Obama Calls Today's Ubiquitous Gadgets and Information "a Distraction"

zaphod was one of several readers unhappy with the sentiment expressed in President Obama's graduation address to the students of Virginia's Hampton University, writing: "According to Obama, 'information becomes a distraction' when it comes to iPads, the Xbox, etc. (All items he admits not knowing how to use.) He's basically saying we are getting too much information too quickly, and from 'unreliable sources.' Of course, he's referring to talk radio, blogs and other mediums that tend to disagree with his political views." CNET has a slightly different, less critical reaction, focusing on the differences among the actual devices named; they note that the Xbox is not an iPad.

Comments

I hate getting my news from XBox

[SirLoadALot]

It's always "aliens have invaded", or "nuke goes off in major city", or "Duke Nukem is still not available"...

i can't hear you over my short attention span

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, for once I agree with St. Obama. I realize that geeks are never going to admit it, but there is a price for our geekery. How many of us are distracted, and have short attention spans. Let's take a moment to think about...

Hey look... an ipad....

W

Re:it wasn't a distraction last year

[aurispector]

But that's because obama was the one saying it, so it was ok. Frankly, all this information makes me scared and confused. I wish they would start a department of truth in the government to tell me what I should be thinking.

Re:Transparency

[AnEducatedNegro]

You're ignoring the good things President Obama has done:

        * Gitmo closed
        * Iraq War ended
        * Afghan War ended
        * Patriot Act is gone
        * Full employment
        * Deficit reduced
        * End of partisan politics
        * No lobbyists in his administration
        * Fast action on Oil Spill

Woah it's early for this...

[Capt James McCarthy]

I gotta run and get my popcorn for the 'discussions' on this topic. Let the political ego nukes fly!

Re:it wasn't a distraction last year

[Sulphur]

Double plus good.

Re:it wasn't a distraction last year

[WrongSizeGlass]

I'm assuming you've read 1984?

This is /. so no, I haven't read anything except the summary of that book, and quite frankly, I'm going to have say I was quite disappointed that it was nothing like the Apple ad it was based on. Go figure.

Re:it wasn't a distraction last year

[drew30319]

"Obama is just encouraging the graduates to do something with their lives instead of twittering them away."

Fixed that for you.

Re:it wasn't a distraction last year

[fustakrakich]

Yeah that big whoosh of air came all the way from the Amazon... the book just disappeared.