Jack+Thompson+(gadgetpants)

[|John Bruce "Jack" Thompson]is a currently disbarred attorney who gained a notorious reputation in the digital world for his vehement disapproval and criticism of video games. Around the turn of the century, Thompson was involved in a number of court cases where he played the prosecutor against game distributors and developers, citing their "negligence" in providing to minors violent video games. He made a plethora of claims that violence in video games, movies Howard Stern and Rap music were cause for moral panic, coining the phrase for video games in particular as "[|mental masturbation.]" In the various unfortunate school shootings that occurred during the first decade of the century, Thompson would take the opportunity to further tout his blame of video games being a causality for violence. However, he consistently failed to ever bring to light concrete or legitimate evidence to support his claims. While his anger grew, so did his image - especially in the video game community. Frequent letters of grievance and complaint to the FCC and CEO's of entertainment developers only further degraded his image as he was routinely ignored or lampooned by his very targets of aggression.

[|Thompson had made a satirical bid] to donate $10,000 to charity if have a video game was developed that allowed a user to go on a mindless killing spree of game publishers. Gamers immediately took him up on the offer before he rescinded because he must have been only joking. [|PennyArcade.com], possibly the most recognized name in the industry, was particularly key further emasculating Thompson by [|donating $10,000 to ESA's] (Entertainment Software Association) charitable organization in his name.

What Thompson always failed to realize was that video games are not a cause for violence, even when they are coincidentally involved. A disturbed individual with an intent to maim or kill others will do so regardless of the video games he or she does or doesn't play. There is nothing to support the claim that video games are inception of violence. Personally, [violent] video games can even be a preferable outlet for aggression. After a shitty day at school or work you can go home and dream about killing everyone you know, or you can log onto Left 4 Dead and blow away a horde of zombies. Seems like a no-brainer to me (pun...sort of intended). And I'm sure Thompson more than anyone could use some aggression release after spending so many nights lying awake hating nerds.