Video Game Characters to Get Out the Vote

Thanks to Gamasutra for the heads up about a political music video starring video game characters that is to start airing on MTV today. The newest "Choose or Lose" video will feature characters from popular video games such as The Sims and BloodRayne and is intended to encourage youth voters to show up at the polls. The video will air for the first time on MTV today on TRL, and afterwards can be seen on the MTV Choose or Lose site. This follows closely on the heels of MTV2's Video Mods series, which uses video game footage for the visuals in music videos.

Comments

If it takes video game characters

[hsmith]

to get people to vote, obviously they don't need to be voting.

An informed public is far better than one that just votes to vote

Re:If it takes video game characters

[BillyZ]

So you are then implying that gamers are uninformed? Simply because someone needs motivation to vote, does not necessarily mean they are also uninformed.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[Geek of Tech]

It really is somewhat scary. In the beginning gamers controlled games. Then games started controlling gamers. Now games are (somewhat) trying to modify government via their gamers....

Oh my.... Oh well. Can't talk now. Something is telling me to go play pong....

Re:If it takes video game characters

[mcmonkey]

What is the standard? How informed is informed enough? When is an opinion enough of an opinion? So voting based on the last yard sign I saw isn't enough. Is listening to talk radio? Reading one newspaper a day? Reading slashdot?

I respond to every time someone presumes to have some standard on who should vote and who is better off staying home. None of the big shots who presume to tell other people they shouldn't vote ever steps up with some specifics.

What is the standard for "an informed public"?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[GoofyBoy]

They are uninformed how important their vote is.

If they lack this basic knowledge, how would they know about the real, deep, political issues are?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[JaredOfEuropa]

I respond to every time someone presumes to have some standard on who should vote and who is better off staying home.

Oh, I have a standard on who should vote and who shouldn't... though it's just my opinion, and I am not proposing to impose it or any other standard on voters. Voting should be open to all.

However, I agree with the guy who says that it's a bit silly to ask people to go vote for the sake of voting, i.e. "go and mark any old box on the ballot with the red pencil". I think uninformed people shouldn't vote, but I do not propose to bar them from voting. Rather, I propose we encourage them to inform themselves, rather than just 'go vote'

Re:If it takes video game characters

[gfxguy]

So you have someone who is not motivated by current events, not motivated by friends, family, and teachers...

But they are motivated by a fictional video game character... I agree with the grandparent post.

I think people ought to be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of how our election process works, and who their politicians are (senators and representatives). I'm not talking about 100 question test, I'm asking: who are your senators and congressman? Who is your governer? Who is the vice president and speaker of the house? How is a representative elected? How is that different from how the president is elected?

Also explain to me how a picture ID shouldn't be required for first time voters... we are all concerned about voting machine fraud, what about rampant voter fraud?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[inkey string]

I think this is a rather flippant judgement to pass on everyone who passes up their right to vote. The idea that voting should be reserved for some (educated/wealthy/"qualified") elite is disturbing.

The people who run your country affect everyone in it. The arguments of "if politics affect you, you vote of course" are shallow and miss the real point.

This ad is obviously aimed at MTVs core demographic with the ability to vote, namely those between 18-25 years old. This is a group in transition between child/teen and adult responsibilities, with all the inherent psychological upheaval.

The prime message drilled into young people as they grow up (ie high school and younger) is that due to your youth, you lack the necessary qualifications to make certain decisions. You can decide what to wear/eat/consume, but any "important" decisions (namely the decisions that change the alternatives to what one may consume) must be left up to those older and wiser.

Then, the adult world comes along. You are now old enough to make decisions for yourself! Passing the magic barrier of 18, you can now (fight/fuck/flee) anything you choose!

This is where the issue arises. It is obvious that a paradigm shift to the degree demanded by society (from forced lack of personal responsibility to forced personal responsibility) cannot take place overnight. One must start at the authority symbols nearest and easiest to usurp. I can do my own laundry! I have my own place! Once accomplished, one can move up the ladder to financial/romantic responsibilities, and so on.

The problem is that this "ladder" view is flawed. Typically geopolitical and economic concerns are relegated to the very top rungs of perception, with many people living their lives blissfully handing off responsibility. In reality, geo/local politics are intertwined at every step of the ladder. Bought your first car! Ever wonder if the current high price of gas is a result of your chosen leader's interesting foriegn policy decisions?

Of course not. Why? Because we teach politics in school as a seperate and elite topic. And math, and science, and geography, without the acknowledgement that politics is as much a part of science and geography as math is a part of physics.

Politics is regarded (and therefore avoided) as an old boys club by the young boys and girls who have the power to change it. Activities such as these "get out and vote" campaigns attempt to empower those who think that their vote and their voice does not and cannot matter.

The point of democracy is everyone participates, not just those deemed worthy.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[BillyZ]

"I think people ought to be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of how our election process works, "
I thinking going to vote is a pretty good demonstration that they understand how the process works!

So you have someone who is not motivated by current events, not motivated by friends, family, and teachers...

But they are motivated by a fictional video game character... I agree with the grandparent post.
So then what about someone who's not motivated by games, nor family, nor current events, but is motivated by a friend. Is that any better? Do you know who their friend is? What if their friend is an ex-con? What if their friend is a priest? Does it matter who the friend is? What about someone who's not motivated by any of the above but is motivated by some other factor? What does it matter where the motivation comes from? Motivation and Knowledge have absolutely NOTHING to do with each other. Motivating someone to vote is a respectable goal no matter what the means.

Are you saying that someone who lacks motivation has no right to vote? That because they don't have motivation means their opinions have to be wrong or are simply less important?

The basis of the voting process in this country is that EVERYONE HAS A VOICE! When this country was founded do you have ANY idea what the illiteracy rate was? Should those people not have been allowed to vote?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[gfxguy]

Are you being facetious? You're talking about the difference between being motivated by a real person or a fictional character?

Are you going to vote against George Bush because your favorite cartoon character is gay? How about one of your friends or a sibling? Do you really not see the difference?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[Chris Carollo]

Motivating someone to vote is a respectable goal no matter what the means.

Well that's a bit of a ridiculous statement -- I doubt you'd support my motivating someone to vote via the use of a shotgun.

I think one of the points that are trying to be made is that voting, in and of itself, isn't a worthy goal. Being informed enough to want to voice your political opinion is the goal that we should be shooting for. If you're voting simply because you feel obligated to or because it's "cool" without taking the time to actually educate yourself on the issues and form a coherent, defensible position...you're doing no favors to your country.

I've always found the "rock the vote"-type efforts to be somewhat putting the cart ahead of the horse -- voting isn't what we should be encouraging -- developing a political opinion that citizens want to voice is.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[Xaroth]

Sounds good to me! Just so long as those that are not allowed to participate in the creation of laws due to failing the test are also not bound by those laws that they have no voice in shaping.

Failing test scores, here I come!

Re:If it takes video game characters

[SilentChris]

"They are uninformed how important their vote is."

Yes, and we all know gamers are the only classification of people this applies to. *rolls eyes*.

From my perspective, 9 out of 10 of my gamer friends know how to build their own machines, have good-paying jobs, and know their vote is important.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[goon america]

Who says that non-gamers that vote know anything about real, deep political issues?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[The-Bus]

I'll bite.

First off, using video game characters to promote voting is not different than any Toby Keith video, warmed over Good Morning America "news piece", Ann Coulter radio "interview", or misinformed blog rehashing other people's opinions before forming their own.

Secondly, what are the "real" "deep" "political" "issues" you speak of? The economy, of which the president has extremely limited control? Quotas in higher education? Healthcare and social security? Taxes? Iraq? Immigration? National park use? War record? Homeland security? Religion? Elementary education? Tariffs? Outsourcing? Unions? Control over the media? The Patriot Act? DMCA? Broadband for everyone? NASA? Reparations? Bank reform? Abortion? Homosexuality? Your "real" issues are not other people's "real" issues, and vice versa. Some people might vote because Bush is a Republican and they always vote Republican. Or they vote for Kerry because of REAP. Or they vote for X because of BCD, etc.

To somehow believe that your vote is more important because you have a different level of knowledge of certain issues is a bit ignorant. If you have thorough knowledge on every issue, please make a website with that information to inform others.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[jacobcaz]

Also explain to me how a picture ID shouldn't be required for first time voters... we are all concerned about voting machine fraud, what about rampant voter fraud?

In Indiana first-time voters in each precinct are required to provide proof of identity before they can vote. We moved a year and a half ago, now both my wife and I have to take proof of ID with us to vote this time around. Driver's license, State ID, utility bill with correct name and address are all acceptible (and maybe a few others). Next general election we will NOT have to show this proof as long as we've not moved.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[BillyZ]

This is what is frustrating me.
Being informed enough to want to voice your political opinion is the goal that we should be shooting for.
Someones level of motivation and their level of knowledge have absolutely nothing to do with each other. I could be 100% for or against a particular candidate for, by your standards even, "a well informed reason". But just don't think it matters if I vote. Perhaps the couple of elections I witnessed, the candidate I would have voted for, had I voted, got elected so I don't think I need to vote. These are the people that SHOULD VOTE. They have an opinion, they ARE informed, they just don't think their vote counts or matters. You and I know this isn't true, and we're trying to INFORM THEM that it isn't true. Why is convincing people that their vote matters a bad thing?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[Felinoid]

They are uninformed how important their vote is.

If they lack this basic knowledge, how would they know about the real, deep, political issues are?

Most people I've known who don't vote do so not out of ignorence of the vote but of knowladge.

"My one vote won't make a diffrence"

It's apathy and what most people don't realise is the wise lead by example. Even when it's a bad example.

One less vote becomes 50, becomes 1,000.
But nobody really seams to understand that.

Your one vote dosen't make for a hill of beans. It's the people who vote folowing your example that make it count.

However one might wonder what example is set by a yellow circle with an eating disorder.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[The-Bus]

So you're arguing that the sender (Toby Keith vs. Luigi) is more important than the message itself?

Re:If it takes video game characters

[BillyZ]

It's rather obvious that someone who already plans on voting isn't going to gain any additional motivation from the ads (of course, even thats arguable. You can re-inforce something someone already knows to ensure they follow through.) The people already motivated to vote are NOT the people these ads target. They are targeting people WITH and opion that DONT plan on voting. The two are mutually exclusive.

1) You CAN be informed and vote.
2) You CAN be UNinformed and vote.
3) You CAN be UNinformed, and not vote.
4) You CAN be informed, and not vote.

those who are "uninformed of the issues" are those who are likely not to vote regardless of motivation. These ads, and other "your vote counts" messages are targeted at those who ARE INFORMED but lack motivation. Those that fall into the 4th category are the people these ads truely target.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[delus10n0]

Yeah, 'cause "choose or lose" is totally non-partisan!

Just check out their site's sections, and you'll see it's clear who they're nudging you to vote for.

Re:If it takes video game characters

[gfxguy]

,em>Until the Civil Rights movement, Jim Crow laws kept black voters in the South disenfranchised through a series of literacy tests and property requirements.

Requiring citizens of this country to prove that they are worthy to vote seems like a step back.

No - it's two extremes... neither of which really functions very well. Asking the very basic, simple questions I've mentioned are hardly a literacy test - you don't have to know how to read or write to answer them correctly. In fact, my intent is not to "disenfranchise" (how I'm beginning to hate that word), it's to inform... I'd rather people attend a five minute seminar before voting. Most people spend more time than that on line anyway.

Don't blame me

[JUSTONEMORELATTE]

... I voted for Lara and Sonic

--
Free gmail invites

Here's the thing I don't get about MTV.

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it that I got old, or does it actually suck as unrepentantly, and unrelentingly as it appears to?

Re:Here's the thing I don't get about MTV.

[AvantLegion]

I'm 23, which I don't think is TOO old for the target demographic. But I am old enough to remember the early '90s MTV of grunge, late-night electronica, Beavis & Butt-Head, and quirky off-beat videos of music you wouldn't necessarily hear on mainstream radio.

I'm also old enough to vaguely remember '80s MTV, which was an interesting beast that confused my child brain. I think it's funny that Martha Quinn was a sex symbol to some. Now, you have to be an over-polished "model" with 8 pounds of makeup.

Re:Here's the thing I don't get about MTV.

[robochan]

About a million years ago, back in 1992, MTV was actually partially reasponible for getting the 1st President Bush out of office.

Way back then, the USA had been involved a war in the Middle East. The folks fighting it weren't quite aware of actually who they were fighting for. At that time, a young politician from Arkansas came to light, and MTV went all out - personal interviews, polls to their audience, even a personal audience with said candidate, with questions from the audience. Sure not all the questions were relevant (boxers or briefs?), but the candidate was brought directly to the audience by a fairly major force in their lives - in terms they could relate to. A young candidate being brought to a young voting constituency in a way that had never been seen before. That candidate's opposition basically shrugged that audience off... and paid the price.

MTV was pretty big back then, but back then they also actually showed videos too. MTV news actually consisted of something more than just record release party announcements. Kurt Loder actually seemed like a real, authoritative, news anchor - or at least sincere one - not some snotty kid in glasses and a t-shirt with a microphone.

The Rock The Vote campaign they (co)sponsored back then was amazingly effective. It brought a huge voting population onto the scene, which would normally be apathetic, and tried to educate them - at least to some extent, even if it was one-sided. These days it's half-hearted at best. Recycled slogans with little or nothing to back them up.

I can almost understand why the younger folks are more apathetic these days. I remember a time when I really thought people with important titles, important positions, and who made important decisions were people to be respected and listened to. Now it seems more and more evident the world is a global high school for super rich men with unlimited resources to fling poo at each other, and the only thing we little bitty humans can do is say...
"Damn. It smells like shit in here."

Halo Vote

[grunt107]

So for whom is the Master Chief voting? I'll wager Republican, since the military likes to vote that way.

My Eyes!

[Geek of Tech]

Am I the only person that read that as "Video Game Characters get to vote"? I was really starting to get worried there.

Of course, that could explain the sudden demand for electronic voting....

It's a bit sad...

[smaug195]

I just think it's a sad statement on your country when you have to use every big name rapper, actor, and now video game characters, in order to get people to just register to vote.

Re:It's a bit sad...

[PhrostyMcByte]

Kids in high school don't want to watch political debates, they want to watch MTV. Hell, I dont know of much adults that want to watch the debates.

If this can help us spark a little interest in would-be voters, why not do it.

Re:It's a bit sad...

[joranbelar]

Sad statement? What does that even mean? I realize it's popular nowdays on Slashdot to condescend to Americans, but I don't see how it's sad at all. What's sad is having less than abysmal voter turnout, which in our country has been gradually slipping down over decades to less than 50%. At this point, it's not that people aren't *informed*, it's that they are *apathetic*. If it takes some lights and shiny objects to get them interested again, by using what they are *already interested in*, what exactly is sad about that? I'd say it's a pretty smart way of beginning to reverse the downward slide of voter participation.

By all means vote if you have an opinion

[cerebralsugar]

Another get out and vote drive. It's cool they use video game characters. But I can't help but feel these "public service announcments" are politically motivated.

Before I seem like a troll, lets consider:

Anyone who is not a felon, at least 18, and not an african american from florida, can register to vote. *drumroll*! I'm just kidding. That last part was uncalled for. But disenfranchised voters is another discussion, and a more serious one. So lets just say, most people who are 18 and not in jail can vote. They have the right. Politically motivated disenfranchising laws aside.

Why do we care if people vote or not? Why do we try to chide them into it? If you are directly affected by the policies of your elected officials, you will probably vote. If you don't care, why should you be made to vote?

And then they have these voter drives. Why does MTV care if their viewers vote? I'm guessing somewhere somebody has statistics that shows men 18-24 or whatever their demographic is, is "predominatly left" or "predominantly right". So, lets use propaganda to mobilize them. Lets mobilize a flock of voters that carry our view.

Its dumb, if you care vote, if you don't, don't. I certainly don't care if you do or not. The only crime is if you do care and you don't vote.

A much more serious issue is voter disenfranchisement - people who do care, who would vote, who are silenced. That is a huge issue. Why dont we see any commercials with video game charactars that say "voter disenfranchisment is bad"?

I like civic participation but i'm for civic knowledge first, if you don't care, don't go in and blindly pick because MTV tells you too! That doesn't help anyone.

Re:By all means vote if you have an opinion

[goneutt]

Viacom, as all liberal media, want to redistribute wealth to lower socio-economic classes so that they can consume more and the advertisers can pay more for the commercials.

This is due to the lower marginal savings rates for people that don't make much or any money, where as wealthier ($75k+) start having a higher savings rate, which means they aren't buying as much as they make. Economics 101 meets Media 101.

Re:By all means vote if you have an opinion

[Ephemeriis]

Personally, I want people to vote because that makes it more likely we'll have a government that actually represents the people it is governing.

I constantly hear people complain about the current government. They don't like this new law, or that new war, or some guy in office...but when you ask them if they voted they reply with something along the lines of "of course not, it doesn't do any good."

Yes, I would like it if more people who thought like I do went out and voted...then maybe we'd get a government that works the way I think it should. However, even if the folks I want don't get elected, I'd still be happier if it was a government that more accurately represented the vast majority of the nation.

yrs,
Ephemeriis

Not much to mirror

[smaug195]

MTV has announced the release of "Stand and Choose," a non-partisan, animated music video created in co-operation with 12 major video game publishers, and featuring more than 50 video game characters encouraging young people to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. According to the press release, "Stand and Choose" features what are described as "some of the most popular video game characters", including the stars of The Sims, BloodRayne, Mortal Kombat, SSX3, Leisure Suit Larry, Sonic Heroes, SpongeBob SquarePants, Outlaw Golf 2, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Unreal Tournament 2004, DRIV3R, Splinter Cell, Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, and many more. "Stand and Choose" will start airing as a music video on Wednesday, October 6th, debuting on MTV's TRL, and will also be viewable online on the Choose or Lose section of mtv.com. The video was produced and directed by the producer of the previously mentioned, game related 'Video Mods' show on MTV2.

slashdot election campaign

[flynt]

Get ready for Slashdot's election campaign to start airing commercials next week, it's titled "Choose or Loose".

Do we want to encourage these voters?

[CA_Jim]

If video game or animated characters are needed to get some people out to vote, doesn't this indicate that these people SHOULD NOT vote?

I'm all for democracy and for maximizing voters ability to gain information from governments so that they are informed voters. But if it requires cartoons and animated characters encouragement to get someone out to vote, that to me implies this person doesn't have the desire or knowledge to vote.

Bad Idea

[Doesn't_Comment_Code]

I'm all for high voter turnout. But I also think people should be informed before rushing to the ballot box.

I don't really care for a lot of these recent "get out the vote" efforts. A lot of people who don't vote don't have a clue about who is running. Many can't name the president, and certainly not their congressman. Do they know where each candidate stands on even one issue? Probably not. They do know who just broke up in Hollywood though, and the last person to be kicked off Survivor.

If these people flock to the polls, they'll simply dilute the votes of people like you and me, who really, honestly, and deeply care about voting. They will probably vote for whoever their friends are voting for. They might randomly pick somebody off the ballot. They'll probably just pick whoever they recognize or like more from the 10 seconds they saw them on TV. Is this a good idea? Not really.

Convince people to care, then convince them to vote. That's what I say.

Re:Bad Idea

[mcmonkey]

I'm all for high voter turnout. But I also think people should be informed before rushing to the ballot box.

What is the standard? How informed is informed enough? When is an opinion enough of an opinion? So voting based on the last yard sign I saw isn't enough. Is listening to talk radio? Reading one newspaper a day? Reading slashdot?

I respond to every time someone presumes to have some standard on who should vote and who is better off staying home. None of the big shots who presume to tell other people they shouldn't vote ever steps up with some specifics.

What is the standard for "informed"?

I don't really care for a lot of these recent "get out the vote" efforts.

I agree a lot of "get out the vote" efforts are silly. (Though the video game characters have more credibility than MTV.) However I strongly disagree with the stand, 'if you have to do ____ to get people to vote, they don't care/aren't informed enough to vote.'

Someone who votes because Mario told them to is one extreme. What about get out the vote drives by political parties? What about someone who would have missed voting until seeing it in the newspaper on election day?

I don't buy the idea that an election is some kind of secret club and if you have to be told about it or reminded to vote than you shouldn't.

If these people flock to the polls, they'll simply dilute the votes of people like you and me

"These people"? Who are "these people"? What does that mean, "dilute the votes"? What is the standard? How informed does someone need to be before their vote counts? Since you think opinion is so holy and shouldn't be diluted, by what measure do you decide one vote should count and another is just noise?

If someone registers and votes, they've already demonstrated they care. That's what I say.

Re:Mario...

[hsmith]

Hi, I am Troy McLure, you may remember me from such electoral films as...

apathy?

[tomstdenis]

Isn't apathy the publics way of saying "we're tired of your bullshit"?

I mean honestly vote for Bush or Kerry the net result will be the same. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class remain terrified about what tommorow will bring.

I don't think people "forget" to vote or just don't care to. I think they honestly don't think that it matters one way or the other. So long as the sheep [re: public] watch TV and believe what they see the actual vote doesn't matter.

This vote has long since been decided. So long as Bush and his fellow cronies can push that big bright red terrorist button the masses will fall in line.

See what I don't get is people go on about how "we are safer with Bushes leadership". Well you know what? Life isn't safe. You could be flying on a terrorist free plane and shit could hit the fan [literally] and boom you're dead.

You could be waiting in a doctors office when an earthquake hits and you get smushed by a ton of cement, etc, etc, etc.

It's what you do with your time that makes your life. If people accept "Big Brother" on their street corners with machine guns [like in New York] how free are you to live what precious life you have left?

Now I won't presume to tell people how to vote. Personally if I lived in the USA I would vote for a non-major party like the Libertarians. Fuck I would vote for Arnold any day. At least he got rich making movies and not foreign policy.

My dear brotheren Americans cherish what precious commodities of freedom you have left. Another decade of "fighting terrorism" and you guys won't know which way is up. You'll have to turn to polly shore movies to see how "good" life used to be. And that my friends is truly sad.

Tom

Re:apathy?

[Telepathetic Man]

Actually, not voting is just like a vote for one of each of the candidates.

The better way to show your disgust or lack of confidence in the government is to make a protest or third party vote. I know I plan to vote for Michael Badnarik of the libertarian party and mostly 3rd party for state and local elections. Here in Minnesota, the recent state legislation session got absolutely nothing done due to political deadlock between the two major parties. I think its time that sort of possibility is broken up.

Re:apathy?

[Ephemeriis]

Problem is, apathy doesn't do you any good. If you're tired of the same old bullshit, but don't do anything about it and rely on your failure to vote to send a message, nothing is going to change. You need to actually do something to make the same old bullshit go away.

Doing nothing, being apathetic, refusing to vote in some form of protest just isn't going to get you anywhere.

yrs,
Ephemeriis

Some people never learned the importance of voting

[TrentL]

I used to be of the mindset that if you need to be encouraged to vote, you shouldn't be voting. But I've since changed my mind.

No one is born realizing the importance of voting. Somewhere, you are socialized, and you come to believe that voting is important. Maybe it was due to school, or family, or friends. But not everyone has that experience. Some people come from families were there was no pattern of voting. Or their schools sucked and never talked about it.

So that's why I do support these "unconventional" methods. And I think you should, too. When a large segment of the population feels disconnected from their government, the entire society becomes unstable.

Reality check

[jasmusic]

a) Who do you think MTV wants to see as president? b) Who do you think is underrepresented at the polls? While legitimate, don't believe for a minute that campaigns like these are without partisan motive.

Re:Reality check

[C32]

On the flipside, are there any conservatives willing to go on record saying they don't want people to vote? (especially young people and minorities (racism++)) :)

What next, GI Joe and the Transformers?

[the_skywise]

Get out the vote?

Optimus Prime: "Hey Spike, where're you going?"
Spike: "I'm going to go vote! I have the power to choose clean water, new schools and do my civic duty to the country."
Optimus Prime: "Now you're talking!"
Everybody: "Transform the world, Vote!"

Or maybe a nice Thundercats ad
Snarf: "Meow, Lion-o you know who Dick Cheney reminds me of?"
Lion-o: "No Snarf, who?"
Snarf: "Mumm-ra! That's why I'm voting for John Kerry, he won't blow up Thundara the way Bush/Cheney are!"
Lion-o: "Wow Snarf, I like our planet. I never thought of it that way. Maybe I should vote in this election."
Panthro: "Snarf, get your liberal butt out of here!"
Snarf: "Panthro, you're such a closet homosexual!"
Everyone: "Hahahahahahaha! Get out the vote!"

But then we're a generation that was taught environmental rights and wrongs by Captain Planet and the Planeteers...

No wonder the world laughs at us. We don't watch news programs or stay informed... We have animated characters tell us what to think and how to act.

Re:What next, GI Joe and the Transformers?

[gkuz]

Now I know I'm old. I didn't get a single one of the references in your post. That's scary. Thundercats? Planeteers? Not a damn clue.

Re:What next, GI Joe and the Transformers?

[elrick_the_brave]

Lol... whats scary is I can relate totally to this... although I would throw in some Family Guy/Futurama

Scene: Drunken Clam with Peter and Brian at the bar watching TV
Peter (Hand on beer): "Holy crap Brian, there's an election!"
Brian (Sipping martini): "Yeah, doesn't democracy turn your crank?"
TV - Commercial with monster trucks & bikini babes: "Monday Monday Monday.. vote your mind.. see Bush-zilla go against Scary Kerry!"
Peter: "Holy crap Brian, there's monster trucks coming to town!"
Brian: "Yeah, I vote for the babe in the red."
Everyone: "Get out and vote... or miss awesome democratic action.. Monday Monday Monday."

Scene: Fry and Leela in the Hall of Heads - Presidents section.
Fry: "Look Leela! It's former President Bush Jr. and former presidential candidate Kerry."
Leela: "Weren't those guys the odd couple from your century... destroying countries for oil and imposing Western civility on everyone?"
Fry (blank look): "Riiight... something like that."
Bush Jr. Head: "I stand by my decision to defend and pummel their asses!"
Kerry Head: "I stand by him and say I would have made similar but different decisions that saves lives but costs money!"
Everyone: "Vote your conscience! Vote for Candidate Blarg from Ceti-Alpha Six!"

Better idea!

[IndigoZenith]

Maybe they will expand on their Video Game campaign and start using Porn and Free Beer to get people to vote.

I want to be encouraged in this way.

It will motivate me.

Please?

And only two days AFTER voter reg has CLOSED

[aristus]

In Florida, Ohio and a few other of the crucial States. Good timing, people.

If nintendo were in charge of voting

[revery]

you'd have nice rotating blocks (in a tic-tac-toe pattern) with alternating pictures of the candidates (as in the bonus game in Super Mario World after collecting 100 stars).

If you can make Mario hit the blocks so that your candidate shows up three in a row, your vote counts. Get more than three in a row for multiple votes.

Get three Nader's and you get a sunflower suit

If you get no matches, it's a vote for Bowser.

(I'll leave it to others to come up with the prizes for Kerry and Bush, though I'm looking for something along the lines of Tanooki suit of Mass Destruction...)

--

Was it the sheep climbing onto the altar, or the cattle lowing to be slain,
or the Son of God hanging dead and bloodied on a cross that told me this was a world condemned, but loved and bought with blood.

Choose Or Lose

[sweatyboatman]

I think that MTV, while it may be biased towards the left, is mainly interested in motivating young voters.

The people that run this country are, by and large, over 50. "Out of touch" doesn't begin to cover it. Add to that, the fact that 20-somethings are notorious for not voting. (And for not really caring how the elections turn out.)

Politicians barely even pretend to listen to the concerns of "young people". If we were to turn out in record numbers in this election (regardless who we vote for) the political system would take notice. And they would speak and act towards the concerns of young people in this country (drugs, AIDS, poverty, student loans, unemployment...) rather than the concerns of older people (estate tax, social security, imprisoning everyone)

-tom

Re:Some people never learned the importance of vot

[TrentL]

I've seen suggestions that we should conduct a lottery in parallel with the election. When you go to vote, you can choose to contribute a dollar. If your number (or whatever) is chosen, you get the pot. Actually, this might be more enticing if there were 100 or 1000 winners.

Re:Some people never learned the importance of vot

[gfxguy]

The problem in this particular case is that people are not motivated by parents, teachers, other family members, friends, or all the headlines... but they are motivated by a fictional video game character? That is scary.

The truth is these ads are pointless - if someone's not motivated to vote by real life events, I think a very small number will actually be swayed by a fictional game character. It boils down to just a giant waste of money... another "public service" that was not completely thought through.

To what party would they belong?

[Chagatai]

Let's see:

Mario and Luigi: While they are independent contractors and likely own their own LLC for their plumbing business, they would side heavily with the unions. Besides, their gratuitous use of "mushrooms" would tend to look for a party with some liberal laws. My guess? Democratic

Link: Heavily independent, but believes in the maxim that there is always a damsel in distress. Tends to alter the time-space continuum. Republican

Lara Croft: Big on guns, big elsewhere, too. Values the ability to use her body any way she pleases and keep her prized possessions to herself. Libertarian

Donkey Kong: Takes a stand that no one should be in his jungles, going so far as to take hostages and have rescue parties sent in. If you ignore the fact that he is a monkey, he has some decent environmental goals. Green

Music? On MTV????

[spookymonster]

Since when does MTV play music videos? I thought they were strictly about reality shows.

What's next? Objective reporting on Fox News?

Video Game Trivia

[eddy]

The actress Wendy Hoopes who did the voice for "Mona Sax" in Max Payne 2, is currently doing LAX.

Re:Some people never learned the importance of vot

[allism]

If choosing your elected officials isn't motivation enough to vote, than you shouldn't be voting. With a lottery, you'd end up with people voting that just went in and marked the first candidate on the ballot in each category, or marked the ballot 'randomly'. It would be a simple matter for election officials to garner a few more votes for their favored candidates by making sure they were first in their categories.

Do do-do do do do-do Voting in the USA

[jeffs72]

I've been trying to do a lot of research laely into the candidates for our upcoming election, and discussions I have with other people are for the most part an extremely disappointing experience. I am frankly shocked that people would vote "just to get W out of office" or "I vote for Bush because I hate Democrats" etc.

I hear a lot of rhetoric about "throwing your vote away". This is usually used as a reason to not vote for Nader, or the Libetarian party, etc. But it seems to me that a vote "just go get bush out of office" or a vote for a party just cause your parents raised you republican or democrat is really the wasted vote.

I think people have lost the focus that a vote is your own personal voice on how our country should be led. It's a sad state of affairs that we're stuck in this 2 party mentality where often people don't vote because they understand the issues of their candidate, or even know what their candidates' stance on the issues are, but cast a vote solely because it's their family tradition, or their hatred towards the other opponent.

I really wish that we could push through an electoral reform that would allow for multiple votes (#1 choice, 2nd choice, etc) or something. I think the power of the people has been stolen by this charade where it's not about the issues, or who is really the best leader, or what a political party will do (or not do) for a country, but something that is done in a thoughtless, rote manner.

I saw excerpts from Faranheit 911 where some protester says "I'd rather vote for a single celled organism than vote for Bush". What does that say about the value of your vote sir? I realise that's his opinion and he's entitled to vote with his opinion, but what does a choice using that methodology do to our country? Is Bush reallly absolutely the worst possible leader of our country? Is there no one worse to be our leader? What if Manson (heck, Charlie or Marilyn) were up against Bush? Is that still his stance? Would you let a convicted murderer lead our country over Bush?

Don't get me wrong, I don't like Bush very much. I am not convinced he's a good leader or that he's been entirely truthful to the American people, or our allies overseas. I feel the same way about Kerry, and Edwards. I am a little more comfortable with Cheney, but I suspect that's mainly because he's got a ton of experience in dealing with suprise crap, rather than anything else.

After a little research so far (I registered on the deadline) I haven't really found a platform on either side I care for. I want to use my voice, cast my vote, and not have it 'wasted' by not being cast. So how do I vote?

I'm against abortion (the CEO of my client was adopted, so was a close friend of my father, and I have a 7 month old daughter so I can't conceive of abortion being a good thing).
I like the environment and want to take care of it, but I don't want to rely on forgien energy sources either.
I don't like the UN, I think it's lost it's relevance.
I think socialising our medical system will be a huge mistake, and the main culprit of rising health costs is the trial lawyers and frivilous lawsuits (see Overlawyered.com for details.
I think everyone should have the same rights. I think the government should NOT be involved in the institution of marriage at all, it's a religious practice, not a civil one. Calling a domestic union is an insult to religion.
I don't believe in subsidizing farmers to not grow crops, I want legal marjiuana, I want the war on drugs to end.

So how should I vote? And do the new electronic voting machines allow me to write in a candidate if mine ends up to have not been popular enough to get listed on the ballot in my area?

Since some people feel that social or economic background determines voters, here's my stuff: I'll be a first time voter this year. I barely graduated high school and have worked full time since I was 14 years old (50 hour work week

What's next?

[Briareos]

Video game characters posing for Playboy?

Naaah, can't be...

*g*

np: Local - They Are Local (Children Of Mu (Disc 2))

How sad

[blueforce]

Mod this however you like....

What a sad narrative of our society that it takes cartoon characters from video games to encourage voters to do their civic duty.

It's depressing to think that these people are going to choose the person to occupy one of the most powerful positions in the world.

Re:How sad

[Beardo the Bearded]

According to the media, people do everything that video game characters tell them to do.

For example, I'm killing a hooker with a rocket launcher right now. If GTA:VC had Ray Liotta voting or going to work, perhaps life would have turned out better for me. For now, I've got to get to the voting station to get rid of these wanted stars.

A voting message from The Sims?!

[Brain Stew]

MTV ANNOUNCER: And now, a message from The Sims

MAN: Fraba dey...huhhh...ka tey do una so
WOMAN: UNA MOI! UNA MOI! Hmmmmm! [MOTIONS TO STOMACH]

MTV ANNOUNCER: And that was a friendly reminder from The Sims to get out and vote! Or feed them, I'm not entirely sure, check their aspiration meters...