Some context: I teach an online course at the University of Colorado, Denver on critical video game theory. As an extra credit assignment, I pointed students to a debate being held on campus between lawyer Jack Thompson (his site, an opponent of video game violence and the legal council in a number of cases against video game companies, and David Kushner, the author of "The Masters of Doom", a book about the rise of id software and their games, including Doom and Quake.

I was unable to attend the "Gamers versus Blamers" debate because I was at Level Up. But several of my students did and they filed informative and thoughtful reports.

Joel, one of my students, posted a very interesting and telling reaction to the debate on the course discussion boards. What was most interesting to me was that he was persuaded by Thompson in the debate, but dissuaded later by an exchange of email he had with Thompson later.

Joel agreed to let me report the whole exchange. So, what follows is his mail to Thompson, Thompson's reply and what Joel posted on the course boards. Read through the thread. I think Joel's comments at the end say it all.

This is Joel's mail to Thompson after the debate (again, used with Joel's permission)

From: JOEL LACKEY
To:
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 1:07 PM
Subject: recent appearence


Mr Thompson,

I'm writing to thank you for your recent appearance at the Auraria Campus and to ask clarification on a couple of points.

Prior to attending the debate you participated in, I wasn't entirely sure what my position was on games and violence. After hearing the arguments, I feel as though I'm leaning more toward your position. I do however; have some questions about your proposed increased control over video games. If you have answers to these questions or know where I can find them, I would greatly appreciate it.

Will labels still be determined Entertainment Software Rating Board?

Who would enforce the new restriction, ensuring that stores aren’t selling mature labels to minors? Would it be enforced by state or federal agencies? If by federal agency, which?

And last, what kind of penalty, for stores that do sell to minors, are you proposing?

Again, thank you for your time. It was a pleasure to hear you speak.

Joel Lackey

This was Thompson's reply to Joel:

states and feds can pass separate laws, enforced by their own separate agencies. I'm in favor of each state establishing its own standards as to what can be sold to kids. don't lke the esrb's methods. I'm in favor of fairly minimal penalties. i really think the control will come with lawsuits for copycat violence. that's what the companies really fear.

thanks for your interest.
thanks

Finally, here is something Joel posted on the class boards on the subject of video game vioelnce and his reaction to Thompson's reply:

I feel something needs to be done but I’m not sure controlling games and other media is the answer. Nor to I entirely trust those whom recently have spoken out on these issues. I get the impression that they have ulterior motives.

Michael Moore’s recent documentary “Bowling for Columbine,” a movie against violence, is filled with just that: images of violence. Rather than appealing to the intellect, Moore has chosen to fill the movie with images of people being shot. Guessing, I’d say there were at least 15 graphic scenes of people being shot in the head. I had to chuckle at the irony. I wonder if Moore’s violent portrayal of violence helped him win the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Would a tamer documentary not sell the tickets? It appears to me that Moore is using the same techniques the very media he criticizes.

Another example of ulterior motives is Jack Thompson. After seeing Thompson speak, I was leaning more toward controlling the sales of games. However, my position has switched back to neutral after he answered an email I sent to him. Interested in learning more about this position I emailed Thompson asking if either state or federal municipalities should control mature games. Also I asked what kind of penalties he would like to see companies receive for selling mature games to minors.

I was surprised by his answer. He didn’t really care who passed or enforced the laws and what the penalties were. It was more important to him, a lawyer, to have some sort of legislation that would make his cases stronger. Its easier to sue a company when that company is already on record for breaking a law such as selling to a minor.

“I'm in favor of fairly minimal penalties. I really think the control will come with lawsuits for copycat violence. That's what the companies really fear.”

I don’t agree with his position. I don’t see how crippling a company with litigation is going to increase corporate responsibility. If anything it would stifle creativity and innovation.