I thought some people may be interested in this. I agree a lot with Jack the Person (more on this later). I get the feeling that he still believes that no kids should play M rated games regardless, which I respectfully disagree on (in some cases I think a 15 or 16 year old can be “ready” I mean, not always of course).
Overall he reminds me of the “crazy lawyer” archetype. The one who will put on a show (or lie, depending on the source material) to make his case, but is a regular, rational guy in person (Jack the Lawyer vs Jack the Person). In other words he demonizes video games to sway the case in his favor but has somewhat more moderate views in reality. I think they were a bit flattering in the way the interview was done, I think he may be a little more radical than the structure of the questions permitted him to be, but he’s still been characterized into hell.
That said his court conduct is still inexcusable in my opinion and his disbarment was a good thing.
If he’s normal, why can’t he control himself in court?
Edit: That may not be fair.
Have you seen his court transcripts? You know, the ones where he accused judges of fixing cases, or where he ignores a judge’s instructions, then tries to lecture her on the law, and if not the law, what is right?
Did you know he’s the same guy who got NWA in trouble, and started the whole Body Count ruckus?
Did you know he’s the same guy who started the whole ‘Janet Reno is a lesbian’ meme because she was running against him? To the point where he came up to her with a card that basically said, “I am () straight () gay pick one”?
Mostly normal, I guess, I think he has an odd compulsion to “win” by whatever means necessary. Meaning when he takes a case he ruthlessly cuts down the opposition to try and demonize it in the eyes of the judge or jury. Of course the doc he submitted for his disbarment trial (the one with the pictures) was waaaay out of line, I won’t even try to explain that.
And then when she patted him on the shoulder and insulted him, he filed charges against her for battery. cite
Add to that his harassment of the guys who draw Penny Arcade and VG Cats, and I think it’s only a matter of time before he suddenly turns on Screw Attack and either sues them or starts a wild-eyed smear campaign against them.
I think you’re looking at it backwards. He is capable–for brief periods, and assuming no one pushes any of his numerous batshit buttons–of acting like a sane, reasonable person. Quite a few crazy people can. It’s a front, and doesn’t change what he is underneath.
All evidence I’ve seen, including many of his court filings, interviews, and letters, suggests that he is narcissistic in the extreme and becoming increasingly paranoid. He believes, or claims to believe, that there is a conspiracy involving (apparently) thousands of people across the game industry and multiple levels and branches of government to “shut him up”. He is perfectly willing to lie, cheat, and bully anyone he can for his cause…and I’m suspect that said “cause” has nothing directly to do with video games or children, and a great deal to do with chasing any spotlight he can find.
Don’t be taken in by his “interview face”. Look at what he actually does. Read his court filings and letters. That’s where you’ll see his real face. The man is vicious, childish, and–in my admittedly not-a-psychologist opinion–mentally unstable. He has interfered with police investigations, battened on the misery of victims, and is at least partially responsible for the waste of many millions of dollars of government money. He should have been disbarred years ago.