Repeating a recurring campaign theme, Barack Obama urged dads to exercise parental responsibility, in part by monitoring their children's video game and television time.
As reported by Politico, Obama made the remarks during a Father's Day speech at the Apostolic Church of God, a black congregation in Chicago:
The first [thing] is setting an example of excellence for our children – because if we want to set high expectations for them, we’ve got to set high expectations for ourselves. It’s great if you have a job; it’s even better if you have a college degree. It’s a wonderful thing if you are married and living in a home with your children, but don’t just sit in the house and watch “SportsCenter” all weekend long.
That’s why so many children are growing up in front of the television. As fathers and parents, we’ve got to spend more time with them, and help them with their homework, and replace the video game or the remote control with a book once in awhile. That’s how we build that foundation.
Comments
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area. If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?
But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself. Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children. Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story. Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age. The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself. Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head. Not gonna happen. Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.
The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status). In a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent. The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me. Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time. It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Also when I was a young gamer, I also read allot of Goosebumps books by R.L.Stine
Mostly because they were not over 150 pages and they always had those intense moments like trying to run away from a monster or a kid in a life or death situration like sinking into quicksand, wrapped up by a snake or being eaten by a plant. Those are the things that I love to read about and hope to develop them into some Videogame ideas in the future.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Trying to let parents know that raising their own children is their responsability, that is a good thing.
But sometimes I find that Obama still needs to know a few good things about Videogames first because he is saying that the parents need to replace a Videogame controller with a Book.
My view is, Videogames are just like books...
Sure they are different, but at the same time you are not really burning allot of callories reading books all day long.
But that is just my thought.
I am so happy that Obama is the Democrat running for President than Clinton, but still as a Videogame Issue, I would not get my hopes up on Obama yet...
There is just this thing how he says that Videogames are either, not important or not special that seems to really make me think that he is not who we all interpret him to be.
But the best thing is I can say about him is at least he is not into the whole legislation thing...
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I see this as game bashing. Sorry but it he just seems to put a negative tone towards video games. I don't like it. Sure it isn't Jack Thompson style game bashing but I don't see why he has to keep mentioning it. I kind of see this as a sign that he is running out of things to talk about. Not that I support John McCain, but you pretty much have to FORCE him to talk about video games which reflects the fact that video games are not a government issue. Sorry but I don't want moral or parenting advice from my future president. I'd rather hear about what ideas he is going to bring to the table to solve all the issues this country faces.
Why not address real issues? I could care less what the president thinks about how people parent their children. I'd much rather hear about what he is going to do to be sure that it is the parents that will be doing the parenting instead of the government (speaking against government regulation of entertainment). Parent's responsiblity not government. Thus far he just mentioned that parents should prevent their children from watching tv and playing video games. Is he planning to do something or planning to support bills that would prevent children from playing too many video games? Is he planning to support anti-video game legislation? It isn't clear. The only thing that is clear is that he sees video games in a very negative light. Video games can have a very positive impact on education and creative development.
Obama is a run-of-the-mill democrat and they seem to enjoy the Nanny state. Don't expect things to change. He seems to be slightly better than Hillary Clinton but not by much.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Sweet jesus someone actualy gets it! I've been waiting to hear something like this out of a poltician for ages.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I have to agree with a lot of the people here. This is not game bashing.
I'm a heavy reader, and my parents were more apt to say "Get your nose out of that book" then "Put down that dang controller." Growing up only playing games will not make you a well rounded character (no, not talking about weight). You need to have friends (even if they are online), you need to read, you need to work. The working part is important. When you grow up, and your wife is out, and you have the choice between working on the house and playing a game... you should have the ethics, AND the stregth of will... to only play a little bit before you get to work.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
It's nice to hear a politician use common sense once in a while. He's not asking parents to restrain their child from playing video games forever, but to ask them to balance out their leisure, work and learning time. Which is fair enough for me, cause if I had children, I wouldn't want them to keep their eyes glued on GTA4 all of the time.
What I don't get is why he thinks that books serve as a better answer to help teach children to expand their knowledge and imaginations. I'm not saying he's out of his mind, but he should know that books are ok, just as long as you know which type of reading material they would appeal to them. Stuff like Shakespeare and other forms of classic literature might probably turn children off from learning. The majority of teens I've met nowadays could care less about Shakespeare or any novel made by Stephen King/Tom Clancy/etc., cause the content just doesn't appeal to them. Stuff like Japanese mangas or books like Harry Potter would grab their attention, but I don't consider manga to be serious educational material.
There are such things as good books, good TV shows and good video games, and there are such things as bad books, bad video games, and bad TV shows. Unfourtanetly, some people only focus on the bad stuff and this gives people the impression that games and TV are horrible in all forms of context. However, I would never let my child read books published by Ann Coulter or Jack Thompson, because those two define the meaning of "bad content". >.>
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
remember southern parents, he said, "Engage your kids" not "Get engaged to your kids."
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Im an obama supporter. And When I saw this I thought that obama may have said something awful about games. Well he did not. He makes a great point. You can't be watching TV or playing videogames all the time.
Good advice obama.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
It really seems like you're grasping for straws when you post "stories" about Obama saying the word video game like this, when the overall statement he's making doesn't really have anything to do with them. His point is clearly that parents need to be involved with their kids, to teach them and help them grow up to be educated and well rounded people -- and to stop using the tv or game console as a nanny.
Is this just an excuse to post something about Obama?
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
There's only one fucking decision that might not make several nations declare war on the US. Vote Obama for a chance at not living the Fallout series.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
How are so many of you swept up and willing to vote for this man? I for one will not vote for Obama for several reasons. But I mean come on people, the man stands there and tells us that he will bring a change, never specifiying what that change is. And how about the fact that he has little to no experience...just take a look at his track record here in IL and in DC. He rarely votes if it all. And while Obama and McCain sling arrows at each other they both have Lobbyists, more specifically the nursing home lobbyists who are sleaze balls.
Sorry I had the throw this out there. I'm tired of everyone playing up Obama like he is some great all american being...oh and by the way...to Obama's campaign to stop the smears....I don't care if they have video of him leading the pledge of allegience once....in the IL state Senate he never stood, and I have several witnesses to attest to that. So come November, think before you vote. And make the right decision.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
"replace the video game or the remote control with a book once in awhile."
He's saying books are still healthier than games. Both books and game stimulate tremendous brain activity. But which is healthier? Well, it depends on the book and depends on the game.
Turning off Resident Evil to read "The Great Gatsby" is an awesome idea. But I wouldn't say turning off DDR to read "Da Vinci Code" would be very beneficial at all.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
After having spent a semester studying that book for a reading class in college, I really would have trouble telling someone to stop playing resident evil for the great gatsby
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Wait?! A non-ignorant politician that has common sense? My god, we have seen that for generations!!
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
"Forwards, not backwards! Upwards, not forwards! And always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom!"
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
meh, to me this statement is plain common sense which I guess is a pretty good achievement for a politician. Give me a poltician who goes out and tells people to play text-based adventure games or physics-based puzzlers rather than an fps (portal being the only exception) instead of the usual "books are better than games" line and he'll have won my support.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
This is why I say, "Obama is the more competent candidate."!
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
What happens the book you are reading based off of a Video Game? Reading the new Metal Gear Solid book that came out a few weeks back.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Yeah, that's a good question. I've read all but two of the HALO books (which were awesome, btw) and I've found myself wondering what makes an idea better in book form than in game form? Granted, in a book you have no choice but to use your imagination, which is obviously a good thing, but in a game you must also use your brain to keep your character alive and obtain victory. Obviously literacy is an important factor, but several games cover that too (pretty much every game before 1995+ many Japanese RPG's, as well as ZELDA). Also, from a health standpoint, games come out on top (Wii games, DDR), whereas books are completely sedentary, unless you can read whilst on a treadmill or something. So yeah, I fail to see what makes books so kickass compared to other mediums. Everything in moderation is still the rule, even with books.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large. For information on games and psychology, look up:
Jonathan Freedman (2002)
Block and Crain (2007)
Grand Theft Childhood, a book by Harvard Medical School researchers Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Follows his usual theme, he mentions video games along with everything else younger people do for fun... Obama's the best politician to ever happen to gaming, really. He doesn't go overboard in either direction.
I really hope you Americans vote for him. He seems to be the first politican in years who has an inkling of common sense and honesty.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Except for international policies in regards to war and the correct way to spend taxes and how to properly implement a health care solution and a solid strategy for the elimination of oil dependency in America and a plan to properly implement renewable resources such as solar power for our energy needs and a good set-up for immigration control.
You know...little things like that.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Like the republicans have been any better in those regards?
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Democrat and Republican or both synonyms for idiotic.
Supporting Democrats is just as stupid as supporting Republicans. Democrats seek to silence your personal rights waving the banner of Political Correctness while Republicans do the same with a banner sporting National Security.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Yeah, but which ones policies can be repaired when we finally get a decent group of people in power?
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I agree with what Obama said (even though I am already an Obama supporter). I do agree that kids shouldn't play videogames, watch TV or be on the computer all day. Yet he never says that they are bad. And I completely agree that books can be better than games. I mean without books, we have no Tom Clancy games, haha. But seriously books simtulate the mind and allows it to learn and actually helps later in life like being a good lawyer on common sense (Thats a smack to the face to Jack Thompson), or being a good role model (That's a smack to the face to Hilary Clinton) or making video games, because you need to type correctly in order to make coding in games and books help with that.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Heh. The more I read about Obama(Especially after the primary has finally ended), the more I wanna vote for him. I think this speech may help.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I assume what he's is saying is that kids shouldn't be sitting around all day inside the house playing video games and watching T.V. Sounds like common sense to me. It's all about moderation. Nothing anti-gaming about it.
_-_-_-_-_-_
This is an excellent example of what Tipper Gore should have done in the 80's. Instead, she alienated an entire generation and essentially called them stupid sponge people, and then when they all grew up, most of them remembered that and wouldn't vote for her husband when he was running. Children are the future.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large. EDIT: What Tipper Gore should _not_ have done.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
All he is saying is that kids shouldn't play videogames, watch television and play on the computer all day, instead they should do other things. I don't think anyone here disagrees with that. He never said video game are bad or evil, its a billion dollar industry that is quickly outpacing going to the movies as entertainment, anyone who thinks that it will go away anytime soon is retarded. In fact kids probably should play video games and watch TV sometimes (at least those who live in an urban, american setting), because if they don't they will feel sheltered and left out at school, since everyone else is doing these things, and they will be less able to socialize and make friends if they have nothing in common with the other kids.
I don't understand why books are better than games and TV, all are sedentary activities and most games, at least the RPG games that I play require a fair amount of reading and comprehension to get through. Most games require at least minimal reading and comprehension, or a parent is needed to explain the game. Reading seems to be gaining in popularity though, most kids that I know read books, and some who are complete video game addicts actually read a lot of books as well and can blow through huge books in a day.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Well, the thing about books is that when people say stuff like this about them, they generally are referring to either classic literature or nonfiction, not modern entertainment, which really is in a different catagory.
Now don't get me wrong, I read several modern SF or fantasy books a month, and I love it and these books have about the same literary value as most of the games I play and the TV or movies that I watch, which may be higher than they're given credit for, but I wouldn't even put in the same category as things like Atlas Shrugged or the Illiad or 1984.
There's also the fact the video games look much more entertaining than books and with our Puritanical values anything that's hard work and boring is good for you, and anything that's fun is bad for you.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I'll agree on this. The reason kids don't read books is because most of the books people expect them to read are either derivative tripe, childish and stupid, or they've read them a billion times already. Harry Potter became so popular because it was actually half decent and appealed to adults as well as kids.
People need to stop assuming that books are inherently a higher, more intellectual art form than television, movies or games. Like any other form of entertainment, a large percentage of books are crap.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed. Actually, there are more crappy books nowadays simply because of that logic. If you go to the horror section at the library you will find dozens and dozens of crappy novels about the same kind of lame ass "serial killer lurking in a vacation home in the woods" story.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large. For information on games and psychology, look up:
Jonathan Freedman (2002)
Block and Crain (2007)
Grand Theft Childhood, a book by Harvard Medical School researchers Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I take it these people don't realize the amount of hard work and commitment it requires to beat DMC4 on Dante Must Die mode.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large.
BOOKS!!!!
The reason why few kids were reading is because the books they used to have at schools suck donkey balls. You used to have a choice between a book about a window, or a book about a chair, with the occasional Greek Mythology tucked in the library. Nowadays, schools are starting to realize that kids have ...y'know...standards.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large.
Re: BOOKS!!!!
I agree, but the school system seems to be obsessed with the flooding of classical literature or refrence material in the library. Don't get me wrong, I am sure some people like David Copperfield and a Tale of Two Cities, but the bulk of teenagers and below would find them boring as all hell. I know I did. Reading for sheer entertainment is becoming less and less of a past-time with the younger generation because of lack of material that is made readily available to them at a young age. About the only thing I remember reading worth two-damns out of my library in school, personally, was Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. (the artwork for those books is still amazingly creepy to this day.)
Our school got rid of all the copies of To Kill a Mockingbird in my senior year because the book contained racist language. GO ERADICATION OF CLASSIC LITERATURE TO BECOME MORE PC!
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I like how he used SportsCenter, as that's what a certain soon-to-be-disbarred-attorney likes to watch. If the videogame in question is a difficult game however, parent and child can work together as a team. Me and my dad have done this with strategy games like Master of Orion, MoO2: Battle at Antares, and X-Com: UFO Defense (UFO: Enemy Unknown in Europe)
岩「…Ace beats Jack」
岩「…I can see why Hasselbeck's worried about fake guns killing fake people. afterall, she's a fake journalist on a fake news channel」
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
His comments on video games just seem sensible, and yes, it is better to turn off the TV sometimes and have your kids read, even if it is just fiction.. because reading stimulates their imaginations more than consuming whatever is on TV does...
My problem with Obama is the same as an earlier poster mentioned.. he puts college degrees and intelectual persuits up on a pedestal, as if a tradesman, construction worker, farmer, or other such people are not as good an example for their children.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
True on both points. What I imagined Gollem looking like was way cooler than the movies, and the focus on labels is unfair. There are plenty of stupid asses with degrees (Dave Grossam), as well as plenty of smart people without.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I don't have kids, yet, but I'm certainly not going to let them sit around all day playing video games (like I now do, sometimes!) So, I have no problem at all w/ what Obama is saying. And, the fact the isn't trying to legislate anti-video game bills is even more encouraging.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
On the one hand, I understand what Obama is trying to say. Certainly, kids should spend time outdoors and generally engage in as many activities as possible that enrich their lives instead of just entertain them.
At the same time though, I don't see why there's a constant rhetoric among politicians and in the media that books are always better than television and video games. Let's say I'm watching Mythbusters with my son... is it really a better move for me to turn that off and have the kid read Harry Potter? I mean, that's straight-up fiction versus a show that actually has some science content.
The point is, TV isn't necessarily evil and with the right developers, video games could be more enriching too. Unfortunately, they have this stigma to get over first... let's hope the pontification doesn't prevent games from reaching their fuller potential.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Well, some are starting to develope games vith obvious educational value, such as those V-smile games. Unfortunately, those are pretty much useless for anyone above pre-school education. Many games have neat bits of information tucked in nowadays, such as Metal Gear Solid 3. Most of the animals in that game are real, aside from the obvious Liquid, Solid, and Solidus snakes in the final area, so you can learn a little.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Happy father's day everyone! Anywho, I agree with him for the most part, but I think he has one of those "Books are good just because they're books" mentalities. Why is it that reading books all the time is considered good, but playing videogames all the time makes you a deadbeat? Obviously literacy is important, but other than that, what makes a book so much better than a videogame? Or movies for thaat matter.
-If shit and bricks were candy and tits, we'd all be livin' large.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Word. It wasn't but maybe 100 years ago that book readers were thought of as lazy and worthless. "Get your nose out of that book" ring a bell from those history courses anyone?
Obama does makes sense though. It is just a good idea to get out and be active.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I'll say I can enjoy a good RPG as much as any book. And those, at least before the advent of voice acting, required yo uread EVERYTHING.
-kurisu7885
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
set subtitles on and the volume off and you STILL have to read everything
. Works for me anyway.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
I'm going to echo a lot of the others here. He's not demonizing games or pandering to the "kid today are so much worse" crowd, he's offering a sane middle ground: If your kids are doing nothing but playing videogames, they aren't doing other things.
Demonizing video games as a surrogate for everything about the younger generation that seems strange or dangerous, not okay. Encouraging parents not to use the TV, hooked to a console or not, as a babysitter, that doesn't bother me.
--Dave
Re: Obama Hits Video Game Theme Again in Father's Day Speech
Obama has super powers O.O Thoug I do think he might have screwed hsi election chances. Common sense, can't have that i nthe white house.
-kurisu7885