Obama disses iPad, Xbox

[Kthulhut Fhtagn]

Source

President Obama's commencement speech Sunday at Hampton University caused a little stir in tech circles after he took a swipe at some of our favorite toys — "iPods and iPads and PlayStations and Xboxes" — for turning "information" into a "distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment." Oh, and he admitted that he doesn't know how to make any of them "work," either. Shocking!

Here's the passage of Obama's 2,000-word speech, delivered at the historically black college in Hampton, Va., that got the blogosphere all a-twitter (sorry, couldn't resist):

"And meanwhile, 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. 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."

If the lobbies while waiting to get into a game on MW2 over Xbox Live is any indication (massive racism, sexism, general stupidity and perversion) he may just be on to something here. Or he could have set a new record for moving from the cool, hip president to the crotchety old man who yells at kids for being in his lawn. Discuss.

 

[Chris L]

It's not an either or situation. There is certain level of crassness and misinformation available in our very connected electronic world. On the other hand, the president has not exactly been bashful at embracing that world when it fit his agenda.

 

[Puppycow]

Crankyoldmanism. Feh.

 

[JoeyDonuts]

Agreed.

Information both informs and entertains. Sometimes it does both.

This smacks of the geezer railing against those damned kids blasting their J. Geils Band at three-quarter volume at six in the evening.

It also smacks of Professor Harold Hill warning the good folk of River City about Junior suddenly ripping off jokes from Captain Billy's Whizbang.

Every form of media and media technology has been used for every conceivable use from informing to titallating to entertaining, all three, and back again. Interactive media is no different.

 

[DarthFishy]

And meanwhile, 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.

A+, cf. infowars.com, abovetopsecret etc.

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.

F.

(1) Firstly, all of these mentioned tools are designed primarily as entertainment. It's kind of like complaining that Mills & Boon books are not informative. It's a big, well duh!

(2) These technologies can be used for empowerment and emancipation. Educational gaming technologies, access to news and media that is not necessarily controlled by the government (e.g. twitter in Iran), etc.

All in all I would say interesting premise but [citation needed]



(Can anyone tell that it's the end of the semester here and I'm getting into marking mode?)

 

[StrangeLoop]

We live in the age of infotainment. Dead pop stars get hours and hours of news time with important issues on the back burner--often completely unreported. The emerging generation is utterly mindless. Consumer electronics just add momentum. I would hardly pass off Obama's speech, while his verdict is still pending, the fact that this sort of emergence into idiocracy has the commentary of the President is telling at some level.

 

[tyr_13]

Meh, it seems to me he is saying that we aren't using these tools the way they could be used, but is missing the fact that the things he named (arguably besides the iPad) are supposed to be entertainment devices. It's an argument from ignorance because it's entirely likely that what he knows of these tools is how he would primarily use such things.

 

[coalesce]

Agreed.

Information both informs and entertains. Sometimes it does both.

This smacks of the geezer railing against those damned kids blasting their J. Geils Band at three-quarter volume at six in the evening.

It also smacks of Professor Harold Hill warning the good folk of River City about Junior suddenly ripping off jokes from Captain Billy's Whizbang.

Every form of media and media technology has been used for every conceivable use from informing to titallating to entertaining, all three, and back again. Interactive media is no different.

Put that all together and that spells "Trouble" with begins with "T," which rhymes with "P" and that stands for "POOOOOOOLLLLL!!!!"

Michael

 

[drkitten]

Meh, it seems to me he is saying that we aren't using these tools the way they could be used, but is missing the fact that the things he named (arguably besides the iPad) are supposed to be entertainment devices. It's an argument from ignorance because it's entirely likely that what he knows of these tools is how he would primarily use such things.

I disagree.

This was a commencement speech, for Pete's sake. This is supposed to be an exhortation to go out there and do good works for the benefit of all mankind or something equally cliched. One of the things that keeps people from going out there and doing good works is if their arse is planted too firmly in front of the Xbox for too long.

The idea that people have access to a lot of information that they don't use to empower, just to entertain, should hardly be controversial. That's exactly the sort of bromide that graduates have been told for centuries, except that a hundred years ago the colleges were saying that about money -- use your money productively instead of frittering it on useless frivolities.

 

[r0ast_p0tat0es]

One of the things that keeps people from going out there and doing good works is if their arse is planted too firmly in front of the Xbox for too long.

I hate to be a cynic, but it's also one of the things that keeps people from going out and doing bad works.

 

[rwguinn]

How is speaking the truth "Diss"ing?
Reading into the words what is not there is some librul knack, and you are so enamored with it you use it even against your guy?
I thought it was a very good summary...

 

[One Skunk Todd]

— none of which I know how to work —

Given that I recall a number of news articles during the transition about how hard it was going to be to separate Obama and his associates from their Blackberries (for security reasons if I remember correctly) I find that statement a little hard to swallow. I suppose it might be technically true, but he's no technological illiterate, and I don't understand why he would make himself out to be one.

 

[drkitten]

I hate to be a cynic, but it's also one of the things that keeps people from going out and doing bad works.

Right, but telling people "sit in front of the Xbox lest you go out and so something stupid and harmful" is a lousy commencement speech.

 

[drkitten]

Given that I recall a number of news articles during the transition about how hard it was going to be to separate Obama and his associates from their Blackberries (for security reasons if I remember correctly) I find that statement a little hard to swallow. I suppose it might be technically true, but he's no technological illiterate, and I don't understand why he would make himself out to be one.

It's called "humor."

 

[pgwenthold]

It's called "humor."

I don't know how to operate an XBox or iPad, either.

I'm sure I could figure it out if I actually had an XBox or iPad without too much difficulty, but that doesn't change the fact I am currently ignorant about how to do it.

 

[HansMustermann]

How is speaking the truth "Diss"ing?
Reading into the words what is not there is some librul knack, and you are so enamored with it you use it even against your guy?
I thought it was a very good summary...

It's pure dumb dissing, because he even admits that he doesn't know what he's talking about ("none of which I know how to work".) So he doesn't really know what you can do with that iPod, like listen to an audio book or a political podcast if that's your thing.

And he has not shown that they're actually causing the effects he claimed. All the other media or forms of communication can be used not just to get informed and take action, but as a dumb passtime. Books can be read not just to get informed, and most people in ages past hardly ever read more than novels. The telephone can be used to spread or gather information, but also simply to yak the latest gossip. Newspapers can be a source of information, but they can also be read for the crosswords or for the latest rumours of what Britney Spears wears. Etc.

The kind of person who just wants to be entertained instead of changing the world, already could do exactly that.

So if he wants me to believe that the iPods and XBoxes and Playstations are actually causing some net effect beyond that, a good start would be to actually show a measurable effect first.

He just rails against them apparently just because they're iPods and XBoxes and Playstations, basically. Crankyoldmanysm sounds just about right.

 

[KingMerv00]

In other news, Obama declares

"I remember the time I caught the ferry to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for m'shoe. So I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt. Which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. Gimme five bees for a quarter, you'd say. Now where was I... oh yeah. The important thing was that I had an onion tied to my belt, which was the style at the time. You couldn't get white onions, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones... "

 

[pgwenthold]

It's pure dumb dissing, because he even admits that he doesn't know what he's talking about ("none of which I know how to work".)

I don't know how to freebase cocaine, either, but I can safely say it's not a productive activity.

 

[Region Rat]

It's called "humor."

That's kind of the way I read his statement too. More like a tongue in cheek "do as I say, not as I do" push to moderation. The PS3 generation probably needs a kick in the butt to make sure they use the technology to their benefit, but our obviously technophillic President can't say to watch out without some type of a wink-wink in there.

Maybe he needed to say "None of which I know how to use, pause for laughter- "

I'm amazed at the conservative "He's lying" stance. I thought maybe I wasn't getting it.

 

[rwguinn]

It's pure dumb dissing, because he even admits that he doesn't know what he's talking about ("none of which I know how to work".) So he doesn't really know what you can do with that iPod, like listen to an audio book or a political podcast if that's your thing.

And he has not shown that they're actually causing the effects he claimed. All the other media or forms of communication can be used not just to get informed and take action, but as a dumb passtime. Books can be read not just to get informed, and most people in ages past hardly ever read more than novels. The telephone can be used to spread or gather information, but also simply to yak the latest gossip. Newspapers can be a source of information, but they can also be read for the crosswords or for the latest rumours of what Britney Spears wears. Etc.

The kind of person who just wants to be entertained instead of changing the world, already could do exactly that.

So if he wants me to believe that the iPods and XBoxes and Playstations are actually causing some net effect beyond that, a good start would be to actually show a measurable effect first.

He just rails against them apparently just because they're iPods and XBoxes and Playstations, basically. Crankyoldmanysm sounds just about right.

If that was considered "Railing against them", his point hit the bulls-eye with your ilk...