Parents Neglect - D&D named.....

[Shadowdancer]

The problem with these stories, and honestly, it comes up every time some legal story involves D&D or gaming in general, it's that effect isn't necessarily logically linked to cause. People want to blame D&D or video games, but it's more likely that these people are inherently neglectful and that D&D and/or video games are the obsessive focus of these neglectful parents, not the cause of their neglect.

Right. It is a symptom of a deeper problem, not the problem itself.

 

[TheCrazyMuffinMan]

It is a symptom of a deeper problem. It looks like the two in question are either stupidly oblivious or indifferent to the life changes inherent in a family, and it manifested in a rather disgusting way. Shame on them both.

The fact that TEH GAMEZ are supposedly involved (and implicated in the minds of some) doesn't help matters, even if it's VERY trivial compared to the grave situation of the kids' deaths and the REAL reason for it: The irresponsibility of the parents.

 

[Imruphel]

It also could be sloppy journalism. After all, journalism is like advertising: with few exceptions it's about generating an emotional response rather than providing accurate information.

It was more likely that the game was World of Warcraft (after all, how popular are the online D&D games?) but perhaps the "journalist" had memories of D&D's bad press in the 80s?

As for the child, the tragedy is that this is just so damned common these days. There are too many people having children who shouldn't be allowed to have a pet goldfish let alone a baby but what can be done without instituting some sort of Nazi-inspired programme?

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Right. It is a symptom of a deeper problem, not the problem itself.

I'd say true and false. It is both a symptom and a magnifier of the problem. I'm not comfortable dismissing the effects of an addiction on the basis that anyone with an addiction is the type to just screw up anyway.

(Lots of people drink alcohol and don't feel threatened by acknowledging the existance of alcoholics. Video game addiction was cited with the addiction part being emphasised more than once in the article, there's no need for role players or video game players to be threatened by it either.)

 

[Particle_Man]

Well there are a lot of parents that neglect their children (for example, those that have gambling addictions that leave their children in cars to starve while the parent(s) are in the casinos).

If this is the *only* story about parents addicted to online games (including D&D) that neglect their children, then that is perhaps a sign that online games (including D&D) are *not* that addictive, compared to other addictions. Otherwise, there would be more of these "D&Ders let babies starve" stories, surely.

I want to see statistical, rather than anecdotal, evidence. Especially evidence that specifically shows the addictive power of D&D video games such that it leads more people to abandon child-care than other possible addictions (shopping, watching sports games, etc.).

 

[Catavarie]

Well there are a lot of parents that neglect their children (for example, those that have gambling addictions that leave their children in cars to starve while the parent(s) are in the casinos).

If this is the *only* story about parents addicted to online games (including D&D) that neglect their children, then that is perhaps a sign that online games (including D&D) are *not* that addictive, compared to other addictions. Otherwise, there would be more of these "D&Ders let babies starve" stories, surely.

I want to see statistical, rather than anecdotal, evidence. Especially evidence that specifically shows the addictive power of D&D video games such that it leads more people to abandon child-care than other possible addictions (shopping, watching sports games, etc.).

There have been several reported cases of these sorts of things happening with Everquest amd WoW through the past few years as well

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

I don't have kids, but I used to babysit for my friend's one-year-old son while playing video games. It's not that hard to feed them, burp them, bathe them, or change their diapers. Keep a baby monitor so that you they're okay, spend a little time with them.

This is just bad parenting.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Any activity that can distract from life with obsessive interest has a chance, for the right personality and mental alignment, to become THE obsessive trait, and real life becomes abandoned. Videogames, D&D, MMO's....lots of stuff.

And the fact that these had kids proves that even the most pathetic D&D closet case has a chance to spawn....and that we should fear this.

 

[Kmart Kommando]

I say this is poor gaming skills.

You can put a healing toon on follow and one-button heal and still have an arm free for whatever needs to be done. The porn isn't gonna download itself, ya know..

I'm all for developing Time Cop technology and going back to...uhhh, undo anyone that turns out to have no parenting skills. Grumble grumble..Darwin's Theory at work.. grumble grumble..

 

[Piratecat]

Look! Someone was playing DDO!

Horrible parenting. Kids always come first.