Rather Than Suing, Jack Thompson Apparently Should Have Just Clicked The 'Report Abuse' Button

from the total-morons dept

We recently reported on anti-video game crusader Jack Thompson's lawsuit against Facebook, which suggested an unfamiliarity with Section 230 safe harbors. But, it gets worse. The website GamePolitics, who is listed in Thompson's lawsuit as being a key player in "orchestrating" libel attacks on Thompson, spoke to Thompson about the lawsuit, and in the course of the phone call, the GamePolitics reporter, Andrew Eisen, noted that every Facebook Group had a little link that allowed anyone to report the group for abuse, with a promise of action in 24 hours. He asked Thompson if he had clicked the link, to which Thompson called him a "total moron." Eisen, though, is apparently craftier than Thompson took him for, and clicked the link on one of the groups that Thompson was complaining about. What happened? Less than a day later? That group is gone from Facebook. Aren't there rules in filing lawsuits where you're supposed to take actions to mitigate the harm? In the meantime, it looks like Thompson owes Eisen and GamePolitics at least a thank you...
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Filed Under: jack thompson, report abuse
Companies: facebook


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Poster, 5 Oct 2009 @ 1:41pm

    Jack Thompson: the ultimate case of the pot calling the kettle black.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:02pm

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mark Bennett, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:02pm

    "total moron"

    . . . as in, "you total moron, do you think I want to end the attacks, or play martyr and make a lot of noise?"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:05pm

    Jack Thompson = F.A.I.L.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    slackr (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:28pm

    IMO Jack Thompson managed the impossible and failed the moron in a hurry test.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:39pm

    If only RealLife had a "Report Moron" button that would make Jack Thompson go away.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:41pm

    Can someone point to me where in the Constitution it says you can live your life without offense?

    I mean seriously, folks. Just because someone writes an opinion piece that you your an "asshole", "fucker" or your "mother says bad things about you" doesn't mean that it's true, nor are you given privileged against it.

    If you're given much, much is expected. You're going to have to earn your place in Heaven.

    As Jesus said:
    Matthew 19:16-26
    It will be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

    When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


    Suppression of 230 means that I would need to say one of two things:

    1) Yeah I worked there, and that was my honest perception.

    2) I don't know anything about their business.
    But the commentary was based on a number of public articles available here, here, here, here. (I usually take screenshots of the articles that influence me. )

    3) I request presence of the CEO of the company.
    This is complex:

    Sure, we all often go online and say things. But, why are you believing anonymous shit on the internet? Seems you have an opportunity to disprove them. Why didn't you engage them? Instead, the decisions made off of a blog response will re-iterate that they see a much bigger internal problem. If someone outside your company knows your business better than you do, well, it seems they are a reasonably smart person. Can you make it worth their time to stay?

    And they don't work for you because..?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Poster, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:49pm

      Re:

      Can someone point to me where in the Constitution it says you can live your life without offense?

      THANK YOU.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      slackr (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:56pm

      Re:

      Eh? The piece is about how simple it was for Jack to press a button and make this instance all go away. But he didn't want to because that's just too easy and doesn't cause a fuss or get you anywhere in his crusade.

      BTW you can't "earn your way to heaven", that was Jesus point. The distance between man and God can only be bridged by God and on his terms, not ours.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:58pm

      Re:

      I was with you until you brought up your imaginary friend.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:15pm

        Re: Re:

        I was with you until you brought up your imaginary friend.

        Well, good for you, I guess. My life has not been without consequence. Should you believe otherwise, good for you. I won't even get into it as you've shown your value.

        I know they've tried to kill me a few times now because I speak the truth.

        But the best advice against me is the same words my father said to me: "You don't need to know how to shoot if you put Buckshot in this gun."

        I know who I am against. Thanks for the "Imaginary Friend" reference.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:53pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          To add, I have family in senior and director levels of the CIA and FBI that I talk to on a regular basis.

          I am not a terrorist. However, I understand the methods used to terrorize people.

          Your way of business management which includes taking the legal system for a ride can be misconstrued as terrorism. Want me to get that kind of job? It'd be pretty easy, and I'd easily be able to build a group of people against you. Bring the guns on.

          See Michael Moore "Capitalism: A Love Story".

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          DEA, 5 Oct 2009 @ 5:38pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          are you on drugs ?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        slander (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 11:51pm

        Re: Re:

        As if ACs are real people. Right.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 6 Oct 2009 @ 5:33am

        Re: Re:

        Okay, sure you don't believe in God. Whatever. That does not magically invalidate anything Jesus may of had to teach us.

        As Atheists like to point out, the Bible tends to be a little hypocritical with Church teachings and more than a little inconsistent. So look at it scientifically rather than ignore it completely.

        I swear, the only useful atheists are the ones that can still argue philosophy without being children about it.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 6 Oct 2009 @ 8:49am

          Re: Re: Re:

          If by Jesus, you mean the non-Jesus people who wrote the fictional bible, then sure.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            THE MESSIAH, 7 Oct 2009 @ 12:55am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Fictional Bible?, haha you have just made my day my god bothering friend. Can you please point me in the right direction of the "Factual" bible for i believe i have been lead astray...

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 5:44pm

      Re:

      Nice, but leave the God Speak out of it, 'kay? And learn how to properly construct your argument, as well as learning to spell. It was terribly difficult to understand whatever point you were trying to make.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:49pm

    While it's entertaining to make fun of old Jack, it's worth keeping in mind that this guy is suffering from serious mental illness. He actually believes that he is on a mission from God to stop people from playing violent video games.

    He is to be pitied, and would be a harmless nut if it weren't for the fact that he goes around noisily suing everybody he can think of.

    Jack should probably be institutionalised to prevent him from doing further harm to himself and others.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:21pm

      Re:

      I like where you are going with this. Conservatorship anyone?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Marcus Carab (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:33pm

      Re:

      Unfortunately it's easy to get a carte-blanche for insanity if you know the right passwords. "God" and "think of the children!" both work nicely.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Brooks (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:50pm

    The email backstory

    From: Jack Thompson
    To: Joe Billy Bob
    Subject: Please recreate facebook group

    Crap, someone went and reported abuse on that facebook group I had you set up. Can you set up another one? I'll have to amend the lawsuit and hope that someone doesn't report this one too.

    Yours,
    Jacky

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    william (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:02pm

    i am not sure which one of the following pisses me off more.

    1. Jack is so stupid that he can't find/push the button.
    2. Facebook's censorship button.

    Tough choice.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Luci, 5 Oct 2009 @ 5:52pm

      Re:

      Oh, come, now. It's not a censorship button, it's a 'don't sue my ass' button.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jeff, 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:05pm

    Huh?

    @ AC @2:41pm
    What now? I'm confused.

    What's all this about camels and kingdoms and CEO's?

    Jack Thompson is a camel and so he gets to go to Heaven before a rich CEO? Got it. That's the truth man!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Cyanid Pontifex (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:15pm

    You couldn't honestly expect Jack Thompson to understand modern technology, could you?

    More seriously, Jack Thompson is a Public Figure. I don't see that any of these people he's suing qualify for the "Actual Malice" standard for libel. How can this not get thrown out of court?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    IT Dude, 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:47pm

    Correction

    Rather Than Suing, Jack Thompson Apparently Should Have Just Committed Suicide.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lucretious, 5 Oct 2009 @ 4:25pm

    Gamepolitics.com has gone above and beyond in attempting treat Thompson fairly and actually give the guy a place to vent his garbage. Of course the commenters have been less than polite but given Jack's rhetoric, he shouldn't be surprised.

    BTW, I can assure you Thompson is very familiar with the Safe Harbors law. Its just that Jacky boy wants the law bent to his own narcissistic view and doesn't give a shit about existing case-law, court decorum, protocol, etc.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Poster, 5 Oct 2009 @ 4:35pm

      Re:

      Jack Thompson doesn't give a shit about anyone or anything but himself and his own ego.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Lucretious, 5 Oct 2009 @ 6:21pm

        Re: Re:

        oh, and he cares about Jesus. In Jacks world its Jesus first, then Jack, then us "morons".

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 8:29pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          You underestimate a few things, but you've been here for a while, so I'll let you go. Go get busy, my child.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 5:30pm

    To #15

    I don't need people to talk down to me like my life values can be bought on the back of a receipt at the grocery store.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    THE MESSIAH, 6 Oct 2009 @ 6:06am

    the only thing the bible teaches is not believe everything you read in books?

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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