Because video games make kids starve: couple jailed for neglect
Some hardcore gamers go as far as setting up an extremely expensive hub. One man from Nevada even spent US$ 50, 000 he inherited to acquire some heavy hardware and a plasma TV. Unfortunately, he won’t be seeing those anytime soon. Together with his wife, they’ll face 12 years behind the rails. Their case? Child neglect.
Two children were sent to a hospital last month after they were found almost starving to death. The kids are now in foster care and are slowly recovering. The 22 month boy suffered from starvation and genital infection. Until now, he is still having a hard time walking. His sister, an 11 month girl, had mouth infection, dry skin, and severe dehydration. Her head was also shaved when authorities found cat urine on her hair.
The justice hammer dropped on parents Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 22, after pleading guilty of child neglect. Prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria blamed MMORPGs, particularly Dungeons & Dragons Online, for their crime. ”They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games,” she told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Proposals to officially brand video game addiction as a clinical disorder came up with the issue. Patrick Killen of Nevada Child Abuse Prevention, calls the relation of video game addiction and child abuse ”a new spin on an old problem.” ”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,” he added.
Some hardcore gamers go as far as setting up an extremely expensive hub. One man from Nevada even spent US$ 50, 000 he inherited to acquire some heavy hardware and a plasma TV. Unfortunately, he won’t be seeing those anytime soon. Together with his wife, they’ll face 12 years behind the rails. Their case? Child neglect.
Two children were sent to a hospital last month after they were found almost starving to death. The kids are now in foster care and are slowly recovering. The 22 month boy suffered from starvation and genital infection. Until now, he is still having a hard time walking. His sister, an 11 month girl, had mouth infection, dry skin, and severe dehydration. Her head was also shaved when authorities found cat urine on her hair.
The justice hammer dropped on parents Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 22, after pleading guilty of child neglect. Prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria blamed MMORPGs, particularly Dungeons & Dragons Online, for their crime. ”They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games,” she told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Proposals to officially brand video game addiction as a clinical disorder came up with the issue. Patrick Killen of Nevada Child Abuse Prevention, calls the relation of video game addiction and child abuse ”a new spin on an old problem.” ”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,” he added.
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