Jack Thompson is the boogeyman of the video games industry.  At least, that’s how he’d like to be known, just ask him.  Now that he’s no longer a member of the Florida State Bar, he’s become an Internet tourist attraction. The worst part is that we, as video gamers, have supported websites that have used the JT boogey man to fuel their own advertising dollars. Yes, we did a parody song featuring JT, but as I sit here today, I have not made one red cent from that video that we display on YouTube.

Screwattack, on the other hand, is using Jack Thompson to sell you tickets to their gaming convention .  I am not happy.

Screwattack’s Gaming Convention, referred to as the SGC (how unfortunate) has this little video up on their site promoting Jack Thompson at their convention:

Remember folks, this is the same Jack Thompson that has tried to ban video games, or at least heavily restrict or censor their sale and has helped write proposed State laws to enforce that censorship.  He’s a disbarred lawyer who has brought nothing but shame to the profession (at least I feel ashamed to have him as a peer). Worst of all, he’s used sensationalism and flat out lies to blame inanimate objects as the cause of some of the most violent and disgusting behavior in recent history, including the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois shootings. In blaming video games, he’s used these tragedies as a stepping stone to further his own egotistical agenda. An agenda, that, at least so far, has resulted in nothing more than the loss of millions upon millions of tax payer dollars that have been paid out to attorneys that have sued the states in which these ridiculous laws have been passed and then rightfully stricken by their respective State judiciary bodies.

This man is a disgrace.  In my opinion, he’s used the victims of these heinous tragedies as a stepping stone to further his agenda and Screwattack is promoting that.  Screwattack is using Thompson as an attraction for an event they hope to make money on by selling tickets and promoting Thompson as the main attraction.

This disgusts me.    Thompson is an ambulance chaser personified and for Screwattack not only to seek profit based on his notoriety, but allow Thompson a platform to spew his ridiculousness is a tragedy. I know the immediate answer to my criticism is that he’s entitled to his opinion and that having Thompson speak and debate the issues is good for what?  A trainwreck?  Is it just to attempt to publically humiliate him?  Yeah right, like Thompson doesn’t know exactly what he’s getting himself into.  I’d love to know what is fee is for appearing.   The problem is that they’re using Thompson’s “persona” to sell tickets, not “continue the discourse on video game violence.” There’s a difference.

It’s just too bad Screwattack doesn’t get it.

(Thanks PyroTails for the tip!)