gamepolitics: Miami School Board Waters Down Thompson's Bully Bill

Game Politics (

gamepolitics) wrote,
@ 2006-03-15 18:20:00

Entry tags:

bully, frank bolanos, jack thompson, miami-dade school board

Miami School Board Waters Down Thompson's Bully Bill

The Miami-Dade School Board today passed what the Miami Herald describes as a "watered-down" version of the resolution against Rockstar's upcoming Bully (screen shot at left). The idea for the school board to take action against the game was originally proposed by our old pal Jack Thompson.

Board member Frank Bolanos, the school board member who officially sponsored the resolution, described Bully as "violence of the worst kind."

GP: Based on that comment, it's clear Bolanos has never played Postal 2...

The original language in the resolution called for local retailers not to carry the game and parents not to buy it for their children. However amendments added during today's vote substantially weakened the resolution's bite.

As passed, the resolution urges retailers not to sell Bully to minors (so, simply follow the ESRB ratings, then) and directed the school district to distribute information to parents on "on the potential harmful effects to children of playing interactive video games containing violence."

Local student Alexander Robel opposed the school board resolution in any fashion, comparing it to censorship of controversial literature such as Catcher in the Rye .

"We have never hurt other students," Robel said. "It is no surprise to me that the school board in my very own county would fall into the trap of pointing fingers and assigning blame."

GP: Tough break for Jack's anti-game crusade when he can't get the full-strength version of the resolution passed in his own backyard.

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	al_gorithm 2006-03-15 11:53 pm UTC (link)
	HOOAH! (Reply to this)(Thread)

Not so fast -

open_sketchbook, 2006-03-16 12:04 am UTC

	markusdragon 2006-03-16 12:01 am UTC (link)
	People actually realising that adults should be allowed to play what they want - 1, Contraversial Miami Lawyer - 0 (Reply to this)

	Let's just pass.... goodrobotus 2006-03-16 12:01 am UTC (link)
	Something to shut that damn lawyer up.... (Reply to this)

gasperskeltner
2006-03-16 12:03 am UTC (link)

I Can See It Now...
by Steve Keltner, Pittsburg, Kansas

"But I'm Jack Thompson! Jack Thompson demands appeasment! Jack Thompson does not care for anything except Jack Thompson's vendetta against Rock Star and Take Two! Jack Thompson demans Gamepolitics change it's URL to www.JackThompsonisbiggerthenjesus.com! If not, Jack Thompson will sue! Jack Thompson! Jack Thompson!" Says John Bruce as he stomps up and down on a copy of Grand Theft Auto 2.

A gavel bangs.

"The board does not recognize Mr. Thompson's outburst. Mr. Thompson, if you can't conduct yourself accordingly-"

"Jack Thompson will make you rue the day-"

"Someone get that nobody out of here!" Cries the chairman of the School Board. John Bruce is immediately grabbed by several parents and let out of the assembly hall.

This is satire of a public figure. Try and sue me Johnny B.

	auralknight 2006-03-16 12:04 am UTC (link)
	That last bit about the bill not being it's full strength seemed a bit unneccessary... (Reply to this)(Thread)

	angry_man 2006-03-16 12:05 am UTC (link)
	Yarrrrrrr! Jackbeard the Pirate shall not be stopped! Ye scurvy dogs at GamePolitics don't speak the truth! Me and me hearties will pillage to stop Bully from being sold if we must! Yar har! Hooah! (Reply to this)

	silver_derstin 2006-03-16 12:11 am UTC (link)
	"distribute information to parents on 'on the potential harmful effects to children of playing interactive video games containing violence.'" Would you like a bias with that? If they want to distribute something, they'd need to distribute a pamphlet made by professionals from the industry, not lunatic lawyers. (Reply to this)

	schizmo 2006-03-16 12:13 am UTC (link)
	So basically the whole bill is pointless? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Remember when folks were vilifying Passion of the Christ without having seen it? andrew_eisen 2006-03-16 12:17 am UTC (link)
	"It's violence of the worst kind," said board member Frank Bolaños, who sponsored the resolution. Trust me, I know. Rockstar invited me to their studio for a sneak peak at the game. I’m special. Andrew Eisen (Reply to this)(Thread)

	jargon_john 2006-03-16 12:23 am UTC (link)
	Well, that's a shocker. They're going to actually EDUCATE parents about violent videogames? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Yet another criticism of Bolaños' comment riffraff1138 2006-03-16 12:32 am UTC (link)
	Board member Frank Bolaños, the school board member who officially sponsored the resolution, described Bully as "Violence of the worst kind." But it's fake. In its entirety. So fake violence is the worst kind of violence? I can't help but wonder if these people really pay attention to what they're saying. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	speaking of Admiral Dumbass, mrpat___ 2006-03-16 12:35 am UTC (link)
	isn't he supposed to be speaking in some other state as a witness for one of his crap resolutions? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Good. quad9damage 2006-03-16 12:46 am UTC (link)
	"Don't sell the game to minors" is a lot better than "Don't sell the game at all." I also like how this is exactly what Jack kept saying he wanted. Cheers to the Miami-Dade School Board and letting adults buy whatever they damn well please. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	sprngpilot 2006-03-16 12:55 am UTC (link)
	"GP: Tough break for Jack's anti-game crusade when he can't get the full-strength version of the resolution passed in his own backyard." (Reply to this)

	sqlrob 2006-03-16 01:13 am UTC (link)
	We should educate parents about the effects of video games (Reply to this)

	mouser 2006-03-16 01:40 am UTC (link)
	Here's a thought - why don't they (the school board) do something about ACTUAL violence and ACTUAL bullys in their schools? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	dreamshade 2006-03-16 01:41 am UTC (link)
	So... they watered down a worthless bill that would have accomplished nothing... into a worthless bill that accomplishes nothing? I'm still confused as to why they're doing this in the first place. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Just checked Wikipedia blackmanta 2006-03-16 02:08 am UTC (link)
	JT's entry is back up. If anything, it's much more organized than ever! Yay! :D Eat it, Jack. Eat it raw! (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Can't say I"m surprised...... kurisu7885 2006-03-16 02:25 am UTC (link)
	cours,e Jack is just gonna get back to bitchin at us or someone else, but if he can't get this passed in his own state, what chances are there of this passing anywhere else? hmm, lemme think... none!!!! The game is gonna get released, it's gonan get sold with the regular restrictions, nuff said, and if you don't like it, then build a bridge and get the fuck over it. (Reply to this)

	This game has 'dirty' written all over it blitzfitness 2006-03-16 03:28 am UTC (link)
	I mean, c'mon, look at that toilet. shudders (Reply to this)(Thread)

	jaykaos 2006-03-16 05:01 am UTC (link)
	Anyone else notice how much Jack is in the news since he got booted from LJ? Amazing how productive he is when he's not insulting us 24/7. (Reply to this)

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