Get Serious

I feel a bit late since almost every site has jumped on this story. But it seems that a staple of U.S. politics is always to take a shot at technology. Obama’s comments during a graduation in Virgina:

“You’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don’t always rank that high on the truth meter,” Obama said during the commencement address at Hampton University on Sunday. “And with iPods and iPads and 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.”

While I understand the message technology can be a distraction (believe me I know), I feel that the President went about expressing this with a bad choice of words. Granted this was at a graduation so I’m hopefully assuming that the people there can form their own opinion. But  believe it or not there are some parents out there that will read his comments and feel that the consoles in their house are the source of their children’s bad grades or inability to perform in school. How do I know this? Because my mother was one of those parents when I was a tyke.  Every time I failed a spelling test she blamed my Sega, Nintendo, and Turbo FX 16 and then took them away for a set amount of time.  Ironically, she would watch me study then when I asked her to help check my homework  she’d say she would do it and  send me to go play before I go to bed. Why did I fail my tests? Because I was dyslexic. My teacher actually noticed that and told my mother during a parent teacher’s conference (which was always before my damned birthday). So from then on she stopped blaming video games for my constantly rising fail meter and started being a parent.

Which goes in line with O’s comments when he addressed congress last year:

“In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children’s education must begin at home”

I think that statement is justification as to why the video game industry should be left alone. All those parents blaming games for violence and shenanigans…be a parent! That’s a rant for another day. Anyway, Obama’s comments honestly come off a bit hypocritical seeing as how those same ‘distractions’ helped him win the presidency in the first place. Ads for his campaign did appear in games, huge Facebook following , and viral videos on Youtube were all key tools in allowing him to connect with this generation. While O understands that you cannot stop change just adapt to it, I think he feels America is threatened by this change ‘”All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy.” It sounds like the old generation talking about something new. I’m sure during the start of the radio era some politicians felt what was talked about on air was damaging to America.

D'oh

While I agree with his statement ‘some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction’ and some sources can easily become credible news outlets like certain blogs (not this one, we love you). You can make the same statement for 96% what is on television which is a larger presence in American homes. “You’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don’t always rank all that high on the truth meter” that sounds more like you’re talking about television and than the internet rather than spending hours playing some games. I don’t think it’s Sony’s or Microsoft’s fault that the news outlets much rather focus on celebrity starlets and what they were wearing. Last time I checked, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian never made a video game but they definitely made the news.

I can understand that Obama doesn’t like the iPad but he also uses an iPod and a BlackBerry.

A BlackBerry…

Sorry about that I just had to rant.
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