On Monday, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom submitted a proposal that he hopes will curtail obesity by applying a financial deterrent to drinks with high fructose corn syrup - in other words, a surcharge on soda. (Amount of surcharge has yet to be defined.) Understandably aggravated by this measure is the American Beverage Association, who pulls out one of our favorite red herrings in its defense.
Said Kevin Keane, senior VP of the ABA, "It makes no sense to single out any one single cause of obesity, which is a complex problem." As quoted by the International Herald Tribune, "Keane said that if Newsom really wanted to fight the fat, he would take on computer and video game companies, which Keane said lured children inside when they should 'be outside burning calories.'"
Yes, folks, by this logic we shouldn't even bother to worry about soda causing obesity when video games - not Dance Dance Revolution or Rock Band drums, mind you, those other video games like BioShock and Spider Solitaire - are the bigger Cause of Fatness. In a wholly accurate scientific study, Joystiq editors reported feeling approximately 15 calories surge from our controller, through our hands, and into our bloodstreams for every double kill in Halo 3.
We jest, of course, but continuing with Keane's logic, we must say it makes no sense to single out video games when the real problem of obesity is existence itself. If Mayor Newsom really wanted to fight the fat, he should combat our very existence. If he obliterates that, then there'll be no more obesity.
Update: The ABA sends a response letter to Kotaku.
[Image Source. Via OXM; thanks, PrivateRyan]
Reader Comments (43)
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:14PM finnith said
If I had a dollar for each time somebody blamed video games for something that isn't caused by the video games I'd be a millionaire.
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 1:19AM (Unverified) said
You know you are right but that avatar of yours certainly doesn't helps.
Reply
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:20PM Geist said
There are so many things I can say to this that my mind has reached gridlock with them all rushing to the surface.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:20PM SoulBlade said
This is just so stupid... especially coming from them. I hate seeing fucktards with Senior VP in their title.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:23PM (Unverified) said
videogames are the reason britney's little sister is pregnant.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:25PM (Unverified) said
this was on digg yesterday but just to add a comment i saw...
"Breaking:Pepper blames dust for mass sneezing."
"Breaking:Pepper blames dust for mass sneezing."
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:32PM Dragod said
People love food. It doesn't take a freaking genius to tell you that people love cake, all-you-can-eat buffets, and Soft drinks.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:38PM pabloshong said
It's sad how no one can post up the word "cake" without someone making that portal reference.
Reply
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 11:31PM Dr Stabbingworth said
It's awesome how someone posts up the word "cake" and someone makes that portal reference.
There, I fixed it for you.
Reply
There, I fixed it for you.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:33PM MrHashbrown said
Just the title of this article cracked me up.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:36PM pabloshong said
HAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......
Wait it wasn't a joke?
Wait it wasn't a joke?
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:36PM (Unverified) said
Is anyone else amused by this? Three months ago Halo 3 and Master Chief were plastered all over cans of Mountain Dew, claiming it to be gamer fuel. I guess it goes to show people will say anything if the price is right. Or in this case wrong.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:40PM Chrysee said
Can we just be rid of high fructose corn syrup finally?
Someone tell me if this is right, in other countries sodas don't use corn syrup, correct? And evidently in Australia you can't find shortening?
Someone tell me if this is right, in other countries sodas don't use corn syrup, correct? And evidently in Australia you can't find shortening?
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:44PM Razorlution said
Hmmm, lets see. How about we blame the parents who let their kids play 12 hour sessions of World of Warcraft....or leaving them alone in their room to play....whatever, all day.
How about the parents get their kids involved in some extra cullicular activities or sports, there is more to life than gaming.
How about the parents get their kids involved in some extra cullicular activities or sports, there is more to life than gaming.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:50PM SpeeGold said
You left out the non-kids. The adults who live on their own. As for them, they probably shouldn't be living on their own if they don't have the discipline to get some excercise and eat a f*cking piece of fruit. Seriously, the only people to blame are the people themselves. The beverage companies aren't helping by adding all that artificial crap to their drinks, but I guess as Americans we have the right to be unhealthy fat-asses if we so choose.
Reply
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:50PM jake11 said
guys, let's boycott the beverage industry, we don't really need drinks to live
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 10:54PM DJ Clae said
I hate high fructose corn syrup. I wish soda had sugar in it, like in Mexico. Any deterrent against using high fructose corn syrup in food gets my support.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 11:04PM (Unverified) said
I play video games because I drink soda, not drink soda because I play video games.
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 11:14PM ThornedVenom said
Let me LMFAO on this one.
*LMFAO-bombs*
*LMFAO-bombs*
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 11:21PM (Unverified) said
Who the F**k cares
if people want to eat and be fat they will and if people want to be skinny they will and no amount of playing the blame game will change that.
people have something called "free will" and that allows us to do what we want when we want(almost)
how about we stop playing the blame game and actually blame the cause(shock horror)people themselves that do not have the discipline or the mental capacity to say NO
if people want to eat and be fat they will and if people want to be skinny they will and no amount of playing the blame game will change that.
people have something called "free will" and that allows us to do what we want when we want(almost)
how about we stop playing the blame game and actually blame the cause(shock horror)people themselves that do not have the discipline or the mental capacity to say NO
Posted: Dec 19th 2007 11:51PM (Unverified) said
We need Video Games lobbyists, it has become the escape goat of every major industries out there lately. Assuming the soda companies are correct, what do they have to say about the factions of skinny gamers who consume soda while playing games?
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 12:02AM (Unverified) said
You Can't blame Video Games. Just think about this Question:
How can you eat and play Halo 3 with just 2 hands?
How can you eat and play Halo 3 with just 2 hands?
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 12:05AM (Unverified) said
As I said on Digg, no material thing is a cause of obesity. Unless the one is being FORCED to consume (in an economic sense) a product that stimulates the growth of fat cells and hinders the breakdown of storage fats, then it is just another thing on the market. You just as easily exercise as play Halo, or just as easily drink water as an alternative to Coca-Cola (no coke jokes on my watch). You can even balance all four in some strange clusterfuck of choice.
Videogames/Soda don't make people fat, people make themselves fat.
Videogames/Soda don't make people fat, people make themselves fat.
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 12:31AM (Unverified) said
to quote Luke Skywalker:
That's not true! That's impossible!
Reply
That's not true! That's impossible!
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 12:52AM (Unverified) said
Search your feelings, you know it to be an accurate statement. Together, we can end obesity, and rule skinny people as...robot and..thing.
P.S. What is your avatar? It's been bugging me for ages.
Reply
P.S. What is your avatar? It's been bugging me for ages.
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 2:19AM (Unverified) said
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 1:06AM (Unverified) said
Well done with the article image, Ross Miller. ;D
respect++
respect++
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 2:15AM Accessgranted said
It's O.K. Soda loves video games now! =) Kotaku told me so. http://kotaku.com/336032/soda-says-sorry-to-videogames
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 5:42AM (Unverified) said
'"if Newsom really wanted to fight the fat, he would take on computer and video game companies, which Keane said lured children inside when they should 'be outside burning calories.'"'
I think before he tackles games he needs to really lay down on the problems of books and TV. What modern blights on society! you cant even be social when reading a book!
I think before he tackles games he needs to really lay down on the problems of books and TV. What modern blights on society! you cant even be social when reading a book!
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 6:48AM RogueJedi86 said
I think the Beverage companies need to realize one thing: Sure kids aren't burning the fat because they're playing video games, but where does the fat come from? From the foods and drinks they consume. If you reduce the obesity-causing ingredients in your products, people won't have to worry about having to burn it off. Don't blame the video games for making kids not burn the fat, accept the blame for causing the fat in the first place.
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 8:31AM (Unverified) said
With the exception of Wii Fit, of course.
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 8:40AM (Unverified) said
Did anyone else notice the irony of that dude saying it was irresponsible to blame obesity on one cause and then in the next breath he blamed video games??
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 9:33AM (Unverified) said
Maybe if taxes and energy weren't so high, both my parents need not BOTH work to pay them, and thus I could spend more outside-quality time with atleast one of them. But no, I am confined to my media center, doomed to play CoD4, and my only sustainment is the 5 for $10 12packs of Pepsi, Dr Pepper and Coke...mmmmm.
"Mom, can I have a dollar for the coke machine at school?" "So why do fastfood chains not get penalized for that "biggie" for only $.60 more?"
"Mom, can I have a dollar for the coke machine at school?" "So why do fastfood chains not get penalized for that "biggie" for only $.60 more?"
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 11:57AM captaincthulhu said
as 7inches of fluffy white snow falls on my town currently, I finally see snow for what it really is: it drives people inside while they should be outside burning calories!
The solution is simple: stop snow and you will stop obesity! of course , it's a seasonal rule for seasonal fatties :)
The solution is simple: stop snow and you will stop obesity! of course , it's a seasonal rule for seasonal fatties :)
Posted: Dec 20th 2007 7:27PM Manhammer said
Call me crazy but maybe just maybe obesity wouldnt be a problem if people exercise more and eat right.
Nah that would never work what was I thinking!
Death to video games!
Nah that would never work what was I thinking!
Death to video games!
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