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Out of Harm’s Way by Jack Thompson
Tyndale /Oct 05
There are two reasons why I’m posting this review of a two-year old book. One, I’m trying to consolidate my video game related writings. Two, I’m annoyed that Amazon wouldn’t put it up. I read this book when it came out and had a version of this review ready for Amazon within a few days. At the time, this book was swamped with one-star reviews and the litigious Mr. Thompson threatened legal action against Amazon. Down came the majority of negative reviews. Thompson has since severed ties with Tyndale over the Left Behind game, making this book a little harder to find.
In this thin volume, Florida Attorney Jack Thompson puts himself to the right of George W. Bush and Rush Limbaugh, lambasting popular culture, gay rights, and calling AIDS a moral issue, not a medical one. Mr. Thompson’s recent battles in the “culture war†involve the gaming industry, but Out of Harm’s Way begins with his campaign against a South Florida shock jock (an unnamed Neil Rogers) and his rise to public figure status during his litigation against rappers 2 Live Crew. Thompson becomes a censor celebrity (courtesy of the ACLU) for his efforts against Ice-T (Body Count)’s “Cop Killer†and then moves on to the gaming industry in the wake of school shootings he connects to violent video games (Thompson calls them “murder simulatorsâ€).
Out of Harm’s Way is more of a testimonial to Thompson’s life in Christ and a professional biography than a deeper work of social criticism. Thompson offers anecdotal evidence, but is clearly compelled by a strong conservative belief about what should be available for adults and children. Thompson’s first person account leads him to use “I†a lot and he writes in a conversational tone addressing an audience he believes shares his beliefs. If you share Thompson’s views, then you should enjoy this book. If you disagree with Thompson, then you have just gained access to the other side’s playbook.