Our beloved leader is on a bit of an anti-video game tear lately. In a Father's Day message to all Americans, President Barack Obama categorized video games as a waste of kids' time. In this Sunday's Parade magazine, Obama wrote:
We need to set limits and expectations. We need to replace that video game with a book and make sure that homework gets done."
Howard Huge was unavailable for comment. That's not the only Obama vs. video games news I have for you, though. In a speech to the American Medical Association, Obama got down to the nitty-gritty of preventative health care, saying it:
"means going for a run or hitting the gym, and raising our children to step away from the video games and spend more time playing outside."
I'm totally in favor of kids both doing homework and playing outside (as long as I don't have to participate in either), but I don't think video games and good grade/health are mutually exclusive. Neither does EA Sports head Peter Moore.
Moore, on EA's website, threw down a challenge to the leader of the free world, posting:
It may be time for the President and his family to put their Wii to good use and fire up the 30-Day Challenge with EA SPORTS Active. This is a “game” even the President may not want to “step away” from.
And adding:
Mr. President, here is my challenge to you: Try EA SPORTS Active and I guarantee you’ll need aides saying “Yes You Can!” to finish your first workout.
Obama, you've been served! But I'm afraid Peter Moore hasn't considered the implications of his challenge. I say, Moore's taunt could spell doom for our entire civilization.
As unlikely as it is, let's say Barack Obama is a big fan of EA Sports and actually reads Moore's challenge, and then accepts it. Then, let's say Obama gets so into EA Sports Active that he checks out other games for the Wii. Before you know it, the president of the United States will be hardcore gamer, decking the White House out with a PS3, and a 360 as well as using CIA super-computers to run Crysis... in full resolution. Then, he'll start checking out MMOs...
Sure, that sounds cool, but these are tenuous times. The economy is tanking, Iran is in the midst of a possible revolution, North Korea is talking about launching long-range missiles again -- if our president gets into World of Warcraft, we can kiss the country good bye, as Obama will be so into campaigning to run his hardcore gaming guild that he'll ignore the responsibilities of the presidency.
Kim Jung Il, using a clever Horde alias, will attack Stormwind, and Obama will be forced to stay up all night defending the Griffin-master. Then the real life Chinese red army, along with sleeper cells of sentient robots, will sweep into the U.S. and enslaves us all to work in outer-space diamond mines.
When the country is a smoldering ash-pile, and you're working 23-hour shifts in a Venusian mine-shaft, blame Peter Moore!
Comments
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camazondamazon
My one and only question is this. Why is it that people always throw the blame on the parents? They are really not the only ones to blame. Kids take a step back and look at your fat ass in the mirror. Take it upon yourselves to do something and turn the video games off. Don't rely on other people to do things for you because there aren't always going to be people that will do everything for you. Just for the record, people can play video games and still be a fully functional member of society. I know this is probably going to get nothing but negative responses and nobody is going to read it but at least I put my piece out there.
Dufrane00
i loled really hard at this so funny
AzraelHorn
Looks to me like a lot of people need to hit the pause button and learn to read things in context...
SolidSnyder
This is really pissing me off. I'm 14 years old and my peers do not spend their time playing WoW or Fallout 3, even Halo, CoD or Wii Sports. They make a decision to do poorly in school, for reasons beyond my comprehension. They don't go home and have a LAN Party, they go home and TEXT. They hang out with their other friends that are exactly the same in terms of lifestyle and hobby. I chose to continue working fairly hard (A student, thank you, Mr. Obama) and was rejected by my peers for doing so. And thus I spend my time on the internet and playing games. I still get outside, still read, still eat, and still get sick of backwards politicians that need a friggin scapegoat when they can't do their job. Folks, I have made my choices, and I believe they are the right ones for me. Now please stop siding with the Prez. How many of you are my age, really? My bet is that a lot of voters lack perspective on this and many similar issues. Please stop telling me that I am a problem.
Smartguy81
@dashizzel
Like learning the difference between then and than?
stimmy2011
Yea hes right, i mean gaming is just so unhealthy. Its almost as bad for you as smoking, but that doesn't stop him...
dashizzel
wow hearing all the 13 to 20 year olds talking politics that they learned about from other 13 - 20 yr olds is making obama more and more justified in his comments. hes not saying video games are bad hes saying press the pause button every now and then, burn some calories and learn something that can be more productive then knowing what your gamer score is
XXXSpartan118XXX
lol i play games everyday and still get straight A's!!!Im also a very good reader and love outside its just over here in Brooklyn lately its been raining or cloudy out. :(
P.S whats with the forbidden words thing?
Infamous_Bizarro
obama sucks
Grimscooge
Well.. I never liked the guy, then again I don't like any politicians.. I have a learning disability that helped me to screw up my school life.. Ya know what social games helped to strengthen my reading and spelling skills.. I read a lot now play a few out door sports and I have traded most if not all of my TV watching time for games because frankly it is better than watching a President fail at his job, your friends die in a war that is a lie and your country fall down the crapper.. So up yours Obama..
Curare
Troops in Iraq, Iran is doing things, Korean nuke tests, and the worst recession in 50 years. Videogames and smoking are two nonissues I really don't want the President to be focusing on… And I’m an asthmatic!
Flamespeak
Replacing video games with books is doing little more than switching out one activity that require no physical exertion with another. I can appreciate the comment about kids going out and playing more, and just as soon as he actually does something to promote free places for children to go to for enjoyment AND ease parent's worrisome minds that someone is out to kidnap and harm their kids everywhere, I will take it more seriously instead of filing it in the same folder I put all of Dr. Phil's 'no crap, Sherlock' advice.
GreedyMcNasty
Yep get those kids out there and playing in the grass. Tell ya what Obama bin lame oil. Your a snake in the grass and everyone is just falling head over heels in love with you. I am not buying it. To me your just a HALF WHITE man that talks big all day long. I can't wait for the rest of the world to see it as well.
El_rios
If the wii is the gaming worlds solution for exercising that's pathetic. I played the wii (unfortunately) and its nothing like getting on a real bike picking up a real bat or going out to play some real ball. I love games but I agree that its good for your body and mind to turn off the console and get out side every now and then.
XxWAR_N_PEACExX
If they were not playing games they would be watching tv most likely. Video games keep a lot of these kids off the street and out of gangs and out of trouble. there would be a lot more crime if it wasnt 4 video games.
triggerhippy
And watching too many tv shows or movies is just as bad. Basically anything that encourages slothlike behavior on a couch is bad. We have to make sure we don't overdo anything. Kids have a much harder time with disciplining themselves so parents should do it for them.
triggerhippy
Any gamer who doesn't think gaming keeps too many kids AND adults from not exercising enough is living in a world of denial. It IS addicting and as a parent you better make sure you encourage your kids get out and move because this nation is getting fatter and fatter.
vismortis
Uh he did basicly call all gamers dumb. Last i checked the genaration he just attacked was the one that put him in the whitehouse and if he keeps it up is fickel enough to social network him right back out come 2012. Also as for gaming and puting "picking up a book" I graduated undergrad with a 3.97 gpa and am attending one of the top enginering schools form my masters i dont see how my gaming was such a detrament.
Xechatigs
Who cares?
IBloodstormI
@learnedfirst
lol, totally agree.
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