Whose kid is it anyways?

[Beyondo]

Obama said: "You're coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don't always rank that high on the truth meter," he told the students. "And 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. So all of this is not only putting pressure on you; it's putting new pressure on our country and on our democracy."

OK so I ask isn't the parent responsible for what kids play with? And Isn't an iPad a personal computer that can run all sorts of software, such as MatLab, spread sheets, financial software for trading, heck you could even run a business with an iPad! And the XBox360 and PS3 really have nothing to do with what I've seen in the media as far as accurate information is concerned. Now I know there are software products out there that help kids on school subjects, the fact that many of them don't run on the popular game consoles has more to do with what sells on game consoles and what sells on game consoles can be controlled by parents. Do u agree?

But seriously how does a game console put pressure on democracy?

 

[Madhuri]

That depends, he needs to specify where the pressure is concentrated. I agree with the rest of his statement.

 

[Beyondo]

That depends, he needs to specify where the pressure is concentrated. I agree with the rest of his statement.

So why not put the blame on who controls the game console which is obviously the parents?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

But seriously how does a game console put pressure on democracy?

I think he meant that it distracts from self-motivated learning. If someone is hooked on mindless entertainment, why worry about making informed political decisions?

And, there's a lot of military propaganda in video games.

So why not put the blame on who controls the game console which is obviously the parents?

I'm not really seeing this as blaming. Seems more like motivating.

 

[Beyondo]

I think he meant that it distracts from self-motivated learning. If someone is hooked on mindless entertainment, why worry about making informed political decisions?

And, there's a lot of military propaganda in video games.

Again that kind of discipline comes from parents. Military propaganda? What like the army men and jet fighter models I use to play with when I was a kid? I just loved the F4J Phatom fighter, oh my god! My impressions as a child was that America was the greatest country on the planet because of that jet fighter!

I don't see anyone stating that because of those toys I'm not able to make an informed political decision as an adult.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Again that kind of discipline comes from parents. Military propaganda? What like the army men and jet fighter models I use to play with when I was a kid? I just loved the F4J Phatom fighter, oh my god! American was the greatest country on the planet because of that jet fighter!

I don't see anyone stating that because of those toys I'm not able to make an informed political decision as an adult.

I hope I didn't offend, I also played with military toys as a kid. But I see video games as a whole other ballpark, partly since there is a vast amount of subliminal influencing that occurs with video games. The military actually spends some time and money in developing video games for recruitment purposes...

America's Army - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Military Games - Military.com

 

[Beyondo]

I hope I didn't offend, I also played with military toys as a kid. But I see video games as a whole other ballpark, partly since there is a vast amount of subliminal influencing that occurs with video games. The military actually spends some time and money in developing video games for recruitment purposes...

America's Army - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Military Games - Military.com

Its still the parents responsibility as to what toys a child plays with. I still feel that Obama's comments aren't inspiring. I mean why not ask the game developers for more educational games? Why not ask the parents to inspire their kids to read and take on challegenes beyond the governments 3 "Rs" public system?

I found these work books that covered math grades 1 to 6 at a local drug store, the average cost was $3.00 each workbook, a girl friend's kid, five, had been through the Mousorri pre-schools. The kid had some bad habits using the counting the fingers method to add and substract . The process of getting over the bad habits and in the habit of doing the workbook, which required an incentive for him to do, was painful. The kid cried because of the frustration of dealing with new concepts that in his literal opinion had little revalance to his everyday life. But once you get over the obstacles its smooth sailing. The kid by 6 was doing 3rd grade math. It takes dedicated parents, either they do it or find tutors to do it.

So why not have Obama call on the parents?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

So why not have Obama call on the parents?

Were the parents at the quoted speech? I'm sure he will, but I think it's a positive message to address to students. One group at a time.

 

[Beyondo]

I'm sure he will, but I think it's a positive message to address to students. One group at a time.

Yeah right, I believe his last address regarding education was blaming the teachers and trying to figure out which ones are good and which are bad. I like Bill Maher's comment: "I mean there are even bad teachers in Harvard!" LOL.

 

[Azakel]

I hope I didn't offend, I also played with military toys as a kid. But I see video games as a whole other ballpark, partly since there is a vast amount of subliminal influencing that occurs with video games. The military actually spends some time and money in developing video games for recruitment purposes...

America's Army - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Military Games - Military.com

Yes but those games are made for Adults. Hence there M rating.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Yes but those games are made for Adults. Hence there M rating.

Sure, but I'm not sure that makes a difference in who plays them. If they are made for adults, I don't think they are marketing just for adults. We see the same thing in cigarettes.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Yeah right, I believe his last address regarding education was blaming the teachers and trying to figure out which ones are good and which are bad. I like Bill Maher's comment: "I mean there are even bad teachers in Harvard!" LOL.

I hadn't heard that one. Any links?

I still think addressing the students on this is important; especially if the parents and commercial culture is supporting the bad habits.

 

[Azakel]

Sure, but I'm not sure that makes a difference in who plays them. If they are made for adults, I don't think they are marketing just for adults. We see the same thing in cigarettes.

True but then it is up to the parents. Because it is aginest the law to sell M rated games to minors. Some pleaces fail in this but they do get in trouble for this.