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Obama bemoans 'diversions' of IPod, Xbox era

Renae

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HAMPTON, Virginia — US President Barack Obama lamented Sunday that in the iPad and Xbox era, information had become a diversion that was imposing new strains on democracy, in his latest critique of modern media.
Obama, who often chides journalists and cable news outlets for obsessing with political horse race coverage rather than serious issues, told a class of graduating university students that education was the key to progress.
"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 all that high on the truth meter," Obama said at Hampton University, Virginia.
"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," Obama said.
He bemoaned the fact that "some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction," in the clamor of certain blogs and talk radio outlets.
"All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy."
AFP: Obama bemoans 'diversions' of IPod, Xbox era

I.E. They cannot control the media. They cannot control the spin.
 
AFP: Obama bemoans 'diversions' of IPod, Xbox era
HAMPTON, Virginia — US President Barack Obama lamented Sunday that in the iPad and Xbox era, information had become a diversion that was imposing new strains on democracy, in his latest critique of modern media.

Obama, who often chides journalists and cable news outlets for obsessing with political horse race coverage rather than serious issues, told a class of graduating university students that education was the key to progress.

"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 all that high on the truth meter," Obama said at Hampton University, Virginia.

Welcome to the real world asshole.

It's only taken you what... decades to learn people have interests other than government?

You dog and pony show may have worked one time, but watching the same crap day after day after day... how we as Americans are the problem gets old... fast.

because we are not the problem... jerk stain.
You are.

Looking forward to your dismissal.

Now go play golf.

.
 
You took a perfectly good commentary on the information age and turned it into Obama socialism hysteria. Thanks for destroying a potentially good discussion before it could even get off the ground, as usual.
 
I think there is a good point to the article and what Obama is saying. With all the information out there, and with some much commentary and editorial being misrepresented as information, what I get that he is saying is that people have to be very discerning with what they are hearing and need to be evaluators. In this day and age, many expect news and information to be handed to us, forgetting that the source of where that information is coming has a huge impact on what that information actually means.

I think it is important for us to recognize that what the President says, in this situation, holds value. Too much information is just info-tainment.
 
Moderator's Warning:
Threads merged.
 
Oh, and for an example of what I said, watch what happens to this thread.
 
AFP: Obama bemoans 'diversions' of IPod, Xbox era


Welcome to the real world asshole.

It's only taken you what... decades to learn people have interests other than government?

You dog and pony show may have worked one time, but watching the same crap day after day after day... how we as Americans are the problem gets old... fast.

because we are not the problem... jerk stain.
You are.

Looking forward to your dismissal.

Now go play golf.

.

And your post only proves his point.

When an entire nation begins to confuse opinion with fact, we have a serious problem.

WE are a good part of the problem.
 
AFP: Obama bemoans 'diversions' of IPod, Xbox era

I.E. They cannot control the media. They cannot control the spin.

I do think that people are less scrupulous about fact-checking information they receive through technology. They think if it is online, it's true. I've seen you fall prey to this, Vicchio. If it reinforces your existing paradigms, you believe it is true.
 
It probably doesn't help that Obama is on the TV close to incessantly. Talk about turning the Presidency to a late-night TV show. ;)
 
Yeah a claim would mean there is doubt as to the validity. There is no longer any doubt.

Of all the stories, THIS one convinced you. I don't know what to say about that.
 
I do think that people are less scrupulous about fact-checking information they receive through technology. They think if it is online, it's true. I've seen you fall prey to this, Vicchio. If it reinforces your existing paradigms, you believe it is true.

That actually goes back to a theory of mine that is supported by biological evidence. One who positions themselves, in an extreme way, on one side of the political aisle or the other, cannot understand positions that are inconsistent with their beliefs. MRI studies of the brain show that the part that manages rational thinking, literally shuts off. This is why the pundits are so dangerous. What they do is enhance the reward center of the brain... again, MRI studies show this, which makes the person listening even more resistant to opposing viewpoints, even if they are completely rational.

This problem isn't new. Folks who have strong, or extreme positions have existed for as long as there have been people. Problem is, with all of the information out there, extreme positions are seen as more mainstream simply because they are more "out there". Doesn't make them any more legitimate, but because there is lots of information about them, folks who do not discern believe some of it.
 
And your post only proves his point.

When an entire nation begins to confuse opinion with fact, we have a serious problem.

WE are a good part of the problem.

A perfect example of this would be the SNL skit by Tina Fey playing Palin and claiming she could see russia from her backdoor.
 
I do think that people are less scrupulous about fact-checking information they receive through technology. They think if it is online, it's true. I've seen you fall prey to this, Vicchio. If it reinforces your existing paradigms, you believe it is true.

Yeah, everyone is more prone to believe information that matches their beliefs then to believe information that goes against it. The Climate forum is a great example of this in action. The warmers refuse to accept ANYTHING that doesn't support AGW 100%.


CC does this all the time in reference to Progressives. Anytime someone posts anything from or about a Progressive that doesn't conform to his standard of what a "Progressive" is, he dismiss it.



The underlying problem with Obama's commentary is that he laments the lack of CONTROL over the media message that once existed. People are no longer reliant on the Big Three and a few newspapers for their news. This means that people learn things from a different source, that may not have the approved spin on it.
 
That actually goes back to a theory of mine that is supported by biological evidence. One who positions themselves, in an extreme way, on one side of the political aisle or the other, cannot understand positions that are inconsistent with their beliefs. MRI studies of the brain show that the part that manages rational thinking, literally shuts off. This is why the pundits are so dangerous. What they do is enhance the reward center of the brain... again, MRI studies show this, which makes the person listening even more resistant to opposing viewpoints, even if they are completely rational.

This problem isn't new. Folks who have strong, or extreme positions have existed for as long as there have been people. Problem is, with all of the information out there, extreme positions are seen as more mainstream simply because they are more "out there". Doesn't make them any more legitimate, but because there is lots of information about them, folks who do not discern believe some of it.

Where is my pot/kettle picture when I need it?
 
A perfect example of this would be the SNL skit by Tina Fey playing Palin and claiming she could see russia from her backdoor.

Well, there are some people who confuse parody with actuality, but I give leeway to parody - because intelligent human beings understand what parody is.

Unintelligent people don't - like the people who think stories from The Onion are true and those who actually thought Stephen Colbert was an actual Conservative commentator.
 
Yeah, everyone is more prone to believe information that matches their beliefs then to believe information that goes against it. The Climate forum is a great example of this in action. The warmers refuse to accept ANYTHING that doesn't support AGW 100%.


CC does this all the time in reference to Progressives. Anytime someone posts anything from or about a Progressive that doesn't conform to his standard of what a "Progressive" is, he dismiss it.



The underlying problem with Obama's commentary is that he laments the lack of CONTROL over the media message that once existed. People are no longer reliant on the Big Three and a few newspapers for their news. This means that people learn things from a different source, that may not have the approved spin on it.

But you just did exactly what you're pointing out: You say "Obama laments the lack of CONTROL over the media.

He says no such thing. You imply it based on your beliefs.
 
AFP: Obama bemoans 'diversions' of IPod, Xbox era

I.E. They cannot control the media. They cannot control the spin.

I think the real issue here is that with the advent of this age of constant information exposure, the new generation has to be taught how to sort through the difference between information and infotainment. It's also important that people recognize the difference between a politically loyal shill like Jon Stewart and actual news. There needs to be impressed on people a difference between commentary and journalism and the need to check facts against multiple sources before committing to a stance.

Too many people think their favorite comedian or pundit is reporting the news instead of commenting about the news. Hell, on this forum you got some bat**** crazy loons who are stuck to either Glenn Beck or Jon Stewart's nutsack like flies on ****. Every day we get the rundown from one side or the other about how Jon Stewart reported this or Glenn Beck exposed that. And it's usually these idiots that are the most prolific in spreading it as gospel truth.

Some people just need to have their cable signal cut and be forced to read a ****ing paper once in a while.
 
One of my biggest pet peeves is when people say something and it just ****ing sounds retarded, why? Because they didn't do the research to find out if what they were repeating was true. I ****ing hate that! Do some research people, take some time, if you're gonna spread something as news or fact you better make damn sure it is correct otherwise people like myself will run all over you and not let you forget it. That **** follows you around. It makes people not believe half the **** you say. Sorry about all the cursing but this pisses me the hell off. Ignorant people, I hate most of humanity for this very reason. Apathy and ignorance.:argue
 
But you just did exactly what you're pointing out: You say "Obama laments the lack of CONTROL over the media.

He says no such thing. You imply it based on your beliefs.

No, that's what he is saying. IF you are one that believes anything that man says, you'll take the spin he wants you to have from it. How willing you are to read between the lines is on you, not me.
 
The whole speech looked like he was challenging his inner social conservatism. People who attack technology/pop culture because they; 1. Dont like it or 2. Dont understand, amuse me.
 
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If somebody can write it down in a blog and I can agree with it, it is true.

Consensus reality.
 
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No, that's what he is saying. IF you are one that believes anything that man says, you'll take the spin he wants you to have from it. How willing you are to read between the lines is on you, not me.

I must say this board has given me a lot of insight into the conservative mind. Here we have someone who has a predetermined view, someone who will look for any evidence to support that view. Even the most tangential or unsupported "evidence" will be used to further justify this prejudice.

Obama did not say anything of the sort, MrVicchio. This link was fabricated entirely in your head.
 
HAMPTON, Virginia — US President Barack Obama lamented Sunday that in the iPad and Xbox era, information had become a diversion that was imposing new strains on democracy, in his latest critique of modern media.
Obama, who often chides journalists and cable news outlets for obsessing with political horse race coverage rather than serious issues, told a class of graduating university students that education was the key to progress.
"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 all that high on the truth meter," Obama said at Hampton University, Virginia.
"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," Obama said.
He bemoaned the fact that "some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction," in the clamor of certain blogs and talk radio outlets.
"All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy."

Alrighty... :rolleyes:
 
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