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While I admit Obama has some points, the discussion is far too complex to address in a presidential speech and I don't think he struck the proper tone. A man wi
by 9oliYQjP 16y ago
While I admit Obama has some points, the discussion is far too complex to address in a presidential speech and I don't think he struck the proper tone. A man with one watch knows the time; a man with two watches is never quite sure. His speech is a failure, because I think it was the effects of having so much information -- as the quote above mentions -- that he wanted to convey rather than the fact that we have this information in the first place. Presidential speeches are all about take-aways, and this was a miserable failure. The take-aways were "Xboxes, iPads, and technology are diversions" which I'm pretty sure was not his intention.
We live in a world where the uneducated and uninformed speak in terms of certainty and absolutes. Liberals have long believed that if only you can debate and reason with your counterparts, you can sway them to your side. Conservatives figured out that this wasn't how human nature worked and I think the Republicans were particularly good throughout the mid 90s and this past decade, at providing a more reassuring world view that is black and white. The more educated we get, the more uncertain we can be about our opinions. I think Obama wanted to point out that the educated might lose control of political power. There is a very real possibility of a reality similar to that of Idiocracy taking hold, and I think Obama wanted to challenge his audience to ward this off. In order to do this, they'll have to learn how to speak to people and be masters of the human psyche. So it's kind of ironic that Obama failed so miserably at delivering his message. I'm sure he's kicking himself because the whole debate is now being framed around "is technology good or bad?".
- asnyder 16y agoThis happens often in Obama's speeches. If you watch them whole they're insightful, well thought out, and very meaningful. However, both the visual and printed press have no patience to actually deliver the full content, but rather will always take a soundbite, or quote out of context, thus leaving the rest of the speech meaningless. It's unfortunate that the majority of Americans don't actually read or watch the speeches in whole. Personally, I think this is part of what he was getting at.
- euroclydon 16y agoYeah, when is Obama going to realize that actions or theatrics will be a much more effective means of communicating his points than long thoughtful speeches? All he had to do, was wait for the opportunity to drop the bomb, preferably in a short sentence that leaves people jaws dropping, that he doesn't spend a bunch of time on games and media diversions, and (gasp!) he thinks they make people stupid.
- jbooth 16y agoIt wasn't a speech about technology, it was an offhand comment during a speech to students at Hampton University, which the Economist then chose to center an article around. The comment itself had a kernel of truth but if you expand it to a 4-graf article then yes it turns out not to do the situation full justice. Stop the presses :)
- gizmo 16y agoIt may have been unwise of Obama to give a speech that would lend itself to misinterpretation. Many people mentally shut down the moment they hear something they might disagree with. So to be effective you have to wrap every statement in as much flowery language as you can or you won't get through to people. Even here on HN where most people are intellectually curious and highly educated you still have to pick your words very carefully or you'll get attacked from a dozen different angles about claims you never made and which are not even fundamental to the argument you're making. This mistake we all make time and time again before it truly sinks in that everything you say will be misinterpreted, ripped out of context and used against you. Now... if only Obama had a blog then he would never have made that remark. The irony indeed.