Everquest Connection Alleged In Child Death 107
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'."
Don't confuse the cause for the effect (Score:5, Insightful)
Nothing to do with Everquest (Score:5, Insightful)
Just because they were playing a computer game, it makes the news. If they were distracted watching TV instead, we would never have heard about it.
This is joke... (Score:4, Insightful)
You are responsible for your children, and if this lady ignored her child due to a computer game, well that's not the game's fault.
Slippery Slope? (Score:5, Insightful)
Now that I have a small child I cannot possibly fathom doing anything to harm his wellbeing. Everyday I wake up I have the urge to earn the most I can and provide the best I can for My son, and when I see negligence like this I can't understand how it happens. I don't think there is an addictive substance or activity that would ever have greater sway over me than my son. I can't explain the bond, and I don't try to, but neglecting him to play a game?
What happened to the responsibility people used to have for their children? We live in a world where far to many parents feel like they are entitled to entertainment of some kind and the child be damned if it gets in the way? People constantly drag their kids to places they shouldn't, they constantly bitch about poor teachers when they don't care themselves. I used to feel this way and think to my self that maybe my perspective would change when I had a child. Now I am even more disgusted when I see they way kids are treated/ignored in public and the lack of responsibility people take for them.
Responsability (Score:5, Insightful)
It's videogame's fault, television's fault, society's fault, and so on - when they don't blame insanity or psychological disabilities.
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.
She sued her boss and won.
I mean, with DNA analysis kicking in, in a couple of years, there will be no more responsability for any crime.
When life hands you lemons... (Score:5, Insightful)
What the fuck happened to the concept of personal repsonsibility! Jesus H. Tapdancing Christ!
"I murder people because I was abused as a child."
"I rob people because the system keeps me poor."
"I'm addicted to drugs because nobody will give me a job."
BULLSHIT!
It's not the government's job to take care of you. It's not Verant's job to take care of you. It's not Nabisco's or Microsoft's or Anyone's job to take care of you...except you. And if you can't take care of yourself, I'm sorry; But that's no excuse to drag the rest of us down too. If we keep heading down this road, eventually they'll be nobody left but laywers and 'victims', and modern civilization will grind to a halt.
Re:Don't confuse the cause for the effect (Score:5, Insightful)
Hi there (Score:3, Insightful)
However
Think about THAT message, in relation to all of this. Massive fore-shadowing, in a very sad fashion
We all know there's massive quantities of EQ junkies, we know there's MUD junkies, we know there's TV junkies, and Pool junkies, and arcade junkies, and Golden Tee Golf Junkies, and there's code-junkies and web-browsing junkies, and porn junkies, and so on, and so on, and so on
But rather than concentrating on why the media picked it up (not a whole heck of a lot of media yet, either, and it's been quite some time), why not discuss something more useful?
I wouldn't just dismiss this as "the parents suck"
Rather than talk about dumb ass stupid shit, why can't we all, as nerds, talk about things that might help someone?
Re:Yes, but I wonder... (Score:4, Insightful)
uhh. i guess not then.
they neglected their child.. there's no excuse here, people have had much more important and immersive things to do and manage to keep tabs on where their kid is and they should too.
Re:Don't confuse the cause for the effect (Score:3, Insightful)
This logic is priceless, though:
If it is a disease, there's an easy cure...
The sheer number of incurable diseases is mind numbing, in just the physical cases. There are thousands of psychological diseases, and many of them require therapy to overcome. I, myself, suffered through depression for 3 years. You don't just one day say to yourself, "You know what, I'm going to be happy today." When you get addicted to heroin, you aren't going to say, "You know that was fun, but I'm going to get a job, instead." Same idea.
I'm not saying it's not her fault; she is obviously a moron if her priorities lie in EverQuest and not her child. So, I agree with you that she is displacing responsibility. She should be blamed. Just be careful how you misrepresent diseases.
Re:Ever heard of this word? (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe the question should be "why don't developers provide a test before someone can play to confirm they won't get addicted"
Then it will be followed by a cheat guide to pass the test.
Then to counter this cheating, you will have to go to an approved center to take an exam to play the game, and certify you are sane. Now, you will be required to show id, ssn, and two utility bills, past three months of paystubs all to prove you are who yuo are, and they you have a place of residence and can prove to be a useful member of society. Oh yeah, don't forget the drug test.
People, how much control you want in a society of freedom?
What's so unique about video games? (Score:2, Insightful)
This is ridiculous.
Re:My advice to those addicted to gaming is... (Score:1, Insightful)
And I don't mean the 'insert cock' kind of 'sucking'(or the 'click the penis icon' kind, for that matter).
Just get up and away from the computer... Heyy! the Cocks are getting errected outside! The pussies're meowing in the kitchen (what, did I forget to fuck them?) and... whoa, where's my daughter??? Oh yeah, I fucked her too.
Smile..! You're sucking a COCK!
Here's an idea: STOP FUCKING PLAYING (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:3...2...1...Heorin reference! (Score:2, Insightful)
Check around a bit, I think you'll find that more studies are beginning to show little difference between psychological and physical addictions. In fact, the classification is often considered inappropriate. The reason is that what were previously thought of as psychological addictions have been found to be driven mostly by physical changes in the brain chemistry of the addicted person. For instance, cocaine was once thought to not be physically addictive, yet addicts have altered dopamine concentrations in their brain. With repeated use, higher levels of dopamine are required to function normally (note: this is the same as tolerance increases among addicts, but it's been found that at a certain point the level of dopamine that an addict requires to act like a normal person is higher than the body normally produces, so not only do they need more of the drug to get the same high, but they need the drug to be normal).
True addictions will alter the brain's chemistry in one way or another, even if it's within normal bounds (ie without chemicals being introduced into the body that change them directly). Someone that plays a lot of any computer game may have their brain's chemistry altered due to heightened alertness (extended boosts in adrenaline levels) or whatever state a game like EQ might put your mind in. Over extended periods of time the change in the levels of the chemicals in the brain due to the state in which you play the game may result in the brain adjusting to the heightened levels, and resulting in a very real physical withdrawal when not playing the game (as the brain's chemical levels return to a normal state which the brain is no longer wired to see as normal).