I have to agree with Obama here. You shouldn't let videogames consume good portion of your day, otherwise the word "game" just loses its meaning.
Obama: "Turn off the video games and pick up a book."
- Thread starter Saucycarpdog
- Start date
Recommended Videos
Wait.Grospoliner said:
When is Obama NOT reading?
He reads bills, laws, statements, agendas, mission summaries, country updates, teleprompters...
I mean Jeez. What do you read that can beat that?
I haven't read a book in... a long time. I mostly watch films and documentaries.
And if people are incorrectly complaining about video games "making kids fat" maybe they should do something just as illogical to fix it. Like make outside air conditioned and not full of terrible insects.
The only people who blame video games for social problems are:
A) Inadequate parents.
B) Politicians who need to terrorize people for votes.
And if people are incorrectly complaining about video games "making kids fat" maybe they should do something just as illogical to fix it. Like make outside air conditioned and not full of terrible insects.
The only people who blame video games for social problems are:
A) Inadequate parents.
B) Politicians who need to terrorize people for votes.
Anyone who hates the president over saying this is the biggest fucking baby. Reading is so much more important then video games ever will be.
No thanks, Mr. President. I prefer video games as my primary source of entertainment. I thank you for your concern, but I'm fine. Yeah, books are nice, but they're just not my thing.
Admittedly, I didn't read this article. I didn't have time when I originally saw this thread. Had to go to work. Amazingly, I stayed employed despite everything that has happened. By the time I did get home I had long since forgotten about it. I'm mostly going from what I have read. And the vast majority of it was "turn off the games" type of comments.BiscuitTrouser said:
And it's kind of hard to deride a plan to help people get jobs/careers. Especially in the current job market. It could have been a plan to help people find jobs in the gun manufacturing industry (not a favorite industry among Democrats) and he would have probably applauded it. Honestly, there's a huge difference between applauding job creation and NOT condemning games.
A small sampling of previous Gamepolitics articles.
http://gamepolitics.com/2009/02/25/first-major-address-congress-obama-once-again-links-video-games-academic-underachievement
http://gamepolitics.com/2009/06/12/obama-chinese-amp-indians-kids-play-fewer-video-games-quotcoming-us-hardquot
http://gamepolitics.com/2009/07/17/obama-african-american-parents-put-away-xbox
http://gamepolitics.com/2009/12/22/obama-reacts-kids-requesting-videogames
I know a little bit about Obama's stance on gaming (which can be summed up as gaming is a complete waste of time). And this is consistent with my original comment. Go figure.
Edited to add in my original comment.
Please, in the future, don't quote me in a way to make me look entirely ignorant.Saltyk said:
I'll grab a book when you run your country!
In all seriousness, NOT BECAUSE we play games, we don't read. I mean just look at how many of us is or has read game of thrones.
In all seriousness, NOT BECAUSE we play games, we don't read. I mean just look at how many of us is or has read game of thrones.
Has anyone explained to Obama that the people who play videogames a lot are, by and large, the ONLY people who read books anymore? You know, nerds mostly...
Also, if I wasn't so big on videogames, my novel 'Divinity' would never have been written.
And possibly Ve-Persona, but Studio Ghibli can take credit on that.
Also, if I wasn't so big on videogames, my novel 'Divinity' would never have been written.
And possibly Ve-Persona, but Studio Ghibli can take credit on that.
Obama needs to stop wasting time himself.
He spends more time on planes to other countries than he does actually sitting down in the White House and working.
He spends more time on planes to other countries than he does actually sitting down in the White House and working.
ITT: Insecure gamers
This is what he actually said
"We know that every father has a personal responsibility to do right by their kids - to encourage them to turn off the video games and pick up a book; to teach them the difference between right and wrong; to show them through our own example the value in treating one another as we wish to be treated. And most of all, to play an active and engaged role in their lives."
He's right, of course. There are so many parents out there who do way too little parenting, and just let their kids play WoW or MW2 all day.
Sure, a lot of Escapists read books, play games, and overall have relatively healthy lifestyles, but there are so many kids in this country who desperately need the kind of parenting Obama is talking about.
This is what he actually said
"We know that every father has a personal responsibility to do right by their kids - to encourage them to turn off the video games and pick up a book; to teach them the difference between right and wrong; to show them through our own example the value in treating one another as we wish to be treated. And most of all, to play an active and engaged role in their lives."
He's right, of course. There are so many parents out there who do way too little parenting, and just let their kids play WoW or MW2 all day.
Sure, a lot of Escapists read books, play games, and overall have relatively healthy lifestyles, but there are so many kids in this country who desperately need the kind of parenting Obama is talking about.
Christ on a stick! I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I feel like I have to post again to emphasize this point so people won't blindly attack Obama:
[HEADING=1]HE IS NOT ATTACKING VIDEO GAMES. HE IS ATTACKING POOR PARENTING.[/HEADING]
Obama is saying that parents have to have their kids put down the game and read! Is that so bad? No! Is he saying games should not be played at all? No! Is he telling us, the grown gamer populace, that we should stop gaming? NO!
Look, like I said before, I value reading! A lot! And I think children should be reading much more. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't play video games. I'm fine with them playing video games. Hell, I'm sure Obama is, too! But kids shouldn't be raised by just games. Books aren't for just entertainment, they give philosophical insight. Books hold so much more thought-value than games. I'm not saying games don't hold any value in that regard at all, but I know I've learned so much more from books than I have from games. And I know that kids will, too!
Parents aren't enforcing proper reading habits, like they should. Sure, if kids were just exposed to reading, they'd have a very narrow view of the world. But the same goes for other influences, too, especially gaming.
Also, why do you get the idea that Obama wants you to stop gaming all together? Where does he say that? He has no reason for you to stop gaming. It won't do any difference to him, you, or the god-damn country!
Yes, I agree that games hold some intellectual and deep, thought-provoking value. I can name a few games off the top of my head, right now, that do that perfectly. But think about it: How long have video games been around? About 20 or 30 years, which really isn't that long. Now how long have books been around? Much more than games, I can tell you that. Muuuch more. Which do you think has developed more since they have originated?
Look, I know you guys want games to be considered a legitimate medium. Hell, I do, too! But don't you think we're going a bit too far? We're defending ourselves way too much over something that has not been aimed towards us. Me thinks you doth protest too much.
He's not attacking you. It doesn't matter how much you read and play games. It's about how much kids read and play games.
Okay, I might have gone on a bit, there, but I'm glad I got that off my chest. Thank you very much for... reading.
[HEADING=1]HE IS NOT ATTACKING VIDEO GAMES. HE IS ATTACKING POOR PARENTING.[/HEADING]
Obama is saying that parents have to have their kids put down the game and read! Is that so bad? No! Is he saying games should not be played at all? No! Is he telling us, the grown gamer populace, that we should stop gaming? NO!
Look, like I said before, I value reading! A lot! And I think children should be reading much more. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't play video games. I'm fine with them playing video games. Hell, I'm sure Obama is, too! But kids shouldn't be raised by just games. Books aren't for just entertainment, they give philosophical insight. Books hold so much more thought-value than games. I'm not saying games don't hold any value in that regard at all, but I know I've learned so much more from books than I have from games. And I know that kids will, too!
Parents aren't enforcing proper reading habits, like they should. Sure, if kids were just exposed to reading, they'd have a very narrow view of the world. But the same goes for other influences, too, especially gaming.
Also, why do you get the idea that Obama wants you to stop gaming all together? Where does he say that? He has no reason for you to stop gaming. It won't do any difference to him, you, or the god-damn country!
Yes, I agree that games hold some intellectual and deep, thought-provoking value. I can name a few games off the top of my head, right now, that do that perfectly. But think about it: How long have video games been around? About 20 or 30 years, which really isn't that long. Now how long have books been around? Much more than games, I can tell you that. Muuuch more. Which do you think has developed more since they have originated?
Look, I know you guys want games to be considered a legitimate medium. Hell, I do, too! But don't you think we're going a bit too far? We're defending ourselves way too much over something that has not been aimed towards us. Me thinks you doth protest too much.
He's not attacking you. It doesn't matter how much you read and play games. It's about how much kids read and play games.
Okay, I might have gone on a bit, there, but I'm glad I got that off my chest. Thank you very much for... reading.
If he wants people to learn and read, he should make Fox News only broadcast in French, with English subtitles. They can either read, or learn French, either way they're doing more than vacantly sitting in front of the TV.
Now if he's said 'switch off the TV and pick up a book' he would be still be relevant to gaming, but not such a pointed criticism, however, I imagine he gets a fair bit of funding from certain media companies, so he's not likely to bash TV any time soon.
I maintain TV is far less engaging of the mind than games however, game shows at least let you play along, in a way they're an ancestor of video games, and documentaries at least let you learn something slouched on the couch, but video games keep you alert, and usually involve at least some form of puzzle solving, tactical thinking, or the like.
There again, I'm sure I read that over 30% of Americans now play video games in some form, if this rise continues, and it should, pretty soon we'll be the majority, and politicians will need to see the good side if they want votes.
Now if he's said 'switch off the TV and pick up a book' he would be still be relevant to gaming, but not such a pointed criticism, however, I imagine he gets a fair bit of funding from certain media companies, so he's not likely to bash TV any time soon.
I maintain TV is far less engaging of the mind than games however, game shows at least let you play along, in a way they're an ancestor of video games, and documentaries at least let you learn something slouched on the couch, but video games keep you alert, and usually involve at least some form of puzzle solving, tactical thinking, or the like.
There again, I'm sure I read that over 30% of Americans now play video games in some form, if this rise continues, and it should, pretty soon we'll be the majority, and politicians will need to see the good side if they want votes.