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Couple cites video game addiction in abuse case (edit title)


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#1 Guest_Clovis_*

Posted 16 July 2007 - 03:02 PM

http://news.yahoo.co...ernet_addiction


RENO, Nev. - A couple who 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.

The Straws have been given public defenders. Jeremy Bosler, head of the county public defender's office, declined to comment to The Associated Press on Saturday.

Michael Straw is an unemployed cashier, and his wife worked for a temporary staffing agency doing warehouse work, according to court records. He received a $50,000 inheritance that he spent on computer equipment and a large plasma television, authorities said.

While child abuse because of drug addiction is common, abuse rooted in video game addiction is rare, Viloria said.

Last month, experts at an American Medical Association meeting backed away from a proposal to designate video game addiction as a mental disorder, saying it had to be studied further. Some said the issue is like alcoholism, while others said there was no concrete evidence it's a psychological disease.

Patrick Killen, spokesman for Nevada Child Abuse Prevention, said video game addiction's correlation to child abuse is "a new spin on an old problem."

"As we become more technologically advanced, there's more distractions," Killen said. "It's easy for someone to get addicted to something and neglect their children. Whether it's video games or meth, it's a serious issue, and (we) need to become more aware of it."

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EDIT: Just wanted to recant my original statement a bit and clarify myself. I think that while their may be addiction factors involved here, I don't think it explains the entire situation. Each to their own, though.

#2 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 16 July 2007 - 03:41 PM

It's an obsession like any other.

I've personally seen a guy get fired due to playing too much Everquest (way back in 2000) and coming in late/calling in sick almost every day because of it. His reaction when he was fired? He'd get more time to play. Oh, and one of his mates was in a raid somewhere in the game when he received a call that his soon to be ex wife had gone into labour. He did leave the game to go be present at the birth of his child, but not without much complaining about having to leave the game.

So... blaming computer games for everything? Big wrong.

Blaming computer games for nothing? Just as big wrong.

And this article did make a point of mentioning other addictions that led to neglect.

#3 Guest_Clight_*

Posted 16 July 2007 - 05:36 PM

I agree with Cel. This has nothing to do with the kind of claims you sometimes see. Do you think the couple was just too lazy or evil to feed their children and then decided to pretend they'd been playing video games all the time as an excuse? I mean, what else would they have been doing than playing like that, and if they were, doesn't that already constitute an addiction or obsession or some such thing?

#4 Guest_Clovis_*

Posted 16 July 2007 - 05:50 PM

Well, I certainly see where you're coming from on this. Compulsive/addictive behavior does exist, certainly. And there is more than passing evidence that certain people are more predisposed to addiction than others. It may be that such a behavior was a factor here. I just am skeptical that it was the whole of the matter. I'm guessing that these two probably weren't candidates for Parent of the Year even before the video games. That's my cynical nature coming through again, I suppose. :shock:


It's always good to hear other's opinion on things, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Cel. ;)

#5 Guest_Clovis_*

Posted 16 July 2007 - 05:55 PM

I agree with Cel. This has nothing to do with the kind of claims you sometimes see. Do you think the couple was just too lazy or evil to feed their children and then decided to pretend they'd been playing video games all the time as an excuse? I mean, what else would they have been doing than playing like that, and if they were, doesn't that already constitute an addiction or obsession or some such thing?


Fair enough. In retrospect I probably jumped on the story a bit too strongly. Like I said before, I think that there's more going on here than just a possible addiction. But I also think that is a position that I will probably have to agree to disagree with others on.




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