Obama: "Turn off the video games and pick up a book."

[LuckyClover95]

I love Obama, I love video games.
He makes a fair point though
I just hope he doesn't become anti games

you hope he doesnt? Look at who he put in his cabinet.

I don't know, I don't know too much about American politics. I'm in England, so who he has in his cabinet tend to fall under my radarrr

well the people he put in his cabinet are supported by constituents in California who are trying to ban all videogames deemed violent. For example Hillary Clinton is in his cabinet and has been behind the scenes in several states trying to get violent video games banned of course once she wanted the hipster vote she cooled he attempts but she is just as guilty as Jack Thompson, she just remains behind the scenes but if you look up proposed bills you can see her name or the names of her constituents and their organizations.

Im not trying to be glen beck here (not in the slightest), Im just saying.

UGH. I've heard of Jack Thompson, and he ain't good.
But thanks for informing me!

 

[Trololo Punk]

Yea, i do both pretty much equally...

 

[Pariah164]

I play video games AND read books. What now?

 

[Blaster395]

I guess Obama didn't like The Witcher 2

 

[Vykrel]

tbh, video games seem to have more useful benefits than books do... sure, when you are reading, you probably come across new words, but video games are much more social, and certain types of games can improve reflexes and/or problem-solving skills.

something he really doesnt understand, like most people, is that many gamers (like myself) see video games as an art form. i truly enjoy seeing the hard work that some developers put into their games, and i appreciate it even more than i appreciate a good book. i especially love playing a game that has a great story. its like PLAYING a book

 

[Warforger]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/308151/news/barack-obama-turn-off-the-video-games-and-pick-up-a-book/

Hard to disagree with him. I mean, he just wants to encourage parents not have their kids play video games all day long.

I half agree with him. But his statements contradict each other, he used the day to say that fathers should get kids away from video games and into books, but that's not much better. Once you read a book it doesn't give you much benefits if it's a story other then vocab improvement, and even then it's counter productive because if you're at least 8 reading is not an activity you do together with your parent. On top of this he says video games distract from education, ok so then isn't music and reading non-school material also the same thing? Hey what about playing with your child? That also distracts them from school right? He's not too specific by what he means by that, if he means they're addictive, that depends on the game, and hell same could be said for good books and music, much like you want to keep playing a game to see what happens or for fun, you could be reading a book and be wondering what happens next so by the time you're done you have little time for homework, you could listen to music while doing homework but it doesn't help because it's a distraction. Hell I can stop myself from playing video games instead of doing homework because of the time it takes, but when I listen to music it gets hard to concentrate on homework and each song is only a couple minutes long so I think it's not a huge deal and by the end in an hour I haven't gotten a page of homework done. Come to think of it I listen to music in moderation now, someone took my IPod as well, and I've been feeling alot better and my grades have improved since then.

I'm not saying playing video games is automatically good for you, it can be, but if you play too much it starts to take a toll on you and yes it's good to tell parents to get their children away from the video games, however it has to make sense and be logical.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

What if I do both? Also, since his coments about The Falklands and Argentina, My opinion of him has lowered, so I'm less inclined to agree with him.

What comments?

*gets ready to be offended*

Heres my answer from a previous post.

Also, since his coments about The Falklands and Argentina, My opinion of him has lowered, so I'm less inclined to agree with him.

Why? What did he say?

O.T. Well some people do game too much, but can I just read at day and game by night?

It's all pretty much summed up in this thread. Special mention to posts by Mantonio, Agema and stefanbertramlee.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/528.290815-The-Falkland-Islands

I guess I'm just still angry/ annoyed about it.

 

[Suicida1 Midget]

ugh more of the usual crap about video games. Obama needs to tackle the bigger issues, not the small fry. Most of the ppl who play vedio games are the teanagers (like me) who hold down a job, exercise or some kind of sport for about 2 hours a day, or read a set of books within a week. The little kids addicted to halo and stuff should be booted off them however until they can get this kind of balance.

 

[ProtonGuy]

I like how the government has to step in and tell people how to be a good parent. There seriously needs to be some sort of licensing requirement before your allowed to breed.

 

[jyork89]

Can hardly argue with him. I mean if I was a parent I wouldn't want my 7 year old spending a tenth of the time I spend playing games. And any parent that let their child spend as much time playing would be called a bad parent.

 

[MasterOfHisOwnDomain]

I'll read more books when they start sucking less. Seriously, almost everything fantasy or scifi is badly written these days.

You don't have to read books that have been written in the past few years, heck even in the last few decades. 'Dracula' and 'The Hobbit' were two fantastic books I've read recently in the genre you've said. Also, try Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Sage: 'Pandora's Star' and 'Judas Unchained', they were more exciting than many films I've watched, and they last for-e-ever!

 

[NicolasMarinus]

There's this professor (I forget his name) that wrote a book on "what if video games were invented centuries ago and this new medium of books is getting hold of our kids".

His answer: parents would find books incredibly one-sided, understimulating their children because it doesn't evoke all of their senses. Also, books have no social component what so ever, it's a terribly asocial medium. Very interesting thesis, no?

Plus, books are overrated as bringers of content and value. Most are just rubbish.

 

[ineedscissors]

Reading occasionally is a valid alternative to gaming constantly. I'll allow it.

 

[Tehlanna TPX]

So much rage, too little reading comprehension in this hurr thread. He's not pissing on gamers, he's pissing on poor parenting.

...but those of you who need to understand that point wont, or can't, and will just continue to freak out.

/sigh

 

[TheSolemnHypnotic]

Tell him to turn off his celebrity and pick up his pace fixing the economy! XD I'm just kidding I really don't care about politics or politicians or what they have to say in reguards to my habbits, hobbies, and hang ups.

 

[FinalHeart95]

He wants to emphasize that children shouldn't be so focused on electronics and should try to broaden their horizons. That statement is what he's trying to say because people automatically associate "video games" with "waste of time" and "books" with "smart-people learnin'".

 

[Pyro Paul]

the funny thing is that he is trying to be reasonable and logical yet because of so much political clout his message is being broken apart down to the vowels to try and find some hidden message or agenda.

There is a big problem with america... it isn't video games, it is poor parenting.

People whom build their childs nutritional intake on the Fast Food menu...
that treat TVs and Video games as baby sitters...
that leave their children to raise themselves because they personally are too busy with themselves to be bothered with nuances such as 'raising a kid'.

but...
what do we read from it?

Obama is Attacking Video Games!
He is touting a Sword of vengence to kill our source of joy!
etc. etc.

take it at face value.
Politians are often no more intellegent then the common man... they oft don't have secret agendas or grand schemes...

 

[Saviordd1]

I have something to say to him...

Do your freakin job!

He is doing his job as chief citizen, if your going to complain about his job know what it is otherwise don't waste your breath and make yourself look a fool.

OT: I actually support this, as a gamer I think its important to have a certain balance, games are awesome but so are books, TV, socializing and exercise.