It’s not just us anymore: Paul Levinson goes head to head with Jack Thompson

Suddenly, it’s not just gamers irritated at dear old Jack Thompson and his irreverent way of blaming videogames for every incident involving schools, guns and a body count – Paul Levinson, writer of books that deal specifically about the lack of connection between violence in media and violence in the real world, has stated in his blog that he doesn’t quite like the “ace attorney” as much as Jack Thompson himself doesn’t quite like violent videogames. What’s with the realization, you ask? It seems our good friend Paul Levinson got invited to CNBC’s Squawkbox, with none other than Jack Thompson himself as the other guest.

Although none of us here at QJ have had the dubious honor of meeting the ace attorney in person, Paul Levinson captures the unique Jack experience candidly – enough to make us NOT want to meet him. Yours truly quotes: “Suffice to say I was repeatedly interrupted by Thompson, whose style is to talk a blue streak, then break in a few seconds after the other guest starts talking, continue to do that, and then complain that you were hogging the conversation when he gets his chance to talk again.”

The show’s staff didn’t help the situation much, either, as Paul Levinson recounts: “What was in some ways even more irritating was Becky Quick’s moderation style – which consisted of letting Thompson talk first, not doing anything to stop Thompson when he was interrupting, and then giving him the last word.” Talk about giving Paul Levinson a fighting chance, Squawkbox!

Of course, there’s always something good to come out of EVERY battle. Yours truly quotes once more: “After Thompson appeared on Chris Matthews’ Hardball last week – where Matthews did ask him some tough questions – MSNBC published an editorial that called Thompson out. Joystick is talking about the “Jacklash” – the media finally waking up about Thompson.”

You can read the entirety of the blog entry at the read link below.

Suddenly, it’s not just gamers irritated at dear old Jack Thompson and his irreverent way of blaming videogames for every incident involving schools, guns and a body count – Paul Levinson, writer of books that deal specifically about the lack of connection between violence in media and violence in the real world, has stated in his blog that he doesn’t quite like the “ace attorney” as much as Jack Thompson himself doesn’t quite like violent videogames. What’s with the realization, you ask? It seems our good friend Paul Levinson got invited to CNBC’s Squawkbox, with none other than Jack Thompson himself as the other guest.

Although none of us here at QJ have had the dubious honor of meeting the ace attorney in person, Paul Levinson captures the unique Jack experience candidly – enough to make us NOT want to meet him. Yours truly quotes: “Suffice to say I was repeatedly interrupted by Thompson, whose style is to talk a blue streak, then break in a few seconds after the other guest starts talking, continue to do that, and then complain that you were hogging the conversation when he gets his chance to talk again.”

The show’s staff didn’t help the situation much, either, as Paul Levinson recounts: “What was in some ways even more irritating was Becky Quick’s moderation style – which consisted of letting Thompson talk first, not doing anything to stop Thompson when he was interrupting, and then giving him the last word.” Talk about giving Paul Levinson a fighting chance, Squawkbox!

Of course, there’s always something good to come out of EVERY battle. Yours truly quotes once more: “After Thompson appeared on Chris Matthews’ Hardball last week – where Matthews did ask him some tough questions – MSNBC published an editorial that called Thompson out. Joystick is talking about the “Jacklash” – the media finally waking up about Thompson.”

You can read the entirety of the blog entry at the read link below.