Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

October 10, 2008

Okay, so that's two words. But still...

Day of the Dreamweavers yesterday mentioned the term "Atari Democrat" and it is one that I'll confess to not having heard before. According to DotD, here's the definition:

...a phrase first popularized during the early 1980s, references both the video game company Atari and Democratic legislators who suggested that the support and development of high tech and related businesses would stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Wikipedia has more, including this definition from the Philadelphia Inquirer, circa 1984:

...a young liberal trying to push the party toward more involvement with high-tech solutions.

It seems to be primarily a 1980's term. Major examples include Al Gore (after all, he did invent the Internet).

GP: Under either definition, would Barack Obama qualify as an Atari Democrat? Of course, Atari is far from the powerhouse that it was in the eighties. Apple Democrat, perhaps?

Posted in

Comments

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by SeanB on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 19:08.

Al Gore never claimed to have invented the internet. Get past it already.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by C. Aaron Browbo... on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:29.

just remember who al gore's married to... tipper gore, true evil

Jesus Jack Jones Thompson.... is dead... (funeral udruge, followed by Celebrate :D )

Jesus Jack Jones Thompson loves you, so kill for his amusement so we can get money for the new "People's Temple of Jesus Jack Jones Thompson"

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by PHOENIXZERO on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 14:12.

Obama is barely even an "Atari Democrat" since the last game he played was apparently Pong. Not to mention it seems like he looks down upon those who play videogames since they're "time wasters". >_>

Let's not even get started on Al Gore...

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Kataclysmic_Kat on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 02:17.

Absolutely; they don't give two shits. They'd probably even love to see violent videogames get banned, like Clinton ...

"That which does not kill me strengthens me." -Friedrich Nietzsche

"Poor fool, he makes me laugh ..." Il Muto, Phantom of the Opera

"That which does not kill me strengthens me." -Friedrich Nietzsche "Poor fool, he makes me laugh ..." Il Muto, Phantom of the Opera

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Paulrus on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 11:43.

I third "Nintendocrat."

I'm an attention whore. So visit my DevaintArt and feed my ego. Feed the whore. http://keaton2008.deviantart.com/

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Dark Sovereign on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 11:26.

Nintendocrat sounds better.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by SimonBob on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:40.

Just as long as he's not a Tengen Democrat. (Still haven't forgiven them for the unlicenced NES port of Shinobi.)

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The Mammon Industry

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Fangamer

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by olstar18 on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:19.

I can't figure out why that urban legend gets spread around so much even when he isn't running for office. He did not claim to create the internet. He exact words were "I took the initiative in creating the internet." He was not claiming to invent it he was claiming to be a driving force behind the legislation that made it possible for the internet to become what it is today.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Bennett Beeny on Sat, 10/11/2008 - 20:33.

Yeah, I don't know why this even circulates anymore, as it's been so totally discredited. I guess it shows that even GP is willing to post discredited disinformation when it suits his political viewpoint. Although it's disappointing, I guess it's nice to know GP's political bias - always good to know the politics of the news services one subscribes to.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Quarantine on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 20:13.

I think the media had something to do with this urban legend because back then, all campaign funding was going towards the republican party. And it just stuck afterwards.

----------------------------------------

"Because this town is under the stranglehold of a few tight eyed Tree Huggers who would rather play Hacky Sack than lock up the homeless" -- Birch Barlow

---------------------------------------- "Because this town is under the stranglehold of a few tight eyed Tree Huggers who would rather play Hacky Sack than lock up the homeless" -- Birch Barlow

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by DeepThorn on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:06.

You are posting stories too fast, I cant keep up, haha j/k. I love it.

Atari isnt even the real Atari... It is some Finland company or something. Nolan Bushnell just sold the branding name to them for a pretty sum...

Apple might sue if you say Apple Democrats too, you might have to say Pair Democrats as a knock off, haha. I don't think we can keep it on the same level though, we have to keep it on the same level in relation to the times. So I would vote for the Tweeter Democrats maybe... Or maybe the Second Life Democrats...

Yeah... That is the only ideas I can come up with that would work...

I might have to second Nintendemocrats.

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How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by beemoh on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:01.

Nintendemocrat, obvs.

/b

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Keith K on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:47.

I think simply 'Nintendocrat' is better.

Re: Word of the Day: Atari Democrat

Submitted by Nocturne on Fri, 10/10/2008 - 08:01.

would Barack Obama qualify as an Atari Democrat?

If he mentions ET it may be time to vote Republican

Poll

Shout box

Cecil475: @hellfire7885 - Makes me want to support Nintendo even more.05/24/2013 - 4:49pm

hellfire7885: Man, EA seems to be determined to destroy the Wii U ,and the evidently are so arrogant as to believe not making games for it will do that.05/24/2013 - 4:45pm

DorthLous: Pwahahahha http://www.destructoid.com/wii-u-sales-drastically-spike-after-xbox-one-presentation-254449.phtml#LlG8HEYbQj2krql5.0105/24/2013 - 2:23pm

james_fudge: she gets no credit until she employs some common sense. - 2 credits for her.05/24/2013 - 11:22am

Andrew Eisen: To Stender's credit, she did unmoderate my most recent comment within a day's time. There's even a couple other replies. None from her though.05/24/2013 - 11:18am

james_fudge: apparently gamers are all 14 - 21 years-olds living in basements according to her way of thinking...05/24/2013 - 11:11am

ZippyDSMlee: EZK: 0_o thier video card chipset is at the very least 3 versions behind the top PC video card.......05/24/2013 - 7:38am

MechaTama31: "You just wouldn't understand how my parenting preferences are more important than everybody else's freedoms."05/24/2013 - 7:37am

DorthLous: I love how she plays the "I'm a parent, you're a gamer, you couldn't understand" card... I'm a parent and I find her position despicable...05/23/2013 - 4:16pm

E. Zachary Knight: She didn't address your questions because she doesn't have any answers.05/23/2013 - 3:38pm

Andrew Eisen: I replied to her comment. Maybe in a few weeks I'll get a reply.05/23/2013 - 3:24pm

Thomas Riordan: @Andrew Eisen To what bowling alley does she go that puts sexual images in the faces of 6 year olds?05/23/2013 - 3:17pm

Andrew Eisen: Well, it took a month but Linda Stender finally replied to me... and didn't address a single one of my questions. http://aswlindastender.com/2013/04/23/follow-up-video-games-and-their-effect-on-children/05/23/2013 - 3:13pm

Imautobot: Also, from a tech perspective the PS4 is apparently already winning. http://bgr.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-vs-playstation-4-specs/05/23/2013 - 3:12pm

Imautobot: Sony's PS4 motto should be "We play games." Microsoft's should be "We play games, when we're not rewinding your tapes."05/23/2013 - 3:11pm

Andrew Eisen: Oh look, Dying Light was just announced For Everything But Wii U. That's 73.05/23/2013 - 2:06pm

james_fudge: Zippy: they said the same thing about Cell. How did that turn out.05/23/2013 - 1:28pm

Andrew Eisen: Need for Speed Rivals is coming out For Everything But Wii U - PS3, 360, PC, PS4 and Xbox One. That brings the grand total up to 72.05/23/2013 - 12:55pm

PHX Corp: http://wiiudaily.com/2013/05/microsoft-is-selling-the-wii-u-better-than-nintendo/ Wii U daily Opinion: Microsoft is selling the Wii U better than Nintendo05/23/2013 - 12:23pm

E. Zachary Knight: Zippy, they very well may be. But that will only last until they are released. At that time, they will be two generations behind.05/23/2013 - 11:14am

All shouts

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