Obama: iPods, iPads,Xboxes and PlayStations don't empower

Revolutions are difficult things. One person's change is another person's threat. One person's magic is another person's incarcerating sorcery.

Please forgive me for sounding deeply philosophical, as opposed to the usual shallow caliber. But I have been moved to more profound thought by the words of President Obama to the students of Hampton University.

[Echo Evolved]

Nice article.

[LordMarius]

@ Obama: Out of touch much?
Lets have a poll, Agree if you think he is out of touch or disagree.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Get a life, this is abotu gaming no Obama. If you want to talk politics go else where.

People with an axe to grind amaze me how they will go out of their way to do it.

[LordMarius]

???
my poll is about the statement he said not about his other agenda
I'm a democrat btw.....

[PS360_37]

@Strokey

Its about Obama because he made the comment.

Of course you give Obama the defense, but if Bush said the same thing would you be doing the same thing... Somehow I doubt that.

I'm not defending Bush at all, he was an idiot, but now that Obama is president...he can do no wrong, right?

[Pennywise]

SuperStrokey1123, OBAMA made this STUPID comment. You want to have articles that are about Obama without political comments? Seriously? We at this point can say whatever we want about him. I will go now:

Obama has 1000 other things he needs to worry about. How about getting some jobs flowing like you PROMISED. How about getting forceful with BP to clog this mess in the gulf. How about Obama worries about AMERICA's economy and quits messing around with us giving the lazy sacks in this country a free damn ride.

In short: Obama sucks and you will get the same reaction from me every time I see this guys name on my gaming news website.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Im no obama lover lol, not at all. Im saying that if you want to talk politics you should do it else where. talkn about the statement he made, not the ones you think he made, not him nor his politics. Keep it stuck on gaming. Dont like him? Fine, no biggie, no skin off my back, but for god sake dont bring politics in to a dicussion about gaiming is all i said, I likely took mariuselijah's comment out of context and thought it was political in nature which is why it shouldnt be here.

I still stand by the fact that politics of any kinda should be else where. To each their own

[Darkstorn]

@Pennywise-
Haven't you heard? 300,000 jobs were created last month alone:
http://abcnews.go.com/Polit...

And don't tell me that ABC is part of the 'Obama propaganda machine'...

[Christopher]

The problem isn't how the data is being disseminated, the problem is how much is truth. I agree with his concept that we live in an age where people don't seem to question what's being said by the news enough, but don't think his comments on the focus on use of technology for information gathering is really key here.

You can have A (question validity of news) and B (obtain news at any time using technology), it is not one or the other.

[marinelife9]

I find it hilarious that a politician is trying to give me advice on where to get my information from. All politicians lie like a rug and Obama is no exception.

He even lied during his speech when he said he doesn't know how to operate an ipod. He bragged last year about having Ludacris, Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, and Bob Dylan on his own ipod then turned around and gave an ipod to the queen of England.

[BannedForNineYears]

Amen......

I say presidents should focus on the economy rather than what kids do in their spare time. -_-

[Dacapn]

LOL u said free ride and BP in the same post. Listen to this guy. Bail out the oil companies!!!

Fox News is da truth!!!!

[Pennywise]

Welfare for all! lol

[Raz]

"I don't actually believe that people only use their gadgets for mere entertainment. But if they do, do they turn to them for entertainment because they are innately shallow animals, seeking only to be shallower each day? Or do they turn to them because so much of the rest of their world doesn't offer the sorts of participation in which they feel welcome, the sorts of participation in which they feel they can make any difference whatsoever?"

This part of the article really stuck with me. If virtual reality is the only one we feel we have any significant influence on; maybe the problem isn't video games...

[N4g_null]

@MariusElijah

Wikipedia, N4g, blogs, news, are all mostly about distrating news and rumors and flash bang excittment.

I remember when Game journalist knew the difference between hype and fact. I remember when the internet was a torrent of data and not a waste land of PR, and spam hype vichecles.

No one is held aaccountable for the information on the web, true or not. I actualy heard people at the studio joking about the space walk, what is next the holocaus did not happen? I mean did the Gov't have CGI that powerful back then!?

What is even worst is all this disinformation is ok with many of you to the point you will join a banwagon just because of hate or hurt feelings.

The internet has turned into the mob of the mad for most young people. true there is still some good info out there but Obama see what you guys don't all of those devices are for entertainment and most promote lude entertainment at that not even uplifing most of the time.

[Pennywise]

Darkstorn didnt you hear that unemployment is still at 9.5%?

Amazing how you tout 300k jobs created and more people are unemployed. I think you libs need to wake up.

[N4g_null]

Pennywise seriously when does the gov creat jobs? Does the gov lend money?
The government can not fix what is powered by private interest. So I don't see what the conservative would do different. Bush did bail outs and so did Obama.

The problem isn't gov it's the guys that force the gov to do things by way of not co operating. You can change the figure heads all you want the same things would have happened.

[FordGTGuy]

He says that he doesn't even know how to use them but turns are and criticizes them. No wonder his children are so bored this guy probably wouldn't even let them own a ipod, xbox or Ps3. Yet he turns around having a hard on for his blackberry that he never seems to put down.

Xbox Live and PSN personally empowered me to meet new people from around the world that I would have never met any other way.

[The Wood]

empowered me to get a bloody job so i could pay for them all.

Demos dont empower Games do;)

[erathaol]

All work and no play, makes for dull boy.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

"Do not play video games! They are bad for you and give you bad information about me! Only believe what I tell you! Oh wait brb lemme get mai blackberry lololol" -Obama

[Nicholas Cage]

when i get home from a stressful day i dont know what i would do without my cigaretts and games lol.

[mittwaffen]

But Wall ST sure as hell empowers you Obama.

Puppet Obama.

[rogimusprime]

if he's a puppet, what does that make you? we all have our strings pulled at some point. Deny it you want to. I think a political debate has no place in this forum.

Try not to take comments out of CONTEXT, he is speaking to a group of college grads at a prestigious university. I think they already understand the pros and cons of today's digital barrage.

People take things way too personally, I have easily spent over 8K on video games in my life, I went to college and am employed full time. I couldn't care less what he thinks of me spending all weekend on PSN ( i just did) If you are sitting on your duff all day playing xbox, texting, and facebooking then you might want to examine your life.
@ Pennywise, I understand your feelings. But Obama isn't a superhero, your expectations seem to be quite high given who our last president was. (you DID see the latest jobs report, right?) Tell me your favorite president, and I'll tell you why he sucks. It's a tough job, and you can't do everything or please everyone.

[mittwaffen]

Watch this - http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Then research the 'facts' in the movie; you'll find them all to be true. Theres no 'out of context' when the bastard lies he lies.

All you need too use if your brain to figure that one one.

[Darkstorn]

Unfortunately Obama is a sellout to us progressives. He watered down healthcare and will do the same for immigration and the war. He's basically a center-right President.

[mortalrage]

"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,"

Don't forget the Ipod gifts he gave other leaders around the world.....

[N4g_null]

SHHHHHH thats a secret he is trying to kill there brain, I'm sure he going to give out xboxes next so he can tax them all with live. Yet he would give them PS3 yet they could run their whole army off that thing at least until they up date then they would be sitting ducks! Genuis!

Well this was to college grads, going into the worst job market every. I think he is trying to say don't drown your sorrows in digital entertainment or maybe he is trying to tell them hey look make video games and make mindless money and then do some thing with that revenue like make that time machince hawkings is talking about....

Basicly he is saying caouch potatoe syndrom just went digital! RUN for the hills! Mind melting on the go!

[Umbrella Corp]

Hey Im an American.That being said F!CK America.The right to smoke ganja isnt there and Obama doesnt know Sh!t about the industry.Hey Obama why dont you tell the Americans that the U.S. allows Newport,Malboro and other tobacco companies advertise to the children?

[dizzleK]

how *blanking* sad is your life that all you care about is legal weed? pay no attention to the fact that he wants to do away with miranda rights for american citizens "suspected" to be terrorists, weed is much more important. /s

[Umbrella Corp]

I talked about the big tobacco companies in there,legalizing my hemp is an example of how F!cked up America is.How about you go have a beer and beat your wife mmkay?

[Biggest]

dizzleK, go back and do some fact checking. You are a part of what the president thinks is a problem. You said "he wants to do away with miranda rights for american citizens suspected to be terrorists". I am not sure if you know who said that and who is trying to make that into law. But please check. It's too easy for random people to say random things and have other random people take it as truth.

[radphil]

is that 7 people even agreed with what you typed...whatever it was.

[Obama]

Lies by the media. I know how to turn on a ps3!

[Jerk120]

Turn on a Ps3? Or get turned on by a Ps3?

[Obama]

Both!

[Neurotoxin]

....... Then checks his Blackberry for his next appointment.

[wollie]

He is just trying to appeal to the soccer moms who think there losing there kids to technology. Obama, just like all politicians, is just trying to get votes. Gamers don't vote soccer moms do, therefor: appeal to the soccer moms.

just a generalization I know some gamers vote (me included), but many are just too busy playing awesome games.

Stop trying to hold these politicians up like they are saints! they will always let you down. everyones a hypocrite.

[dizzleK]

being taken care of by the government from cradle to grave doesn't empower anyone either...

[rogimusprime]

with the taxes i pay, I better be taken care of dammit.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

I'm really happy I'm able to vote now.

[Bluemaster77]

Whats really killing me is some of you arrogant gamers actually fell it within your parameters to criticize the president of the united states for wanting the best not only for his children but the nation as a whole . i dont understand why 90% of the comments even after the reform have to be some form of criticism its utterly disgraceful some of you gues really need to take a lesson in being humble

[dizzleK]

there are no jobs, the economy is in shambles, theres an ecological catastrophe in the gulf of mexico, iran is building nuclear weapons, the world is going bankrupt, the attorney general wants to strip miranda rights from american citizens, the healthcare bill is a disaster and the country is one incident away from a civil war/revolution.

this bs should be the absolute LAST thing on his mind. he's fiddling while rome burns.

[tiltpimp]

Amen brother.

Obama says, Let them eat cake. Then he turns to his black berry for a game of tetris.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009...

I really don't like Obummer.

[radphil]

So how the hell is a simple statement fiddling?

I could say the climate of the world is changing, and yet by what you said that means I'm slacking on my job.

[Biggest]

The jobless rate is dropping. The American economy is slowly, but steadily recovering, Iran is on the other side of the world AND we are currently leaving one war while waging another. . . I can't even continue. Why did you even make a N4G account, Glen? Don't you have a "Obama is doing to the banks what Hitler did to the Jews" show to get ready for?

[acere]

fuka a political talk i go to yahoo for that

[Enterprise-E]

You guys reaction to one statement is just as predictable as the Democrats and Republicans. Every time any political figure mentions one word about games you guys go out of control. I mean never mind what the hell he was saying just focus on that one line. Gaming journalist are just as bad as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News with sensational headlines.

How about yall read what he said first before you decide to declare WW3.

[radphil]

Honestly it's getting bad now. The reputation of what gamers are to the rest of the outside world is what the comments around here are falling straight into the hands of.

[olegb139]

and leave us alone.

[SnakePlissken]

Geez, seriously STOP posting articles of Obama! This is a game site. I come here to escape this guy and the f@cked up crooked politics of today! This is an absolute joke and im starting to think that whoever keeps posting this idiot all the time is doing it to p@ss everyone off. My advice to the annointed one Obama, stop telling us people how to live and what to do all the time you f@ckin hipocrite! I swear man, the god damn nerve of that guy! To the poster, F@CK OFF!!!

[spectyre]

I heard you was dead.

[mittwaffen]

The names

Snake Plissken, Iroquois Plissken, Lt Junior Grey.

[tiltpimp]

somebody check that guys papers...he looks mexican. Obama, more like Obummer. Fix the economy jack-ass.

[Jihaad_cpt]

Who is this Obama? Is he the guy that went to that world forum on global warning and climate change and proceeded to take a million secret service people with and pollute the world getting them there for nothing?

[Darkstorn]

Yep. Obama's turning into a Republican.

[AngryTypingGuy]

Obama a Republican? That's a laugh. Look at how much he's expanding government. Not to mention he wants socialized medicine. Make no mistake, Barack governs further to the right than he wants to. Some of the decisions a president makes are in the interest of keeping members of his party in office when the election comes, and not by choice.

[SnakePlissken]

Im afraid you are WAY off there. Not to say republicans are much better. At least they arent libs. Obama is a lib ALL THE WAY!!!!

[AngryTypingGuy]

I'm starting to think it's time we elect some good, moderate Republicans into office. I think they'll be best for job creation and security.

[Tex117]

Just say socialist. Please.

This is a game website, true. But when a President makes such a claim against technology, then it opens the door for this type of debate. Even on a game website.

Now can we go back to playing games?

[SnakePlissken]

Well, Obama is a BIG hipocrite. This is coming from a guy that is always on his blackberry and on the internet all the time! Not to mention, tells people they should make better choices as he eats a cheeseburger then goes and smokes a cig!!! Are you kidding me? He must really think us Americans are pretty stupid. Stop telling people what to do and how to live. You know what Obama, after saying what you said i am gonna play my PS3 for 12 hrs straight!!! F@ck you and the devils shoulder you rode in on! HIPOCRITE!!!