Nevada couple blame Internet for neglect

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A couple in Reno, Nevada, Michael and Iana Straw, pleaded guilty to child neglect after their two young children were found severely malnourished and in poor health, attributed to the couple's obsession with the internet and video games. The children, aged 22 months and 11 months, were hospitalized with serious health issues, including dehydration and infections. The discussion highlights a broader concern about personal responsibility, with many participants emphasizing that the couple's neglect stems from a lack of self-control rather than the influence of gaming or the internet. Some participants noted that similar cases of neglect have occurred due to various addictions, suggesting that the underlying issue is a serious mental health problem rather than the specific activities the couple engaged in. The conversation also touches on the absurdity of the situation, questioning how the couple managed to neglect their children while being so engrossed in gaming. Overall, the focus remains on the need for accountability in cases of severe neglect.
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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.

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

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070716/ap_on_re_us/neglect_internet_addiction

They're blaming the internet, not their own idiocy and lack of self control.
 
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duh.. how can people be so dumb
 
Police said hospital staff had to shave the head of the girl because her hair was matted with cat urine.
:confused:
Beyond bizarre!
 
geeeez.. didnt read it the first time.. its really dumb.. hard to believe actually. how come one neglect so small babies??
 
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.

That is so sick! I doubt if the gamers even got up for toilet breaks.
 
As mentioned before, absolutely nothing to do with internet or games or whatever, it's "just" a serious mental disease.
 
radou said:
As mentioned before, absolutely nothing to do with internet or games or whatever, it's "just" a serious mental disease.

I definitely agree. The problem here is a lack of self control and sense of responsibility. The problem isn't the internet or the games, it's the people.
 
"obsessed with the Internet and video games"
Sadly I do know of people who have lost jobs and families because of this. I believe this is the first time I've heard of neglected children, to this extent, due to on line gameing obsession. I have heard of gambleing parents who have left children, days on end to gamble.
How very sad.
 
Reminds me of those people who died while playing World of Warcraft.

This is just my opinion, but wouldn't the game be somewhat inconsequential in this whole mess? I personally play WoW, and it's really not that great unless your goal is to kill some free time. Someone would need to have a horrible life before WoW would take priority. In that case, their life was crap before the internet and games.

If it wasn't the internet, it would have been something else.
 
  • #10
G01 said:
I definitely agree. The problem here is a lack of self control and sense of responsibility. The problem isn't the internet or the games, it's the people.

ShawnD said:
Reminds me of those people who died while playing World of Warcraft.

This is just my opinion, but wouldn't the game be somewhat inconsequential in this whole mess? I personally play WoW, and it's really not that great unless your goal is to kill some free time. Someone would need to have a horrible life before WoW would take priority. In that case, their life was crap before the internet and games.

If it wasn't the internet, it would have been something else.

Both of you are basically making the same point, with which I fully agree. Obviously, the problem is their overall lack of responsibility and self-accountability. It doesn't surprise me that someone who would neglect two children would try to blame everyone but themselves, because if they had even a shred of responsibility or self-accountability, they wouldn't have neglected the children in the first place.

He received a $50,000 inheritance that he spent on computer equipment and a large plasma television, authorities said.
From this line, it's pretty obvious they were just idiots who were just focused on instant gratification.
 
  • #11
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  • #12
That story made me sick when I heard it. It's stories like this that help to spread violence in our country because I really want to kick both of their "you-know-whats." GARGH! I want to strangle someone.

The thing that REALLY po's me is that they are going to pull some mental deficiency defense.
 
  • #13
G01 said:
I definitely agree. The problem here is a lack of self control and sense of responsibility. The problem isn't the internet or the games, it's the people.

I fear it's something far more serious than just lack of self control.

ShawnD said:
Reminds me of those people who died while playing World of Warcraft.

This is just my opinion, but wouldn't the game be somewhat inconsequential in this whole mess? I personally play WoW, and it's really not that great unless your goal is to kill some free time. Someone would need to have a horrible life before WoW would take priority. In that case, their life was crap before the internet and games.

If it wasn't the internet, it would have been something else.

This reminded me of a recent situation when I called my friend and he said his girlfriend was over at his place and he was playing WOW.
 
  • #14
I have to wonder that if they didn't have time to take care of these children, where did they find the time to eat, take restroom breaks, or even have the kids in the first place?
 
  • #15
daveb said:
where did they find the time to eat, take restroom breaks, or even have the kids in the first place?

Presumably the connection was down! If they had switched to NTL the connection would have been down regulalrly enough that the kids would have been OK.

Actually that could be their new ad campaign.
"Worried that you kids are spending 24x7 on the net - switch to NTL and we that won't happen"
 
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  • #16
daveb said:
where did they find the time to eat, take restroom breaks, or even have the kids in the first place?

From what I gather, they had sex in the Deeprun Tram :wink:
 

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