Stephen Colbert frags Steven Johnson
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jun 9th 2006 at 10:30PM }
Steven Johnson, author of the excellent book Everything Bad is Good for You, made an appearance on Stephen Colbert's faux-news show last night to talk about "how today's popular culture is actually making us smarter." Johnson writes on his blog:
"... [Colbert] wasn't too over-the-top with his O'Reilly imitation in our chat last night. He played it a bit straighter than I had expected, which made the conversation a little easier. The interesting twist was that he chose not to do the 'you're destroying the youth of America' rant that you might have expected him to do; in fact, his major in character joke was that he agreed with my argument that books are a waste of time. (By the way, if you're just coming to the site for the first time, that's not my argument at all, of course.)"
Almost one year ago (to the day!) Johnson appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (video) pushing the same book and the same message. We're suckers for his argument (not that books are a waste of time, the other one: that video games aren't a waste of time), so we don't mind one bit. He name drops games like Civilization IV and Spore as games that are emblematic of his thesis that today's games are increasingly complicated. I don't know about you, Steven, but I can't stop playing UNO on Xbox Live Arcade. Not sure that counts though ...
More on Steven Johnson:
Why we should take games seriously
An open letter to senator Clinton
Video Games Are Good for You, Except When They're Just Bad
(Update: video is embedded after the break. Thanks, daneo!)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Frowelishnu @ Jun 9th 2006 10:38PM
This is a great book, not only for yourself but as a gift to that non-understanding family member (parent, spouse, ect). He also goes into TV and how that has gotten more complex and forces you to follow many more relationships and plot points (usually not in sequential order).
Really, can't recommend it enough.
Louis S. @ Jun 10th 2006 12:10AM
Colbert pwn3d him.
bazald @ Jun 10th 2006 12:38AM
Yeah, I especially liked how the author jokingly claimed this to be "the highlight of his career." However, I don't understand why he is still promoting this book. It was published in May of last year. Is he promoting the new paperback? Give me a break...
daneo @ Jun 10th 2006 2:19AM
The video:
http://www.vsocial.com/video/?d=32889
tofufever @ Jun 10th 2006 5:08AM
he was also on Charlie Rose previously. That was a much better interview where you get to hear his insight. And for those who argue about the unhealthy aspect of inactivity. At the Charlie Rose interview he says a balanced life is still important but it's just pop culture is not as bad as people think it is. Hope someone has the video for that one.
Anthony @ Jun 10th 2006 7:40AM
This is truly great! The only sad part is parents only listen to what they want to hear. The news is full of the bad things about Video Games. Notice how there is never anything on the news like this guy is saying?
"The second most popular game allows you to make a civilization"
They don't want to hear some adult saying that Video games are having a positive effect on there child that plays 5+ hours a day. It will take years for the view on Video games to be changed if ever. But it takes days to make parents think that what there kids are playing is making them plot to shoot up some people.
Unfortuenlty this man will not be enough to change the minds of many if any adults.
None the less this guy is still great and it is awesome to see someone who is not saying how video games are making our teens monsters.
SuperDrew @ Jun 10th 2006 8:08AM
Anthony:
They don't want to hear some adult saying that Video games are having a positive effect on there child that plays 5+ hours a day.
I wont lie to you, I personally play games 5+ hours a day. However, playing games for this much time each day probably isn't such a good thing. I know there are positive aspects to gaming, however it is all in moderation.
Anthony @ Jun 10th 2006 8:21AM
I know my mom would think I had like a obsessive disorder if I played 5+ hours of video games a day. She would think that I need to get out more and that it really is not good for me.
In context though she is right. But what I am saying is that the last thing the parent wants to hear from this guy is that it is having a postive effect on me.
Like you said. Gaming is something fun in moderation as long as you dont take it to the extreme. This implies to almost every other thing out there.
Of course being in front of the T.V most of the day is not a good thing and that is obvious, but playing video games for fun in moderation while getting a somewhat positive benifit is great.
I am in no way saying that I dont get my share of gaming in. My parents usually go to sleep at 10:00 on weekends so I get plenty of gaming in then...heheheh
Christopher7xii @ Jun 10th 2006 8:47AM
"It no worky for me."
Professional journalism at it's best.
Noga @ Jun 10th 2006 9:11AM
I don't know about you Steven, but I can't stop playing UNO on Xbox Live Arcade.
There should be a comma before Steven. Sorry, I just had to say it.
slybri @ Jun 10th 2006 2:35PM
I think it's mostly adults on average spec. PCs that are playing Sims and CIv IV. I honestly don't think the number 2 game among 12 year olds is CIV IV.
This guy seems to think that the only people that play video games are kids, while the average age of a video gamer is around 30. Most kids probably are playing Halo on the xbox.
I agree with his thesis, I think his examples are bad. Maybe the guy just really likes Civ IV.
BUBBA @ Jun 10th 2006 2:43PM
Is it just me, but it seems that games like Civ4 are the exception to the rule that games ARE bad. Not that all the FPSs and GTAs are the exception to the rule that video games in general are good.
ashok @ Jun 10th 2006 3:38PM
On Mr. Johnson's point -
Growing up I played a lot of Koei games for NES and SNES. Learned a lot about the history of China, the Middle Ages, the Age of Exploration, and the Second World War doing this. My high school seriously taught less than video games.
In fact, the historical facts they taught were just the beginning. I'm arguing nowadays that EVE Online has a very rich backstory, one that explores politics thoroughly as it is shaped by capitalist/technological forces. Kate Foxwood's little essay in the EVE forums is probably a good place to start, if you don't know anything about EVE -
http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=348575
Point is, what Johnson's saying is just the tip of the iceberg regarding games. They have enormous educational potential if used right.
C. Grant @ Jun 10th 2006 5:05PM
Keep in mind this is only a 6 minute interview on a comedy show. If you're interested in his argument, check out his book. For the reading averse, the video games portion is only about 1/3 of an already short book. Great read.
PB @ Jun 11th 2006 6:59PM
So the guy is basically an idiot, who is cashing in on the .. "With a President like this "leading" the nation, any BS idea can fly!" .. end-days attitude of the majority of Americans.
Books bad, video games good.
The guy is just another f*ing flakey snake oil salesman, like every other pop-psych author out there.
Nick @ Jun 24th 2006 10:26PM
the only problem is game creators take such a huge margin for creative changes. I don't know how many people who think they know all about Asatru and Norse Paganism, which happens to be my religion, because they played diablo or whatever. We can't rely on video games to teach facts, but perhaps problem solving skills, that kind of thing.