MCV

Actually, I don't see this or the other quote mentioned as an attack on video games (and if you've seen any of my other recent posts, you'll know I have an itchy trigger finger about that sort of thing). This sounds more positive to me, more like an attack on bad parenting, and instead of proposing scapegoat anti-games legislation like Hillary Clinton, he's putting the responsibility where it belongs.

In fact it sounds a lot like a conservative position should sound, instead of whining and crying about how the FCC should fine every indecency. I'm going to guess that probably the greatest frustration that teachers have, is that they get kids for only a few hours every day. The kids then go home, and in many families, they are encouraged to forget everything they're taught (not just book-stuff) but social skills.

Playing Call of Duty 4 on xbox live

Kid playing from the USA was 6 years old!

Yes turn it off USA!

Did the Lord command you to play video games? No? Then don't.

What he says is not anti video gaming, it is pro good parenting. Everything in moderation.

Have you heard the irrational anti game ranting of that Clinton woman? We have a serious problem if she gets to power.

Gets my vote. oops, wait, im in the UK. Parents need to be responsible for once.

Games appear to be politicians scape goat for blaming society's ills. I have two children and yes they play video games but are also members of local football and rugby teams. It is a question of a balanced life, I remember in the 70's a Tory MP tried to ban Tom and Jerry cartoons because he felt they incited violence!
The way to tackle crime and lack of respect is to employ more police officers that walk on the street not sit in their cars or ride push bikes, and when someone does something wrong they are punished.
Can I allow the children to go out and play, no because according to the media and politicians the streets and parks are fuller of muggers/rapists/paedophiles. The majority of which are to old to have been brain washed into violence by video games or if they are young it is because they have never been disicplined into respect by their parents or teachers.
Games do not cause violence or lessen individuals respect for humans and politicians should stop using this lame excuse and deal with the unfortunate and grim reality of human nature.

Absolutely agree. He isn't being anti VG, he's anti bad parenting, something which seriously needs looking at instead of scapegoating all forms of media (not just Video games) and putting the honus back on the parents. If Clinton gets elected I'm going to be appalled.

Holy ****!!!
A politician who knows what they are talking about!?!?
I hope this guy gets in, might do some good in America (and us in the UK, as an example) to get a decent and sane president for once...

I can you imagine next war?? Obama Vs Osama

Ive never seen any proof of video games causing violence in real life. Does anyone know of such proof ?

Its funny that in a country that activly encourages proliferation of guns in its population that they then blame games for gun crime and not the guns themselves.

You right, look like they saying do not spend time on "War Game" we got the real war to do!! so petrol can go up and screw the world over!!

telling parents to do their damn job is apparently a "new" concept?

how lazy and stupid do you have to be that you let your electronics raise your offspring instead of being a real parent?

This is a non-story, and yet I'm baffled why gaming sites keep bringing it up. Obama's comments never have been anit-video games. Rather, he's focusing on the a broader issue, people using television and video games as a surrogate for spending time with their children and teaching their children.

He's not saying that video games turn kids into rabid killers. He's not saying that video games make you smarter or dumber. He's just saying that it's high time that Americans stopped letting television and video games be a crappy substitute for real parenting. Seriously, is there anyone that argues that an afternoon fishing with your dad is worse than a day spent trying to complete the last purple comet level in Super Mario Galaxy?

"In fact it sounds a lot like a
conservative position should sound, instead of whining and crying about how the FCC should fine every indecency."

Er, it's the conservatives who always run to the FCC demanding censorship. Right-wing extremists at "Focus on the Family" are notorious for it.

I can't agree with the other posters enough, nowhere in here does he even remotely imply that video games cause violence, what he says is, video games aren't a substitute for good parenting and being there for your child.

Obama is not saying that games are inherently bad, just as he's not saying that TV isn't inherently bad. He's just encouraging parents to actually raise their kids. I don't see a problem with that.

This is largely related, and one of the planks of his platform on technology, emphasizing parental responsibility:

"Barack Obama also recognizes that lurking out there are the darker corners of the media world: from Internet predators to hateful messages to graphic violence and sex. Obama values our First Amendment freedoms and our right to artistic expression and does not view regulation as the answer to these concerns. Instead, an Obama administration will give parents the tools and information they need to control what their children see on television and the Internet in ways fully consistent with the First Amendment."

There you go. Let the parents, not the government, raise kids.

I Think you guys are missing the point. The point is not that games cause violence. The point is stop whining to the government to regulate video games. His words "Government can't do everything" points to exactly that. Translation "We are not going to regulate video games.. Parents need to take responsibility"

I think that what Obama has a point in what he is saying, but not completely because, I am a mother of 2 girls ages 11 and 4 and I would rather either one of them play a video game than go outside and get kidnapped, molested, shot, or what other dangers are lurking out there. Now there are only certain games I allow my 11 year old to play and no she wouldn't be playing call of duty or resident evil or anyother truely violent game like that. But I don't see why there can't be a good balance between video games and reading a book. As a mater of fact my oldest just finished reading Esperanza Rising which is a Pura Belpre Award winner. Yes! Parents need to take responsibility for what they buy their children to play with!! And not get on the backs of every politicians back and tell them they need to get the Government to regulate video games. Parents have been getting on politicians backs about music, tv, movies, now its video games. The government doesn't seem to be all to concerned about regulating guns, alcohol, underage drinking and driving. This to me is where the real dangers lie not video games. Look at all of the schools that have had shootings in them because a CHILD had access to a gun because of poor government regulations that allowed the parents to buy them or they got them off of the street. This is where the government should be looking not at just video games. Oh come now.