President Obama Slams Video Games, Blogs, iPads

[Vacht]

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/70...ogs-iPads.html

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?



Read more: http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/70...#ixzz0naMhVerL

lol, seems like a flighty statement to me. Is this some foofaraw or wut?

[Headspace]

Quit getting mad at video games.

[Eaglestrike]

So he's saying he knows nothing about video games, but they're evil and bad? Sounds reasonable and informed, glad he's my president.

[6souls]

if we all would have voted for Zombie Reagan, like I did, none of this would have happened.

http://aroundthesphere.files.wordpre...ie-reagan2.jpg

[Feedmenow]

Didn't he have a campaign ad in a video game?

[Blarg]

I would totally use my power shield and then punch him in the face with my magma gauntlets for saying such crap.

[Pikarya]

http://i40.tinypic.com/4infk2.jpg

Shits distracting, bro.

[Weiing]

I think it's a valid concern, in the iGeneration. Sure, information is at our fingertips, but to what extent ? How will it be used? How is it currently being used?

Don't get me wrong, I love technology and the technological advances that have occurred these recent years. But at the same time, I feel enslaved by it. I'm sure at the same time, instead of thinking for themselves, people pull out their phone and google something right there. It's become a source of dependence and entertainment, while not allowing us to think independently and creatively. It's like becoming drones.

This is not to say technology is bad; that iPad/iPhone/other Smartphones/video games are bad. I take it more like a cautionary tale, of what could be, or where the coming generations may be going if they don't realize the current trend.

Just my thoughts.

[Headspace]

I think it's a valid concern, in the iGeneration. Sure, information is at our fingertips, but to what extent ? How will it be used? How is it currently being used?

Don't get me wrong, I love technology and the technological advances that have occurred these recent years. But at the same time, I feel enslaved by it. I'm sure at the same time, instead of thinking for themselves, people pull out their phone and google something right there. It's become a source of dependence and entertainment, while not allowing us to think independently and creatively. It's like becoming drones.

This is not to say technology is bad; that iPad/iPhone/other Smartphones/video games are bad. I take it more like a cautionary tale, of what could be, or where the coming generations may be going if they don't realize the current trend.

Just my thoughts.

This.

[jmc]

Didn't he buy his kids a Wii, and talking about playing wii bowling before when he first got in office?

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

So he's saying he knows nothing about video games, but they're evil and bad? Sounds reasonable and informed, glad he's my president.

He said neither, but then again you believe everything in the bible is true lol

[Karbuncle]

I'm sure at the same time, instead of thinking for themselves, people pull out their phone and google something right there. It's become a source of dependence and entertainment, while not allowing us to think independently and creatively. It's like becoming drones.

im sure 99.999% of people who google something is simply because they do not know the answer to it, right?

Without the above mentioned items said person would remain ignorant to the problem at hand, where as with said items they would at the very least develop a simple understanding based of information they can find online.

The only difference is saving someone the drive to a library to look it up.

If you of course mean something different ignore this, or explain further, either way i'll be willing to listen.

I feel no way entrapped by Technology, if anything thanks to the mass amount of information we have at our fingertips now i feel if naything freed by it, cause if theres anything i find myself baffled by i can either as you say, google it, or ask my peers on a Forum.

I'm likely misunderstanding you though

Spoiler: show

After reading the stickies!

[Weiing]

Just wanna comment on this, im sure 99.999% of people who google something is simply because they do not know the answer to it, right?

Without the above mentioned items said person would remain ignorant to the problem at hand, where as with said items they would at the very least develop a simple understanding based of information they can find online.

The only difference is saving someone the drive to a library to look it up.

Unless you of course meant something different... ?

What I meant was more than that. People may google something and take that as fact, and carry on with their lives. I admit, I can't live without google, it's just so damn convenient. But people don't think beyond a concept after they have found it. I believe there is a growing overreliance on the internet as a source of information without critically analyzing what the person has just read. Without critical analysis of something, people stop thinking for themselves, in a way. This may also be due to the increasing pace of life in general with our new technology... that we just don't have time to think, with all the new information flow coming at us. This "lack of time" to critically think and analyze is harmful, maybe even detrimental.

I'm not saying that I don't sometimes do this, too...or that I'm above people. I catch myself doing it sometimes.

That's my main concern... especially how that can impact the future.

eDit:

As I have said, I enjoy information at my fingertips, too. But there is a risk to it.

[Dimmauk]

If you are fat, suck at life and school, then Obama was talking to you. Otherwise, ignore it.

[Kuya]

Well, there goes his BG demographic support.

[Karbuncle]

What I meant was more than that. People may google something and take that as fact, and carry on with their lives. I admit, I can't live without google, it's just so damn convenient. But people don't think beyond a concept after they have found it. I believe there is a growing overreliance on the internet as a source of information without critically analyzing what the person has just read. Without critical analysis of something, people stop thinking for themselves, in a way. This may also be due to the increasing pace of life in general with our new technology... that we just don't have time to think, with all the new information flow coming at us. This "lack of time" to critically think and analyze is harmful, maybe even detrimental.

I'm not saying that I don't sometimes do this, too...or that I'm above people. I catch myself doing it sometimes.


That's my main concern... especially how that can impact the future.

eDit:

As I have said, I enjoy information at my fingertips, too. But there is a risk to it.

I Think i understand what you're trying to say now then.

If you are fat, suck at life and school, then Obama was talking to you. Otherwise, ignore it.

Awesome, /ignore

[archibaldcrane]

Allow me to ellipsize:

With...Xboxes and PlayStations...information becomes...a form of entertainment...

There. A bit obvious, but good joerb Obama.

[Pikarya]

Internets?

[dudeguy]

As a videogame player and avid internet troll I can vouch for their ability to greatly distract me from my scholastic endeavors.

I'd rather open new tabs while traversing Wikipedia for 5 hours than read one chapter from a text book for a fraction of the time. Learning about Turritopsis Nutricula is not going to help me on my psych exam unfortunately.

[Eaglestrike]

He said neither, but then again you believe everything in the bible is true lol

Really? When did I ever say this?