FriskyTanuki
11-29-2005, 02:48 AM
http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/144158.html
"No comment."
So said Hal Halpin, president of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA). GamePolitics was seeking Halpin's reaction to an e-mail sent yesterday by Miami attorney Jack Thompson to the IEMA and certain news outlets. The trade group represents video game retailers in the United States.
Thompson's letter was essentially a repeat of one he sent to the IEMA in October, offering himself as an intermediary between video game retailers and unnamed anti-game parties presumably in Thompson's corner. GP declined to publish the earlier version of the letter due to a lack of specifics on Thompson's part. Despite some reservations, we are covering it this time around because Thompson serves up some additional information, including an offer to address IEMA members at the group's 2006 Executive Summit.
Once again, however, Thompson's offer is framed enigmatically:
"I have certain things to say about how government regulation can be avoided... Your attendees really have no idea a) what 'we' really want and b) what is coming their way that will be hurtful to their and IEMA's interests. Trust me on that. I am in constant contact with 'our' side."
"Secondly, what is coming your way can in fact be avoided, but IEMA has to act fast. I am no fan of government regulation, but it is about to kick in... I can get Hillary off your backs, and if I were you, I wouldn't want her on my back."
"...I am also rather well wired into the political process in Washington on this issue (I don't need David Walsh's permission), and I can assure you that 'something wicked this way comes' for the industry... If I lose my law license in the process, it will be a profoundly worthwhile trade. I'm a student of the Old and New Testaments. That is how it works."
"...peace can be had through me. Peace is good. Profits are good. Government regulation, according to IEMA, is rather bad. I am your ticket out of where the industry is right now. This is not egomania. This is reality."
Ed: This document raises far more questions than it purports to answer, which is what troubled GP on the first go-round.
-What, for example, does one make of Jack's claimed influence with Senator Clinton? Didn't he publicly refer to her as 'Hillary Rodham Benedict Arnold Clinton' not long ago?
-What of Jack's professed willingness to kiss goodbye his professional standing as an attorney? Why would he even foresee placing his law license in jeopardy to reach a solution?
-Why would anyone in the game industry be inclined to deal? They are doing rather well in court so far.
-Why would the IEMA consider cutting out the ESA and VSDA in order to make a separate peace with Thompson's "side?"
-What does Thompson's side want?
-Who are the members of Thompson's side?
-Does Thompson have either the credibility or temperament to broker a deal?
-If the offer is a serious one, why not make it privately and directly to the IEMA boss?
Jack seems to think he can make some threats that he's got "people" behind him like Hilary and others that could hurt the IEMA if they don't make a deal with him. Is he just assuming these people are behind him like NIMF?
http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/144158.html?thread=7078942#t7078942
Immediate News Release – November 28, 2005
Best Buy Caught Green-Handed
Retail giant Best Buy, one of the nation’s largest sellers of video games, was caught red-handed(or is it green-handed?) in a reverse sting done this afternoon by Miami lawyer and anti-violent video game activist Jack Thompson. The sting proves that Best Buy is not enforcing its own stated policy not to sell adult, Matured-rated games to young kids.
One year ago, Best Buy entered into a written agreement with Thompson to stop selling any and all Mature-rated video games to anyone under 17 years of age. The written agreement provides that Best Buy personnel will aggressively ID any prospective buyer of any Mature-rated video game. Specifically, Best Buy agreed, in writing, to “ID any buyer who presents to the cashier with an M-rated game who appears to be under the age of 21 years.”
After Best Buy struck this written agreement with Thompson in order to settle a lawsuit brought by Thompson to force such a change in its reckless corporate policy, Best Buy launched a public relations offensive to proclaim to the nation that it was in fact ID-ing all individuals appearing under the age of 21 in order to stop sales to anyone under 17.
It was all a public relations lie by Best Buy to fool parents into thinking it is a responsible retailer of porn and violence. Best Buy even enlisted the aid of Dr. David Walsh of the National Institute on Media and the Family to suggest that Best Buy, which helps others fund his organization, was pure as the driven snow. Dr. Walsh was used, and he was used in such a way that demonstrably has put more kids in harm’s way. Shame on Dr. Walsh for being a front man for Best Buy.
Thompson’s son, 13, would appear 21 only Stevie Wonder. The Best Buy cashier, Sergio, asked young Thompson “Do you have ID?” when he tried to buy Rockstar Games’ The Warriors. This is arguably the most violent video game ever created. Thompson said, “No.” Whereupon the clerk smiled and rung up the sale, no parent in site within 30 feet of the sale.
Look for Miami attorney Jack Thompson now to file a new lawsuit to enforce by court order the agreement that Best Buy solemnly signed that settled the earlier lawsuit.
Media receiving this news release should note that the law firm representing Best Buy in a recent lawsuit by Thompson to stop that and other retailers’ sales of the Columbine simulation game Bully is none other than the huge Philadelphia law firm of Blank Rome—the single largest law firm/lobbyist contributor of campaign cash to Bush-Cheney and the RNC. Jack Thompson and his successful efforts to delay the release of Bully were featured on CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight and on ABC World News Tonight.
How odd that a “family values” Bush Administration would accept campaign cash from Blank Rome, which is the chief registered lobbyist in both the US House and Senate for the makers of The Warriors and Bully
I'd assume this was Jack that replied with this to the top article, as it's his own press release. Using his son to do this seems kind of low. If you want something fun to read, read some of the replies to this post, such as the "Make Your Own Jack Thompson Press Release" template. Good stuff.
So what are your thoughts on these two new pieces in the Jack Thompson holy crusade against videogames?
"No comment."
So said Hal Halpin, president of the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA). GamePolitics was seeking Halpin's reaction to an e-mail sent yesterday by Miami attorney Jack Thompson to the IEMA and certain news outlets. The trade group represents video game retailers in the United States.
Thompson's letter was essentially a repeat of one he sent to the IEMA in October, offering himself as an intermediary between video game retailers and unnamed anti-game parties presumably in Thompson's corner. GP declined to publish the earlier version of the letter due to a lack of specifics on Thompson's part. Despite some reservations, we are covering it this time around because Thompson serves up some additional information, including an offer to address IEMA members at the group's 2006 Executive Summit.
Once again, however, Thompson's offer is framed enigmatically:
"I have certain things to say about how government regulation can be avoided... Your attendees really have no idea a) what 'we' really want and b) what is coming their way that will be hurtful to their and IEMA's interests. Trust me on that. I am in constant contact with 'our' side."
"Secondly, what is coming your way can in fact be avoided, but IEMA has to act fast. I am no fan of government regulation, but it is about to kick in... I can get Hillary off your backs, and if I were you, I wouldn't want her on my back."
"...I am also rather well wired into the political process in Washington on this issue (I don't need David Walsh's permission), and I can assure you that 'something wicked this way comes' for the industry... If I lose my law license in the process, it will be a profoundly worthwhile trade. I'm a student of the Old and New Testaments. That is how it works."
"...peace can be had through me. Peace is good. Profits are good. Government regulation, according to IEMA, is rather bad. I am your ticket out of where the industry is right now. This is not egomania. This is reality."
Ed: This document raises far more questions than it purports to answer, which is what troubled GP on the first go-round.
-What, for example, does one make of Jack's claimed influence with Senator Clinton? Didn't he publicly refer to her as 'Hillary Rodham Benedict Arnold Clinton' not long ago?
-What of Jack's professed willingness to kiss goodbye his professional standing as an attorney? Why would he even foresee placing his law license in jeopardy to reach a solution?
-Why would anyone in the game industry be inclined to deal? They are doing rather well in court so far.
-Why would the IEMA consider cutting out the ESA and VSDA in order to make a separate peace with Thompson's "side?"
-What does Thompson's side want?
-Who are the members of Thompson's side?
-Does Thompson have either the credibility or temperament to broker a deal?
-If the offer is a serious one, why not make it privately and directly to the IEMA boss?
Jack seems to think he can make some threats that he's got "people" behind him like Hilary and others that could hurt the IEMA if they don't make a deal with him. Is he just assuming these people are behind him like NIMF?
http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/144158.html?thread=7078942#t7078942
Immediate News Release – November 28, 2005
Best Buy Caught Green-Handed
Retail giant Best Buy, one of the nation’s largest sellers of video games, was caught red-handed(or is it green-handed?) in a reverse sting done this afternoon by Miami lawyer and anti-violent video game activist Jack Thompson. The sting proves that Best Buy is not enforcing its own stated policy not to sell adult, Matured-rated games to young kids.
One year ago, Best Buy entered into a written agreement with Thompson to stop selling any and all Mature-rated video games to anyone under 17 years of age. The written agreement provides that Best Buy personnel will aggressively ID any prospective buyer of any Mature-rated video game. Specifically, Best Buy agreed, in writing, to “ID any buyer who presents to the cashier with an M-rated game who appears to be under the age of 21 years.”
After Best Buy struck this written agreement with Thompson in order to settle a lawsuit brought by Thompson to force such a change in its reckless corporate policy, Best Buy launched a public relations offensive to proclaim to the nation that it was in fact ID-ing all individuals appearing under the age of 21 in order to stop sales to anyone under 17.
It was all a public relations lie by Best Buy to fool parents into thinking it is a responsible retailer of porn and violence. Best Buy even enlisted the aid of Dr. David Walsh of the National Institute on Media and the Family to suggest that Best Buy, which helps others fund his organization, was pure as the driven snow. Dr. Walsh was used, and he was used in such a way that demonstrably has put more kids in harm’s way. Shame on Dr. Walsh for being a front man for Best Buy.
Thompson’s son, 13, would appear 21 only Stevie Wonder. The Best Buy cashier, Sergio, asked young Thompson “Do you have ID?” when he tried to buy Rockstar Games’ The Warriors. This is arguably the most violent video game ever created. Thompson said, “No.” Whereupon the clerk smiled and rung up the sale, no parent in site within 30 feet of the sale.
Look for Miami attorney Jack Thompson now to file a new lawsuit to enforce by court order the agreement that Best Buy solemnly signed that settled the earlier lawsuit.
Media receiving this news release should note that the law firm representing Best Buy in a recent lawsuit by Thompson to stop that and other retailers’ sales of the Columbine simulation game Bully is none other than the huge Philadelphia law firm of Blank Rome—the single largest law firm/lobbyist contributor of campaign cash to Bush-Cheney and the RNC. Jack Thompson and his successful efforts to delay the release of Bully were featured on CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight and on ABC World News Tonight.
How odd that a “family values” Bush Administration would accept campaign cash from Blank Rome, which is the chief registered lobbyist in both the US House and Senate for the makers of The Warriors and Bully
I'd assume this was Jack that replied with this to the top article, as it's his own press release. Using his son to do this seems kind of low. If you want something fun to read, read some of the replies to this post, such as the "Make Your Own Jack Thompson Press Release" template. Good stuff.
So what are your thoughts on these two new pieces in the Jack Thompson holy crusade against videogames?