

Jack Thompson. I know his full first name, now. (And it's, "Jackass.")

[Kitsune Sniper]

Rush Limbaugh said the kid was disturbed and that we shouldn't blame video games for his actions.

Yes, Limbaugh said that.

The world is slowly going to hell, innit?

[7th lutz]

It didn't make any sense for the college to keep him or allow him in college. Plus there he stalked 2 women.

The is no game out there that teaches stalking. The closest games to stalking I think of is the Metal Gear series.

[Dire 51]

But what did he actually say? I keep hearing "well he went on the news and blamed it on games" but I can't find any quotes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weG7A4lTGtg

There you have it.

[Neil Koch]

Apparently this wacko listened to Collective Soul incessantly, so let's ban that band...

Jack Thompson is just another person that uses tragedies to further their own careers.

[njiska]

Rush Limbaugh said the kid was disturbed and that we shouldn't blame video games for his actions.

Yes, Limbaugh said that.

The world is slowly going to hell, innit?

No you're just starting to realize that the right blames the individual, the left blames society and tries to smooth. Little Government, Big Government.

[Garry Silljo]

The is no game out there that teaches stalking. The closest games to stalking I think of is the Metal Gear series.

What about Sneak King?

[7th lutz]

What about Sneak King?

I forget about that, but Sneak king came a year after the Killer stalked the girls.

[Jorpho]

He was going on about how he prayed with his 14 year-old kid every morning, then almsot started crying, then spouted off his usual shit.

Remember when there was that message board suicide thing a while back, and he (apparently) made some comment (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82389) about tying his crusade in with the death of his sister-in-law?

I don't think he's really opportunistic. Perhaps there really have been one too many traumas in his life, or something in his upbringing, and he is genuinely paranoid and slightly off his nut.

(But then, I have also come to appreciate that he has ingrained himself ever so neatly into the minds of gamers - and thus the public in general - with those slights against Penny Arcade, VG Cats, etc.)


But now he's a self-described "School shooting expert". LOL

Seriously, what's up with that ? I like the part where he said the guy from Dawson "trained on Super Columbine Massacre". (Whatever other merits it may or may not have, no action depicted through RPG Maker is ever going bear more than a cursory resemblance to reality!)

[7th lutz]

Thompson is officially after Microsoft

See: http://www.gamealmighty.com/story-individual/story/Thompson_Targets_Microsoft_in_Latest_Crusade

It his letter to Bill gates in the article.

[Joker T]

What the hell?

Counter-Strike is Valve's property, Jack should get his facts straight.

[RegSNES]

I knew the VA Tech masacre would once again put violent video games in the spot light. I also knew Jack Thompson would be quick to hop on his soap box and once again make an idiot of himself. How did this guy even become an lawyer? Do they just given degrees in the law field away where he's from? I was going to say Thompson shouldn't be allowed to breed but it turns out he's already got a kid. I mean, his son can't be the same bafoon his father is, right? Right?

[RegSNES]

Counter-Strike is Valve's property, Jack should get his facts straight.

Well, Jack is... he's... You know, its a lot easier to just say he's a freaking idiot.

[kainemaxwell]

I think Team Gates would eat Jack alive if he tried any legal action.

[Three-P]

I think Team Gates would eat Jack alive if he tried any legal action.

I doubt that would stop him. He's a fucking crazy jackass who doesn't know when he's beaten. If he did, he would've just given up on his mission to destroy gaming years ago, and focused mainly on personal injury suits.

Slightly off-topic, I read that Dr. Phil also unfairly blamed videogames for this tragedy. My sis loves him, but as far as I'm concerned, that fat-assed Bald Bull clone is dead to me.

[Joker T]

Well, Jack is... he's... You know, its a lot easier to just say he's a freaking idiot.

True.

You'd just think he would do a little research ahead of time.

[rbudrick]

What the hell?

Counter-Strike is Valve's property, Jack should get his facts straight.

Yes, but in lawsuits, you always go after the big guns first, since that's where the money is. If, no, *when* the court rules That MS is not at fault, then he will default to going after the smaller property, Valve.

-Rob

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

No you're just starting to realize that the right blames the individual, the left blames society and tries to smooth. Little Government, Big Government.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever read on DP. Yes, dumber than Fighter17.

[shoes23]

I wish he would substantiate some of the claims he makes with solid facts. Half the time he just spews misinformation, and people believe him because he sounds confident in what he is saying. For example, if when he says the killers of the Columbine shooting "trained" on Doom translates to the fact that they owned and played a copy of perhaps the best selling video game of its time, then he would be correct. How can one train to do something like that with a copy of Doom? Same goes for his "killer trained on GTA: Vice City to lower his heart rate." Really Jack? Where is the proof? Honestly, when I'm kicked back in my easy chair, playing any GTA or any other violent video game my heart rate rarely gets above 60 (unless of course those damn dogs jump through the windows in Resident Evil), does that make me a cold blooded-killer? I highly doubt it, I still get sqeemish when I see blood in real life. Why doesn't he ever mention games like Medal of Honor/Call of Duty (I guess mowing down hordes of Nazis is alright with him), he seems fixated that GTA and now Counterstrike are the main culprits. I'm just going to end the rant here, as I could go on for a while, and honestly with this guy we are all :deadhorse:.

[Cryomancer]

I forget about that, but Sneak king came a year after the Killer stalked the girls.

There's at LEAST two or three Japanese hentai games where you stalk girls. Biko 3 is one for sure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biko_3

[Push Upstairs]

I wish he would substantiate some of the claims he makes with solid facts. Half the time he just spews misinformation, and people believe him because he sounds confident in what he is saying. For example, if when he says the killers of the Columbine shooting "trained" on Doom translates to the fact that they owned and played a copy of perhaps the best selling video game of its time, then he would be correct. How can one train to do something like that with a copy of Doom?

When I hear this nonsense I whip out the big guns....researched info.

600,000* people bought copies of the game "DOOM" (that is from stores and does not include "copies") TWO kids shoot up a school who happened to play a game that at least 599,998 other people played as well.

Its just not as hard hitting when you say "Well, less than 1% of Doom owners have become violent and shot up their school."


*thanks for the info PC GAMER!

[njiska]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever read on DP. Yes, dumber than Fighter17.

Then you really are an uneducated idiot. You're also assuming the republican party is the definition of right wing politics which IS NOT TRUE. Try to move past the parties and look at the ideals of the poltical spectrum before accussing me of being an idiot. The Spectrum trancends parties, peoples and cultures.

What we're talking about here is Locus of Control (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_of_control). In the traditional political spectrum the left beleives a person's locus of control is more external. They're affected and driven by the things around them such as media and other aspects of culture. The right beleives that a person's locus of control is internal and that each man is drive by his own goals and desires and not by outside influences.

This can also be expanded to state that the right beleives anyone can acheive their dreams if they just work for it while the left beleives everyone must be helpped as much as possible.

Applied to this situation the locus of control model would be applied to Cho's actions. the left tradional would favour external influences and the right would beleive it was the inner workings.

Hencce we have the following brak down of anti-gaming politians. (Note: either publicly anti gaming, or sponsers of bills that are anti-gaming as listed on the GP Legislation tracker)

On the left:

Hilary Clinton (Federal) - Left
Joe Lieberman (Federal) - Left
Rep. Dickerson (Washington) - Left
Assemblyman Leeland Yee (California) - Left
Rep. Jim Ward (Kansas) - Left
Rep. Mike Shelton (Oklahoma) - Left
Rep. Roy Burrell (Louisiana) - Left
Sen. Sandra Pappas (Minisota) - left
Sen. Deanna DeMuzio (Illinios) - Left
Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (Illinios) - Left
Gov. Rod Blagojevich (Illinios) - Left
Sen. Vi Simpson (Indiana) - Left
Sen. Hansen Clarke (Michigan) - Left
Gov. Jennifer Granholm (Michigan) - Left
State Sen. Doug Stoner (South Carolina) - Left
Sen. Julia Boseman (North Carolina) - Left
Senator Henry Marsh III (Virginia) - Left
Del. Ross (Maryland) - Left
Rep. Helene Keeley (Delaware) - Left
Dave Mejias (New York, Nassua County) - Left
Eliot Spitzer (New York, Pledged to legislate videogames) - Left
Aurelia Greene (New York) - Left
Keith Wright (New York) - Left

23 Politicians from 15 States not counting the Federal bill backers

On the right:
Rep. Brain Kolb (New York) - Right
Sens. Ciesla (New Jersey) - Right
Rep. Wolfe (New Jersey) - Right
Rep. Holzapfel (New Jersey) - Right
Sen. Sam Brownback (Federal) - Right
Del. Kach (Maryland) - Right
Sen. David Ford (Indiana) - Right
Sen. James David Cain (Louisiana) - Right
Rep. Jeff Johnson (Minnisota) - Right
Rep. Hodge (Utah) - Right
Rep. Wyatt (Utah)- Right
Rep. Fred Morgan (Oklahoma) - Right

12 Politicains from 8 States not counting federal bill backers

So there you go:
- Also most twice as many leftists support videogame legislation as the right.
- Most more blue states have propsed legislation then red states and the largest concentration is in the North East a traditionally left region.

And now i'd like to apologize to everyone for the Anthony1 length post i just made.

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

@njiska

I should know better but I'll give it a go anyways:

Leo Strauss.

His teachings have been the philosophical center of the right's policies for at least the past 30 years. The crux of his political philosophy: Carefree, decadent society is to blame for all of America's troubles and must be controlled through coersion and deception with religion, nationalism and perpetual war...

A core principle of the right is to have a strong central government which in effect must act as the father figure to an immoral and out of control, carefree society (it's children). This is basic stuff here.

The analogy of the father in perspective of the two political sides:

The right would be a strict, controlling father- one who would closely monitor and censor outside influences, as the right believes that the child is innately immoral and irresponsible without the father's guidance and control.

The left would be an understanding father- one who would be open and helpful, trusting that the child is smart and moral enough to understand what is good or bad for them.

Now, there will always be anomalies but this is a widely accepted analogy to differentiate the two ideologies.


the right beleives anyone can acheive their dreams if they just work for it while the left beleives everyone must be helpped as much as possible.

Both ideologies believe in the first part obviously, but the second part, yes the left would use the government to help when necessary (re: the father analogy).

You may want to read a few books or at least take a politics 101 class before you jump on the internets to pontificate- you may run into someone who actually knows what they're talking about. If your point was that there are more on the left who support that legislation and your info is correct, well then yes... but that is not indicative of the big picture. There are many politicians who are moving to the center on some hot button issues, it's just the nature of the current political landscape.