Jack Thompson is back...again...

[Elpon]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060925/ap_on_re_us/ranch_killings_video_game_suit_2

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Family members of three people slain by a 14-year-old on newsman Sam Donaldson's New Mexico ranch sued the makers of the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" on Monday, claiming the crimes would not have occurred had the teenager never played the violent game.

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The $600 million lawsuit names several companies and Cody Posey, who it alleges played the game "obsessively" for several months before he shot his father, stepmother and stepsister in July 2004. Posey, now 16, was sentenced earlier this year to state custody until he is 21.

The games and others in the "Grand Theft Auto" series depict police killings and other acts of violence. The lawsuit calls various editions of the game "virtual reality murder simulators."

"But for Posey's use of these products ... he would not have killed," the lawsuit claims.

The game trained him "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer without teaching him any of the constraints or responsibilities needed to inhibit such a killing capacity," according to the suit.

According to the suit, plaintiffs' lawyer Jack Thompson was told by a sheriff's deputy that the game and a Sony PlayStation 2 were found at the ranch.

Posey had told police he shot his family after his father, the ranch foreman, slapped him for not cleaning horse stalls fast enough. Prosecutors described Posey as a ruthless killer, but his lawyers claimed his father had abused him for years.

The plaintiffs accuse the corporate defendants — Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news)oration of America, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and its subsidiary, Rockstar Games — of a "civil conspiracy," saying they should have foreseen their entertainment "would spawn such copycat violence."

"We believe the suit is without merit and we will strongly defend the company," Take-Two spokesman Jim Ankner said.

The Associated Press left a message Monday at Sony's New York headquarters seeking comment.

The lawsuit was filed by Verlin Posey of Texline, Texas, representing the estate of the teen's father, Delbert Posey; and Pat and Leona Basham of Elephant Butte, parents of Tryone Posey and grandparents of Marilea Schmid.

Thompson also is the attorney in a $600 million Alabama lawsuit against Rockstar, Take-Two and Sony that blames "Grand Theft Auto" for the 2003 murders of two police officers and a dispatcher at a rural police department. Devin Moore, now 20, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in that case.

(if anyone has some more sources for this I'd greatly appreciate it)

Does it ever end? Seriously, does this make sense at all? The game trained him "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer without teaching him any of the constraints or responsibilities needed to inhibit such a killing capacity" Now we're all gamers, i don't know about you guys but a real gun is a lot more complicated than using a game controller.
If you read what the suit says, this thing is going to go no where. The fact that this kid was abused by his father makes me think that he was going to end up doing this at somepoint in his life, video games or not. And so this brings me to the topic of disscussion, Jack Thompson.
As much as I hate the guy and wish he'd go away (and i've heard all the argumants why it's good he's around but still). It's just so shameless how he can take a case of as horrific as this and twist it to benefit his agenda is astounding to me.

EDIT: If a mod be be so kind as to change the title to "Thompson" instead of "Thompon" that would be great.
EDIT2: Nevermind, fixed.

 

[Xalioniaf]

He's got gray hair. He'll phase out eventually. It may be alzh...[Tab], it may just be a "random" accident, but he's old enough to go sooner or later.

And he seemed to disappear from the radar(at least mine) after being beaten to a pulp on AOTS. It's about time he show his face again, I was getting bored.

 

[Claxton]

I like where he kills them after his dad beats him for not cleaning the stalls fast enough, and its the video games fault.

 

[Westyle]

Jack Thompson, pick up a controller and then pick up a gun and tell me how incredibly simular the experience is. Actually test out your stupid ass theories for yourself for once and then see how much of a fool you are you washed up, over the hill, attention whore.

 

[Ithenas]

Family members of three people slain by a 14-year-old on newsman Sam Donaldson's New Mexico ranch sued the makers of the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" on Monday, claiming the crimes would not have occurred had the teenager never played the violent game.

unless i'm mistaken, you can find this

on the case for GTA: Vice City. Here's a clue for all the dumbass parents and people like jack thompson who claim that video games cause violence...they don't put these little things on the case just because they look pretty. So, legally, Rockstar should be free of blame. They've said that this game isn't for those under the age of 17 and legally stores can't sell it to someone under 18...so why is it Rockstar's fault? The parent had to buy the game for the minor, so if it's anyones fault at all, it's the parent's. If you ignore a "Trespassers will be shot" sign and trespass anyway and get shot, it's yoru fault. It's not the fault of the person who put up the sign. one of two things needs happen imo, either

A) Parents teach the kids that what happens in the video game isn't real and shouldn't be done in real life. instead of buying their kids w/e the fuck they ask for, letting the TV be the baby sitter, and not caring what their kids do.

or

B) Everytime something like this happens the PARENTS of the child, not the company that made the video game, should get sued for some gross amount of money because they didn't raise their child properly. K-Mart didn't get sued for selling the bullets to the kids that shot up columbine. Hekler and Koch doesn't get sued every time there's a school shooting. It's absolutely ridiculous that Rockstar gets sued everytime GTA or Manhunt comes up in the past of a person that did a crime. And if you're the parent that isn't raising your kid right, i hope that your the one on the other side of the gun when your kid thinks that life is a video game.

I really must say i hate this blameless society. It's no longer anyones fault. Could it possibly be that this kid shot his stepparents because they bought him a game like this and didn't bother to make sure that he knew it was a game? Could it possibly be that they didn't give a flying fuck about what the kid did? Could it possibly the shit i see on the 6 o'clock news? Hell no, it has to be the video games! it's possibly one of the dumbest mentalities i've seen.

It's funny that all the tests and studies that jacky boy rifles off when in interviews about kids and video game violence all seem to lack one very basic thing. The influence of an adult. Sure, if you let the video game raise the kid he's gonna turn out that way, i'm not denying that. If you let a pack of dogs raise a kid he's gonna act like a dog. Morals help...surprisingly, you'd be amazed what a little honesty and good can do in a situation like above.

the people suing rockstar said "the crimes would not have occurred had the teenager never played the violent game." Yea? i say the crimes would not have occurred had somebody taken time to teach the kid what was right and wrong.

 

[Mirewen]

B) Everytime something like this happens the PARENTS of the child, not the company that made the video game, should get sued for some gross amount of money because they didn't raise their child properly.

Damn straight.

 

[Tagrineth]

Posey had told police he shot his family after his father, the ranch foreman, slapped him for not cleaning horse stalls fast enough.

lol, so like, this can't be the reason, no wai

 

[Skaw]

14-year-old

+

=

 

[Flymop]

Fuck ups should not play video games.

 

[Pasquale]

And he seemed to disappear from the radar(at least mine) after being beaten to a pulp on AOTS. It's about time he show his face again, I was getting bored.

I would hardly call what happened on AoTS 'beaten to a pulp.' I'll admit he did nothing but re-repeat his same old argument, but Adam didn't say anything that brought new light to our side.

On topic:

The game trained him "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer without teaching him any of the constraints or responsibilities needed to inhibit such a killing capacity," according to the suit.

Taught him how to shoot a gun!? Bitch, please. My friend and i went to a shooting range once, to try something new, and rented a pistol. The guy said it was 'light, and easy to fire.' I disagreed on both accounts, and the target I brought home with me will show the same.

I've played FPS's and shooting games for most of my life, and when it was finally crunch time, I was easily the worst shooter ever.

Holding a controller and moving an analog stick has absolutely nothing in common with shooting a gun, as anyone with half a mind will tell you.

 

[Tyrath]

The plaintiffs accuse the corporate defendants — Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news)oration of America, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and its subsidiary, Rockstar Games — of a "civil conspiracy," saying they should have foreseen their entertainment "would spawn such copycat violence."

All I can say is: lol

 

[Acutie]

these kinds of suits make me wanna become a judge so i can literally say "lol. then dismiss the case.