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Obama speaks out on GTA IV News
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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has joined the hoo-haw over GTA IV, saying it'll make "goo-gobs" of money for Rockstar but dumm-kopfs of America's children.
As reported by Rawstory, Obama's comments came during a campaign stop in Indianapolis. He told the crowd, "I was just catching the news this morning about Grand Theft Auto, this video game, which is gonna break all records and make goo-gobs of money for whoever designed it.
"Now, this isn’t intended for kids, although I promise you there are kids who are playing it, but these video games are raising our kids," Obama continued. "Across the board, middle-class, upper-class, working-class kids, they’re spending a huge amount of their time not on their studies, but on entertainment.
"And so part of our job is going to have to be to inspire the entire country to say, ‘How are we giving our kids a thirst for knowledge?’ And turning off the TV set, and getting them to be engaged and interested, like their future really does matter on how well they do in school."
So now America's presidential candidates are getting their policy ideas from Why Don't You?. Oh look, it's him off The Apprentice.
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That whole statement has nothing to do with GTA4 and everything to do with how parents in America (and UK) raise their children. For the love of god when will people start blaming the parents?
On the plus side here in the UK the game was on the news channels on launch day and it was made clear it's NOT for little johnny. |
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The Bodybuilder
02/05/08 @ 08:23
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I had my typical response ready, but I'm now dissapointed in EGs headline.
Obama doesn't even attack GTA IV, and also makes strong, valid points.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 02/05/08 @ 09:24
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Yes, of course - it's all the fault of videogames, again. Check:
http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/ |
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I like Obama, he really does need to win this election. But joining bandwagon arguments like this is unlike him, and I feel cheap and pathetic.
'games are raising our children'.... only if you are shit parents. Wake up Obama. Rednecks will raise rednecks, and "ganstas!" will raise little ganstas. That is the problem, the majority of people having kids in America aren't fit to be parents. Same here really.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 02/05/08 @ 09:24
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The Bodybuilder
02/05/08 @ 08:28
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Some of you really need to read the actual post dammit (that's aimed at spidermanalf). Obama said "Now, this isn’t intended for kids...".
"games are raising our children'.... only if you are shit parents" Hmmm, pretty sure that's his point exactly. |
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"And turning off the TV set, and getting them to be engaged and interested, like their future really does matter on how well they do in school."
A stupid position. If it wasn't for the telly and internet, I would have never developed a deep taste for cultural things such as classical music, art, old books, etc. I would even go as far as saying that the internet has been a place to experiment without consequences in socio cultural interaction. Television learned me to speak 4 languages. On top of that, it gave me access to an unlimited amount of resources that trained me to do my job. I make a killing from my knowledge that I gathered on the internet. My schooling is fun but hardly functional when it comes to earning good money. Whether that says more about the state of education than the internet is another topic. |
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I like him, but I don't really agree with him on this.
Like many others, I spent quite a bit of my childhood playing games. Despite this, I have managed to get a decent job raise a family etc... all without ever going out and car jacking. At least he hasn't gone on an all out attack on the game makers, who ever they are...? |
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stoopidgreg
02/05/08 @ 08:41
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still sounds like he doesn't want people to play the game, or engage in any form of entertainment really.
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PlugMonkey
02/05/08 @ 08:51
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"I had my typical response ready, but I'm now dissapointed in EGs headline.
Obama doesn't even attack GTA IV, and also makes strong, valid points." You mean he spoke out on it. Yes. Damn you, EG. "Television learned me to speak 4 languages. " Heh heh. No, but seriously. I think there is an increased tendancy for parents, in the UK at least, thinking that their children are somehow someone else's responsibility. I think children are being raised by TV and games more than ever before. I can think of a few young families where the kids are just plonked in front of a TV show or game because it 'keeps them quiet'. It's very easy, and I'm not sure it's particularly healthy and I think that's all he was talking about. It sounds like he was asked a question on GTA and spun it around to dodge the hype and make an entirely different point.
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 02/05/08 @ 09:51
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Obama hardly counts as 'anti-games'. His comments on the subject seem well-measured and moderate IMHO. He's not demonising games in the slightest and he does have a good point to make - that far too many parents are content to take the easy option of letting their kids play games or watch TV instead of chivvying them into studying hard and making something of themselves.
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Kenshin001
02/05/08 @ 09:12
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I wonder what he will say about RE5. I'm sure his crazy pastor will have a field day with that one.
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PlugMonkey: In the 80's we had all kinds of cool different series in all kinds of languages. They made me pick up different languages very quickly. Nowadays it's only fucking pokemon and teletubby shit and worst of all, those nationalistic/religious cunts have gotten their way and now EVERYTHING is translated to the native language.
It's cringe worthy and belittling (who the fuck do they think they are). Worst thing about it is that you can't open a newspaper without one of those self-righteous pricks claiming that what they are doing is a good thing ("protecting" the language). They keenly forget that 70 tot 80% of the vocabulary is ripped straight from other languages. |
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If he wants to do something for educating the masses, how about banning overdubbing for programs aimed at 6 years or older, in TV programmes as well as games. That should help language skills across the board. It's not for nothing that the Dutch are some of the most language proficient in the world. ;)
(ehm, yes, I am in fact Dutch ... sorry for the spelling errors :P) |
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actionfitz
02/05/08 @ 09:33
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yeah, hoping Obama can win that nomination. he sounds like a decent guy who doesnt jump on bandwagons and say or do anything and everything just to get power.
...Clinton on the other hand... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/wo... -.- voted for wars and jumped onto the 'Ban this sick filth' bandwagon.. omg the children!... etc If she wins I can see a whole heap of liberal people not voting, when your choice is between this arsehole and the republicans, thats not much of a choice. |
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Rrralphster
02/05/08 @ 09:35
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It's nothing but a political correct statement in the run-up to the elections in November...
In my ears it sounds a lot like he wants both the votes of people who play games like GTA (by being mild about it...) and the need to have an opinion as a politician and possible presidential candidate (being slightly critical about it). It's all about the votes... |
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superdelphinus
02/05/08 @ 09:46
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come on now let's not spin stuff like the 'other side' do
he's right. he's not blaming the game itself, just that kids are playing to many games in general at the expense of their schoolwork |
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For once (!) I have to agree with the rest of you - this headline got me really worked up. I love Obama, and I was really disappointed he'd joined Hilary in the game-bashing. But, it turns out, he hasn't. He's merely said more needs to be done to make sure adult-rated games stay with adults.
Cool the headlines down! |
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SleepyMagpie
02/05/08 @ 10:10
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He can criticize videogames as much as he likes, we'll get our stuff anyway, and he is not the kind of candidate to ban things if he got power.
Obama HAS TO WIN this nomination for the democrats, and then go on to win the election to the presidency of the United States. The other 2 possibilities are too horrible to imagine. If we have had a "decline of the west" in the last eight years under dubya, with any one of those two others it would be over and out for us - "the fall of the west" - for sure. Here's praying. Yes we can. Or they can. Please? With sugar on top? |
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Camorrista
02/05/08 @ 10:14
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Wait until Hillary speaks out on this, THEN I guarantee you have Flamewar Friday material.
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"The other 2 possibilities are too horrible to imagine. "
Couldn't agree more, he's by far the best candidate from what I've seen; his speaking power is pretty amazing. Of course as a Brit I have no right to say who American's should vote for, but amazes me that they picked a George Bush over a Al Gore, and wouldn't surprise me if Clinton got the nomination. |
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kangarootoo
02/05/08 @ 10:23
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The Rawstory link in this article doesn't point to Rawstory, it points back to the same article.
Oh, and dumm-kopfs is not a hyphenated word (insert pedant apology here). |
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FornicatingBaboon
02/05/08 @ 10:24
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"Now, this isn’t intended for kids,"
Finally, someone realises. This, to me, has been the main problem with the recent game hate... people don't seem to know that the number 18 on the case for a reason. I do hope this man gets into office. |
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And Eurogamer joins the hoo-haw over someone in the public eye saying something even a little bit negative about video games. All he said was lots of people would play GTA IV and that parents should encourage their kids to do outside activities. Big deal - are you seriously saying he's at all wrong?
Come back when you have a real story. |
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