Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political Process

October 10, 2008 -

Rapper T.I. (real name: Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr.) urges the younger generation to pay attention to the presidential race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain - even if it means putting video games aside for a while.

As reported by People, T.I. commented on the upcoming election:

When I'm speaking to young people and they say, 'Who you voting for?' I say, 'Well, what you think's wrong with the country? What problems do you need to be fixed? OK, then cut your PlayStation off and turn to CNN and listen to these people.

Listen to each of the candidates' platforms, and whoever you think is speaking passionately and intelligently and will do the things you think need changed, that's who you vote for.

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Comments

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Sigma 7 on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:58.

I'm just adding to the choir here, but stopping video games won't help me place more focus on politics. I already visit a few news sites daily, including ones that identify stupidity and asanine behaviour within politicians, and already pick up enough signals from the various political ads. (In particluar, one set of ads say one person is not a leader and not worth the risk... but that same party was being blasted for not having a plan.)

When making a decision to vote, you don't have to scour every candidate - you only need to check the summaries and and important news events. Anything more isn't going to change your decision.

Also, as I was typing this message, I was informed by family members that a new political pamphlet was distributed to my house. This was done directly by the candidate of a major political party rather than a subordinate - which is rather unusual.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Tubatic on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 06:38.

The negative response herein comments to what TI said is surprising.

I don't think he's saying the Playstation (read whatever game system your have) is a problem.

What I'm geting from this is that he's encouragin young people (many of which are big fas of video games) to take their focus off the entertainment that appears to consume them and get a feel for what the political landscape is about.

It speaks, In part I think, to the fact that this recent generation of youth is so technologically absored that they're nto necessarily connecting with this real world of ours.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Kataclysmic_Kat on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 01:40.

I would, but it seems as if there are no candidates worth my time ...

"That which does not kill me strengthens me." -Friedrich Nietzsche

"Poor fool, he makes me laugh ..." Il Muto, Phantom of the Opera

"That which does not kill me strengthens me." -Friedrich Nietzsche "Poor fool, he makes me laugh ..." Il Muto, Phantom of the Opera

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Anthrax on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 13:53.

No politician speaks passionately or intelligently, they speak lies and nothing but.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by HalfShadow on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 12:08.

...says the ex-convict who can't even vote.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Freyar on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:19.

Don't ever say "cut your playstation off" again. You don't cut things off. You can't turn them back on later. You turn the damn things off.

I have been watching the debates on youtube when I'm ready for them, and it hasn't impacted my game-time at all. Sheesh. Maybe consider the fact that it is a morale issue when it comes to younger people voting.

---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Sigma 7 on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 19:40.

You probably should speak with some call center agents for cable companies. They receive a lot of callers asking to cut the service back on.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Demontestament on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 09:50.

I find it funny he is making it sound like he is going to vote. He is an ex-convict, the day he was found guilty for the purchasing of sub machine guns and silencers was the day he lost his right to vote. Talking to the young people is probably a part of his community service....yeah he got off with that and a fine for buying machine guns and silencers. If anyone has watched this guys youtube videos you will know he doesn't give a damn about the election and is only doing this to get his name out of the gutter.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by ravenz on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:55.

For your information, convicted felons can still vote in most states and in some cases can own a firearm, all you have to do is get your rights restored, most states make you wait for so long after the conviction but it can be done. Also, just because he is an ex-con doesn't make him a bad person, he just made some bad decisions (happens to alot of people) .

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Brokenscope on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:27.

You know, the guy could have just found some bodyguards with clean records, and had them go through the legal process to get silencers.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Demontestament on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 14:24.

Or hire one who won't turn you in to the cops :D

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Benjamin_Snow on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 09:01.

I don't see a problem with this.

Now, if these (c)rappers stop making the rap scene a cash cow . . .

"We may be human, but we're still animals" -Steve Vai (World's greatest guitarist!)

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by lumi on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:55.

Jeebus...WHY was the backhanded gaming reference necessary? Why not "take off the headphones and listen to the candidates"?

Telling kids to pay attention and form their own opinions is good advice, certainly. So why was the dig necessary?

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Austin_Lewis on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 16:18.

Because he writes music. He won't insult his own industry, or suggest its responsible for the sloth in teenagers.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by GoodRobotUs on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:37.

Can't really argue with the point.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Soldat_Louis on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 07:53.

Well, the "turn off the playstation" cliché was useless, but on the principle, I agree : get to know the candidates, listen to them, and then decide who you'll vote for.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Shadow Darkman ... on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 07:00.

The PlayStation thing was uncalled for, but otherwise he has a good point.

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I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.

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I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by the1jeffy on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 06:54.

Wow, that's actually very good advice coming from a rapper.

No hos or busting caps or whatever the kids are listening to these days.

~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Andrew Eisen on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 06:49.

"When I'm speaking to young people and they say, 'Who you voting for?' I say, 'Well, what you think's wrong with the country?"

Well, education is one thing.

Okay, I admit that's a bit of a low blow. I don't speak or write with perfect grammar either. Still, it caught my eye and I thought it was funny.

Andrew Eisen

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by Eville1 on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:52.

Funny, I came in to say the same thing. I blame rap for the decline in proper english. There's a difference between slang and being lazy.

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by JustChris on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 16:41.

I think it's a combination of rap and cell phone technology. Kids like cellphones for the "bling", but cellphones encourage lazy typing.

GameSnooper

Re: Rapper: Turn Off PlayStation, Get Involved in Political

Submitted by King of Fiji on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 06:37.

Yeah I did that and now I'm more jaded to politics more than ever.

Thanks Rapper T.I.

Shout box

Technogeek: If the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am

Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm

Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm

Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm

Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm

Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm

ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm

MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm

Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm

MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am

Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm

Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm

Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm

Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm

All shouts

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