I noticed this today after following a link from Game Politics to Jack Thompson’s new book. It’s very strange; check it out.
It appears, for one reason or another, that most of the Amazon books and fan lists associated with Out of Harm’s Way have to do with gay male sex. They include titles like A Guide to Spiritual and Sensual Handballing and Gay Men and Anal Eroticism, and lists like “Rock around the Ass” and “Sexy for Men”. I’m totally serious.
As much as I’m against slandering someone’s name with the oh-so-horrible implications of “gayness” (even if it is Jack Thompson), this is pretty amusing. Besides, I get the feeling Thompson probably isn’t too keen on homosexuals, so I’m thinking it serves him right.
I’m not sure how someone did this. Did they just click the hell out of Amazon? Or was it an inside job? Whoever’s responsible, you have my respect. It’s one thing to come straight out and fight Thompson, but it’s somehow more effective, in the minds of those ridiculous Americans who would actually be interested in his book, to just associate him with evil itself: gay people. Even if, for a few brief moments, you have to sink to their level.
All I can hope is that scores of flustered mothers now cancel their book orders and, with that extra cash, run out to buy video games, really sexy ones, just to stick it to that “gay”.
Then again, maybe gay men who buy anal sex guides also just love Jack Thompson. Something tells me, probably not.
October 9th, 2005 at 5:55 am
Jack is far from one of my favorite people. I really wish that video games had a “think of the children” activist that I could respect, because there are certainly some horrid games out there that take advantage of children’s pliable mindsets about sex, violence, and disconnection. The problem for me is that none of the activists are being halfway reasonable about the entire issue and targeting the really scary stuff, nor are they supporting and encouraging more power be given to the ESRB, or pointing the finger at the real root of the problem–parental apathy.
Jack Thompson is to reasonable discourse about video games what the cast of Barney is to adult entertainment. He has no place anywhere near this stuff. I say this connection is a brilliant one, and should be encouraged.
And of course, we can all help this process by making sure that when we view his book, we click through on the first three book in the “recently viewed” list, since that will keep the count up, and keep this absurdity going. :)
October 9th, 2005 at 3:59 pm
So true, so true.
October 17th, 2005 at 4:07 pm
Remembering this article you wrote, i thought you’d be interested in the latest in the Jack Thompson saga. http://www.penny-arcade.com/news.php?date=2005-10-17#2834 i am totally amazed at the Penny Arcade crew, and happy that they were able to throw that in Thompson’s face.
October 18th, 2005 at 7:05 pm
Oh, I’ve been following along :-). They certainly know what they’re doing alright, and I’m proud to have them represent us gamers. I just can’t help but wonder whether it’s not even worth their time (or any of our time) talking to a crazy man.