Technophobe Fail May 26th, 2010
Most of the hubbub has died down by now, but a couple of weeks ago President Obama drew some negative press for making the following statement during his commencement address at Hampton University. He said:
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.
I read about the kerfuffle over his statement and didn’t make too much of it. Then GAP directed me to these posts (here and here – the second one in particular) by Ta-Nehisi Coates of The Atlantic (whom GAP would want me to tell you is the best writer you’re not reading). Coates tackled this topic from a few angles in his posts, but there’s one in particular that interested me. He writes:
Obama is essentially espousing prejudice. I don’t know what else to call the simple solution of boastful ignorance and judgement [sic]. That it is prejudice against the ways of the young, as opposed to prejudice against, say gay people, while obviously a lesser evil, isn’t comforting.
In essence, Obama is saying that he can’t be bothered by the technology that so many of us obsess over. He is focused on bigger issues, not entertainment. It’s going to take more than Steve Jobs’ latest shiny object to capture his attention. Techno-gadgets are not for him. Fine. Fair enough. But he said all of this without offering Jerry Seinfeld’s all-encompassing caveat: “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” Quite the contrary, he seems to believe that we all spend some time in a dunce cap every time we fire up an iPad or a Wii.
So I am prone to wonder, should we ever be so proud to say that something is beneath us? Or conversely, any time we presume to be above something (romance novels, NASCAR, tabloid magazines, or reality television – just to name a few examples that I had to dig for and have absolutely no connection to me…) are we implicitly perpetrating a prejudice against those for whom it is of value?
If I believe that something is a cheap, value-less aspect of our popular culture then at some level I assume that those people who consume it share some of those qualities. But as Coates insightfully points out, we all walk away from things with different experiences. I may view romance novels a smutty and brainless. Someone else may find that they help her escape momentarily from a difficult or lonely life. You may think that video games serve only to increase violence among teenagers. Someone else may be using Wii Fit to explore yoga for the first time. We all walk into and out of our culture with different baggage.
President Obama’s upbringing was far from textbook. Somewhere along the way I’m sure he reaped value and lessons from unconventional places. I suspect he could look back on moments from his childhood and adolescence and point to aspects of his life that may have seemed shallow or worthless to an outsider, but which carried greater significance for him. Further still, I imagine it is in part because he drew more value from the commonplace things in his life that he was able to rise above his humble roots and achieve what he has.
During the campaign he spoke often of being “the kid with the funny name.” At some point people looked past the exterior and found value inside. It’s funny to me that, at least in this instance, he was so disinclined to do the same. (Especially given his BlackBerry addiction…)
May 26th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Ooooh…great topic. I agree with both Obama and the other person you mentioned. Technology can, indeed, be distracting entertainment. BUT–it can also be highly useful, and really can’t be ignored. I fought facebook and twitter and all that stuff FOREVER, and then realized I was damaging my own ability to connect with the generation I work with. For better or worse, I need to embrace it. I think technology (and its prevalence) is harmful in many ways…in the way people communicate most notably. But you can’t dismiss the trends and technologies of a “younger generation” based on prejudice or ageism. And yes, ageism works in both directions.
May 26th, 2010 at 10:36 am
I was sad to read this Obama quote too. I definitely think it hurt his image and connection with young voters, who were very instrumental in his election. Reminds me of a recent article I read about Congress looking to place limits on ATM fees banks are allowed to charge. But it was revealed that most congressmen on the committee don’t use ATMs. They deal directly with a teller or have a staffer/spouse/assistant to deal with it. So out of touch, unfortunately.
I laughed to see you mention NASCAR. This is one that, admittedly, I used to laugh a bit at. A little tongue in cheek about the type of fans that watch NASCAR. But then my husband started watching. And as I learned a bit more about the racing, I guess I appreciated it more. Not that I love NASCAR, but I can appreciate the skill involved by the drivers and pit crew.
You’re absolutely right: we each have a very unique experience with anything. And who are we to judge if someone else finds value in whatever?
May 26th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Eva – See? For some people there is value in NASCAR. To me it always looks like a pile of uneducated people watching cars go in circles. But yet, you have broader and deeper knowledge of it and can appreciate the skill and strategy involved. There is always more than meets the eye!
May 26th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I was kind of shocked that he would say this, particularly given his very public “addiction” to the blackberry; and frankly hypocritical. I agree with Anne, in that a life of only technology and electronics can be more a hindrance and a distraction from meaningful interactions with others and the world around you. But you have to stay with the times! I think the emphasis should be on moderation (as with all things), technology can be great, useful, and an aid in everyday life, rather than a crutch. But as for other “mindless” distractions, I find that in a busy world, with information constantly barraging you, family, kids, and work, a nice “mindless” activity (like beach reads, sports games, sitting outside) is refreshing and allows my brain to take a rest from it all.It’s kind of like a vacation for my brain. I especially think this is true if we’ve been educated and trained in college/grad school to always be critically thinking about issues/problems/work, our minds do need a few minutes of rest and recharge. That is one reason i do mix in a few nora roberts books in between reading classics and biographies
Sometimes reading about beautiful people doing incredible things in exotic locals is just much more fun than reading Tolstoy and imagining a starving Russian winter. But that’s just me.
May 26th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Another fascinating discussion. I would say that the statement President Obama made qualifies as a gaffe… and agree, that excess is the real dilemma, when it comes to our gadgets and electronics.
Moderation, moderation, moderation. (On the other hand, I’m for excesses of intellectual and creative exploration, education, reading, writing, and critical thinking… oh, and shoes.
)
May 26th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
I think the key phrase is “none of which I know how to work.” How can he criticize something that he knows nothing about? That’s where the problem in his gaffe begins and ends.
May 27th, 2010 at 12:37 am
You raise intriguing points about what is “other” and how it serves us to be curious about things we do not understand rather than simply judgmental.
Violent video games are an area where I’ve been all over the map from trying to prevent my kids playing them, to allowing, to taking them away, to playing with them to try to understand them. I’m still not sure where I stand on them, I don’t like them, but they are so much a part of many kid’s (and grown-up’s) lives that I cannot simply dismiss them as bad. Maybe so many men will become addicted that war will become entirely virtual at some point…
I know that I had certain ideas about what blogging was before I jumped into this world, and my experience has been nothing like my pre-conceived notions.
Maybe Steve Jobs can get Obama some gadgets for his birthday and teach him how they work (of course, if he said he loved his gadgets and was spending his time on Air Force One texting and tweeting we might be equally disappointed).
May 27th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Like this discussion! Mostly because I am TIED to my iPhone, for many reasons, and some of them make me more aware of my world and surroundings than I was ever able to be before. But I think you are quite astute when you say that we perpetrate prejudices in unassuming ways. I’ve never thought of it before, but I can see it all around me. I engage in some habits that would probably be considered sub-standard, but are COMPLETELY intended to be a diversion. A diversion from the mundane, a diversion from the pressure, a diversion from real life. It’s what makes us human and keeps us charged for moments when we need to be. (But that’s a discussion for further elaboration).