So, Whatever Happened To Jack Thompson?

[LordofSquirrels]

I had made a video on one of my favorite moments in geek-history, the little, um, dispute between Jack Thompson and the creators of Penny Arcade, more specifically his Modest Game Proposal bullshit. (For background information, you can either find it in the Wikipedia article on Jack Thompson, which is just FILLED with all kinds of his quirky behavior, or for some background listening, just check my video here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgpTk2fW7M . You can also find a reported email exchange between Thompson and another webcomic creator here; http://www.vgcats.com/jack.php ) but I noticed that there hasn't really been any new material from him. No rants, no soap-box standing, no wild accusations that everyone is out to get him... not much of a peep from the guy.

Now, I know that he ended up getting disbarred as a lawyer- which caused me no small amount of glee- but considering how rabid, irritable and generally aggressive this guy was, I'm sort of surprised that I haven't heard about SOMETHING being stirred up by him for three or four years now.

So, to anyone who might have more recent information.... where did Jack go? xD

 

[Waffle_Man]

It's likely that everything he did was career related. Now that his career was ruined, he probably no longer cares. That, or people simply don't give much of a shit because he can't do any real damage. A best case scenario is that he realized that his blind pursuit of morality is what got him in to trouble in the first place and he's examining what he can do to change. In the end though, it's all speculation.

For now, it might be best to just leave the poor guy alone at this point rather than reminding our selves about how a huge adversary has effectively been defeated. Despite all of the things he has done that I absolutely hate, I do feel sad that he effectively ruined the life that he made for himself and I hope that he found something that keeps him happy and busy these days.

 

[LordofSquirrels]

Aye, true enough; I don't intend to stalk the man down to wherever he's living, but it just struck me as a little interesting that he did just seem to give up. Back when he was a lawyer, he seemed to consistently, and persistently, demonstrate this illogical (hell, pretty much anti-logical,) attitude that spent half its time leaping and kicking at various people in the video game, and legal, professions, and then the other half going on about how he was being victimized. Going back on his word when his Modest Game Proposal was fulfilled, insisting he was only joking about all of it, then calling the FBI on the guys who stepped in and made the donation he wouldn't? x_X Classy.

I can't really feel sad that his legal career was ruined, though, as harsh as that might sound; he brought it on himself, regularly and repeatedly, through breach after breach of the code of ethics and behavior he was supposed to follow. Even when placed himself on trial to evaluate the conditions and validity of his disbarrment, he steadfastly refused to 'recognize' the authority of those judging him, insulted everyone, and kept hinting at some big comeback that never came. He burned his own boat down; can't really mourn the fact that he's out floating in the bay now. x.X

I do hope he's keeping busy, though. Reeeeally rather he not get bored enough to take a crack at his antics again. x_x

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

Last I heard was that he was disbarred due to filling the court docket with frivolous civil suits.

Nope, looks like was disbarred in 2008 for cumulative misconduct, a repeated pattern of behavior relentlessly forced upon numerous unconnected individuals, a total lack of remorse or even slight acknowledgment of inappropriate conduct, and continued behavior consistent with the previous public reprimand...Over a very extended period of time involving a number of totally unrelated cases and individuals, the Respondent has demonstrated a pattern of conduct to strike out harshly, extensively, repeatedly and willfully to simply try to bring as much difficulty, distraction and anguish to those he considers in opposition to his causes...He does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose him." [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(activist)#Disbarment_proceedings]

According to his Wikipedia page, he reopened his practice without a licence, although it is unclear if he's ever acted as council in litigation (big no-no).

 

[Nouw]

We stopped giving attention to him and, as a result, he disappeared.

 

[AntiChri5]

Someone found the gate through which he entered our world, using a banishing spell to aend him back and then sealed it up so he could not return.

Im not quite sure about this part so don't quote me on it, but i think a virgin sacrifice is required before he can breach the barrier and re-enter our world. But sacrificing a goat will allow him to posess mortals.

 

[DoPo]

We stopped giving attention to him and, as a result, he disappeared.

So...like a troll?

Meh, without going to check, I think there was some problem between him and some court and I think he was even banned to practice in several states.

Ironically, the last thing I heard from him when he defended Mass Effect over the whole Fox News bullshit. Yes, you read that correctly. Here's a link for proof [http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/jack-thompson-mass-effect-controversy-ridiculous/], and it has pictures, so it happened.

 

[Drejer43]

I do feel sad that he effectively ruined the life that he made for himself and I hope that he found something that keeps him happy and busy these days.

Yeah, maybe who took up video games. I heard those are pretty good.

 

[anthony87]

He got a sex change and changed his name to Anita Sarkeesian.

Seriously though, as far as I'm aware he basically got disbarred for being nuts.

 

[Fasckira]

Remember the end of Dodgeball where Ben Stiller has returned to being an overweight fat slob, stuffing his face after being defeated?

Its kind of like that. Hes now living in an attic room at his parents house, playing games day in - day out and living off of hot pockets and Jolt.

 

[II2]

He was chemically disincorperated and used to fuel a crowdfunded water gun match back in 2017, but still, as a legal entity and autonomous network, owns the copyright to any 3D culture printing done with his gene sequence.

 

[Something Amyss]

It's likely that everything he did was career related. Now that his career was ruined, he probably no longer cares.

Except he made press a couple times claiming victories for things he didn't do.

 

[DoPo]

It's likely that everything he did was career related. Now that his career was ruined, he probably no longer cares.

Except he made press a couple times claiming victories for things he didn't do.

Oh the memories are coming back! Well...I think it's time for some Jack Thompson quotes, which I happen to have saved here. Let's all take a trip down the memory lane here:

The Bible doesn't promote killing innocent people, Grand Theft Auto does. Islam does. Islam promotes the killing of innocent people. The Quran requires the infidel, whether Jew or Christian, to be killed. ... That's a core essence of the religion. ... Muhammad was a pirate who killed infidels and who advocated the killing of infidels. Not a nice guy. Osama bin Laden is in keeping with his fine tradition.

The 'video game community' (what's next, 'the necromancy community'?) surely seems exercised about someone who is a 'joke' and who is accomplishing nothing. You all seem rather bothered and worried about a nonentity. God is in this battle, and I am privileged to be a foot soldier. You all should be concerned, not about me, but about Him.

I am a one-man violent video game wrecking crew

GTA is a Sony/Take-Two game. It was made by Take-Two exclusively for Sony's Playstation 2. Sony has led the planet in the distribution of mainstream porn. I don't have time to document it for you. As for the offensiveness of the Pearl Harbor comment, it's accurate and it's needed. The Japanese have a contempt for our culture which is patent. There [sic] dumping of garbage into our culture is a slow motion version of Pearl Harbor.

With enemies like you Pixelantes and like Game Daily Biz, why, I don't need any friends. You honor me with your hatred. I serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and you hate me because the world first hated Him. I follow the Creator of the Universe, and He has taken me to the Gates of Hell, and I kind of like it in here.

You all need to put down the controllers, get a life, and join the Force, thereby leaving the Dark Side behind. Hooah! Praise be to the Lord, Jesus Christ, the author of all things, even of The Florida Freaking Bar.

 

[yuval152]

snip

Did he really say it? That's pretty halirious how one can be so stupid.

 

[DoPo]

snip

Did he really say it? That's pretty halirious how one can be so stupid.

Well, yes, those were actual quotes. I had started to collect them but I realised I might just run out of hard drive space at his words:bullshit ratio. Besides, there are countless places to get the quotes anyway. So I only have those saved on my machine.

Just google any of those and you'll probably get some collections of pure, unfiltered Jack Thompson madness wisdom.

 

[hathfallen]

The correct answer to this question is:

"Who?"

 

[Valanthe]

snip

Did he really say it? That's pretty halirious how one can be so stupid.

Never, ever, underestimate the power of human stupidity.

I remember Jack Thompson... more vividly, I remember living with someone who was blind enough to actually believe the things he said. now -those- were interesting arguments, especially near the end, where I just gave up and started mirroring the fallacies he used to turn his arguments back on him for giggles.

 

[fix-the-spade]

In the last three years he has been attempting to sue Facebook for... something.
His various cases are still 'ongoing' which I take to mean the courts take his submissions, hand them to Facebook and everyone has a good laugh.

Haven't heard of him doing anything of consequence since his disbarment, seeing as it torpedoed any kind of legitimacy he could claim with the uneducated.

 

[DoPo]

The correct answer to this question is:

"Who?"

OK, he is one of the biggest IRL trolls in the world. Or was, anyway. A lawyer that was on some sort of crusade against violent video games. He took every opportunity to sue publishers/developers and ban games, to the point where he would approach people who "have been hurt by video games" and offer his services for free. And by "hurt" he meant, say, a boy being violent and also owning a gaming console. He was extremely...outspoken, too. Flaming everything gaming related. Just scroll up to see some of his quotes for a taste. He had been repeatedly thrown and even banned from courts because of his behaviour.

But probably the funniest part of his career was when he openly teased gamers by telling them that he'd pay 100 000 dollars (or was it a million?) if somebody made a game where you shot Jack Thompson. Or something like that, there were some specifications to the game. Well, surprise, surprise, somebody did make a game that conformed to the specs given. More than one person even. And Jack-o refused to pay. The Penny Arcade guys decided to give the promised money for charity. I believe they signed the check with "Because Jack Thompson wouldn't". And here is the kicker - Mr> Thomson sued them because they gave money to charity. He claimed it was harassment.

 

[Tohuvabohu]

I kinda miss this guy. Oh the constant hilarity and shame of his madness was ever so entertaining. He's like the videogame industry's own David Icke, except harder to take seriously.

As for what he's doing, my guess is that he is hibernating and gathering his power for the release of GTA5.

The 'video game community' (what's next, 'the necromancy community'?)

oh god my sides.