An Exchange with Jack Thompson

[saltinespike]

I am a member at GTAForums, as I am a big Grand Theft Auto fan. Well, here's the story (copied from my topic about it at their "Debates & Discussion" section):

I, Ryan Ficken, would like to give you a personal invite to GTAForums' "Debates & Discussion" section, which can be found in the link below. I believe you will find yourself quite challenged, and it should be a treat for all involved. Anyways, I hope you take my offer seriously - you should not be bashed, and you have every right to leave if you are bashed. This is not a joke. Those at GTAForums will be interested in this event. Perhaps we can even arrange a private debate, for fear of immature children only interested in being rude. Please reply with your answer to this proposition, so that we can differentiate you from any person pretending to be you. Thank you very much for reading, Jack Thompson. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. The link to the Debate section of GTAForums is GTAForums.com -> Debates & Discussion. Hope to see you there! Ryan Ficken, (702) 3**-9***, saltinespike@hotmail.com I figure being polite was the best way to go about this, as he may be more inclined to come. I got his e-mail from a Kotaku Report. I apologize if this is a waste of your time, but I figured it was worth a try, since he challenged Samuel L. -- haha. The *s are my phone number. Why did I bother putting it in there? I don't know, to appear more professional and legitimate. Any thoughts?

Well, to my surprise, he replied, and quite speedy at that. I did not edit this at all, except to delete his personal information, to be considerate. If you want to see the information, see the Kotaku report listed above.

posting and flaming is not a debate. sorry. look up lincoln douglas debate on google Jack Thompson, Attorney "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton

Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed. I ensured him that the debate would remain professional, without immature children making comments like "you SUX jackie tomson lolz". 'No need to get upset,' I thought to myself, 'or else he will be less inclined to listen, ignoring me even more than he is right now.' So, I retorted with this:

Ah, once again you do not listen. I came to you offering a professional debate and you figure that since a bunch of GTA fans are watching, you'll be flamed. Well, good luck on your anti-gaming crusade. I'm interestied to know what happens in your upcoming court case. Sadly, I thought more of you. I suppose I will join in with the sea of gamers who hate you. Have a good day. Ryan Ficken, (702) 3**-9***, saltinespike@hotmail.com

What a stereotypical, self-righteous jackweed. Discredit the previous sentence. I answered out of anger, but I do not regret what was said, as I believe it all firmly. Perhaps it could have been put more polite. He responded with:

a debate is a face-to-face speaking engagement. you need to buy a dictionary Jack Thompson, Attorney "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton

Well, this angered me. This guy looked down on me, automatically assuming superiority. This is the point where I thought of this site in a full matter (it crossed my mind in earlier stages). 'Well, fine,' I pondered, 'if he wants to add that extra blow, I can add my little ting, too.'

Merriam Webster: Main Entry: 1de·bate Pronunciation: \di-ˈbāt, dē-\ Function: noun Date: 13th century : a contention by words or arguments: as a: the formal discussion of a motion before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure b: a regulated discussion of a proposition between two matched sides Dictionary.com: de·bate /dɪˈbeɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[di-beyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -bat·ed, -bat·ing. –noun 1. a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports. 2. a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers. 3. deliberation; consideration. 4. Archaic. strife; contention. Compact Oxford English Dictionary: a formal discussion in a public meeting or legislature, in which opposing arguments are presented. 2 an argument. --- I can continue serching for definitions, but none of them say anything about the contention being face to face. I cannot force you to do it, but do not frame your reasoning on the definition of debate. Please stop euphemizing your purpose in rejecting the offer. Perhaps you are the one who needs to buy a dictionary. Ryan Ficken, (702) 3**-9***, saltinespike@hotmail.com

Then he threatened me:

"in an assembly," moron. I don't debate people anonymously in the ether of the Internet. I said no. You send me one more email about anything and you'll be sorry. Jack Thompson, Attorney "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton

Well, he reached my breaking point. After numerous attempts at biting my tongue for this ignorant lawyer, I finally snapped after that comment.

A forum is an assembly, moron. Oops, did I just send you one more email? I'm not feeling very sorry. Are you planning to sue me? On what account, harrassment? You're a joke of an attorney, and most of the nation laughs at you. Have it your way though, Jackie Boy. Like I said, no one can force you. Yet here you talk, challenging me to email you back, when you damn well know the mature way to end it would be to not reply at all. You won't get a rise out of me, because I'm right, and you're wrong. You don't have to write back; just leave me the victor in this little engagement. Ryan Ficken, (702) 3**-9***, saltinespike@hotmail.com

After that, little was added:

big mistake. Gotcha Jack Thompson, Attorney "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton

And my retort:

I'm terrified. Ryan Ficken, (702) 3**-9***, saltinespike@hotmail.com

I haven't heard from him since, and the last was heard on the 23rd of February. I actually read another member's encounter with Jack Thompson, which can be found here.

[Chaossaber314]

Jack Thompson doesn't have anything to say. Even if he were to accept your challenge it's not like you would get anything intelligent out of him. It's a lose / lose situation.

[saltinespike]

Well, I figured that since he challenged somebody (a celebrity nonetheless) to a debate, he would have something to say. I was under the naive impression that he had something prepared.

[Chaossaber314]

Quote by: saltinespike Well, I figured that since he challenged somebody (a celebrity nonetheless) to a debate, he would have something to say. I was under the naive impression that he had something prepared.

Nah, I think Thompson would like to think he is politically savvy but he continually proves he is not as your emails are just further evidence to support that fact. He is a terribly ignorant individual undeserving of the attention and level of fame the gaming community has bestowed upon him.

Though I will grant you that he does make his way around. When I took an upper level Psych course called "Psychology and the Law" our text mentioned his lawsuit without naming him verbatim regarding the Michael Carneal massacre. I found it somewhat humorous that the text written fairly recently didn't mention that the case had been dismissed.

[Compugasm]

Pfff, no-one should pay him any attention. Remember when they tried to ban D&D 20yrs ago? Look at the computer shelves now. There is an entire wall of Neverwinter Nights, LOTR, etc...

I don't play GTA, but IMO there is no difference between running over skate punkz in your camero, or chopping Darth Vader in half with a lightsaber. "F" Jack Thompson.

[Muckraker]

You should advise Jack to pick up a copy of Strunk and White: The Elements of Style as well as a dictionary since he doesn't understand the meaning of words OR the process of basic punctuation and capitalization. I would say his law ability is in question if he can't construct a simple sentence.

His lawsuits are a fairly obvious attempt at making a few bucks in a "gag" settlement with Take-Two, which appears to be what happened on April 19th, 2007.
TheStreet.com : Take-Two Settles With Critic | Tech Stock Update | TTWO

I suppose if a person is desperate enough for cash, and has an abundance of time, they could pick an argument with everyone they encounter in the hopes that a company will swat at them with roll of hundreds as they continually buzz around the room.

[saltinespike]

The judge that oversees most of his cases finally got fed up and ordered him to court on account of him making false accusations. Here is what the GamePolitics article says:

GamePolitics has learned that controversial Miami attorney Jack Thompson faces a disciplinary hearing before a referee appointed by the Florida Supreme Court. The pending judicial review follows a recent recommendation by the Florida Bar that five counts of professional misconduct against Thompson should proceed to the state’s high court for action. If the charges are eventually upheld, Thompson could face disciplinary action up to and including disbarment. Among the counts of misconduct facing Thompson, three are directly related to the activist attorney’s ongoing campaign against video game violence. Those counts involve Thompson’s participation as plaintiff’s attorney in Strickland vs. Sony, a high-profile lawsuit he brought against several video game industry defendants in Alabama in February, 2005. In the suit, Thompson represented the families of two Fayette, Alabama police officers and a police dispatcher murdered by an 18-year-old Grand Theft Auto player in 2003. At the time of his arrest for the killings, Devin Moore reportedly said, “Life is like a video game. You have to die sometime.” Moore, subsequently convicted of the murders, now sits on Alabama’s Death Row. Thompson was not involved in the criminal case against Moore. As reported by GamePolitics in November of 2005, Alabama Circuit Court Judge James Moore (no relation to Devin), presiding over Thompson’s lawsuit against Sony, Rockstar, Take Two, GameStop and Wal-Mart, revoked Thompson’s Pro Hac Vice (visiting) license to practice law in Alabama, essentially throwing Thompson off the Strickland case. In upholding a pair of complaints against Thompson by Judge Moore, the Florida Bar alleges that the outspoken attorney violated numerous professional standards both before and after his Pro Hac Vice status was revoked in Alabama. Among the misconduct alleged by the Bar is Thompson’s assertion that a local Alabama attorney claimed he could fix cases before Judge Moore. Among other documents, the Bar’s complaint points to a November 28, 2005 motion filed by Thompson with Judge Moore which says: It is clear that (Judge Moore), whether the ‘fixer’ is the reason or whether the ‘fixer’ has combined with other improper influences to jettison justice in this case, must no longer preside over this case. Also cited is a July, 2006 e-mail allegedly sent by Thompson to Judge Moore, the state Bars of Alabama and Florida as well as an attorney with law firm Blank Rome, which represents the video game industry defendants in the Strickland case. That e-mail reads: You’re the guy who wants to give (Grand Theft Auto publisher) Take-Two my scalp. You chose to believe people that you knew were thieves and liars, and now you are their useful SLAPP Bar complainant… These are your corporate criminal buddies, Judge Moore. These are the folks with whom you made your bed, the folks whom your good friend said he could fix the case. A third count to be considered by the Supreme Court involves a complaint made by Blank Rome, Thompson’s opposing counsel in the Strickland case. Among its numerous allegations is a charge that Thompson directly contacted Take Two CEO Paul Eibeler. Included in this count is a December, 2005 message, allegedly sent from Thompson to Eibeler which reads: Maybe the absolutely dumbest you did was hire Philadelphia’s Blank Rome as your law firm of choice to represent you in courtrooms… Blank Rome, also very importantly, managed to lose all motions to dismiss our wrongful death suit in Alabama… We expect to try this case in 2006. We expect to take at that trial every single penny Take-Two currently has. The two remaining counts alleged by the Florida Bar relate to Thompson’s professional conduct in relation to his ongoing battle against the airing of shock radio in South Florida. Asked to comment by GamePolitics, Thompson said: A referee is appointed and we have a trial. The Supreme Court reviews it later. The trial isn’t going to happen, however. I have sued The Bar in Circuit Court. It’s in far more trouble than I am. Thompson declined GP’s request to share a copy of the current lawsuit against the Florida Bar. However, an earlier federal suit filed by Thompson against the Bar in October of 2006 was dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Huck in late December. In ruling against Thompson’s suit versus the Bar, Judge Huck wrote: Thompson submits nothing beyond wild accusations of a vast conspiracy against him that the Bar is unfairly proceeding against him. It is unclear at this point when a hearing on the Bar’s allegations may take place.