If you follow any of the gaming media (which could just be limited to reading the news sections of your favourite gamer comics), you'll have heard of Jack Thompson. Jack is a bonafide idiot. He is an attorney often cited in the media for his views on the effects of obscenity and violence in popular media. Taking the "anti-gaming" stance more than one step further, he compares people to Hitler or Saddam Hussein, threatens lawsuits for people replying to his emails, etc etc. The Wikipedia article has a good summary of his antics.

I've drafted some blog entries in the past over this, but haven't posted anything. All the logic and rhetoric that applies to normal human beings like me and you simply get thrown out the window when Jack Thompson enters the room. An examination of his methods and motives reveals a truly disturbed individual who perhaps has troubles dealing with reality and fiction himself. Perhaps that's why he's so insane on the topic. Hey, what do you know, he's the poster child for his campaign.

All that aside, if you haven't already done so, then you need to check out Penny Arcade. Specifically, you need to check out the news articles regarding Jack Thompson on this page, then this page. I've even provided a local copy for posterity.

I can't imagine that this is going to end as a happy story for anyone. However, I think (hope) that it will end up as a very unhappy story for Jack, as he writhes around losing any credability that he had left (see the National Institute on Media and the Family's open letter distancing itself from Jack, and see his reply). It looks like it could be fun to watch though.