Jack Thompson to be given America's Freedom Award? WHAT THE F-CK?!

[Gerry]

From The Escapist Magazine:

Jack Thompson has been given a Freedom Award by America's Freedom Festival in Utah County, a move that GamePolitics says "ignores a troubling list of negatives that stretches from Orem to Salt Lake City."

Thompson, described in the Deseret News as "a lawyer dedicated to protecting children from violence, obscenity and pornography in the media," was given the award for his dedication to the freedom of families, according to America's Freedom Festival Director Paul Warner, who said Thompson put his own career at risk in his fight to keep obscenity out of the media. Warner credited Thompson with having lyrics by 2 Live Crew declared obscene, having the Body Count track "Cop Killer" removed from stores "worldwide," and for forcing Howard Stern off public airwaves.

"For 21 years I have opposed the criminal distribution of adult entertainment to children because Jesus said if any of you should cause one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better for you that a millstone be tied around your neck and you be cast into the uttermost depths of the sea," Thompson said in his acceptance of the award. He added that despite the persecution and ridicule he has faced in his life, he would do it all over again with even more fervor than before.

But as Dennis McCauley of GamePolitics points out, Thompson's Freedom Award overlooks aspects of his life and career including being found guilty of 27 offenses, among them knowingly making false statements and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, for which he has been recommended for a ten-year disbarment. Thompson also inclused of gay pornography in his court filings and called for the impeachment of the Utah Attorney General when it was suggested a videogame bill Thompson authored would be unconstitutional.

"There seem to be two possibilities here. One is that the selection committee did not conduct due diligence on its nominee," McCauley writes. "The other is that they didn't care. Perhaps the committee was aware of Thompson's issues but chose to believe that they are part of some vast cultural conspiracy against him waged by liberals, the videogame industry, the Florida Bar, Florida Supreme Court, U.S. District Court, gays, shock radio, Blank-Rome, various judges, the Alabama Bar, etc. But at some point the idea of a conspiracy that vast becomes silly. What's happening to Thompson now seems more like a judiciary consensus on the man's conduct."

Sources: Deseret News, Daily Herald

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/84826-Jack-Thompson-Given-Freedom-Award

My Response sent to the America's Freedom Award.

Writing from the UK.

This is concerning the recent award given to the "Lawyer" Jack Thompson, I ask that you revoke his award.

Mr. Thompson is currently guilty of 27 charges including knowingly making false statements and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, which he was recommended a 10 year disbarment.

Mr. Thompson also inclused of gay pornography in his court filings and called for the impeachment of the Utah Attorney General when it was suggested a videogame bill Thompson authored would be unconstitutional.

Do you honestly want such a negative person to be given such a prestigious award? I think not.

Mr. Thompson is widely viewed as a rude, ignorant, egotistical man who views gamers as selfish murder machines. When the gamers wanted to prove Mr. Thompson wrong by showing them they aren't psychotic maniacs, he just threw their gift in their faces and insulted them.

Mr. Thompson is just a sad old man who wants to have his 15 minutes of fame, he doesn't care about keeping children safe or reducing the crime rate, he just wants what any lawyer wants, to be paid thousands of dollars for his LIES!

Furthermore, his actions contradict the First Amendment. The American Constitution currently forbids "laws that infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Mr. Thompson, despite being a lawyer, seems to ignore this part of the constitution, which as a lawyer, he is sworn to uphold. Mr Thompson, is nothing but a hypocrite, undeserving of an award.

Yours sincerely,

***********

Its just wrong to give such a beast be given an award, its like given Dracula an award for donating blood!

 

[Dancingweapon]

lol

 

[Ruffyreborn]

What gets me is that he was given a FREEDOM AWARD for trying to DESTROY RIGHTS.

 

[Tyrath]

Wow, um. Great way to make an award useless.

 

[Gerry]

Anyone else feel like spamming their mail servers with emails to revoke this award too?

 

[Propagandhi]

America's Freedom Festival in Utah County

I stopped reading there. Damn man, it's Utah, atleast give them something to do out there.

 

[Tok]

Mr. Thompson is currently guilty of 27 charges including knowingly making false statements and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, which he was recommended a 10 year disbarment.

cmon now, don't you know that's what the united states is built upon?

 

[Halifirien]

On the positive side, the judge recommended that Thompson be permanently disbarred.

 

[Xalioniaf]

lol conservatives.

 

[Anttaru]

You have to admit though, video games are pretty fucked up these days.

 

[Skaw]

You have to admit though, parents are afraid to intervene in their childrens lives these days.

Fixed.

 

[Anttaru]

My parents never cared.

That supports Jack's reasons does it not ?

Because parents do not intervene with their children's affairs it is reckless to release adult content in things children will gain access too.

.
.
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You gotta kinda step away from your toys and see what's really going on every once and awhile.

 

[Alyada]

What gets me is that he was given a FREEDOM AWARD for trying to DESTROY RIGHTS.

Have you been paying attention to our President for the past couple of years? FREEDOM is DICTATORSHIP in America. Nothing more.

 

[Xalioniaf]

Actually, it would mean parents need to grow a pair and get involved with what their children are doing instead of getting angry AFTER they've let their child play Return to Grand Theft Satan Worship Doom Nukem Forever
Doesn't matter, anyway. Bastard's about to be disbarred for life.

 

[Anttaru]

Actually, it would mean parents need to grow a pair and get involved with what their children are doing instead of getting angry AFTER they've let their child play Return to Grand Theft Satan Worship Doom Nukem Forever
Doesn't matter, anyway. Bastard's about to be disbarred for life.

Wait a sec you feel that ? .... Parents everywhere are opening their eyes all of a sudden, Oh my God this is a miracle, all the parents across the land are growing a pair at the same time.

 

[Skaw]

That supports Jack's reasons does it not ?

Because parents do not intervene with their children's affairs it is reckless to release adult content in things children will gain access too.

I have no idea if that was an insult at me, but I wouldn't put it past you. My parents cared, and thats why I haven't shot up a school, or ran down a police officer. Because I was taught the line between fantasy and reality.

It doesn't matter if something has adult content that "children will gain access too." Without the misinformed/uncaring adult, the child wouldn't be getting it in the first place. I'm not talking about teenagers who have part time jobs. If you're 14 and can't handle your anger or grip on reality to the point you reenact violence from a film or videogame, a parent isn't going to be any help. I'm talking about actual children. The $50-$60 dollars it takes to purchase a video game is coming from somewhere. If you're giving your child money and not monitoring what they spend it on, you're the one at fault. Even if it's allowance money they earn doing chores, you still have to take an active role as a parent at some point.

Jack Thompson's arguments rely on marketing. Claiming Bully or Grand Theft Auto are marketed to children. They aren't. Nothing about their marketing campaigns give off "HEY KIDS, BUY AND PLAY US!" Is it because commercials air on TV? Well so do commercials for alcohol and phone sex lines. Are those marketed to children?

 

[Lanien]

I have no idea if that was an insult at me, but I wouldn't put it past you. My parents cared, and thats why I haven't shot up a school, or ran down a police officer. Because I was taught the line between fantasy and reality.

It doesn't matter if something has adult content that "children will gain access too." Without the misinformed/uncaring adult, the child wouldn't be getting it in the first place. I'm not talking about teenagers who have part time jobs. If you're 14 and can't handle your anger or grip on reality to the point you reenact violence from a film or videogame, a parent isn't going to be any help. I'm talking about actual children. The $50-$60 dollars it takes to purchase a video game is coming from somewhere. If you're giving your child money and not monitoring what they spend it on, you're the one at fault. Even if it's allowance money they earn doing chores, you still have to take an active role as a parent at some point.

Jack Thompson's arguments rely on marketing. Claiming Bully or Grand Theft Auto are marketed to children. They aren't. Nothing about their marketing campaigns give off "HEY KIDS, BUY AND PLAY US!" Is it because commercials air on TV? Well so do commercials for alcohol and phone sex lines. Are those marketed to children?

Agree 100%.

 

[Anttaru]

I have no idea if that was an insult at me, but I wouldn't put it past you.

You ? Who asked me to kill myself take that as an insult ? Keep in mind I do what i can to not cast insults.

My parents cared, and thats why I haven't shot up a school, or ran down a police officer. Because I was taught the line between fantasy and reality.

Oh so you can put words in my mouth, except it has to do with other people and not you. Whatever with the case with you and your family why not show them how you like to provoke others. I'd rather you not modify my quotes, cause in my eyes, it mostly likely reflects your case, cause clearly, you have more to learn.

It doesn't matter if something has adult content that "children will gain access too." Without the misinformed/uncaring adult, the child wouldn't be getting it in the first place. I'm not talking about teenagers who have part time jobs. If you're 14 and can't handle your anger or grip on reality to the point you reenact violence from a film or videogame, a parent isn't going to be any help. I'm talking about actual children. The $50-$60 dollars it takes to purchase a video game is coming from somewhere. If you're giving your child money and not monitoring what they spend it on, you're the one at fault. Even if it's allowance money they earn doing chores, you still have to take an active role as a parent at some point.

That is true, however it's unstable. We see kids running around in the night all the time. Children will obtain the item, or the opportunity to experience entertainment that is forbidden to them. Hell, when I was a kid i wanted to see Robocop, it only took 2 months for a friend my age to gain access to a VHS bootleg and we watched it. In my early teens there were days i really wanted to pop a cap in some peoples ass for real and pronto. Glorified violence really does make it difficult to do the right thing at certain points in our lives, some youths end up making the very forsaken wrong choice. All the shit on the TV was violence and war. And I'm talking 80's cartoons. Best games were games like Contra which really isn't much different than GI Joe. In todays world those cartoons and classic titles are soft.

Jack Thompson's arguments rely on marketing. Claiming Bully or Grand Theft Auto are marketed to children. They aren't. Nothing about their marketing campaigns give off "HEY KIDS, BUY AND PLAY US!" Is it because commercials air on TV? Well so do commercials for alcohol and phone sex lines. Are those marketed to children?

I wouldn't say his arguments rely on marketing. It's obvious they don't stuff a GTA add in between a Barbie and a fruit roll ups commercial. Still there are opportunities for children to know about these games, and do they know about these games ? They sure do.

Jack is motivated to battle the best of digital entertainment through spiritual means. I'm not here to stick up for the guy, but i am able to step away from my position and see where he's coming from. My personal claim is how games really are getting more and more fucked up. Now don't get me wrong, i do like my games to be violent but GTA is not for me by taste, even if it was, I can still step away and concur with those who oppose my very interests.

I know no one wants to hear my beliefs. I believe in higher dimensions what we think, instantly manifests. These games do not condition us for these places that require a more responsible state of mind. A place where thinking IS doing can have serious consequence to a poorly conditioned mental state. Jack knows a thing or 2 mock my words, he knows he cannot just yank out gaming from our hands, he has to point at the children, and it's true, kids do play these games, and just saying "Oh the parents responsibility" is literally too weak. So when someone voices a perspective Skaw, you odd to just leave it be, as opposed to putting words in peoples mouth like you do.

 

[Tagrineth]

Jack Thompson is an utterly fucked up and completely insane individual.

Ant, if you can't see that, you're just as blind to reality as he is.

 

[Skaw]

I didn't put any words in your mouth in this thread, so I don't even know what the fuck you're rambling on about. Go back to talking about conspiracies and mayans.

If you're talking about changin the quote, that isn't putting words in your mouth. It may have been your opinion, but your opinion on the subject is dead wrong. Video games can be as fucked up or tame as they want to be. Without a parent or another adult to educate a good grip on how things in the world work, a child shouldn't be doing anything even remotely dentrimental to development. Even the tamest of video games have actions that translate in to deadly effects in the real world. Mario may be able to survive a fall from several stories, but there are chance a 6 year old won't.

A parent is one hundred percent responsible for their childrens development and actions because of so. Nobody or nothing else. If you don't want your child to exposed to violence, death, sex, drugs, whathaveyou, then you better be trying your damnedest to keep them away from it. Chances are good that they'll find out about or experience it somehow, and thats when you educate them about it. Don't just say "It's bad." Tell them why. Let them know the real consequences of actions such as shooting a friend with a gun, or playing with fire.

You may be fine with a government becoming a Nanny State, but I sure as fuck am not fine with it. It's not everyone elses job to keep your child safe from/educated on concepts you don't agree with.

Also, quit being easily provoked if you honestly took offense with editing you opinion to one more correct on the situation. Get the sand out of that cooter.