Everquest Connection Alleged In Child Death

Thanks to NWAOnline.net for their story regarding a mother facing manslaughter charges which may relate to videogame addiction, following her 3-year-old daughter's death after being left alone in an overheated car. According to the piece, "Authorities said [Mary Christina] Cordell and her boyfriend, Eric Long, 21, may have been so fixated with the interactive game EverQuest that she neglected to pay adequate attention to Brianna's whereabouts on Aug. 8, the day the child died." The article also points out posts to the Spouses Against Everquest mailing-list from Cordell, one of which is controversial, but tragically prescient: "Verant is also an enabler by providing a type of 'entertainment' that requires an inordinary amount of time to do basic functions of the average role playing games... I'm afraid that eventually many more people will be hurt or even killed by this 'service'."

More common than you think

[Anonymous Coward]

According to this [recordsearchlight.com] report. As of the 22nd of this month, 36 children have died this year from being left in a hot car. Everquest certainly isn't to blame.

Re:Don't confuse the cause for the effect

[PK_ERTW]

Did anyone take into account that the mother was irresponsible enough to get pregnant at approximately 17 years old and that she's just not a responsible adult yet? I'm guessing no one has brought that up. There are certainly deeper issues than Everquest addiction here....

The mother was 31 or so when she had the kid. She was 35, it was her husband who was 21. Age shouldn't be a factor on her maturity to have a child.

pk

Re:Responsability

[PK_ERTW]

Here in Canada, a girl who got drunk in an office party - thanks to the boss, with an open bar - drove her car and had an accident.

This is a little off-topic, but since you brought it up, you should get the details correct. This case stinks (and is one of Canada's worst civil lawsuits in my opinion) because the lady drank at the party and was offered a drice home, cab fare, and a hotel room to stay in. She refused all three and instead went to a bar to drink further. She then drove home well after the party ended. Both her employer and the bar were found liable (some percentage each)

This is not only an example of someone taking responsiblity for there own actions, but a travesty that the courts agreed it was not her fault.

pk

By that token...

[skyknytnowhere]

I suppose academia is a dangerous addiction too... [latimes.com]

skye

Re:Responsability

[protohiro1]

In an aside, the woman you mentioned was quite clearly a certifiable addict. The questions we should ask to see if gaming passes the addiction test: have you tried to quit and couldn't? Has your gaming caused you to miss work or severely hampered your work? Have you been fired over your gaming?

here is an AA questionare [recoveryzone.org], maybe its applicable...