internet gaming addiction leads to baby's death

[nostrafucius]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapc...aby/index.html

[Robi3.0]

Heartless stupid parents lead to the death of that baby.

[sirdanile]

*facepalm*

[Maxelcat]

...

[Cedwin]

This is stupid. People blame everything except themselves when stuff like this happens.

[Gunga]

I'm a functioning gaming addict.

[GeneralDiomedes]

edited so i don't go to hell.

[DOrkforces]

Some people can't handle their additictions, regardless of type, and Bad Things happen. RIP kiddo.

[Minor_Threat]

bad people are bad people, they chose to blame it on gaming.

[Oreg]

Perfect example above of media manipulation. As despicable as the parents were in their actions, they never once blamed it on their internet addiction or gaming. That was all done by others, including the author, yet at least a few people read into it that the parents used gaming as a reason for their poor child's death.

[GeneralDiomedes]

Perfect example above of media manipulation. As despicable as the parents were in their actions, they never once blamed it on their internet addiction or gaming. That was all done by others, including the author, yet at least a few people read into it that the parents used gaming as a reason for their poor child's death.

The real reason it's on the news is because it's newsworthy. Just like the guy in Korea who died after playing for 36 hours straight 4-5 years ago.

I actually think it's useful as a cautionary tale, as I often wonder how some of the kids of internet gaming addicts suffer, and how many near misses there really are out there.

[MalikiGoddess]

'Gaming addiction'.

I hate T.V. So, the hours the rest of the world stares at a mindless reality T.V. romance, I spend gaming. I actually use my brain, socialize, and relieve stress. Though at times I gain more stress than relieve it. XD

To say someone is a 'gaming addict' because they spend 5, or even 10, hours gaming is illogical in today's society. Yet, the man (or woman) who sits on his couch watching the 18 hour marathon of Rock of Love is totally acceptable.

This case was just plain negligence, to say any hobby was to blame is ridiculous. I know many parents who game and do a fine job of raising their children.

[Ystradmynach]

Some people seem a little defensive about this story, but I think there enough information out there to show that online gaming can be addictive, and that is most likely the parents gaming addiction led to the baby's death.

Does that mean everyone who plays online games is an addict? Of course not, just like everyone who drinks alcohol isn't an alcoholic. And even that comparison isn't quite apt, as withdrawal from online gaming doesn't even have physical symptoms (except maybe an aversion to sunlight ). But if someone wants to escape from reality and their responsibilities, one could hardly find a better route than through online gaming. Certainly television and movies just doesn't engage enough of your focus for someone to even conceivably forget to feed their baby.

I mean, the terms catassing and po0psocking didn't come out of nowhere...

Also, there is some serious irony about neglecting your real life child to raise a virtual child.

edit: seriously, p0op is a banned word?

[tomfar72]

I'm sorry, somethings are addictive, but I don't believe gaming is one of them. Our society likes to try and give people excuses for being tools. "You cheated on your wife? It's ok, you aren't a hound, you have a sex addiction." "You watch hours of online nekkidness? You aren't a pervert, you have a porn addiction." Alot of BS imo. I have known addicts, and I have seen withdrawl symptoms. I love gaming, and play several hours a day, but when my internet went out for a week I didn't think spiders were crawling all over me. I didn't go to a friend's house to get a "hit" off his internet. I'm not saying that people don't go overboard with their gaming, but labeling things like that as an addiction belittles those who have real addictions such as drugs and/or alcohol. I'm a big fat guy because I eat too damned much, not because I'm suffering from a potato chip addiction.

[Ague]

I currently am raising 2 little girls both under the age of two... But I spend the time that they are awake with them, and when they sleep I break out the ol' laptop and start gaming... My children always come first... My kids are a permanent fixture in my life... If DDO disappeared tomorrow, I'd just find something else to fill my "down time"...

[Ystradmynach]

I'm sorry, somethings are addictive, but I don't believe gaming is one of them. Our society likes to try and give people excuses for being tools. "You cheated on your wife? It's ok, you aren't a hound, you have a sex addiction." "You watch hours of online nekkidness? You aren't a pervert, you have a porn addiction." Alot of BS imo. I have known addicts, and I have seen withdrawl symptoms. I love gaming, and play several hours a day, but when my internet went out for a week I didn't think spiders were crawling all over me. I didn't go to a friend's house to get a "hit" off his internet. I'm not saying that people don't go overboard with their gaming, but labeling things like that as an addiction belittles those who have real addictions such as drugs and/or alcohol. I'm a big fat guy because I eat too damned much, not because I'm suffering from a potato chip addiction.

I believe you are confusing addiction and physical dependence. Not everything which is addicting causes physical dependence, and not everything that one is physically dependent on is addicting. For example, a diabetic is physically dependent on insulin, but obviously not an insulin addict. Likewise, gambling causes a certain percentage of the population to throw away everything in their life to feed their addiction, yet has no physical withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction is more about rewarding the dopamine centers of the brain to create a repeating pattern of behavior that overrides all other behavior, sometimes to the point where people don't even sleep or eat, which has happened in a few cases where people have died playing video games by neglecting basic bodily functions. Physical dependence is just an extra F.U. that makes it particularly difficult to quit drug addictions.

Does that mean these parents were not responsible for their actions? Of course they were, and they should be sent to jail. Addiction has never been an excuse to break the law, much less leave a child to die of neglect. But at the same time, this still most likely wouldn't have happened had the couple not been addicted to online gaming.

[kaelis]

perfect Example Above Of Media Manipulation. As Despicable As The Parents Were In Their Actions, They Never Once Blamed It On Their Internet Addiction Or Gaming. That Was All Done By Others, Including The Author, Yet At Least A Few People Read Into It That The Parents Used Gaming As A Reason For Their Poor Child's Death.

Heh.

Prosecutors Are Seeking A Five-year Sentence For The Couple, whose Defense Included A Statement Alleging Gaming Addiction.

[Sharzade]

I don't buy it when people blame the devil or an outside influence for their own bad behaviour or decision to do wrong.

It looks like this couple didn't want to take on the responsibility of caring for their child, and turned their back on it. If they weren't blaming the internet, they'd probably be blaming an addiction to TV or drugs. All they're doing is trying to avoid responsibility and deflect punishment. I hope the jury doesn't buy their defense.

Sharz

[Chelsa]

Don't forget to blame Heavy Metal. We metal heads are to blame for everything in the world.

[Sharzade]

Don't forget to blame Heavy Metal. We metal heads are to blame for everything in the world.

Lol, /agree.

With those parents, if they were capable of leaving the internet long enough to go to work, feed themselves, clothe and bathe themselves, etc - they were certainly capable of taking care of their little one. The point is to keep in mind what the child suffered over an extended time, rather than the feeble excuses being made by the adults now that they've killed their child and don't want to face the music.

The thing that troubles me when these kinds of stories come up, is that groups like gamers, Dnd players, metal music fans, etc all get lumped in as being in bed with the devil. It's almost like there's an acceptability to unload all of society's ills on those groups, even though 99.99999 percent of us are responsible people. Humanity's been doing bad things way before any of those past-times were dreamed up, and still we get attacked. It's just a form of sanctioned prejudice.

That's enough forum time for me, I'm off to enjoy a bit of happy-go-fluffy gaming for a while.

Sharz