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Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: AV on August 18, 2008, 03:41:33 PM

Title: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: AV on August 18, 2008, 03:41:33 PM
Quote

Mike and Hunter do not believe in one-size-fits-all parenting.

"We couldn't take the complaining anymore," says Hunter. "He always told me that he thought school was a waste of time."

Blake never gravitated toward sports or drama or any of the other traditional school-based activities. Just gaming.

His "Guitar Hero" skills certainly have impressed the local gaming
community.

Blake has done well in local tournaments, including one held at a Chick-fil-A that earned him 52 combo meals. By his account, he has lost only once since "Guitar Hero III" was released late last year. Some of that time was spent playing online, against players from all over the world.
He's good at video games. "I wasn't really good at anything else that I liked."

So they made a deal. Blake could leave school but would have to be tutored at home. In one respect, the arrangement is similar to what parents of gifted child athletes and actors have done for years.



 ??? :rolleyes: >:( :o :-\
 Source  (http://www.newsobserver.com/2766/story/1155589.html)

He is still taking tutoring at home so he hasn't ditched school totally, but this is now seems like a Priority in his life.

I think he is a ***** idiot, and think Guitar hero is a overrated game and is boring to me, and I don't care if he is really good this is asinine.

by the way since Guitar Hero is on Wii I thought this would fit on this board instead of General Gaming board.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: ShyGuy on August 18, 2008, 03:47:12 PM
I didn't realize there was a Guitar Hero circuit.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: vudu on August 18, 2008, 03:49:34 PM
I don't care if he is really good this is asinine.

But he's not "really good".  So far he's won $1,000 in prizes.  Yeah, he could sure beat me at the game, but he's hardly considered "the best".
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on August 18, 2008, 03:49:56 PM
A wonderful story of people failing in life at different levels.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: DAaaMan64 on August 18, 2008, 04:01:56 PM
wonderful parents I'm sure
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Ian Sane on August 18, 2008, 04:53:00 PM
If Guitar Hero was something that makes money this would be worthwhile.  But this is like taking your kid out of school because he can fit more M&M's in his mouth at once than anyone else.  Hell the way games change Guitar Hero might be completely irrelevent and unpopular in a few years.  The way they're milking it I would say that's a given.  If someone took the greatest Tony Hawk's Pro Skater player out of school back in 2001 would that have been worthwhile now?

But then any parent using a term like "one-size-fits-all parenting" is raising a welfare leech.  I find it very annoying when people act like following rules or being responsible for your actions or trying to earn a living with a useful skill that benefits society only applies to some people.  The MAN is trying to hold my kid down with his RULEZ!

Blake Peebles has dropped out of school for a meaningful career as a bum.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Morari on August 18, 2008, 07:50:31 PM
Public schooling is horrid anyway. You're not educated, you're molded and conditioned. Home schooling (in its many variations) is phenomenally better.

Practicing up for Guitar Hero is pretty pointless however. Even the best "cyber-athletes" barely make enough to really live off of, and that requires dozens of high profile tournaments every year, alongside endorsements and such. Those are also generally more skill based games, like Quake and StarCraft. On the other hand, Guitar Hero is little more than memorization.

Ian, what exactly would be a living that benefits society? As far as I can see, the large majority of people aren't in those occupations as is. Most merely work to make their lazy overlords richer, whether it be a manager, CEO, or their government. Following questionable rules and living by the established status quo isn't much of a life at all.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Ian Sane on August 18, 2008, 08:09:17 PM
Quote
Ian, what exactly would be a living that benefits society?

You know thinking about it that's totally the wrong choice of words.  I'm thinking like getting a job so you can support yourself, the theory being that if people are willing to pay you then there is some sort of function to it.  Training for a skill that is considered useful in our society as opposed to being a begger or a criminal or just a general mooch who contributes nothing and wants a hand out.  At the very least being able to support yourself is beneficial to society because then everyone else doesn't have to take care of you.  Guitar Hero is a skill in which no currently existing career exists.

Quote
Most merely work to make their lazy overlords richer, whether it be a manager, CEO, or their government.

Actually most of us work to feed ourselves and our family.

There is a difference between not following the status quo and being an irresponsible jerkwad.  To take an extreme example a murderer isn't following the status quo but "don't kill" isn't just a law to ruin people's fun.  There is a lot of dumb bullsh!t laws but the basic practice of being a self-sufficient responsible person who respects other people is a good thing.  Sometimes I get the vibe that parents are going to raise their kid's differently because the structure of society is there just to ruin everyone's fun.  Well not entirely.  These parents are putting their kid on the ticket to being a bum.  A bum everyone else has take care of.  Like it or not you have to fit in a little bit.  It's all a balance.

I actually think home schooling is pretty cool, with my only concern being that it might be difficult to make friends when one isn't going to a building with people their own age the whole time.  If I had the time and wasn't concerned about that I would probably do it with my future kids.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: UncleBob on August 18, 2008, 08:20:55 PM
Public schooling is horrid anyway. You're not educated, you're molded and conditioned. Home schooling (in its many variations) is phenomenally better.

QFT.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: DAaaMan64 on August 18, 2008, 08:26:45 PM
LOL that could lead right into some awesome political discussion about federal intervention in the school system.

but ya.. dumb dumb parents
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: nickmitch on August 18, 2008, 08:27:19 PM
Charter schools are where it's at. A subtle mix of private school in you public schools. But anyway, I prefer public to home because you can learn people skills, and if you want a "real" education, then go to college.

Back to the topic: I'm always amazed at how dumb some parents can be. By the next generation of consoles, when all of his friends are pursuing careers and getting laid, he should feel pretty much like ****.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on August 18, 2008, 08:43:31 PM
The only good part of the deal was that the kid has to get private tutoring, but in my opinion it's stupid.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: UncleBob on August 18, 2008, 08:47:35 PM
I prefer public to home because you can learn people skills, and if you want a "real" education, then go to college.

If the only "people skills" you learn is in public school, you really, really, really need to get out more...
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Dasmos on August 18, 2008, 09:22:13 PM
I have never met a home-schooled kid who wasn't pale, ugly and socially awkward.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Tanookisuit on August 18, 2008, 09:39:39 PM
Is anyone else here a teacher?  I am!  I'm a college instructor and an extracurricular arts instructor, and I find very little difference between my students who are/were home-schooled and those who went to public or private schools.  If anything, the younger, currently home-schooled students tend to be a little more rowdy in class because they aren't used to being around other kids.  Public school is definitely good for socialization, whether you think that's a good thing or not.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: ShyGuy on August 18, 2008, 09:58:02 PM
I was home schooled.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: DAaaMan64 on August 18, 2008, 09:58:06 PM
But in a school you don't seen any of the skills they could have learned from home or a private schools.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Morari on August 18, 2008, 10:16:21 PM
I actually think home schooling is pretty cool, with my only concern being that it might be difficult to make friends when one isn't going to a building with people their own age the whole time.  If I had the time and wasn't concerned about that I would probably do it with my future kids.

Socialization is only a concern if your definition of homeschooling is having a kid sit around and read all day. In reality, homeschooling should be more robust and include activities akin to field trips. Many studies have suggested that well laid out homeschooling plans are actually better for nurturing social maturity because kids are exposed to a more diverse range of people from various age groups. They are not simply put into a group of peers and expected to come out better. Regardless of whether that is true or not, one thing is for certain: Public schooling is merely a construct that tries to force socialization.

Is making friends as realistic of an objective as many seem to think it is anyway? Sure, I know plenty of people, but can only count two or three of them as friends. When it comes right down to it, friends rarely exist. Making them doesn't really require socialization so much as it requires luck. Besides, the way young people are nowadays, it might be better than more of them are isolated and not allowed to influence one another. :P
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: ShyGuy on August 18, 2008, 10:18:30 PM
How scary is it that I agree with several of Morari's points?
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Morari on August 18, 2008, 10:19:53 PM
How scary is it that I agree with several of Morari's points?

Not very...

;)
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: King of Twitch on August 18, 2008, 11:15:31 PM
This kid is devoting his life to a non-game and people are worried about his social skills?

How can he expect to understand multiple buttons and options when he grows up?
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Mario on August 18, 2008, 11:38:38 PM
Wow he probably wanks a good 15-20  times a day.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: nickmitch on August 19, 2008, 12:30:00 AM
I prefer public to home because you can learn people skills, and if you want a "real" education, then go to college.

If the only "people skills" you learn is in public school, you really, really, really need to get out more...

It's hard to get out when you're 6.

Wow he probably wanks a good 15-20  times a day.

I thought you could only fap it 5 times a day. O_o
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Mario on August 19, 2008, 12:37:46 AM
Let's not find out
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: LuigiHann on August 19, 2008, 02:12:41 AM
George Bush doesn't care about Blake Peebles.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: AV on August 19, 2008, 02:54:26 AM
I just posted little quotes but the kid USED to go to a Christian academy which I think would be a Private school, so part of the discussion in this topic isn't really relevant to this kid.

I wouldn't be surprised if this years Guitar Hero/Rock Band are the last games in the series and within a year or two people get burnt out on these types of games.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: EasyCure on August 19, 2008, 03:09:11 AM
George Bush doesn't care about Blake Peebles.

FTW
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on August 19, 2008, 03:19:27 AM
Quote
Most merely work to make their lazy overlords richer, whether it be a manager, CEO, or their government.

I could go on about how asinine and ridiculous this all encompassing statement is, but then I discovered this whole thread is going down the tubes fast (Anytime the Adolph is involved remotely political things can go nowhere but down). So in conclusion:

1. This kid is an idiot
2. He is hurting himself
3. I won't give him a penny when he is pan handling on the street trying to play his Guitar from Guitar Hero.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: AV on August 19, 2008, 10:00:58 AM
Quote
(Anytime the Adolph is involved remotely political things can go nowhere but down).

 Why SO SERIOUS?!
 Let’s put a smile on that face!.   

I'll Go down.........no wait I'll get banned for saying that.

LOL

Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Morari on August 19, 2008, 01:46:45 PM
Quote
Most merely work to make their lazy overlords richer, whether it be a manager, CEO, or their government.

I could go on about how asinine and ridiculous this all encompassing statement is, but then I discovered this whole thread is going down the tubes fast (Anytime the Adolph is involved remotely political things can go nowhere but down). So in conclusion:

1. This kid is an idiot
2. He is hurting himself
3. I won't give him a penny when he is pan handling on the street trying to play his Guitar from Guitar Hero.

No, you can't. You're probably just offended because you're a wage slave. Too many people bleed to better the very system that oppresses them. That's what school sets you up for though, so it's no surprise. The problem with this kid is he won't go out and learn reality on his own, whether he's doing it outside of school or away from school almost entirely. He's a waste of gray matter all around. The best one can hope to learn from such a situation is failure, which may or may not even make a lasting impression.

And really... Do you give money to any panhandlers? I don't. In a lot of places however, it is a job. You need to apply for a permit to do it and everything! America is a broken place and very little could fix it at this point.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: DAaaMan64 on August 19, 2008, 03:00:31 PM
It sucks being a product of the the system. I should kill myself.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Ian Sane on August 19, 2008, 04:31:41 PM
Quote
If the only "people skills" you learn is in public school, you really, really, really need to get out more...

How to do grade school age kids "get out more"?

School exists because of history.  In the past when you were working your balls off you didn't have time to teach your kids how to read and write and do basic math and such so you sent them to school.  Having a room full of kids is obviously more efficient then one-on-one tutoring and everything just spawned from there.  It isn't like the man created school to specifically brainwash everybody, even if things have somewhat moved in that direction.

Quote
You're probably just offended because you're a wage slave. Too many people bleed to better the very system that oppresses them.

May I ask what you do to support yourself?
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: DAaaMan64 on August 19, 2008, 04:50:36 PM
Why unemployment of course.


ooooh
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Morari on August 19, 2008, 10:11:31 PM
Quote from: Ian Sane
May I ask what you do to support yourself?

It depends upon what day it is. My home business covers a few different areas, thus ensuring that I always have something going on. At the core of my job, I am a tattoo artist and body piercer. Outside of that however, I do airbrush work such as painting signs, vehicles, etc. The most popular gig nowadays seems to be repairing, upgrading, and building PCs though. I can't say I get much in the way of web design requests, but they pay well when they do come along. It's quite alright, actually. The tattoo stuff isn't as amusing as it once was now that it has become the latest fad (and has been for about a decade)... any moron can pick up a catalog, buy the equipment and become a scratcher. Believe it or not, I'm an artist and care about (most of) my customers.

Really though, I don't do too bad at all. I choose exactly when I want to go in and typically only work four days a week (half days at that), also paying very little in taxes. I own my house and property, I own my vehicles, and am in debt to no one. I don't have a credit line, I don't have a college education, and I don't live in a tuna can apartment in the depths of some urban sprawl. My expectations are much different than that of most, as I don't need a $30,000 SUV to be happy. My lawn isn't well manicured either... in fact, the large majority of my thirty-two acres is heavily forested.

I had plenty of normal jobs when I was young and fresh out of high school however. I lived in an apartment which only kept me further in the hole, forcing me to pay $400 every month just to have the privilege of being there. I'm not some angst ridden teen trying to justify their laziness. I've seen both sides of the coin. Further expanding upon that and also regarding earlier comments, I was homeschooled through my last several years of mandatory education. I went to a private preschool and kindergarten, but a public school up until after sixth grade. After that I began homeschooling, actually skipping seventh grade altogether due to the results of a placement test. My first year was pretty standard homeschool fair, but my highschool years were spent enrolled with an online charter school, thus ensuring that I could simply go through the motions and obtain an diploma instead of a GED while still focusing on actual education via a traditional homeschooling curriculum.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Dasmos on August 19, 2008, 11:03:33 PM
This thread got real boring and real pretentious awfully quickly.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: UncleBob on August 19, 2008, 11:51:35 PM
Quote
If the only "people skills" you learn is in public school, you really, really, really need to get out more...

How to do grade school age kids "get out more"?

Really?
Church.
Youth Groups (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc).
Small jobs (mowing lawns, paper carrier, etc).
Playing Sports (Little League, Gymnastics, etc).
Playing with Neighborhood children/at the park.
Trips with friends of the family.

And I don't even have kids and I can come up with all of these things.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Mario on August 20, 2008, 12:35:12 AM
But you have nephews.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: NWR_pap64 on August 20, 2008, 03:04:39 AM
Is anyone else here a teacher?  I am!  I'm a college instructor and an extracurricular arts instructor, and I find very little difference between my students who are/were home-schooled and those who went to public or private schools.  If anything, the younger, currently home-schooled students tend to be a little more rowdy in class because they aren't used to being around other kids.  Public school is definitely good for socialization, whether you think that's a good thing or not.

I am a certified teacher with experience teaching children and adults in the subjects of English and computers respectively.

As such, I disagree with Morari's thoughts that schools only exist to mold brain dead workers.

Yes, schools do exist to mold children into active participants of the community, which looking at it through a cynical point of view really is creating working government drones.

HOWEVER, this is not the only thing we teachers are taught to present in schools.

We teach children the basics of logic, motor skills, creativity, critical think, reason, psychology, social life among many other things through the typical school subjects (Math, English, History etc.).

Once we finish our job and the child finishes school it is up to him or her to make the decision of what they want to do with their social and professional life. We mainly give them the ideas, skill and inspiration to finally decide what they want to do for the rest of their life.

And time has taught us that many people that got their education through normal schooling have gone on to become great inspiration. In other words, they are not working drones being bleed to death for a hungry corporation.

The point is that in the end the one that makes the decision of what to do with their life is the student. That even if schools exist to "mold and condition" they cannot tell you what to do with your life.

As for this kid, well, let's be honest here. As stupid as this sounds if this was the kid's decision and the parents approve who are we to decide what's good or bad for him. We can't determine what he'll become in the future. He may either become a bum or be someone truly talented. Hell, this could catapult him into videogame making, music or something involving both.

And yes, this thread has gone to hell right away. I'll just leave it there.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: ShyGuy on August 20, 2008, 03:24:48 AM
You know who else left school to play Guitar Hero? Hitler.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: Shift Key on August 20, 2008, 06:32:23 AM
You know who else left school to play Guitar Hero? Hitler.

There's a rumour Christopher Columbus went searching for Guitar Hero tournaments when he stumbled upon North America. That whole "safe passage to the East" notion is a crock.
Title: Re: Kid Leaves school to play in Guitar hero tournaments
Post by: UncleBob on August 20, 2008, 09:33:04 AM
As such, I disagree with Morari's thoughts that schools only exist to mold brain dead workers.

I disagree as well.  Only government schools do this. ;)