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When [Otellini] joined the company in 1974, most people didn't even know what a PC was - From the Wall St Journal 11-11-2004
Anti-violent game lawyer blabs to chairman’s mum
COLOURFUL anti-violent game lawyer Jack Thompson has decided that the best way to influence the maker of Grand Theft Auto is by telling his mum what he is up to.
Thompson has written to the mother of Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick to report her son for making 'murder simulator software'.
Just in case she didn't know, Thompson tells Mrs Zelnick that her son is chairman of that nasty Take-Two Interactive Software outfit, whose Grand Theft Auto murder simulator games are banned in some countries.
Thompson suggests Mrs Zelnick play the game or 'find someone who has not
killed someone yet' to play it for her and report back.
He notes that (unnamed) experts note that the recent spate of cop killings is
caused in part by 'your darling son’s entrepreneurial energy'.
Thompson said that there were three coppers dead in Alabama because of Grand Theft Auto. It must be true because Thompson told 60 Minutes it was true.
In the letter Thompson said that 'the pornography and violence that your son trafficks in is the kind of stuff that most mothers would be ashamed to see their son putting into the hands of other mothers’ children.'
Ironically Thompson quotes Proverbs 29:15 as how Mrs Zelnick should have bought her son up. That is the one that justifies the use of beatings and other violence against children to 'give them wisdom'. µ
L'Inq
Diehardgamefan
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The verse in proverbs refers to guidance, as in a shepherd's rod, not violence. Face it, no matter how nuts Thompson is most of the time with his tirades against games, the GTA series is a gang recruiting tool often found by police after raids. There's no harm in SF or military FPS, in RTS or in CRPG's with a fantasy or SF setting, but GTA is a blight on the gaming industry; the virtual equivalent of gangster rap.
He didn't write to his mum - from the link you posted:

"I emailed Mr. Thompson who did in fact confirm that he sent this letter, though he sent it to the lawyers representing Strauss Zelnick. In his own words:

I sent it to Strauss Zelnick’s lawyer. I have no idea who his mother is or where she is. You’re familiar with the concept of “shame,” right? He can show it to his mother or not, but of course he won’t because he wouldn’t want his mother to know what he does and how he harms other people’s kids. Can you even grasp the concept?

Jack Thompson, Attorney

So before rumors get out on the web, this letter was not sent to Zelnick’s mother, but to his lawyers."

Doesn't change the fact that the guy has a serious problem however. What a dick !
Proverbs 29:15 must be interpreted creatively and without looking at context to justify 'beatings and other violence against children'.

Other proverbs say the discipline should come from a loving parent, not one who hates their kids. It's unlikely a loving parent would beat their kids to a pulp or cause them harm, even if disciplining physically.

I know that was not the point of the article, but I thought I'd stand up for the 'good book'!
While we are banning videogames, what of other media? Violent movies should be banned, guns, socially deprived areas should be burned, TV and radio should be regulated and censored to only include the percieved normality of society rather than a true reflection. How about we publicly burn books with which political views differ?

Evangelical lawyers like this are far more damaging and evil in society, lest they get control of our freedoms. I fear a nanny state, orwellian nightmare controlled by these money led thought police more so than my future children being corrupted by interactive entertainment. While the kids are in the home killing avatars, they aren't in our cities stealing, maiming people and taking drugs, GTA if nothing else maintains a level of consequence for your interactive actions. If someone is going to commit a crime then it is a little naive to think that a videogame is in some way going to make them more or less likely to do it.

The tone of some politicians and lawyers would have you believe we had lived in a utopic society with zero crime before videogames were invented.
It takes me back to the 1988 movie "colors". People are arguing about gangs and the one officer asks the man, "do you know where your children are right now?"

I wonder if Jack Thompson knows what music his children listen to, or what games they play.

second thought, they are probably too busy praying, attending church and helping the homeless for such infidel practices
Ridiculous. The very idea that any form of media could make us more prone to violence. This guy should be fed to Fire Ants
then beaten by 65000 people with sticks
then dropped from near orbital altitude onto
a glass factory while being killed by exploding bomb and a traffic accident.
I say he can ban other people from GTA when I can ban other people from reading the Bible.

They hate violent video games but they bomb abortion clinics. They hate gays but they abide (gay) pedophiles in their ranks. They denounce divorce but in their own creationism Eve was Adam's second-go.

I think I'll write a video game where the purpose is to open a can of W.A. on preachy thumper types. It'll be cathartic at least.
He has the name of one of my favorites in-game machineguns. In fact, for some reason, his name is all about guns, murder, mafia, crimes, carnage and related things (which happen to be in GTA).

Frankly, whenever I hear his name I get a sudden desire to hold my gamepad tight, eyes half open, head slightly turned, and watch in cold enjoyment the impossible amounts of blood splattering in the walls and lifeless bodies tumbling down.

Well at least I have a simulator to satisfy my needs!
These people make me sick. As if millions of people have not been killed "in the name of religion". Let he who has a clear conscience throw the first stone.