Bill O'Really says "Gamers are morons and doomed to a life of poverty".

[Kobra]

http://gamepolitics.com/2006/11/18/bill-oreilly-slams-playstation-3-launch-gamers-ipods-tech-not-in-that-order

I always knew he was an ignorant asshole, but this seals the deal.  I guess he doesn't understand, or care, that a lot of people that enjoy games are already millionaires, or damn close to it.  Many are successful in life, and still many more are lumped into the group of "Haves".  But according to O'Really, we're all a bunch of McDonalds workers with no skillsets, no lives, and are addicted to something harmful like Opium.   

[Arkon]

After reading it, he makes many valid points in my opinion, but he makes them too broad/generalized.

The problem with this stuff is that some people can deal with it constructively… but other people get addicted to it, just like opium, just like drugs and alcohol… So this is a big, big problem. It’s going to change every single thing in this country.

He goes a bit too far with this statement but isn't that far off.  There are many people who are addicted to gaming, which is no better than being addicted to drugs or alcohol.  Any addiction is harmful.  I think alot of this came from the insanity that was the PS3 launch.  People were shot, many were arrested.

[hornysax]

"…I really fear for the United States because, believe me, the jihadists? They’re not playing the video games. They’re killing real people over there."

Is Bill O'Reilly saying he wants us to stop playing video games and start killing people?

The part about him having a podcast of his radio show and criticizing the ipod is funny also.

[dbt1949]

He is right about some people being addicted to gaming. However, most that are still have "real lives" and carry about normally and earn a living and so forth. Liker me for instance. There are some however that really take it to extremes, but then they said that about D & D players a generation before and rock & roll the generation before that ad infinium and somehow the world goes on and those people are living "normal lives".
Maybe O'Reilly is the one not living in the real world.
That will be $4.95 please.

[Big Jake]

I just want to point out: they mention the interview with PR man Blois Olson.  I went to school with Blois.  I remember smashing pumpkins when we were kids over on Kent street.  Wow, sometimes your childhood justs comes out of the woodwork!

[Mattc0m]

While I agree addictions are bad, it's definitely not a drug or alcohol type of addiction. It's more like being addicted to TV, Music CD, or books. While watching too much TV, reading too many books, or spending too much time listening to music may be bad for you, mainly because you're probably skimping on exercise, it's not the end of the world. People addicted to video games aren't causing any problems that I'm aware of, and it actually seems a better thing to get addicted to than most other "vices". I wouldn't even describe it as a vice, to be honest. Just a medium that people can enjoy - maybe too much.

[CeeKay]

is this the idiot who had an incident with a vibrator, or is that some other host?

[CrayolaSmoker]

While I agree addictions are bad, it's definitely not a drug or alcohol type of addiction. It's more like being addicted to TV, Music CD, or books. While watching too much TV, reading too many books, or spending too much time listening to music may be bad for you, mainly because you're probably skimping on exercise, it's not the end of the world. People addicted to video games aren't causing any problems that I'm aware of, and it actually seems a better thing to get addicted to than most other "vices". I wouldn't even describe it as a vice, to be honest. Just a medium that people can enjoy - maybe too much.

While gaming as an addiction may have minimal effect on a person's physical health when compared to drugs/alcohol, it more readily has an effect on a person's finances and relationships. I've heard far more stories of marriages ended by MMORPGs than marriages begun because of them. I think it's fair to equate a hardcore gaming addiction to one of hardcore gambling. Though it's significantly harder for Sonic to come break your kneecaps if you don't pay him back. 

[Calvin]

I just don't understand this gaming addiction nonsense. To me its just that: nonsense. Not playing a video game does not have the same effect as not smoking or not taking heroin. Its just two completely different animals. And Bill, Bill, Bill...you are the most rational of all the crazy loon talk show hosts., You occasionally make good points. You make a few good points here-but as usual, you ruined it with your sweeping generalizations, hyperbole, and ignorance. GJ man!

[unbreakable]

O'Reilly is a propagandist who's scant claims of credibility (and relevance) has finally run out.

We are witnessing the fall of a desperate man.  Good times!

[Lee]

O'Reilly is a propagandist who's scant claims of credibility (and relevance) has finally run out.

We are witnessing the fall of a desperate man.  Good times!

Umm yeah, he still blows away anything from CNN on ratings and is Fox's top ratings guy. People eat this shit up, and his viewers probably agree with him, we aren't his target audience. O'Reilly is hardly desperate, he's a shock jock, and you guys are falling for it.

[Kobra]

O'Reilly is a propagandist who's scant claims of credibility (and relevance) has finally run out.

We are witnessing the fall of a desperate man.  Good times!

Umm yeah, he still blows away anything from CNN on ratings and is Fox's top ratings guy. People eat this shit up, and his viewers probably agree with him, we aren't his target audience. O'Reilly is hardly desperate, he's a shock jock, and you guys are falling for it.

FoxNews has been on a 5 year decline in viewers.  Recently in fact, Keith Olbermann on at the same time, has BEAT O'Really in the first 30 minutes of each of their shows, and nearly tied him at the last 30 minutes.  There is a tracked flight from his show that he is very aware of.  The problem is, you just can't keep lying to people, and expect them not to catch on..

[Lee]

Don't know where you are getting your info, but everytime Drudge posts cable news ratings O'Reilly is in the 2+ Million people while Olbermann is in the 500,000+ area. Doing a search for "news ratings" brings up lots of articles that say Fox News ratings are down, but they are still double everything else.

[-Lord Ebonstone-]

As evidenced by the last two presidential elections (or XBox Live), the majority of Americans* are ignorant, racist, jingoistic, homophobic fuckwits.

It doesn't surprise me at all that O'Reilly and Fake News are more popular than, say, CNN.  Or even, heaven forbid, the BBC.

*Note:  This may apply to humankind in general, however, I am not well-traveled enough to make such a claim yet.

[unbreakable]

I would be willing to bet that gamers as a group tend to make above the median income.

[Eightball]

I just don't understand this gaming addiction nonsense. To me its just that: nonsense. Not playing a video game does not have the same effect as not smoking or not taking heroin. Its just two completely different animals.

Not completely.  Behavior based addictions have a physiological basis; engaging in the behaviors (gambling is generally the model behavior) causes the release of endorphins, which causes a pleasureable sensation.  Thus while there is no physical "requirement" to engage in the behavior, people engage in the behavior to potentiate the release of endorphins.

[Big Jake]

I just noticed a RIDICULOUS assertion in this thread:

While gaming as an addiction may have minimal effect on a person's physical health when compared to drugs/alcohol, it more readily has an effect on a person's finances and relationships.

...WHAT?!?!?

Dude, I buy a game for $50, and and let say I only get 10 hours of enjoyment out of it, that's $5/hr on supporting my addiction. Drugs and alcohol are WAAAAAY more expensive than that.  Gaming is actually one of the CHEAPEST forms of addiction.

[dbt1949]

I just noticed a RIDICULOUS assertion in this thread:

While gaming as an addiction may have minimal effect on a person's physical health when compared to drugs/alcohol, it more readily has an effect on a person's finances and relationships.

...WHAT?!?!?

Dude, I buy a game for $50, and and let say I only get 10 hours of enjoyment out of it, that's $5/hr on supporting my addiction. Drugs and alcohol are WAAAAAY more expensive than that.  Gaming is actually one of the CHEAPEST forms of addiction.

Until it's time to upgrade your computer or components.  :icon_confused:

[CrayolaSmoker]

I just noticed a RIDICULOUS assertion in this thread:

While gaming as an addiction may have minimal effect on a person's physical health when compared to drugs/alcohol, it more readily has an effect on a person's finances and relationships.

...WHAT?!?!?

Dude, I buy a game for $50, and and let say I only get 10 hours of enjoyment out of it, that's $5/hr on supporting my addiction. Drugs and alcohol are WAAAAAY more expensive than that.  Gaming is actually one of the CHEAPEST forms of addiction.

Not that games more readily have an effect on finances/relationships than drugs/alcohol have an effect on finances/relationships, but that games more readily have an effect on finances/relationships than games have on physical health. Stupid text. If we were conversing there's no way it would be misinterpreted.

Trust me, I'd never make the assertion as interpreted. I routinely see the effects of crack and alcohol abuse on a weekly basis. With the possible exception of mental illness, I don't think there's anything quite so holistically devastating to a human being.

[hepcat]

American society is changing for the worse because of the machines… In the past to flee the real world people usually chose drugs or alcohol… now you don’t have to do that, Now all you have to do is have enough money to buy a machine…

Holy Crap, Bill O'Reilly just told me it's okay to do drugs and drink if I don't play video games! 

I'm sorry guys, I'm sellin' the 360.  It's Heroin and Whiskey for dinner tonight, baby!

[Kobra]

Dude, I buy a game for $50, and and let say I only get 10 hours of enjoyment out of it, that's $5/hr on supporting my addiction. Drugs and alcohol are WAAAAAY more expensive than that.  Gaming is actually one of the CHEAPEST forms of addiction.

I spend $5-39 max on games, and usually get 40+ hours out of each one.  I would say on average, 50cents-70cents an hour.  The only hobby I could find cheaper than that would be masturbation.

[dbt1949]

Dude, I buy a game for $50, and and let say I only get 10 hours of enjoyment out of it, that's $5/hr on supporting my addiction. Drugs and alcohol are WAAAAAY more expensive than that.  Gaming is actually one of the CHEAPEST forms of addiction.

I spend $5-39 max on games, and usually get 40+ hours out of each one.  I would say on average, 50cents-70cents an hour.  The only hobby I could find cheaper than that would be masturbation.

That's just because of the web. In my day we had to BUY our porn!

[Mr. Fed]

Bill's just mad because he can't get past the level three boss (a giant, enraged loftah with the face of Al Franken) on Falafel Hero.

[Gwar21]

As evidenced by the last two presidential elections (or XBox Live), the majority of Americans* are ignorant, racist, jingoistic, homophobic fuckwits.

With your having called several times in the past for civil war and genocide against all conservative Christians, I'd say you're really not qualified to be passing judgement on your fellow Americans.

[unbreakable]

Bill's just mad because he can't get past the level three boss (a giant, enraged loftah with the face of Al Franken) on Falafel Hero.

He probably never found the room with the Tahini gun.

LOL, he is nub.

[-Lord Ebonstone-]

As evidenced by the last two presidential elections (or XBox Live), the majority of Americans* are ignorant, racist, jingoistic, homophobic fuckwits.

With your having called several times in the past for civil war and genocide against all conservative Christians, I'd say you're really not qualified to be passing judgement on your fellow Americans.

Considering being a conservative Christian makes you an ignorant, racist, jingoistic, homophobic fuckwit by default, I don't really think you have a point.

[Graham]

As evidenced by the last two presidential elections (or XBox Live), the majority of Americans* are ignorant, racist, jingoistic, homophobic fuckwits.

With your having called several times in the past for civil war and genocide against all conservative Christians, I'd say you're really not qualified to be passing judgement on your fellow Americans.

Considering being a conservative Christian makes you an ignorant, racist, jingoistic, homophobic wit by default, I don't really think you have a point.

A lot of people would say that you are a bigoted nitwit just for saying those kinds of things.  Trying to point out the speck in another's eye while ignoring the plank in your own?

It's funny how those who preach being non-judgemental are often times more judgemental themselves.

[farley2k]

Lets stop this before it gets ugly...uglier. 

[Calvin]

Lets stop this before it gets ugly...uglier. 

Be like Calvin-peace and love towards all!! 

[Luminescent Pubes]

the machines! the machines! these machines! the jihadists?  no...the machines! 

[unbreakable]

Maybe he is jealous people are more interested in video games than his idiot, bullshit conspiracy theories. 

And besides, shouldn't he be promoting his "War on Christmas" b.s. now?

[Kobra]

Maybe he is jealous people are more interested in video games than his idiot, bullshit conspiracy theories. 

And besides, shouldn't he be promoting his "War on Christmas" b.s. now?

 

[Devil]

Like 2 peas in a pod!
 

[Purge]

...and what is this STAFF bullshit? What jingoistic nitwit hired THE FREAKIN' DEVIL to work for GamingTrend?

He must be huffin' something, I tellza. And it's not that marijuana stuff; it's more likely from trying to blow out a cartridge on his NES junkie binge to self-destruction.

Go Zelda, Go!

[Kobra]

Hes the janitor.   

[Devil]

Listen here, Purgy!

I'll have you know that I'm a virtual force on the GT staff that I dare say that the place, and maybe the world, would shut down without me!!

Read some sports reviews, will ya!! Bask in my glow!!!

I'm such a force on the staff that you guys haven't even noticed!

 

[Purge]

"virtual force" as in not real?  :slywink:

Devil, you're loved. Mostly by LD late at night in motels; but at least it's something. 

 

[Purge]

PS.

I'm basking.  Oh yeah. I can feel it. </kronk>

[Devil]

It's a force that you can't see or feel, kinda like smell.

Me and Poncho don't resort to cheap motels for our interaction! Everything takes place in his mother's basement, like it should!

 

[Purge]

Dear god, please make the Devil stop sharing.

KTHXBYE.