By Alex Chen | January 01, 0001
Look, I’d just as soon avoid getting too het up about this latest mainstream diss on video games. But CNN’s William Bennett has forced my hand, penning a new article about the decline of the American male titled “Why men are in trouble.” Leading the article is a stock image of a gray-flecked adult holding up a PS3 controller, presumably to show it to someone in the room. Because no one actually holds a controller like that.(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c&cid=872d12ce-453b-4870-845f-955919887e1b'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c" }).render("79703296e5134c75a2db6e1b64762017"); }); In the piece, Bennett (who was U.S. Secretary of Education under Reagan) says that women are claiming a growing percentage of the job market, and are outpacing men earning college degrees rummy 365 and improving their salaries. (Let’s leave aside the fact that the findings are relative and track changes from 1970 to 2006, where much of the change was due to Women finally righting the scales after decades of imbalance in pay and educational opportunities.)
Halfway through the article comes the money quote. When pondering man’s response to our presumed decline, Bennett says the following: Man’s response has been pathetic. Today, 18-to- 34-year-old men spend more time playing video games a day than 12-to- 17-year-old boys. While women are graduating college and finding good jobs, too many men are not going to work, not getting married and not raising families. Women are beginning to take the place of men in many ways. This has led some to ask: do we even need men? For starters, “Man’s response?” He says it as though we’re organized! Men aren’t activating the secret emergency network or calling late-night Man-Club meetings. We don’t have a phone-tree. We’re way too busy playing video games to organize that kind of thing. Also, we are busy enjoying the company of women and not 
plotting against them.
Anyway. Once again, we’ve got an unfair and lazy maligning of video games based on the assumption that they are only proper entertainment for children, and that grown-ups should, presumably, only watch TV and read books. As to that final question, anyone who has ever read Y: The Last Man can say with certainty, “Yes! We do need men! Seriously, otherwise shit gets crazy.”
The Founding Fathers believed, and the evidence still shows, that industriousness, marriage and religion are a rummy 51 very important basis for male empowerment and achievement. We may need to say to a number of our twenty-something men, “Get off the video games five hours a day, get yourself together, get a challenging job and get married.” It’s time for men to man up. Sigh. I’m all for encouraging people so step up and get a job (Look ma, I’m blogging), but can we leave the cheap video game slams out of it? I get that it’s an easy shortcut to illustrating the kind of social maladjustment that the article describes, but it’s 
just so lazy. Furthermore, abstractly invoking video 
games does little to actually illustrate Bennett’s broader point, which may very well be something worth talking about. All I get from this is “These numbers say that men play video games, so of course that is part of the problem here.” Specific examples, please!
Hrmph. Maybe Bennett should just stick to going on talk radio and saying that if we were to abort all black babies it would lower the crime rate Why Men Are in Trouble [CNN] (Top photo credit | Sanzhar Murzin/Shutterstock) rummy best You can contact Kirk Hamilton, the author of this post, at [email protected]. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
3 Reader Comments
SlotMaster9894
I really enjoy playing the slot games here. The variety is amazing, from classic reels to modern video slots with interactive bonus rounds. Every spin feels like an adventure, and the graphics and sound effects are top-notch, making the experience immersive and exciting. The payout process is generally smooth and reliable, though occasionally it takes longer than expected. Overall, I feel confident that my winnings are safe and will be credited properly. The mobile interface is smooth and intuitive. I can play all my favorite slots on the go without experiencing any lag or glitches. The design is responsive and user-friendly, which makes gaming on my phone just as enjoyable as on my computer.
SlotWizard9884
I appreciate the themed slot games, especially those based on movies and TV shows. They make the gaming experience more engaging and immersive. The combination of storyline, visuals, and bonus features makes each game feel unique. The progressive jackpots are thrilling, and it's exciting to watch the jackpot amounts grow as more players spin the reels. I hope they add even more jackpot slots because it adds a lot of excitement to the gameplay. The payout process is generally smooth and reliable, though occasionally it takes longer than expected. Overall, I feel confident that my winnings are safe and will be credited properly.
GameAddict8400
Customer support has been outstanding whenever I had any issues. They respond quickly and professionally, ensuring that any concerns with deposits, withdrawals, or gameplay are addressed immediately, which makes me trust the platform more. I appreciate the themed slot games, especially those based on movies and TV shows. They make the gaming experience more engaging and immersive. The combination of storyline, visuals, and bonus features makes each game feel unique. Sometimes I wish there were more ways to earn rewards through loyalty programs or frequent player bonuses. Adding seasonal events or special challenges could enhance the excitement even further.