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

[Midknightsun]

So, any of you guys correcting doctors' and researchers' "mistakes" actually doctors, psychologists or researchers in addiction and/or addictive personalities? Heck, I'd settle for a social worker or a psychology minor with an emphasis in brain and behavior over all this wagon circling.

As a fairly long time (10 years) worker in the mental health and substance abuse field, and Supervisor/Operator of an Employee Assistance Program, a possessor of a psychologically related degree, a person with a boatload of specialty training in addictions, and one who regularly consults/contracts with numerous psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, social workers and licensed counselors in three different states, I can tell you that the whole addictive field is still pretty theoretical. (Though some strong AA/NA fanatics would beat me over the head for saying that) They have "working" theories, pet theories, popular theories, and counter theories . . .all of which seem to have a bit of research to back them all (not all good, mind you). In short, your answer from ANY Mental Health or Substance Abuse Professional is going to vary a bit . . . not to mention that some aren't as expert as they tout themselves to be, and some disclose more to me, off the record, and just follow the popular theories in practice. But, from my experience, and from my training, it is taught early on that addictive people can very easily trade addictions. I've seen it happen enough in my job to say there is definitely a pattern there. That's why organizations like AA and NA espouse complete abstinance . . . which, of course, is not a realistic answer in all cases, but I digress. Now, whether or not such a thing would have happened in this case . . . a psychologist or substance abuse professional could give you an answer--- but, they'd want to know more about the parents first (do a little research).

I suppose I could get one of our contracted Psychologists/Therapists/Whatnot to Email me a response to your question if you want, but they'll say largely the same thing . . . of course, you'll have to trust that its legit, or I don't know what to tell ya. Don't know if that answers your question, but I'd be glad to hear from any therapist gamers who have a different answer.

To sum it up, trading addictions is pretty common. There's no gaurantee that it would have happened in this case, but the degree to which their particular addictions effected their functioning and judgement would likely put them as high risk for trading addictions even if you took the computer away from them.

 

[rgard]

Can somebody with the Moderator PrC combine this thread with the other one on the same topic?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Psion]

Can somebody with the Moderator PrC combine this thread with the other one on the same topic?

Why... this one has no content other than to point at the other thread...

 

[Ourph]

Why you would ever think that imprisonment would somehow improve their parenting skills - or make either of them a better person - is utterly beyond me and defies all logic.

The problem wasn't their parenting skills. Anyone who can figure out how to hook up a computer and download a videogame can surely figure out which end of the kid the food goes into. The problem was the parent's prioritization of their own entertainment over their children's welfare, i.e. - they were being utterly selfish and irresponsible. The point of sending them to prison is to teach the lesson (in a way that they will find hard to forget) that such selfishness and irresponsibility carries harsh consequences. Hopefully the lesson will prevent these people from making the same choices should they ever decide to have more children in the future.

I do agree that incarceration may not be the most effective means of punishment, but the alternative is simply no punishment at all in our current system.

 

[rgard]

Why... this one has no content other than to point at the other thread...

The first post has a link to the same story at MSN. I don't know, maybe I was wrong to ask.

Thanks anyway,
Rich

 

[rgard]

The first post has a link to the same story at MSN. I don't know, maybe I was wrong to ask.

Thanks anyway,
Rich

Oops, the first thread has a link to foxnews. Same story of parental neglect though.

 

[Remathilis]

Wow. (and I don't mean Worlds of Warcraft)...

I have nothing more to add, but I think they need help. All of them.

 

[Nifft]

If only the parents had a good social network, like someone who played regular face-to-face D&D might have...

@ Talath -- Yes. Playing DDO should be regarded as an early sign of self-destructive behavior.

Cheers, -- N

 

[werk]

Wow. (and I don't mean Worlds of Warcraft)...

I have nothing more to add, but I think they need help. All of them.

Don't know exactly who you are calling 'all of them'. I play DDO (gasp) and am very active with my guild doing raids and other time-intensive activities in the game. I also have a happy marriage, a good job (outside the home), and time to exercise and cook and enjoy social interactions with others (in real life).

I am a typical MMO player.

'They' don't exist. This is just a couple of really crappy, selfish, lazy babies having babies here...which is the real crime.

Edit: and we have social services in this country that are supposed to follow up with parents that skip immunizations as a warning sign to protect children from this situation that is far too common (as the article notes)... Seems like several different things failed here.

 

[Banshee16]

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.

Bingo...

Neglect comes first.....what parents do with their time once they start neglecting their children is something completely different. If someone's going to be neglectful, they'll find something to do with their time.

I don't have children yet, but sometimes when I'm busy doing yardwork, pulling weeds etc. I forget to eat dinner, and end up just having a bowl of cereal late at night instead of a full meal, because I spent 4 hours after work pulling weeds instead of eating. Does that mean that pulling weeds is addictive? I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

Similarly, people who play so much WoW that they don't shower for several days.....is WoW causing this, or are they people who are already prone to obsessive fixations, and tend to be socially reclusive, consequently being more likely to focus on something like WoW to the exclusion of personal hygiene?

Banshee