I can understand getting so wrapped up in online video games that you'd maybe stop hanging out with your friends or forget to spend time with your spouse, but those are adults. Hard to believe some people would forget to take care of their own children:
Nev. couple accused of starving infants while playing video games
RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A couple authorities say were so obsessed with the Internet and video games that they left their babies starving and suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect.
The children of Michael and Iana Straw, a boy age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, were severely malnourished and near death last month when doctors saw them after social workers took them to a hospital, authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 23, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts each of child neglect. Each faces a maximum 12-year prison sentence.
Viloria said the Reno couple were too distracted by online video games, mainly the fantasy role-playing "Dungeons & Dragons" series, to give their children proper care.
"They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games," Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Police said hospital staff had to shave the head of the girl because her hair was matted with cat urine. The 10-pound girl also had a mouth infection, dry skin and severe dehydration.
Her brother had to be treated for starvation and a genital infection. His lack of muscle development caused him difficulty in walking, investigators said.
(More)
3 comments:
Holy crap that is sad. Cat urine? I wonder, did they feed the cat?
Video games can become an addiction - I think I've been close before. Golf can be an addiction. Shopping can be an addiction. I think any behavior that routinely causes the release of the feel good chemicals (just like those artificially introduced with drugs) can cause an addiction. Sex addictions and gambling addictions are recognized, why not video games?
Of course, the big scare for those who play video games is the "Kyle's mom" response; the knee-jerk reaction to ban something that has the potential to be harmful, rather than something that routinely is, like drugs.
That really is sad! When I was first reading through it my thought was that at least every 11 months they were stopping to have sex, but then I got to the actual state of the kids and couldn't make it funny in my head anymore.
I am unfamiliar with the "Kyle's Mom" response.
I'm sorry, but the article seems to make it pretty clear they were some serious losers. If it hadn't been for video games, it would have been crack or some other substance that allowed them to escape their lousy surroundings. I really do get the feeling this is more Jack Thompson fed media inqisition on video games. My first clue? There is no "fantasy role-playing 'Dungeons & Dragons' series". There was a Dungeon & Dragons Online game, singular. I really do get the feeling that it's 1983 again, when every teen suicide was blamed on "Dungeon & Dragons" role playing games, used like a generic all encompassing description, ala 'Kleenex'. The reporter obviously did just enough homework to lend some creedence. "It was D&D AND!!! a video game! The devil was afoot!
I feel just as bed for the kids as you guys, but they didn't stand a chance with those parents even if video games had never been invented.
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