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

from the total-morons dept

Mon, Oct 5th 2009 1:22pm — Mike Masnick

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

35 Comments

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Anonymous Poster, 5 Oct 2009 @ 1:41pm

Jack Thompson: the ultimate case of the pot calling the kettle black.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:02pm

No link to the original, :)

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/10/01/one-mouse-click-later-thompson-fb-group-removed
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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?"
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iamtheky (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:03pm

Re:
my bad, websense is evil
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:05pm

Jack Thompson = F.A.I.L.
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slackr (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:28pm

IMO Jack Thompson managed the impossible and failed the moron in a hurry test.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:39pm

If only RealLife had a "Report Moron" button that would make Jack Thompson go away.
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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..?
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 2:58pm

Re:
I was with you until you brought up your imaginary friend.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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?
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:21pm

Re:
I like where you are going with this. Conservatorship anyone?
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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.
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IT Dude, 5 Oct 2009 @ 3:47pm

Correction
Rather Than Suing, Jack Thompson Apparently Should Have Just Committed Suicide.
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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".
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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.
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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.
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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.
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DEA, 5 Oct 2009 @ 5:38pm

Re: Re: Re:
are you on drugs ?
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Oct 2009 @ 5:45pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Blah blah blah.
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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.
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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".
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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.
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slander (profile), 5 Oct 2009 @ 11:51pm

Re: Re:
As if ACs are real people. Right.
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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.
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THE MESSIAH, 6 Oct 2009 @ 6:06am

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