Jack Thompson, the whimsical and lovable old kook that enjoys discussing videogames has recently and proudly announced that he sent his own 15-year old son into a Best Buy so that he could purchase a copy of the M-rated BioShock. In using members of his family like this, Thompson claims to have proven that Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV will be "widely sold to children of all ages" despite what the ESRB, Take-Two Interactive or the major retail chains have promised. Destructoid has sent Jack Thompson's medal through the mail.
Now, what we have here is an interesting question of perspective. Best Buy was not right to sell BioShock to a 15 year old. That much is true. What this proves, however, is that the problem lies with retailers more than Take-Two, and that Jack Thompson is wrong to attack members of the games industry, who did not personally sell that game to his child. That's my take on the situation, though obviously not Jack's, who seems to believe he has proven that everybody in the whole world -- except him -- is to blame for a man sending his son into a store to purchase a game he knows he shouldn't be buying.
Of course, this also raises the question of parenting. Jack Thompson sent his son in there, first and foremost, and allowed his son to buy a mature-rated game. I would say this also proves that the parents are where this whole issue begins and ends. Should a parent be educated enough to say to their child "do not play this game" and actually enforces such a rule, then there really shouldn't be an issue. If, however, they act like Thompson and stuff sixty bucks into their kid's hands with orders to buy as much violent entertainment as they can, well then we have a problem.
Education, not legislation. Parents should be told about these games in a way that doesn't cause mindless hysteria and actually helps us all move forward into enlightenment. If only Jack Thompson used his manipulation and straw manning to make sensible points like that, I think we'd have an old kook who would deserve a lot more respect. Also, I should point out that whoever did sell that copy of BioShock to a kid is a moron, I don't want that part forgotten.
[Thanks, Pablo]
Contest:
2:13 PM on 09.14.2007
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Agreed
Jack Thompson and the press have a symbiotic relationship. I will stop giving him attention when he stops being entertaining. I'm well aware he uses the media for publicity, which is why I use him for content.
LEAVE JACK THOMPSON ALONE!!!!
hE'S TRYING TO PROTECT CHILDREN!!!!!
So places are upholding the ESRB ratings, just not everywhere. But no one's going to report on the good stuff, only the bad.
Yet what's even more ironic is that Jack sent his kid out, and parents do this all the time with no regard of the M warning. What's ironic about it is this is how it should be looked at, even Jack did this himself proving that parents are also to blame, yet it has been turned around and this is all now in his favor.
That's f*cked up.
Cause and Effect Jack...
A) It is NOT illegal in any way to sell a Mature rating game to a child in the US
B) Thomson sent his own son to buy it, thereby giving PERMISSION to his son to purchase an M rated game.
No laws broken, and express permission given to buy the title... why would anyone be fired or even in trouble?
Jack's posturing holds no water though. Even though his son was never 'carded' for buying the game, he specifically told him to go buy it, thus giving his son express permission to own an M rated game.
If it were someone else's child he sent in, or his son bought it without his knowledge, then that is one thing... but setting up this little 'sting' with his son holds no water.
In fact, he becomes one of those 'negligent parents' by condoning his 15 year old son's purchase, regardless of his motive.
Discussion over. Jack loses.
Shut. The. Fuck. Up.
Name all the major retailers you can who don't specialize in videogames. WalMart, Target, K-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy... did I miss any major outlets in the US? Let me know if I did.
But, ok, out of those five major retailers, how many of you really think their employees are trained to card for M-rated games? Most of the people employed by these companies (especially the first three), probably don't even know the ESRB exists, let alone notice the rating. If you live outside the US, you might not know what I'm talking about, but if you do, then you know they're largely a bunch of idiots. Although we might (might!) be able to rely on specialist game store to check the ratings, we certainly can't rely on a shit-load of inbred retards who don't know how to work a fucking cash resiter to protect our nation's youth from Big Daddies.
I'm of the camp that thinks it's all on the parents. Mommies and daddies just need to pay more attention to what their kids are soaking in. I think that even the idea of carding for video games is fucking dumb. We're not talking about disposable items here like ciggarettes, booze, and porno magazines, peices of software that aren't meant to be thrown away when you're done with them (or when the pages start sticking together). Parents, if you're so concerned about what your kid is playing, then either check their rooms more often to find out what they're soaking in, of take their consoles away. But all this bullshit just makes it harder for the material to reach its intended audience. This is why you can't buy AO rated games in stores, but you can walk two aisels down and grab the latest Penthouse from the magazine rack.
...magazines, we're talking about peices...
Hahaha
______________________
What's with this guy? Here's a dick to the throat, Thompson. When I have kids, I'm letting them play M rated games at age 12. You know why? Because they're my kids and what I say goes. It's up to me, what my kids will watch or play, not Best Buy.
Their job is to sell stuff. Instead of going after video games with your son (who I feel soooo sorry for), why not make him go into to liquor stores and see if he can by a pack of cigs or some booze. That's a real danger to your health, unlike video games you ball of pathetic fuck.
Do you not understand that the internet hates you? The internet! The entire fucking internet hates you.
http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/JJ+Rage/ranttoid-parents-and-jack-thompson-take-notice-wall-o-text--44249.phtml
http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/JJ+Rage/ranttoid-parents-and-jack-thompson-take-notice-wall-o-text--44249.phtml
I will print this post and hang it on the wall besides my MD degree!!!
Jokes aside, this guy is an idiot... really, i dont understand him.
And i feel sorry for his kid, it has to be tought to have such an idiot for a dad, and he is not allowed to play games (no bioshock people!), thats sad.
I bet that kid gets his ass kicked all the time in school, and Jack does nothing but blame Bully
But hey...Don't take my word for it.
I'm 28 and I was asked if I was over 18 - I smiled and said yea, didn't give the clerk a hard time because I know they probably have to do it to everyone.
It's like carding for alcohol - sometimes the clerks care, sometimes they don't. Your eventually bound to find a situation where someone doesn't really give a damn.
I tried to buy Bioshock day it came out and was rejected. JACK DIDN'T THINK OF ME DID HE.
Heavens help us.
I bought Bioshock in walmart and im 16.
http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/killatia/jack-thompson-lets-son-get-m-rated-game-his-middle-name-should-be-ass--44244.phtml#comments
I really wish he'd stop referring to himself in the third person in his press releases. That usually either indicates that you're crazy or you're a pompous ass. Also, it's annoying. When is he going to start acting like a trained, intelligent professional?