What in the world is Jack Thompson, an anti-game activist and Miami attorney, doing now? He’s not out on the streets warning parents about the evils of video games as usual or attacking the game industry. Apparently he’s trying to take down business who sell video games now according to a e-mails he’s sent to Joystiq.
Recently, Thompson arranged a stinging operation in which he sent his 15-year-old son into a Best Buy to purchase a copy of BioShock, an M-rated video game published by Take Two Interactive. When his son successfully walked out of the store with the game in his hand, Thompson was quick to demand that Best Buy fired the retail clerk and store manager for selling the game to his son.
This isn’t the first time Thompson conducted his own personal stinging operation. In 2002, he sent his then 10-year-old son into a store to purchase the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City by Take Two Interactive and later in 2005, his then 13-year-old son, was again sent into a store to purchase an M-rated game. This time junior’s mission was to purchase Warriors by Rockstar.
And what does Thompson have to say about his sting operation?
“The sting proves that Best Buy is not enforcing its own stated policy not to sell adult, Mature-rated games to young kids,” said Thompson. “It was all a public relations lie by Best Buy to fool parents into thinking it is a responsible retailer of porn and violence.”
According to an email Thompson sent Joystiq, he wants to defend children against “hyperviolent and sex-themed Manhunt 2 (Wii, PSP, PS2)” wrote Thompson who went on to say that the video game industry along with retailers who sell video games are lying to the general public. “Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360, PS3) will be widely sold to kids of all ages despite promises by Take Two, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), and major retailers.”
Earlier this year in August, Take Two Interactive file a law suit against Thompson for continuous attempts to have the games published by Take Two Interactive declared a public nuisance under Florida law, again Thompson tried the same tactic in October 2006 when the game Bully was released but Thompson’s contention was rejected by a Florida judge because it violated the company’s first amendment rights which states:
“Amendment I – Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Of course nothing has been mentioned if Thompson allowed his son to keep or play the video games he was sent into the store to purchase.
Read [Joystiq] Site [US Government - Bill of Rights]
The boy probably pointed out to the car and said, "My father sent me in here to buy this."
Best Buy policy just says you need parental permission, right?
I wonder how's Jack jr.'s life was like under his father's smelly wings????
Probably a living nightmare. Aside from all the kids at school who are still picking on him for just being JT's kid. Dunno. Can only speculate at this moment. Kids are resilient and bounce back. So I'm sure he'll adapt or seek counseling on a weekly basis to cope with all the attention he's probably getting from that ordeal. I dunno. What do you think?
Albeit, whenever Jr. goes to the arcade, Jack-O simply smacks Jr.'s butt and repeatedly says video games are a lobotomy of youth, even though it's only game of DDR.
Perhaps he is better off with Mrs. Thompson and silently escape from Jack-O.