At his commencement speech over the weekend at Hampton University, President Obama took some time out from inspiring a generation to lay the presidential slam down on video games, iPads and other "distractions."
"With iPods and iPads; Xboxes and PlayStations -- none of which I know how to work -- information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation," Obama said. "All of this is not only putting new pressures on you. It is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy," he added.
Obama also said an education can help people make sense of the different viewpoints and voices "clamoring for attention on blogs, on cable, on talk radio."
It's hard to argue with the characterization of video games as distractions -- that's the whole point -- but the iPad? That seems to me to be more of a tool than anything else. My doctor uses an iPad to quickly reference medical information before he writes prescriptions. Also, it's hard to take someone seriously after he says he doesn't know how to work the things he's putting down.
What do you guys think? Are you having trouble making sense of all the media voices out there? Are you being distracted right now, by these very words?
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BlueCrow24
Of course video games are distractions, that's their point. Even outside of that, they are empowering. A semi-recent article in Discovery Magazine stated that videogames are actually more beneficial to the mind than books as they force people to think three dimensionally, whereas they found reading and television, a passive activity, required only two dimensional thinking. Not only that but they oft times deal with mature issues and bring up valid points and comparisons, whether they be subtle messages or games that blugeon you repeatedly with thin allegories for modern issues.
This is just pure politics, Obama is trying to appeal to the majority, the majority being aging WASPS, but in short time we'll see a shift in voting demographics, we'll become this larger voting base, and suddenly we'll see some more consideration coming from the hill. As Jabman0025 already stated, it was us who got him elected this year. So hopefully we'll see that consideration sooner than later.
Dynamo903
*sigh*
I hope this gets through to people that this man shouldn't be president.
VII
As far as president's go, he's a good one (better than most, anyways). But no one likes a hypocrite, and I don't remember hearing him complain about all those devices when he was utilizing them all to get himself elected 2 years ago.
tragedy93
Video games ARE a distraction and an "opiate for the masses". Obama is dead on there, he is also dead on when he says an education will help you make sense of all the opposing viewpoinmts clamoring for your attention. I honestly don't see anything wrong with what he said as long as he includes Football, Baseball, Religion and news about Politics in there as things that have also made informatrion into mindless entertainment when it should be there to empower us. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop playing video games, they are my waste o0f time of choice and I would rather spend my leisure time doing something fun and that makes me at least feel empowered rather than reading about all the scary stuff I have absolutely no control over.
Hazerdhat
I Love how people judge things they do not even know. Like Fox news on pretty much anything not involved in christianity. I am dissapointed in president obama. Hopefully the president will relize how dumb he sounds by saying this, it is basicly slamming the young generation that voted for him.
Tony Provelone
He's probably a closet video gamer you know he plays mw2 all night long when he's not working...sike.
Mizzat McDougal
What? Didn't he just support video games in his implementation of "Educate to Innovate"?
One component of the plan was to get video game developers to make newer/ better/ more interactive educational video games.
By blaming games as, what seems like, trivial "distractions," isn't he going against his own policy?
Game over, President Obama, game over...
teabags
so he is putting down the fact that people like to have entertainment in their lives, so we're not allowed entertainment? or only entertainment types that HE approves of?..and he's never even used these entertainment devices?
should just keep his big fat mouth shut if he doesnt know what he's talking about, when i was growing up i used to be told by my elders (namely all adults )if you have nothing intelligent to say..keep your trap shut.
Maybe he should heed this advice
BAKER_SB
its not even that big of a deal, just his opinion. calm down
Consequences
=Way to stereotype Obama. Obviously your blind because you can only see through one half of the situation. I just lost respect for Obama; much if it wasn''t there after I heard what he said about the Veterans.
prboi64
He said he doesn't know how to use them which means I doubt he ever picked up a controller so he wouldn't know that Xbox (I don't about playstaion) actually does report news straight from NBC & it discusses major issues including the election. He didn't know & he falsely judged the extent of the gaming community. Basically, He's old, & what do all old people jabber on about? "In my day we didn't have these playstations & wiis & ipods you guys have."
Tiburon80
Why does the President need to comment on what I or anyone else does in their free time (as long as it's legal). Oh wait, he's for big government which likes to meddle with our lives. His comments are hypocritical when he said that he couldn't go without using his Blackberry. He also gave the Queen of England an Ipod as a gift. I seem to remember "vote for Obama" advertising in at least one game. Everyone's entitled to their opinion (even, unfortunately, politicians) but at least be consistent.
Blakwarrior87
I can feel what he's saying. The guy's like 40 something or 50. Most of the older Gen, doesn't feel the same way we do about technology. But he is....... kinda right. For those of us who keep up with tech news when the new system comes out or some new equipment. We want it and we think of how we can get it instead of what we could do with that money if we held on to it and applied it more constructively to our lives. To those of us who aren't pissing on our selves to get the new tech and get it when it doesn't hurt us, I don't think he was talking to us. It's like the las Vegas thing, don't come and blow your money cause your sad or addicted to lights, drugs, women, and losing money. But if you got it like that and want to have a good time then go.
HugoReyes815
Isn't this the same Pres.That refused 2 give up his Blackberry???????????
down311
This is coming from the guy that campaigned on " I'm addicted to my blackberry " ? Does anyone feel like a sucker yet ?
aFreakingSquirrel
We dont seem to pay attention as he slowly takes our freedoms away, but bash gamers and try to regulate the internet as he is tyring to do, then all of a sudden everyone is all up in arms against him. I think it's irony, alot of people blindly voted for him just because they were sick and tired of bush....now we got someone who's just about as bad and is attacking everyone's nerdhood. Way to go internets!
Devilfox1622
I think he is talking about people that play to much like the WOW users that are playing 24/7.
P_Dub
Just wait. Its started already. First Health care, now CA has the law you can't have toys in your happy meal...My guess is Obama inspired that. How long before that's national. Its just a way to try to control what you eat. Now he's after video games, and electronics. They wanna control how much you use it, or if your even aloud to use it at all. Freedom in the US.........HAHAHAHAHA there is no more freedom, and its all thanks to Obama, and all you A**H*LES who voted for him. Also how do electronics create pressure. Its an industry that employs thousands of people. Lets take that away so now there are even less jobs. If I wanted to live in a communist country or even a socialist one I'd leave the US. I saw SCREW YOU OBAMA. STOP TAKING AWAY OUR FREEDOMS.
skullman012291
Well, I'm not trying to disrespect him or anything, but since I'm Canadian, I don't care what he has to say. And that should go with everyone else here. Almost everything that anyone says is entirely their own opinion. And opinions are made to get your point across. And so, this is his point getting across to millions of other people. Now, they can either choose to listen to him, or to pass him off and create their own conclusion. This is how the world should operate.
spleendingo
I'll leave the political discourse for those much wiser than myself when it comes to politics.
However, I will say these are some disturbing comments from the leader of the free world. I'd like to know how, exactly, video games are putting any "pressure on our democracy". Last time I checked, our democracy was based on the Constitutions that allow us to live our lives the way we want as long as we don't impede on the rights of other people not involved in our activity. Some people collect stamps, coins, fuzzy bunnies, "Hello Kitty" merchandise, (or what have you) as a way to relax and enjoy their free time and money they've earned. I prefer to do the same with my video games.
You really can't argue that children spend time playing games when they could be otherwise engaged, but that's a decision for the parents to make and not the government. I fully support our President, but he needs to back off of his "video games are the downfall of our nation" propaganda and worry about the important things facing our country. Like unemployment and health care. You know, stuff like that.
By the way, I was very distracted by your words. They were nice and shiny. :)
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