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

[Brandon237]

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

Agreed, but he is insinuating that books are good, games are bad.

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

I Used to read absolute crap tonnes, now I still read a decent amount. It's just that game = 20-150 hours entertainment where as Book = 8-20 hours entertainment. And where I come from books are generally between a quarter the price to the same price as a game. Now considering I got mass effect 1 for around $8 (Well over 50 hours play-time), and most books at around $16... and Mass effect had almost as much reading and many more sub-plots than most books... that kinda makes the choice when I work on a limited budget (being 16 and not having a pocket money scheme, that is always) easier.

 

[Duck Sandwich]

I don't see any problem with Obama's other comment, namely the "stop playing games for a few hours and go outside and exercise." But I wonder when we're going to hear someone say "Put down those books and go outside and exercise." Should be amusing to see the general public's reaction to a statement like that.

Ok then *Turns off Gears Of War 2, picks up Gears of war Jacinto's Remnant*

That gave me a good laugh.

 

[Lionsfan1986]

Obama MYOB! Why don't you worry more about the economy and less about video games! Last time I checked were are still in a recession!

 

[Brandon237]

I read books in video games. What now.

You are tempting an inception meme on that one XD

I think that the focus should be on improving school education at this point, anyone who says that it is currently perfect needs a reality check.

 

[Mailman]

The next Discworld novel, Snuff, comes out in October I think. E.E. Knight's next chapter in the Reign of Fire series comes out in July. I might try and grab a copy of I Shall Wear Midnight.

 

[kortin]

You know what? Just because Obama told me to do it, I'm not going to. Yep, thats right, I will stop reading books because Obama told me to not play video games and read a book.

 

[Pearwood]

Got to remember that for people who have difficulty socialising just sitting at home reading is one of the worst things you can do. Even if it's just the kind of socialising you do online it's more helpful than completely isolated activities.

 

[Flyingchciken93]

But Obama i can do both, just like you. I play games and read, you be president and cool.

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

I'm sorry, but, what?

I know plenty of people who don't play videogames that haven't read a book in years. Most gamers that I know are either working or reading when they're not gaming, and very few gamers that I know are the stereotypical ones that sit in front of a screen all day.

I'm reading a book, doing a job, playing a game for about an hour or so a day, and about to go back to school in the fall. He'd be better off telling people to stop stuffing their faces than reading, it's more likely to happen because most people in this day in age simply don't like reading.

 

[craddoke]

When I read Great Gatsby, I think this is a worthwhile story, but I learn nothing from it.

Then you don't know how to read - and your illiteracy is much worse than someone who can't translate the characters on the page into words. Fortunately for my sanity, I don't think you mean what you said.

To just scratch the surface of the Great Gatsby: a critique of the American dream and its materialistic nature, a commentary on the nouveau riche and their foibles, a lesson about how a person can make an idol out of something shallow (Daisy Buchanan), a message about how a vibrant lust for life can flourish even in a modern Wasteland (Myrtle), a meditation on the nature of friendship (Nick vs. Gatsby's other "friends"), a commentary on family and trying to live without a past (Gatsby's father).

If you missed all that, perhaps you need an appointment with Dr. TJ Eckleburg.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I hated books as a kid, I read stuff for school when mandatory but other than that I was just hell. Growing up and getting into some story-heavy games during the jrpg golen age of ps1 opened the door for books too. Now I can down a Nabokov masterpiece in 2-3 sittings, I doubt that would be so had I kept being into sports and had I not stopped being into them in favor of more games, anime and ard games.

 

[Dastardly]

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 think it's like someone saying, "Put down the Twinkies and have a salad once in awhile."

If you don't eat exclusively Twinkies, it's obviously not directed at you. If you may have a problem with overeating Twinkies, it's meant to make you think. If you definitely have a problem overeating Twinkies, it's meant to make you mad enough to act.

 

[GrimHeaper]

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

Agreed, but he is insinuating that books are good, games are bad.

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

I Used to read absolute crap tonnes, now I still read a decent amount. It's just that game = 20-150 hours entertainment where as Book = 8-20 hours entertainment. And where I come from books are generally between a quarter the price to the same price as a game. Now considering I got mass effect 1 for around $8 (Well over 50 hours play-time), and most books at around $16... and Mass effect had almost as much reading and many more sub-plots than most books... that kinda makes the choice when I work on a limited budget (being 16 and not having a pocket money scheme, that is always) easier.

Only book that has ever given me over 8 hours is the thickest harry potter book.How many books do you know of that give that kind of length?

 

[intheweeds]

You could just as easily replace video games with literally any leisure activity to get across that tired platitude of stop procrastinating and get on with your bloody work. Really, the guy gets pegged as a scapegoat enough as it is and now he's just inviting a new generation of people to paint him in the light of the condescending old luddite sneering down at the pathetic children and their toys. My god, how the hell does the president drolling out the words stop screwing around and sit down and study constitute news, as if this rousing oration is going to instill the youth of America with a new found sense of vivacity and diligence. Yeah, I'm making way too big of deal of this but so are the press for printing this worthless shit in first place. (Please note: I am staunchly left of centre so don't accuse of ripping on Obama just becuase he's not on my team, people of any disposition should be able to call him out on this shit.)

Yeah i think using video games in his example is what people have picked up on and it's an unfortunate choice of words, because I otherwise agree with him. It seems to me he is merely trying to get parent's to involve their kids in more activities rather than sit in front of the TV transfixed. He goes on to say that "Every father can pack a healthy lunch for his son, or go outside and play ball with his daughter.".
Personally, I agree with him. Parents could stand to take a bigger interest in their children's activities and try to steer them in the best direction possible. Nothing is good if it's all you are exposed too.

It's too bad he used the hot button 'video game' phrase. It seems that's all some people took away from that. A mistake I think.

 

[The Epicosity]

The problem with my house is there is currently nothing to do outside (Do to how amazingly hot it is.) and I finished my book what seems like years ago from reading it constantly and no one has been willing to take me to the library, so I make up for that by sitting around in an even hotter car for a couple of hours while my sisters do random things. -_-