Proof that D&D is evil

No, not really. But these parents are wacko!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070716/ap_on_re_us/neglect_internet_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.
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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."

Heh, D&D is cool, but those people need lives... In a way D&D keeps kids out of trouble and gives them something to do!

naw, they badly refer to mmos, not the original pen and paper stuff.

That's some BS right there. I'm sorry, but how can you say you were too busy playing a game when they were still able to get up, feed themselves, use the restroom and sleep? How hard is it to pretend to be a human being for 30 minutes and take care of your children? There is absolutely no way they couldn't have noticed their children crying or the smell from being neglected. The article also mentions they had cats, which apparently they didn't have a hard time taking care of.

All this does is give videogames a bad name. It's the easy way out for people like this.

Snarboo said:
All this does is give videogames a bad name. It's the easy way out for people like this. [/B]

No kidding dude, like I said , don't you have anything better to do with your time than bitch, I am glad my parents were never like that heh...

I think the problem here is that the parents were playing D&D.. I mean it's cool and all for adults to play games, but they're parents for fucks sake, they should be raising nerdy kids to play D&D, not neglecting the kids and doing it themselves.

doomer524 said:

I think the problem here is that the parents were playing D&D.. I mean it's cool and all for adults to play games, but they're parents for fucks sake, they should be raising nerdy kids to play D&D, not neglecting the kids and doing it themselves.

I'm fairly sure it's possible to be a responsible parent AND play D&D; you're as bad as them, blaming it on videogames when it's the parents who are at fault for just generally neglecting them.

He spent 50 grand on a Plasma TV and computer stuff? Boy is that a warped sense of what is important in life.

Poor public defenders, how the hell will they ever defend that kind of crap? Just bizarre.

Searcher said:
Poor public defenders, how the hell will they ever defend that kind of crap?

Apparently, from what can be implied from the title and some of the content, by pretending video games are addictive in the way alcohol is. It seems, from the included quote, that the prosecutor is mocking such a legal position.

Skeletor said:

Michael Straw is an unemployed cashier. He received a $50,000 inheritance that he spent on computer equipment and a large plasma television.

Pretty much sums up how smart this guy is.

Stealthy Ivan said:

Heh, D&D is cool.

If you're a nerd.
If you like nerd games.

I like computer games, heh, you do to obviously... Nerd games = smart people (or at least socially interactive) You seem like you have a lot to learn in life GGG. Are you married with kids, nuff said...

Stealthy Ivan said:

Nerd games = smart people (or at least socially interactive)

Nerd games should = socially interactive and competent people. After all, most of the games require a degree of understanding and empathy and the ability to put yourself in the shoes of someone else and act accordingly. So quite why it attracts so many dysfunctional socially retarded mutants I will never know. Whatever the reason, a large number of the freaks who seem attracted to those games are actually wholly and intrinsically unsuited to them.

Thus true, Every thing has two sides... Just like all the years I have been involved with the doom community (even at work). You will always have retards no matter were you go! This is life, I ignore them and pay attention to the people that matter. :)

myk said:

Apparently, from what can be implied from the title and some of the content, by pretending video games are addictive in the way alcohol is. It seems, from the included quote, that the prosecutor is mocking such a legal position.

I suppose so. Silly me, I keep think thinking in a logical way. ;)

Good luck to those losers. I hope their kids live.

Stealthy Ivan said:

I like computer games, heh, you do to obviously... Nerd games = smart people (or at least socially interactive) You seem like you have a lot to learn in life GGG. Are you married with kids, nuff said...

I'm just pulling your chain. I have a number of friends who play D&D with each other. I just never got into it b/c they play for too long at a time.

I figured dude, its all good, like I said, I only pay attention to the people that matter (and Im paying attention to you arnt I)... :P
BTW do you map?

I think the fact that the parents are in their early 20's and have had no real responsibility in life (an unemployed cashier and a temp worker?) and have two infants almost a year apart is pretty sad. I bet he knocked her up and they were coerced in to getting married.

Heh, and I thought I played on the computer too much!

zarkyb said:

I'm fairly sure it's possible to be a responsible parent AND play D&D; you're as bad as them, blaming it on videogames when it's the parents who are at fault for just generally neglecting them.

I wasnt really expecting to get called on what I said, but good point. I was actually just in a bad mood and saying it kinda angrily/tounge-in-cheek but I'm really not gonna argue your point because I can't. It's more just a commentary on the situation.

how could anyone let a table top game take over their life like that? This is a...

* rolls dice

Horrible tragedy!

The article wasn't really clear. Was it D&D Online, or Neverwinter Nights?

Captain Red said:

how could anyone let a table top game take over their life like that? This is a...

* rolls dice

Horrible tragedy!

STFU, Gary Gygax

VileSlay said:

I bet he knocked her up and they were coerced in to getting married.

It sure beats lengthy preparations for a proposal. As long as the guy times it right.

Stealthy Ivan said:

BTW do you map?

I'll PM you so as not to threadjack.

thats fucked up. honestly, how does someone become that addicted to games that their 11 month old duaghter has cat piss in her hair?

blaming the game is a cop out. those poeples are brain fried.



cheers

Yahoo News said:

"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.

How dense can you be? People who put leisure activities before family seriously have some sort of common sense defect. Losers.

BGbad said:

blaming the game is a cop out. those poeples are brain fried.

much more likely a mind flayer ate their brains.

Obviously it was an intellect devourer.