Forget Video Games, Why Aren't Politicians Complaining About Chess?
from the sedentary-occupations! dept
President Obama is the latest in a rather long line of politicians to start calling out video games as being something that is bad for kids and should be taken away from them, as encouragement to go outside and play:The second step that we can all agree on is to invest more in preventive care so that we can avoid illness and disease in the first place. That starts with each of us taking more responsibility for our health and the health of our children. It means quitting smoking, going in for that mammogram or colon cancer screening. It means going for a run or hitting the gym, and raising our children to step away from the video games and spend more time playing outside.Of course, there's been very little evidence that playing video games alone somehow leads kids to be less active or to play less outside, but it may also be worth putting this into a historical context. Tom sends in a look back at some old quotes from Scientific American, where the last one on the page, written in July of 1859 -- yes 150 years ago -- sounds quite similar to Obama's comments on video games, but is in reference to that pernicious child-obesity-causing monstrosity we call "chess":
"A pernicious excitement to learn and play chess has spread all over the country, and numerous clubs for practicing this game have been formed in cities and villages. Why should we regret this? It may be asked. We answer, chess is a mere amusement of a very inferior character, which robs the mind of valuable time that might be devoted to nobler acquirements, while it affords no benefit whatever to the body. Chess has acquired a high reputation as being a means to discipline the mind, but persons engaged in sedentary occupations should never practice this cheerless game; they require out-door exercises--not this sort of mental gladiatorship."You heard them! No more chess playing, you kids!
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: chess, kids, moral panic, video games
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
You know you know one
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: You know you know one
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: You know you know one
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: You know you know one
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: You know you know one
Remember, a liberal government believes that we are not able to help ourselves so THEY need to help us (whether we want it or not).
Personally, if they really want to go down this path, why don't we get rid of that obesity causing problem known as SCHOOL. Force kids to sit at a desk for 6 hours a day and eat fatty food for lunch (because that's what our liberal schools provide them now)?
In fact, I believe factory jobs where you are physically active all day long would be the best option for our children. LONG LIVE THE PROLETARIAT!!!
Remember: to each according to need, from each according to ability!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: You know you know one
Nice distinction, considering Bush appointed that retard Jack Thompson to head up the ESRB.
http://www.dailygaming.net/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=243
"Force kids to sit at a desk for 6 hours a day and eat fatty food for lunch (because that's what our liberal schools provide them now)?"
...huh? Maybe your crazy ass liberal school was different than mine, but I didn't sit behind a desk fr 6 hrs. a day. I definitely remember P.E., plus in most of my classes we certainly moved around a decent amount, probably more than I do at my day job, actually. Plus where does this mentality that ALL schools are liberal? Does that include those in the deep rural south? Or private schools? Or Catholic schools? My suburban high school definitely WASN'T liberal.
"LONG LIVE THE PROLETARIAT!!!"
Better them than the bourgeoisie...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
PE & Recess Being Cut More
Unfortunately, recess and PE are being cut in favor of having more time for preparing for standardized testing and budget cuts. This isn't a good sign. While parents do have control over how much their child plays video games, they don't have a lot of say in how much recess and PE time they get at school.
If the 'bama 'ministration wants to curb obesity in children, then they should require standardized/dedicated class time for recess and PE.
Remember, "no child left behind" unless they are fat, then they will be...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: You know you know one
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: You know you know one
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
hmm, i take it that online chess...
Or...chess on Xbox live rather?
This is a funny post. I enjoyed the efforts
of the person who dug that up.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Evolution in progress
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Evolution in progress
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Evolution in progress
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Evolution in progress
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Evolution in progress
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Evolution in progress
You tell us ;-)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Every generation of parents complains and this will never stop. For this generation it's video games. For the next generation it'll be something else.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
why do adults assume everything they didnt have/do is harmful
videos games can be play to much but theres people who over react to the point its part of obamas popularity
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Allow me make this apparently controversial assertion: its not good for kids to sit inside and not move for hours at a time, unless they are asleep at night. Be it chess, video games, tv shows, movies, masturbating, eating cheetos, or staring at the wall. Kids benefit from physical activity and can benefit their whole lives if they are instilled with a love of being active from a young age.
Personally, if my kid is sitting in place for a couple of hours I'd much rather that he read a book than spend the time gaming. As always, however, moderation in all things is the key.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I'd much rather that he read a book than spend the time gaming.
Why? if being sedentary is bad, what difference does it make -- that's the point of your whole previous paragraph. I think what you mean to criticize is the content involved, and i propose that a cruddy book is worse for kids than a compelling and well-crafted video game.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
What these arguments seem to keep going to is "Kids should be spending their time wisely!" We can all agree that spending an entire day sitting in the same position is bad for you. Somehow making a distinction from one form of entertainment from another is ridiculous. You can find merits and detriments is most general forms of entertainment. Books expand your imagination, chess improves pattern recognition, video games typically improve hand eye coordination. ect, the list can go on.
If you are a parent leaving your kid to sit still for several hours obviously you don't care about your kid or you are taking the day off and sitting down for hours on end also and don't really care about any of this.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
You had me agreeing with everything, until the last line. Study after study show that videogames stimulate the same parts of the brain as reading, while also increasing fine motor skills. So while gaming is not a good substitute for physical activity (much like tv and eating cheetos as you stated), neither is reading and it shouldn't be elevated as such.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Focus problem
I'm certainly not a kid, but my typical routine during the week is:
1. work 8-5
2. 3-5 mile run from 5:30p - 7p
3. lift weights in home gym for an hour 3 days a week
4. 9-10p play vid games
5. 10p fall asleep w/the tv on
My social time is during the weekend, otherwise I'm too busy between work, excersizing, and relaxing. I don't have to cut out my hour of daily video games to stay fit. Neither do kids, who tend to have more free time than adults anyway.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Agree
I normally agree with TechDirt's edginess but I don't get what angle is being played here...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Agree
Seriously people grow up and get some perspective. My older son loves to play games (has a Wii, Xbox, DS, PC), but he's also in martial arts, plays baseball, did soccer for a couple years, rides a dirt bike...
My youngest learned all his basic colors through video games (as well as picked up decent mouse abilities) at age 2 (gcompris). Now he's getting really good at the train memory game in gcompris, partially because he loves trains. He's 3 now by the way.
Video games are not in any way bad. Anything pushed to excess is bad. If you have kids, be a freakin parent.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Turn this around
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/05/rhythm-games-can-drive-interest-into-real-in struments.ars
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This person is just upset because he sucks at chess, he sucks at checkers, he sucks at connect four, and he sucks at anything that involves thinking. He is too undisciplined to improve so he just starts criticizing everything that he sucks at.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
wrong focus
Legislation banning any amount of gaming will only anger a lot of people. It will not magically send kids outside.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: wrong focus
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: wrong focus
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: wrong focus
Mandate exercise maybe, but not competitive sports.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Wow what a joke
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Personal responsibility...
So, his idea of becoming more personally responsible is to give up that power and listen to what the government wants you to do?
Um.... RIIIGHT.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Personal responsibility...
Interesting semantic argument: can one take direction on being independent from a dependent source.
If a counselor tells a drug addict that only HE can choose to quit drugs, and then he does, is it all for nought because the counselor suggested it?
If a person $25k in debt realizes she needs to take control of her finances, and so enrolls the help of a debt counselor who manages her money for her, has she taken no responsibility because someone else has accepted control from her?
Or maybe O-Dawg is right and you republitards just can't give him an ounce of credit on the rare occasion when he says something that's ok, waddya think.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Personal responsibility...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Personal responsibility...
It just burns my ass listening to "Republicans" tell me all about limited government and fiscal responsibility given the recent track record.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Personal responsibility...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
People who don't know, like to pass judgement.
And I reckon if Obama had spent a little bit of time on a Wii he'd have learnt to bowl straight.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
As I read it, it is good advice.
"That starts with each of us taking more responsibility..."
Where does it say the government/Obama mandates it?
What part of taking more personal responsibility don't you understand?
Next time you are at a shopping mall or large public gathering take a look around and tell me how many of the people you see could use a bit of commonsense health advice.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Politicians Don't Think That We Just Fell
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Politicians Don't Think That We Just Fell
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Having said that I beleive The President wasn't going down the same vid game bashing road that many of his contemporaries have been doing of late. I think its entirely reasonable for kids to be encouraged to get split up their vid game times by going outside for some excercise and/or socialize etc.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dear Mr Obama,
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dear Mr Obama,
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Gaming and kids
But Monday was go to the pool after school day, Tuesday was go to the park if it's dry day, etc, etc... Until they hit the teenage years (when any attempt to regulate them be it from a parent or the government just isn't going to work, face it :P) I've yet to see a child who didn't prefer spending time with their parents to playing on the computer.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]