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It's all an interesting read, these are the two articles from www.GamePolitics.com, where I'm not sure how to link to specific posts, so you can just read them here. Enjoy.
[quote name='The First Article'] Jack Thompson has a new book. Maybe you heard...
Out of Harm's Way is currently available on Amazon.com as well as other booksellers. GP can't comment on the tome's quality, since our copy hasn't yet arrived. It is pretty clear, however, that the book's early days have been plagued by bad Amazon reviews. It's possible - likely? - that many of the "reviewers" are reviewing the author, not his work. Most of the reviews have been of the one-star (out of five) variety, accompanied by negative, even nasty commentary about Thompson himself.
Out of Harm's Way has likewise been plagued with a slew of negative tags on Amazon, as well as linkage with books on gay erotica, presumably caused by mischevous back-and-forth clicking between Thompson's book and various sex manuals offered for sale by Amazon.
GP spoke with the controversial attorney about the book situation earlier in the week. At that time, Thompson blamed the bad write-ups on "pixelantes" (Thompson's term for gamers), and expressed the opinion that the reviews violated Amazon's terms of service. An exchange of e-mails that Thompson shared with GP today indicates how frustrating the situation has become for the outspoken Miami attorney.
First, there's this one from Amazon to Thompson:
"Thank you for writing to Amazon.com to bring these reviews to our attention. Please rest assured that these comments have been removed from our database and will disappear from the web site within 48 hours.
In the future, please report any review that you find inappropriate by clicking on the "report this" link.
We do exert some editorial control over our customer reviews and strive to block these kinds of reviews. Our intention is to make the customer review forum a place for constructive commentary and feedback, so reviews that fall outside these guidelines are either edited for compliance or are removed from the web site. Amazon.com does not tolerate profane or spurious customer reviews.
Again, I apologize for this situation and I'd like to thank you for taking the time to let us know. Feedback from conscientious individuals such as yourself helps us maintain the quality and integrity of our site... "
Thompson replied to Amazon as follows:
"I have found that the offending reviews are still up at your site, but I find, interestingly, that a review by someone calling himself "Bushsupporter" who gave my book, Out of Harm's Way, four stars and a favorable review, has been removed from the site. Curious.
I have just checked at approximately 1:30pm Saturday, November 19, and I find at least 33 negative reviews that violate your own rules. In fact, more of them have been posted AFTER you sent me the below email promising they would be blocked.
If these ALL of these reviews which violate your own "review rules" are not down from your Amazon.com site by 7:16 pm Sunday, November 20, then I shall have to proceed accordingly..."[/QUOTE]
[quote name='The latest article']7:16 P.M.
Jack Thompson's deadline for "proceeding accordingly" against Amazon.com is - as GP types this - less than nine hours away. As reported yesterday on GamePolitics, the outspoken Miami attorney complained to online retailer Amazon.com that his new book, Out of Harm's Way, was being victimized by negative reviews written by so-called "pixelantes" who had not read his book.
It is true that many of the 52 customer reviews currently available are quite harsh. One said of Thompson's book, "It's slanderous of the video gaming industry, and markets drivel to the common man..." Another remarked, "This book is shabbily penned, and obviously rushed out of the door. It's a clear grab at money while his fame still remains."
But the anti-Thompson backlash taking place at Amazon isn't confined to reader reviews. Long before the book was released, mischief makers were apparently engaged in a campaign of repeatedly clicking back and forth between the Amazon listing for Thompson's book and those for a variety of sex manuals. Consequently, readers clicking on a GamePolitics affiliate ad for Thompson's book would find additional recommendations from Amazon that included, "Advanced Sex: 101 Positions and Techniques for the Sexually Adventurous" and "Trust, the Hand Book: A Guide to the Sensual and Spiritual Art of Handballing."
Now that Thompson's book has been released, its Amazon page appears to be under full-scale assault from gamers who have been outraged by the strident anti-game violence campaign waged by the activist attorney over the years. New Amazon features that allows users to add "tags" and even pictures to a product page have been exploited by the anti-Thompson crowd. Of the 30 tags currently posted, the kindest include Scaremonger, and Unscientific.
Customer images - an Amazon enhancement designed to show products in use by consumers - have also been employed by Thompson-bashers to make their point. One user-submitted pic is a satirical cartoon, apparently from web comic ctrl-alt-del. A second pic shows a young woman vomiting. Both would appear to violate Amazon's rules for customer images, which, among other considerations, rule out pictures that are spiteful, or do not relate to the product.
It's not the first time that a controversial conservative has been gamed by Amazon users. In 2002, T.V. preacher Pat Robertson's book "Six Steps to Spiritual Revival" was linked to "The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Men." The same title showed up in Thompson's links in October.
GamePolitics has sought comment from Thompson on the issue, but so far he has been unavailable. GP does have some comments the attorney cc'd us last month in reference to a query by another publication:
"It's pretty simple... You've got your standard gamer morons who are going to gamepolitics.com and other enthusiast sites who are seeing the link to my book on the right side... These too-clever-by-half morons then go to amazon.com, click on my book and then do some more clicking to pull up deviant or pornographic sex books in order that you will see precisely what you are seeing. Before gamepolitics started running the ad for my book, the potential buyers were also looking at Senator Zell Miller's book on the culture war (he's on my side), and other value-and faith-based books... The gamers, once again, are proving my point that they know the price of everything and the value of nothing."
UPDATE / 2:00 PM EST: Jack has posted a long commentary on the Amazon situation....which now (3:30 PM EST) seems to have been deleted. It's all very strange.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE / 9:25 PM EST: Should you be looking for the mysteriously missing Thompson review, GP has a copy stashed here. Also, 7:16 PM EST has come and gone. Perhaps Amazon meant PST?[/QUOTE]
[quote name='Jack Thompson']The following is a response by Jack Thompson to negative reviews on Amazon.com. It was posted as a one-star review on Sunday, Nov. 20th at about 2:00 PM EST. By 3:30, it had been removed. The circumstances of its removal are not known.
(note: GP has backdated the entry as it is very lengthy and we don't want it taking an enormous amount of space away from current entries on the main page.)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack Thompson Responds to the "Bookstorming" Going On Here, November 20, 2005
Reviewer: John B. Thompson "Jack Thompson" (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
I'm the author of this book, Out of Harm's Way. I'm Jack Thompson, alleged horns and all.
It should be wholly unnecessary for me to post here, as this site is intended, by Amazon's own published rules, to be reserved for actual "reviews" of the book by people who have actually read the book. Almost no one who has posted here has even read the book, as the attempts at "substantive" criticisms of the book allege content in the book that is not even there. Not even close.
Anyone who has read this book would know that it is not a policy book, as some of the nonreading reviewers falsely and ignorantly assert. It is in fact an autobiographical look at my spiritual journey from unbelieving libertarian to Christian to evangelical activist, warts and all. So much for those who want Amazon.com to be a blog at which to rebut my views on video games. They betray their unfamiliarity with the book in the attempt. So, for starters, Amazon's stated rule that you must have read the book is being demonstrably violated, wholesale.
Let's get to the other rules that Amazon.com is allowing to be violated, at my and my publisher's expense. Reviews here, whether you have read the book or not, are not to contain any attacks on the author, are not to use coarse, spiteful, or profane language, and they are not even to comment on the subject matter covered by the book. All of these are excellent rules, because this is a bookselling site, and the comments are to be, according to Amazon, not according to me, to be about THE BOOK AS WRITTEN AND WHETHER IT IS WORTH BUYING!
Instead, this site, as to my book, has become a neanderthal's blog on why Rockstar Games has a constitutional right to sell adult-rated porn and violence to other people's children.
The overwhelming majority of the "reviews" here are by young minions who are being encouraged, directly and indirectly, by the Internet "enthusiast press" that is owned and operated by the video game industry.
Want proof? After the "bookstorming" of Out of Harm's Way began here (yes, there is actually a term for this kind of vigilantism at Amazon.com when people try to destroy a book in the name of "freedom of expression), a "news site" that publishes the official XBox magazine did a review of the book based solely upon the "reviews" here at Amazon.com! In other words, second-hand slander.
Thus, a faux news site linked to Microsoft and its dangerous video game products (one of them trained DC sniper Malvo to kill) is part of the video game industry's attempt to make sure this book is stillborn before it is even out of the publishing womb.
I am flattered, in a way, that the video game industry and its "pixelantes" are so afraid of this dangerous (to them) book that they want to use the intimidation techniques of the Mafia to make it go away. I predict that eventually this nervous cowardice will have the opposite effect. The over-the-top, tortious, petulant attacks on this book may have the unintentional "Banned in Boston" result of actually promoting the book. Already journalists (real journalists, not fake video game "enthusiast press" hacks who can't get a job at real media entities) are looking at doing stories as to how this must be one dangerous book if the video game industry and its little vigilantes are trying to kill it. Thanks, vigilantes, for at least the opportunity to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.
As to Amazon.com, we secured promises from them, in writing, that this nonsense was going to stop--and stop by now--because their own rules are clearly being violated here. There was a court case awhile back that indicates an author who is treated in this Taliban-like fashion, as I am being treated here in violation of Amazon's own rules, cannot sue to enforce those rules.
Ahhh, but there is a difference between that case and this one. Amazon has PROMISED to make this stop, and it has not stopped. The promise, made explicitly and specifically to me, turns the rules into a contractual obligation to me which must be honored.
So, Amazon, here's the deal, and listen up: You have rules here. Start enforcing them. You made promises to me and to others on my specific behalf. The time has come and gone, by my calculation, as to when those promises are to be kept. You are in Harm's Way in breaching these contractual obligations.
As to those who are cleverly (too clever by half, the Brits would say) linking my book to books on "Anal Sex for the Gay Man" and so forth, please note what the Joseph of the Old Testament said to his brothers who took his cloak and then threw him down the well, only to have him blessed by God: "What you intended for harm, God has used for my good."
I am a Christian. I proclaim the power, the sovereignty, the grace, and the incredible brilliance of the Creator of the Universe. You pixelantes, you filthy-mouthed sad little people who here are attacking me simply because I have boldly and at times belligerently lived out the truth of what this world is supposed to be, please know that He is far smarter than either you or me. You are trying to hurt me. He is going to use your sin to bless me. He already has. It has deepened my resolve, for example, to destroy the makers of the Grand Theft Auto games. Amazon.com, and what it is showcasing here about the depravity of the video game culture, mandates that Rockstar Games be destroyed.
The one Scripture verse that animates my book, as it has animated my life, is the statement of Jesus: "If any of you should cause anyone to stumble, it would be better for you that a millstone be tied around your neck and that you be cast into the sea."
I have spent 18 years trying to stop the American entertainment industry from marketing and selling adult-rated sex and violence to minors. 90% of the American people are with me on this issue, your childish, rule-breaking rants here notwithstanding. I am trying to stop those who are causing children to stumble, not just for these kids' sake, but for these pornographers' sakes. It will be better for them than having God tie that millstone around their necks. He is far more just than I.
This book is about the heroes and the jerks I have met along the way during this culture war in which I have been privileged to be a foot soldier. Like the "I'm too busy to read the book" nerds here, I, too, was once blind, but now I see.
Anyone who actually reads this book will see that I am just one beggar try to tell other beggars where to find bread. I am not without sin. I am a sinner who knows it. The "reviewers" here couldn't care less about their sin, and they want to drag kids down to their level. Over my dead body.
Oh, and don't worry. I gave my own book here one star. Don't want to "skew" the ratings with an inflated star-rating.
I should not have to post this here, but Amazon.com's foolishness makes it necessary.
So, Amazon.com, what's it going to be? Are you going to start enforcing your own rules and keeping your promises? Or are you going to censor this post and leave all the others up?
Amazon.com, are you going to sell books, or are you going to run what now is the equivalent of a Penthouse magazine blog?
Jack Thompson, Attorney, Miami, Florida [/quote]
It's nothing new from him to say the least, but it's still pretty entertaining. :lol:
[quote name='The First Article'] Jack Thompson has a new book. Maybe you heard...
Out of Harm's Way is currently available on Amazon.com as well as other booksellers. GP can't comment on the tome's quality, since our copy hasn't yet arrived. It is pretty clear, however, that the book's early days have been plagued by bad Amazon reviews. It's possible - likely? - that many of the "reviewers" are reviewing the author, not his work. Most of the reviews have been of the one-star (out of five) variety, accompanied by negative, even nasty commentary about Thompson himself.
Out of Harm's Way has likewise been plagued with a slew of negative tags on Amazon, as well as linkage with books on gay erotica, presumably caused by mischevous back-and-forth clicking between Thompson's book and various sex manuals offered for sale by Amazon.
GP spoke with the controversial attorney about the book situation earlier in the week. At that time, Thompson blamed the bad write-ups on "pixelantes" (Thompson's term for gamers), and expressed the opinion that the reviews violated Amazon's terms of service. An exchange of e-mails that Thompson shared with GP today indicates how frustrating the situation has become for the outspoken Miami attorney.
First, there's this one from Amazon to Thompson:
"Thank you for writing to Amazon.com to bring these reviews to our attention. Please rest assured that these comments have been removed from our database and will disappear from the web site within 48 hours.
In the future, please report any review that you find inappropriate by clicking on the "report this" link.
We do exert some editorial control over our customer reviews and strive to block these kinds of reviews. Our intention is to make the customer review forum a place for constructive commentary and feedback, so reviews that fall outside these guidelines are either edited for compliance or are removed from the web site. Amazon.com does not tolerate profane or spurious customer reviews.
Again, I apologize for this situation and I'd like to thank you for taking the time to let us know. Feedback from conscientious individuals such as yourself helps us maintain the quality and integrity of our site... "
Thompson replied to Amazon as follows:
"I have found that the offending reviews are still up at your site, but I find, interestingly, that a review by someone calling himself "Bushsupporter" who gave my book, Out of Harm's Way, four stars and a favorable review, has been removed from the site. Curious.
I have just checked at approximately 1:30pm Saturday, November 19, and I find at least 33 negative reviews that violate your own rules. In fact, more of them have been posted AFTER you sent me the below email promising they would be blocked.
If these ALL of these reviews which violate your own "review rules" are not down from your Amazon.com site by 7:16 pm Sunday, November 20, then I shall have to proceed accordingly..."[/QUOTE]
[quote name='The latest article']7:16 P.M.
Jack Thompson's deadline for "proceeding accordingly" against Amazon.com is - as GP types this - less than nine hours away. As reported yesterday on GamePolitics, the outspoken Miami attorney complained to online retailer Amazon.com that his new book, Out of Harm's Way, was being victimized by negative reviews written by so-called "pixelantes" who had not read his book.
It is true that many of the 52 customer reviews currently available are quite harsh. One said of Thompson's book, "It's slanderous of the video gaming industry, and markets drivel to the common man..." Another remarked, "This book is shabbily penned, and obviously rushed out of the door. It's a clear grab at money while his fame still remains."
But the anti-Thompson backlash taking place at Amazon isn't confined to reader reviews. Long before the book was released, mischief makers were apparently engaged in a campaign of repeatedly clicking back and forth between the Amazon listing for Thompson's book and those for a variety of sex manuals. Consequently, readers clicking on a GamePolitics affiliate ad for Thompson's book would find additional recommendations from Amazon that included, "Advanced Sex: 101 Positions and Techniques for the Sexually Adventurous" and "Trust, the Hand Book: A Guide to the Sensual and Spiritual Art of Handballing."
Now that Thompson's book has been released, its Amazon page appears to be under full-scale assault from gamers who have been outraged by the strident anti-game violence campaign waged by the activist attorney over the years. New Amazon features that allows users to add "tags" and even pictures to a product page have been exploited by the anti-Thompson crowd. Of the 30 tags currently posted, the kindest include Scaremonger, and Unscientific.
Customer images - an Amazon enhancement designed to show products in use by consumers - have also been employed by Thompson-bashers to make their point. One user-submitted pic is a satirical cartoon, apparently from web comic ctrl-alt-del. A second pic shows a young woman vomiting. Both would appear to violate Amazon's rules for customer images, which, among other considerations, rule out pictures that are spiteful, or do not relate to the product.
It's not the first time that a controversial conservative has been gamed by Amazon users. In 2002, T.V. preacher Pat Robertson's book "Six Steps to Spiritual Revival" was linked to "The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Men." The same title showed up in Thompson's links in October.
GamePolitics has sought comment from Thompson on the issue, but so far he has been unavailable. GP does have some comments the attorney cc'd us last month in reference to a query by another publication:
"It's pretty simple... You've got your standard gamer morons who are going to gamepolitics.com and other enthusiast sites who are seeing the link to my book on the right side... These too-clever-by-half morons then go to amazon.com, click on my book and then do some more clicking to pull up deviant or pornographic sex books in order that you will see precisely what you are seeing. Before gamepolitics started running the ad for my book, the potential buyers were also looking at Senator Zell Miller's book on the culture war (he's on my side), and other value-and faith-based books... The gamers, once again, are proving my point that they know the price of everything and the value of nothing."
UPDATE / 2:00 PM EST: Jack has posted a long commentary on the Amazon situation....which now (3:30 PM EST) seems to have been deleted. It's all very strange.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE / 9:25 PM EST: Should you be looking for the mysteriously missing Thompson review, GP has a copy stashed here. Also, 7:16 PM EST has come and gone. Perhaps Amazon meant PST?[/QUOTE]
[quote name='Jack Thompson']The following is a response by Jack Thompson to negative reviews on Amazon.com. It was posted as a one-star review on Sunday, Nov. 20th at about 2:00 PM EST. By 3:30, it had been removed. The circumstances of its removal are not known.
(note: GP has backdated the entry as it is very lengthy and we don't want it taking an enormous amount of space away from current entries on the main page.)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jack Thompson Responds to the "Bookstorming" Going On Here, November 20, 2005
Reviewer: John B. Thompson "Jack Thompson" (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
I'm the author of this book, Out of Harm's Way. I'm Jack Thompson, alleged horns and all.
It should be wholly unnecessary for me to post here, as this site is intended, by Amazon's own published rules, to be reserved for actual "reviews" of the book by people who have actually read the book. Almost no one who has posted here has even read the book, as the attempts at "substantive" criticisms of the book allege content in the book that is not even there. Not even close.
Anyone who has read this book would know that it is not a policy book, as some of the nonreading reviewers falsely and ignorantly assert. It is in fact an autobiographical look at my spiritual journey from unbelieving libertarian to Christian to evangelical activist, warts and all. So much for those who want Amazon.com to be a blog at which to rebut my views on video games. They betray their unfamiliarity with the book in the attempt. So, for starters, Amazon's stated rule that you must have read the book is being demonstrably violated, wholesale.
Let's get to the other rules that Amazon.com is allowing to be violated, at my and my publisher's expense. Reviews here, whether you have read the book or not, are not to contain any attacks on the author, are not to use coarse, spiteful, or profane language, and they are not even to comment on the subject matter covered by the book. All of these are excellent rules, because this is a bookselling site, and the comments are to be, according to Amazon, not according to me, to be about THE BOOK AS WRITTEN AND WHETHER IT IS WORTH BUYING!
Instead, this site, as to my book, has become a neanderthal's blog on why Rockstar Games has a constitutional right to sell adult-rated porn and violence to other people's children.
The overwhelming majority of the "reviews" here are by young minions who are being encouraged, directly and indirectly, by the Internet "enthusiast press" that is owned and operated by the video game industry.
Want proof? After the "bookstorming" of Out of Harm's Way began here (yes, there is actually a term for this kind of vigilantism at Amazon.com when people try to destroy a book in the name of "freedom of expression), a "news site" that publishes the official XBox magazine did a review of the book based solely upon the "reviews" here at Amazon.com! In other words, second-hand slander.
Thus, a faux news site linked to Microsoft and its dangerous video game products (one of them trained DC sniper Malvo to kill) is part of the video game industry's attempt to make sure this book is stillborn before it is even out of the publishing womb.
I am flattered, in a way, that the video game industry and its "pixelantes" are so afraid of this dangerous (to them) book that they want to use the intimidation techniques of the Mafia to make it go away. I predict that eventually this nervous cowardice will have the opposite effect. The over-the-top, tortious, petulant attacks on this book may have the unintentional "Banned in Boston" result of actually promoting the book. Already journalists (real journalists, not fake video game "enthusiast press" hacks who can't get a job at real media entities) are looking at doing stories as to how this must be one dangerous book if the video game industry and its little vigilantes are trying to kill it. Thanks, vigilantes, for at least the opportunity to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.
As to Amazon.com, we secured promises from them, in writing, that this nonsense was going to stop--and stop by now--because their own rules are clearly being violated here. There was a court case awhile back that indicates an author who is treated in this Taliban-like fashion, as I am being treated here in violation of Amazon's own rules, cannot sue to enforce those rules.
Ahhh, but there is a difference between that case and this one. Amazon has PROMISED to make this stop, and it has not stopped. The promise, made explicitly and specifically to me, turns the rules into a contractual obligation to me which must be honored.
So, Amazon, here's the deal, and listen up: You have rules here. Start enforcing them. You made promises to me and to others on my specific behalf. The time has come and gone, by my calculation, as to when those promises are to be kept. You are in Harm's Way in breaching these contractual obligations.
As to those who are cleverly (too clever by half, the Brits would say) linking my book to books on "Anal Sex for the Gay Man" and so forth, please note what the Joseph of the Old Testament said to his brothers who took his cloak and then threw him down the well, only to have him blessed by God: "What you intended for harm, God has used for my good."
I am a Christian. I proclaim the power, the sovereignty, the grace, and the incredible brilliance of the Creator of the Universe. You pixelantes, you filthy-mouthed sad little people who here are attacking me simply because I have boldly and at times belligerently lived out the truth of what this world is supposed to be, please know that He is far smarter than either you or me. You are trying to hurt me. He is going to use your sin to bless me. He already has. It has deepened my resolve, for example, to destroy the makers of the Grand Theft Auto games. Amazon.com, and what it is showcasing here about the depravity of the video game culture, mandates that Rockstar Games be destroyed.
The one Scripture verse that animates my book, as it has animated my life, is the statement of Jesus: "If any of you should cause anyone to stumble, it would be better for you that a millstone be tied around your neck and that you be cast into the sea."
I have spent 18 years trying to stop the American entertainment industry from marketing and selling adult-rated sex and violence to minors. 90% of the American people are with me on this issue, your childish, rule-breaking rants here notwithstanding. I am trying to stop those who are causing children to stumble, not just for these kids' sake, but for these pornographers' sakes. It will be better for them than having God tie that millstone around their necks. He is far more just than I.
This book is about the heroes and the jerks I have met along the way during this culture war in which I have been privileged to be a foot soldier. Like the "I'm too busy to read the book" nerds here, I, too, was once blind, but now I see.
Anyone who actually reads this book will see that I am just one beggar try to tell other beggars where to find bread. I am not without sin. I am a sinner who knows it. The "reviewers" here couldn't care less about their sin, and they want to drag kids down to their level. Over my dead body.
Oh, and don't worry. I gave my own book here one star. Don't want to "skew" the ratings with an inflated star-rating.
I should not have to post this here, but Amazon.com's foolishness makes it necessary.
So, Amazon.com, what's it going to be? Are you going to start enforcing your own rules and keeping your promises? Or are you going to censor this post and leave all the others up?
Amazon.com, are you going to sell books, or are you going to run what now is the equivalent of a Penthouse magazine blog?
Jack Thompson, Attorney, Miami, Florida [/quote]
It's nothing new from him to say the least, but it's still pretty entertaining. :lol:
@ the amazon linking. I didn't know you could do that.
Hooray for Jack Thompson further discrediting himself!!
