Thursday, 10 July 2008
Jack Thompson looks set to get what some gamers would, undoubtedly, call justice. As DW covers in his earlier article, Jack Thompson has been tried for 27 counts of professional misconduct. Today the Judge Tunis released her ruling for the 7 counts that Jack Thompson was found guilty of. After the Florida Bar Association suggested a term of 10 years ban for Mr. Thompson's legal practice, Judge Tunis went on to say this was 'too lenient' and further extended this to a lifetime ban, and a 43,000 dollar bill for court costs. Ha fucking ha.
After giving shit for games such as GTA as being too violent, gamers have a right to be annoyed with such a person who is a threat to virtual freedoms. Personally, I wouldn't have minded. He was an activist against something he didn't believe in: I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is that he abused his powers and his position to do this. To quote Judge Tunis: 'Further, he has repeatedly indicated, verbally and in writing, that his conduct is justified to promote and champion his personally engendered moral values and causes.' In short, he broke the law in order to create the law. I think the French did something similar in 1789.
However, there is hope. Jack Thompson has a defense which may lead him to be 'emancipated'... Because conveniently, according to him, Judge Tunis' loyalty oath (and therefore her right to be a Judge) is forged. That's his defense. Now... this to me seems equivalent to saying 'Yeah sure, I committed all of those crimes, but SHE...' Surely, if that's his defense, he's admitted his guilt?
This guy's supposed to be 'religious'.
But more importantly, Jack Thompson is, in his opinion, 'right'. That's the only thing that can drive a person to risk everything to change laws. To misrepresent. To mispractice. But the law says he's not 'right', because he's broken the law, and so is punished. Luckily for gamers. Gamers who love GTA, and DON'T drive around in a 60s sedan drive-bying hoodies. This makes the world believe that Jack Thompson's opinions about games are wrong too. This guy is a martyr to our own freedoms. Of course, not everyone is suddenly going to change their mind, but I have to give Jack a pat on the back for making the position of the gamer more credible. And restoring everyone's faith in lawyers...
Though, essentially, he still deserves everything that comes his way, simply, because he's such a hypocrite. If I were him, I wouldn't be so worried about the loss of my entire life, but, instead, the loss of my dignity. Don't, ever, undermine your own argument by undermining the system you're appealing to. How can anyone take him seriously? How can he take himself seriously? That's my opinion anyway.
But what it comes down to is this (as a gamespot user put it):
'owned'
Labels: Jack Thompson, News, Original
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