Video Game Addiction Equals Babies Starving

2007-07-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

Young couple accused of neglecting young children to surf the Web and play computer video games.

In Reno, Nevada a couple authorities say were so obsessed the the Internet and computer video games that they left babies starving, suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect.

Michael and Iana Straw had two children, a girl ll months old and a boy 22 month old. Authorities found these two children very malnourished and near death last month after social working took them to a hospital. According to prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria the children are doing much better, gaining weight and are in foster care.

"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."

According to prosecutor Viloria the couple was too distract by online computer video games, namely 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 Reno's local publication.

The status of the Children when found.
When police found the girl and took her to the hospital the staff there had to shave her hair because it was matted with cat urine. "The 10-pound girl also had a mouth infection, dry skin and severe dehydration."

The brother was also treated for starvation as well as a genital infection, because of a lack in muscle development he had difficulties walking, investigators say.

The father, "Michael Straw is an unemployed cashier, and his wife worked for a temporary staffing agency doing warehouse work, according to court records."

Michael received $50,000 from inheritance that "he spent on computer equipment and a large plasma television, authorities said."

American Medical Association ponder Video game addiction
"While child abuse because of drug addiction is common, abuse rooted in video game addiction is rare, Viloria said."

Last month, doctors at an American Medical Association dismissed having video game addiction as a mental disorder, stating more research need to be done. Some argued it was like alcoholism while other felt there was solid evidence that is was a psychological disease.

It is hard to know whether or not video game addiction is a true psychological disorder. It is very possible, seeing people pull all nighters playing computer video games, pausing only to use the bathroom, not even eating is problem in this writers mind.