However, Thompson jerking around with someone over a possible debate isn’t really news (unless a debate actually happens), nor are the email ‘blasts’ or open letters that Thompson sends around to the press. A lot of those emails that Thompson sends around are even posted verbatim, and I wonder why. For instance, I don’t get why something like “Jack Thompson Attacks Wendy’s Over Wii!!” is worth covering by anyone. Nothing actually happened, Wendy’s didn’t say anything, no one else made the connection between Wendy’s, the Wii and Manhunt… and it was a total non-story, as far as I can tell. It might have been a story if he’d threatened to sue, which he didn’t. It was just a man (with very little public credibility) sending a petition letter.

I guess my beef is really with the countless news posts within the gaming community that have a tone along the lines of “lollol look what this nutter just said” but actually aren’t worth anyone’s time.

(Just to be clear, none of the above is in response to any Shack coverage. I actually don’t recall what you guys did or did not cover.)

http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2007/051807_v-tech_response_1.x

I think my attitude towards Thompson coverage can probably be largely inferred from it, though it is a slightly different situation. I do not object to straight coverage of Thompson, as long as it is done in a professional, informative, and non-sensational manner. I believe gamers should be informed about all issues that deal with harming the reputation of the industry. If the gaming press stops covering him, then it’s just CNN and MSNBC, and what good does that do us? All of the wrong people are hearing his shit, and the informed people are less likely to.

I wrote: the only way to completely shut him up …

What I meant to write was:

“And with people universally reacting to him when he talks, I’m getting so desperate to believe that the only way to completely shut him up … ”

Because the “In-your-face” reaction would shame him. But I’m more of a dreamer than a realist when it comes to this sort of thing. Sorry for double-posting.

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the picture of the troll was this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Gnomes-Wil-Huygen/dp/0810909650

I loved that book as a kid.

So what good did Jason Della Rocca’s stance do? What did it tell us about Thompson that we didn’t already know? That he’s interested in money doesn’t come as a surprise. Sure, what Della Rocca did was better than taking his bait completely and arguing with him point-by-point — I agree with you on that. But the entire exchange was also entirely unnecessary.

My main point is that Thompson appears to love attention — that’s what I mean with his mental issues, not that he’s dumb. The less we give it to him, especially in the places where he can do the least amounts of damage, the better it is.