"Put the XBox away" by Obama

• maximumrisk
  
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  Jul 21, 2009 3:14 PM GMT

  I dont know what I am supposed to think of this. I kind of guessed that he new Pope is not a Computerperson, but I hoped that obama would see the whole videogaming thing a bit different.
  
  Edit:
  
  
  I havent seen the interview perse myself till i searched it in Youtube, He tries to make a point that Kids schouldnt be in front of the TV all day and he is right with that. Just the sentence "Put the Xbox away" might cost him some points. He wrote that speech before the conference so I am pretty certain that when he says it this way, he means it and that is kind of the wrong atitude on that topic. Videogames wont go anywhere, and neither will Internetpiracy. Whats needed is a new aproach on how to handle especially this topics.
  
  

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  Jul 21, 2009 3:24 PM GMT

  Do you have a link to this story? I'm not aware of it.
  
  I certainly think video games should not become an indoor obsession with kids, though I always bought my own sons the newest, including GameBoys for the car, and the best computers & learning software, too. At the same time, I took them camping, hiking, canoeing, swimming and so forth, and parents still bear some responsibility for giving their kids a balanced childhood.
  
  So what exactly has Obama said on this? I thought the jokes about his ever-present Blackberry suggested Obama was technology-savvy and friendly. Please give us the quotes.

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  Jul 21, 2009 3:52 PM GMT

  I found this link after doing a search:
  
  http://kotaku.com/tag/barack-obama/
  
  I didn't see any link to see the actual press conference, but I think essentially he was saying that video gaming for kids is dangerous in that it contributes to the downgraded health of kids. I agree with that in that kids today don't get active exercise as my generation did and that it is one of the top factors that contributes to childhood obesity. And I know a couple of sets of parents who diligently get their kids the "latest toys" to keep up with the Jones' (people still do that-:roll. Obama himself is a gamer per se and he does play with his girls, but I think his point is that games, as are other things, are not parenting substitutes. It is about balance.

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  Jul 21, 2009 9:45 PM GMT

  I think theres this whole concept of the world is so evil now and our elders had it so right. If people would just take the time to talk to their great grandmother, she'd tell you about how your grandfather cheated on her and why she told no one because you just weren't open about that sort of thing. Or how she hid his second family to save face in front of everyone.
  
  Or how she knew gay people existed, but you just didn't speak about such things. Much better to keep unpleasant things a secret back in those days.
  
  What I'm saying is the same things happened back then, only people lied about it. I appreciate the blunt honesty that so many people have today.
  
  I agree games should not be a childs number one priority. I agree that communities need to come back together. I mean hell I don't even know my next door neighbor's name,
  
  but I just think its so easy to assume that things were done better yesterday. No, yesterday they complained about too much tvs, before that too many movies, before that too much radio and before that too many plays.
  
  Its all the same.
  
  Lets blame hip hop next, and murder on tv and everything else. Maybe kids fail because they are simply stupid, or not only are they stupid, but their parents are stupid too and can't help them.

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  Jul 21, 2009 10:04 PM GMT

  ErikTaurean saidI found this link after doing a search:
  
  http://kotaku.com/tag/barack-obama/

  
  Thanks! Well, I don't see anything quite as alarmist in that as the OP suggests.
  
  When I was a kid in the 1950s the big evil was TV, though even in the NYC area we only had 7 broadcast channels. Parents were urged to chase us kids outside to play, rather than sit in front of the TV (my family's first one arriving in 1949).
  
  And the same arguments apply as for video games, plus the issue of violence, which by the old TV standards when I was a kid were fairly mild compared to today. The main objection was that we were just sitting there like lumps, and not getting outdoors.
  
  It was a good point, and given that kids have to grow their bodies as well as their minds, one that still applies today. As I said earlier, parents have the responsibility for guiding their kids' development, and making sure it is balanced & healthy.
  
  Kids will be kids; adults have to exert some grown-up judgment and make decisions that kids may not like. Such has it always been.

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  Jul 21, 2009 10:55 PM GMT

  Halfstep said
  Lets blame hip hop next, and murder on tv and everything else. Maybe kids fail because they are simply stupid, or not only are they stupid, but their parents are stupid too and can't help them.

  
  
  Some old fart is already doing that:
  
  
  
  But yeah, adults are always looking for excuses to bad parenting. If kids make video games their number 1 priority, it's because their parents suck. It's escapism. Moderation is learned. And the teaching begins with the parents.
  
  We had a lot of gaming consoles, movies, and the TV when I was a kid, but my mom also read to us. My dad took us out to the farm. We fished, hiked, rode our bikes. etc. What kids need is parents, not deprivation.
  
  Depriving them of it is simply the opposite polar end, basically yanking them around like yo-yos. You'll end up with a technologically inept child who might rediscover it and turn it into an adult obsession later.

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  Jul 21, 2009 11:21 PM GMT

  In a nutshell he was telling parents to PARENT and not let the xbox and the idiotbox raise our children..He's also calling on parents to inspire and incourage our children to become Doctors and scientist,,,'QUOTE'' ''We all cant be ballers.........
  I understood the msg and hope parents do their part... For those who'm he'd lose points 2 for mentioning the importence of getting your head out of the idiotbox i say,,GROW UP.........
  
  

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• maximumrisk
  
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  Jul 22, 2009 3:32 PM GMT

  jgymnast733 saidIn a nutshell he was telling parents to PARENT and not let the xbox and the idiotbox raise our children..He's also calling on parents to inspire and incourage our children to become Doctors and scientist,,,'QUOTE'' ''We all cant be ballers.........
  I understood the msg and hope parents do their part... For those who'm he'd lose points 2 for mentioning the importence of getting your head out of the idiotbox i say,,GROW UP.........
  
  

  
  
  I got to apologize. I read that in a Austrian Onlinemagazine and they took it complete out of proportions, but till I watched the actual Conference it was to late and had made the post.
  
  I agree with Halfstep, People will always search the reason for their faults somewhere else.
  
  The Irony here is that the 360 is the only System that actually has a wokring parental control with what you can limit your kids playing.

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  Jul 22, 2009 3:36 PM GMT

  My parents, due to the busy nature of both of their careers, let video games and various maids raise the five of us, for the most part anyway.
  
  Oh well...

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  Jul 22, 2009 10:41 PM GMT

  it was a speech that he gave to the naacp telling black parents that a new paradigm has to be developed

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  Jul 22, 2009 10:52 PM GMT

  I think video games should be a treat, not a default activity. I don't think that's the way most parents are looking at it though.
  
  SIDE: Anyone ever see a family at a restaurant and the kid sits there hypnotized by a portable DVD player instead of socially interacting?
  
  I hate when parents Shrek their kids like that. Lazy.

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• dannyboy1101
  
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  Jul 22, 2009 11:01 PM GMT

  As a teacher, I can't tell you how many 12 yr. olds will fail classes or do half-assed work because they're up til midnight on the internet or playing video games. Parents do need to step it up or else sit and accept the consequences when grades come out.
  
  Kids who don't prioritize and manage their time properly will become total deadbeats when you add the car and the alcohol to the equation. The good thing is that at that point, there are no more fall-guys. Like many other things, you get what you pay for (parents get what they put into their kids).

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  Jul 23, 2009 6:07 AM GMT

  Halfstep saidI think theres this whole concept of the world is so evil now and our elders had it so right. If people would just take the time to talk to their great grandmother, she'd tell you about how your grandfather cheated on her and why she told no one because you just weren't open about that sort of thing. Or how she hid his second family to save face in front of everyone.
  
  Or how she knew gay people existed, but you just didn't speak about such things. Much better to keep unpleasant things a secret back in those days.
  
  What I'm saying is the same things happened back then, only people lied about it. I appreciate the blunt honesty that so many people have today.
  
  I agree games should not be a childs number one priority. I agree that communities need to come back together. I mean hell I don't even know my next door neighbor's name,
  
  but I just think its so easy to assume that things were done better yesterday. No, yesterday they complained about too much tvs, before that too many movies, before that too much radio and before that too many plays.
  
  Its all the same.
  
  Lets blame hip hop next, and murder on tv and everything else. Maybe kids fail because they are simply stupid, or not only are they stupid, but their parents are stupid too and can't help them.

  
  
  Yes, people need to stop idealizing the past.
  Would-be parents should also be screened to ensure they have the resources and brain matter needed to raise children, but that's a whole other thread...
  

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  Jul 23, 2009 6:11 AM GMT

  Sedative said

  Halfstep said
  Lets blame hip hop next, and murder on tv and everything else. Maybe kids fail because they are simply stupid, or not only are they stupid, but their parents are stupid too and can't help them.

  
  
  Some old fart is already doing that:
  
  
  
  But yeah, adults are always looking for excuses to bad parenting. If kids make video games their number 1 priority, it's because their parents suck. It's escapism. Moderation is learned. And the teaching begins with the parents.
  
  We had a lot of gaming consoles, movies, and the TV when I was a kid, but my mom also read to us. My dad took us out to the farm. We fished, hiked, rode our bikes. etc. What kids need is parents, not deprivation.
  
  Depriving them of it is simply the opposite polar end, basically yanking them around like yo-yos. You'll end up with a technologically inept child who might rediscover it and turn it into an adult obsession later.

  
  
  That's a rough COP ability!
  This guy also has "Persist", so watch out!

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• maximumrisk
  
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  Jul 23, 2009 4:35 PM GMT

  dannyboy1101 saidAs a teacher, I can't tell you how many 12 yr. olds will fail classes or do half-assed work because they're up til midnight on the internet or playing video games. Parents do need to step it up or else sit and accept the consequences when grades come out.
  
  Kids who don't prioritize and manage their time properly will become total deadbeats when you add the car and the alcohol to the equation. The good thing is that at that point, there are no more fall-guys. Like many other things, you get what you pay for (parents get what they put into their kids).

  
  
  I got a 10 Year old who goes to bed at 7 and can only watch tv on weekends or play videogames when we play. Sadly it doesnt help his grades.
  
  That was the situation before as it is now. Kids will be kids and playing is more fun then learning. Doesnt matter if they Quest through a already thought through world or make their own little adventures in ther minds. Of course thats more creative, but who says that everyone is capable of doing so?

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  Jul 23, 2009 4:54 PM GMT

  I heard about this idiotic statement last week. He just keeps opening his mouth without thinking. Or maybe he knows exactly what he's doing? If so, ugh.
  
  It's amazing how much a seemingly-benign statement like this can tell you about this guy and his interests (dare I say, special interests). Obama was touting the fact that he has a Wii in the White House and that his family plays it regularly, yet he doesn't say "Put the Wii away" now, does he?
  
  And since when does the President of the U.S. put down brands, or play them up for that matter? So far, we've heard how much he loves his BlackBerry, iPod and Wii, when in reality, the moron should not mention any brand, especially a major US corp. like MSFT, in such a negative light. It's shameful and embarrassing.
  
  a simple, "Put away your video game controller" would have been far more effective and less divisive.
  
  And, WildPrince, Jack Thompson was disbarred last year.

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