Internet Obsession Blamed for Neglect

gonzo · 07-15-2007

RENO, Nev. - 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.
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."

EmporerEJ · 07-16-2007

Oh, I can see it now. We need to ban video games and the internet for their awful secondary effects on society.
If we just didn't have these evil internet things, it would be utopia.

PagePeelMarketing.com · 07-16-2007

Uggh! I'd imagine those parents were neglecting their children long before they discovered the Internet. What pieces of....!

MaskTVMaura · 07-17-2007

What horrible excuses for parents!

Rcourt64 · 07-17-2007

Apparently the 2 found enough time to stop viewing the internet to be able to conceive, right? or ya think they was watching porn while doin' the hoochie coochie to be able to have 2 kids only a year apart?
22 months and then 11 months isn't really much rest between fucks there

07-15-2007	#1
gonzo Fat Fucking Nobody Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta,Ga. Posts: 17,795 Blog Entries: 11	Internet Obsession Blamed for Neglect RENO, Nev. - 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. 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." __________________ We are putting the bastards of this world on notice; greed and corruption will always be met with "a voice made of ink and rage." "Never try and be like anyone else" - Hunter S. Thompson "The truth is the truth no matter how you try and package a lie" - Shellee Hale

07-16-2007	#2
EmporerEJ Brilliant Innoventionalist and writer. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: USA, Northern Hemisphere, Terra, 3rd of nine, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy, Far from Galactic Core Posts: 2,260	Re: Internet Obsession Blamed for Neglect Oh, I can see it now. We need to ban video games and the internet for their awful secondary effects on society. If we just didn't have these evil internet things, it would be utopia. __________________ Eric J. White VirtualSexMachine.com

07-16-2007	#3
PagePeelMarketing.com Thinks Lars is a TOP NOTCH GUY Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 37	Re: Internet Obsession Blamed for Neglect Uggh! I'd imagine those parents were neglecting their children long before they discovered the Internet. What pieces of....! __________________ Best Regards, Jennifer www.PagePeelMarketing.com

07-17-2007	#4
MaskTVMaura Come get your medicine... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 145	Re: Internet Obsession Blamed for Neglect What horrible excuses for parents! __________________ Maura Ingraham Director / Producer M Squared Productions ICQ: 292 824 444 maura l @ l masktv l dot l com

07-17-2007	#5
Rcourt64 Filling Bishop's Pond Respin bullshit press Your Comments Are Welcomed Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,942	Re: Internet Obsession Blamed for Neglect Apparently the 2 found enough time to stop viewing the internet to be able to conceive, right? or ya think they was watching porn while doin' the hoochie coochie to be able to have 2 kids only a year apart? 22 months and then 11 months isn't really much rest between fucks there