With Cooper Lawrence having retracted the statements she made on Fox News' reckless Mass Effect sex "scandal," the channel has some egg to wipe from its metaphorical face, but so far has remained tight lipped and arrogantly unapologetic. EA's request for a retraction has been ignored, and it is now the turn of Hal Halpin, Entertainment Consumer Association president, to try and coax a shred of integrity from the "unbiased" network.
Writing to Live Desk producer Teri Van Horn, Halpin has very much followed in EA's footsteps, but uses the added ammunition of Lawrence's retraction to show the flimsy foundations that Fox's attack was built on:
On behalf of the [ECA], the national non-profit organization representing American video game consumers, I urge you to correct and repudiate the misstatements leveled by Fox News’ Live Desk regarding the story and character interactions in Mass Effect.
Your show’s reporting was irresponsible and incorrect. Your own “expert” Cooper Lawrence has subsequently disclaimed her misstatements… In the future, we ask that you book real gamer and industry experts on your show…
ECA’s members are disturbed by your news organization’s apparent disregard of the truth in this instance. We represent a diverse group that cuts across all ages, with the weightiest portion in the coveted 18 - 45 age group, and with women accounting for 38% of gamers. Over the past week, our members have mobilized to speak out and set the record straight on Mass Effect, and we ask the same of you.
As Fox continues to stick its fingers in its ears and scream "LALALALA," all I can do is giggle at how irrelevant Jack "please remember me" Thompson has become. Mr. Lawyer will have to step up his game if he wants to be a bigger douchebag than the Fox Network now.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
11:47 PM on 01.28.2008
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I guess the fact that he sort of defended Mass Effect as well doesn't help huh.
I should have wrote "a Halpin' Hand."
Damn it!
From: Fronz
Do a barrel roll!
Also, Fox.
It's a short article, but there are a lot of comments. Even when presented with legitimate arguments, this asshole Mr. Thompson says things like "Tell your Libertarian fantasies to Ron Paul while you're both high on marijuana," without replying to a single point.
He makes me very mad.
Good job, Mr. Halpin.
They are so far out of touch with what is really going on and have their heads so far up their own asses I don't think they will ever truly live in our reality. I think I would be hard pressed to be more disgusted by how cool these people think they are when they bash games.
Cooper's condescending laugh when she said she hadn't played Mass Effect sealed the deal for me. It's almost as if knowing less about video games actually makes them a superior and more mature human being.
Seriously, are females like her and the other news anchor what the cheerleaders and other pretentious snooty chicks from high school grow up to become? You know, the ones that hated on nerds and only dated football players in high school because it was cool?
News flash for them, almost everyone plays video games in one form or another now. It's not really funny to act ignorant and insult those who have interests that are not your own. They must be making asses out of themselves as they struggle to stay relevant, like the attention whores they always have been. It's the only answer I can think of. Dramatic attention whoring, plain and simple.
Anyway, glad to see Fox receive more pressure, I think MS should also say something.
http://kotaku.com/349423/jack-thompson-defends-mass-effect
Be astounded.
As well, how was EA's request for a retraction ignored when. . the comments were. . you know. . retracted? This confuses me some.
they'll have to put some kind of pressure on them....
Kiss it..
huh?.
apologize.... kiss it..
:P
Of course, he sees that blaming companies rather than the parents is easier than the other way around.
Usually the glorification of violence, acts of violence against innocent people, or over the top realistic violence.
I still think he is crazy, but he has been consistent and, legally speaking, only the last couple years have been ethically questionable.