Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

October 10, 2008 -

Okay, so that's two words. But still...

Day of the Dreamweavers yesterday mentioned the term "Atari Democrat" and it is one that I'll confess to not having heard before. According to DotD, here's the definition:

...a phrase first popularized during the early 1980s, references both the video game company Atari and Democratic legislators who suggested that the support and development of high tech and related businesses would stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Wikipedia has more, including this definition from the Philadelphia Inquirer, circa 1984:

...a young liberal trying to push the party toward more involvement with high-tech solutions.

It seems to be primarily a 1980's term. Major examples include Al Gore (after all, he did invent the Internet).

GP: Under either definition, would Barack Obama qualify as an Atari Democrat? Of course, Atari is far from the powerhouse that it was in the eighties. Apple Democrat, perhaps?

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Comments

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by SeanB on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 19:08.

Al Gore never claimed to have invented the internet. Get past it already.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by C. Aaron Browbo... on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:29.

just remember who al gore's married to... tipper gore, true evil

Jesus Jack Jones Thompson.... is dead... (funeral udruge, followed by Celebrate :D )

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Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by PHOENIXZERO on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 14:12.

Obama is barely even an "Atari Democrat" since the last game he played was apparently Pong. Not to mention it seems like he looks down upon those who play videogames since they're "time wasters". >_>

Let's not even get started on Al Gore...

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Kataclysmic_Kat on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 02:17.

Absolutely; they don't give two shits. They'd probably even love to see violent videogames get banned, like Clinton ...

"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: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Paulrus on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 11:43.

I third "Nintendocrat."

I'm an attention whore. So visit my DevaintArt and feed my ego. Feed the whore. http://keaton2008.deviantart.com/

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Dark Sovereign on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 11:26.

Nintendocrat sounds better.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by SimonBob on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:40.

Just as long as he's not a Tengen Democrat. (Still haven't forgiven them for the unlicenced NES port of Shinobi.)

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The Mammon Industry

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Fangamer

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by olstar18 on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:19.

I can't figure out why that urban legend gets spread around so much even when he isn't running for office. He did not claim to create the internet. He exact words were "I took the initiative in creating the internet." He was not claiming to invent it he was claiming to be a driving force behind the legislation that made it possible for the internet to become what it is today.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Bennett Beeny on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 20:33.

Yeah, I don't know why this even circulates anymore, as it's been so totally discredited. I guess it shows that even GP is willing to post discredited disinformation when it suits his political viewpoint. Although it's disappointing, I guess it's nice to know GP's political bias - always good to know the politics of the news services one subscribes to.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Quarantine on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 20:13.

I think the media had something to do with this urban legend because back then, all campaign funding was going towards the republican party. And it just stuck afterwards.

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"Because this town is under the stranglehold of a few tight eyed Tree Huggers who would rather play Hacky Sack than lock up the homeless" -- Birch Barlow

---------------------------------------- "Because this town is under the stranglehold of a few tight eyed Tree Huggers who would rather play Hacky Sack than lock up the homeless" -- Birch Barlow

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by DeepThorn on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:06.

You are posting stories too fast, I cant keep up, haha j/k. I love it.

Atari isnt even the real Atari... It is some Finland company or something. Nolan Bushnell just sold the branding name to them for a pretty sum...

Apple might sue if you say Apple Democrats too, you might have to say Pair Democrats as a knock off, haha. I don't think we can keep it on the same level though, we have to keep it on the same level in relation to the times. So I would vote for the Tweeter Democrats maybe... Or maybe the Second Life Democrats...

Yeah... That is the only ideas I can come up with that would work...

I might have to second Nintendemocrats.

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Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by beemoh on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:01.

Nintendemocrat, obvs.

/b

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Keith K on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:47.

I think simply 'Nintendocrat' is better.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Nocturne on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:01.

would Barack Obama qualify as an Atari Democrat?

If he mentions ET it may be time to vote Republican

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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