Barack Obama recently made a statement that is probably a direct assault on technology in general though he did mention certain products. At Hampton University during the graduating ceremony of 2010, Obama held a speech to the graduating class and has stated that technology is becoming a source in which information is a distraction and has cited certain peripherals in his speech.

“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. 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.”

The statement above was from Obama’s speech towards the class and the big issue with this statement has to do with Obama’s campaign as in it was the first campaign to truly rely on the internet as well as technology. Obama was the first person to run using YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr, Digg, BlackPlanet, LinkedIn, AsianAve, MiGente, Glee, and other web sites to get information to voters about his campaign. He himself also had an application on the iPhone called the Obama App that let you send information about Obama to all your friends through the app. So this statement he recently made can be a new truth revealed, a hypocrisy from the beginning, a means of what is necessary, or plain vanity.

My personal opinion as well as sociological analysis of why Obama is stating the above has many reasons or many possibilities. Positive-wise, Obama could be trying to push for better education or a better understanding of education. With unemployment at eleven percent and education in the United States not even breaking the top ten in the world in which Korea, Taiwan, and China hold the first, second, and third places respectively, Obama is trying to improve on our education since it is a benefactor of deciding on what you may want to be when you are a functioning unit within this society. Another positive is the initiative that video games and all of that can be a distraction but that depends on the person more than making it a general fact. If Obama said technology CAN be a distraction, then it could have more weight but he made it a statement thus making it a fact in his eyes.

The negatives is easily going to be his statement attacking Microsoft, Sony, and Apple directly. All three of these companies stimulate the economy far better than other companies I can think of especially with the boom in technology as well as entertainment. In respects to the internet, there is a lot more information out on the internet about said topics you may want as well as being up-to-date. True there are gutter trash sites that don’t have the facts but there are plenty of other sites and sources of knowledge through technology that give facts and information.

When it comes to Obama on a personal level, my view is that he is trying to restrain the attention to the internet now as a means for his composure and stance in our society. Obama has one of the lowest approval rates in which he has made many elaborate promises during his campaign and on some have not delievered on what he has said directly especially in his first 100 days. There is no plenty – and I mean plenty – of information out there going against Obama and technology is an easy means of accessing it. Putting a restraint on technology is probably a means of putting a stop to anything that may go against Obama though it is first amendment rights.

All in all, I am unsure on the whole state of what Obama is trying to push forward but there is plenty of things about our president people don’t understand that seem to just make an eyebrow cock or so. I will let it be because Obama was given a job that I wouldn’t want because everyone does say the president is the most influential person in the world but it’s gotta be the worst job anyone could ever have at this moment. In some extent, this could be a crazy claim but it all goes down to what Obama has said.

“Let’s face it, even some of the craziest claims can quickly gain traction. I’ve had some experience with that myself.”

-- Alpha Jan

Patrick Says: I had a chance to discuss this with the Alpha Jan the other night. My take is that Obama is attempting to weave his political theme into every speech he makes. I'm sure others have noticed how Obama has the tendency to sneak in hot button issues into speeches which should have nothing to do with the major topic at hand.

What jumped out at me wasn't the attack on video games, but his mentioning that some of the information doesn't "always rank all that high on the truth meter". Translation: Most of the information that he does not like is distributed through technology, especially the internet.