Nev. couple blame Internet for neglect - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bossradio93 · 07-16-2007, 12:03 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070716/...rnet_addiction

Nev. couple blame Internet for neglect

Mon Jul 16, 8:09 AM ET

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, authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

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.

Viloria said the Reno couple were too distracted by online video games, mainly 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 the Reno Gazette-Journal.

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.

Her brother had to be treated for starvation and a genital infection. His lack of muscle development caused him difficulty in walking, investigators said.

The Straws have been given public defenders. Jeremy Bosler, head of the county public defender's office, declined to comment to The Associated Press on Saturday.

Michael Straw is an unemployed cashier, and his wife worked for a temporary staffing agency doing warehouse work, according to court records. He received a $50,000 inheritance that he spent on computer equipment and a large plasma television, authorities said.

While child abuse because of drug addiction is common, abuse rooted in video game addiction is rare, Viloria said.

Last month, experts at an American Medical Association meeting backed away from a proposal to designate video game addiction as a mental disorder, saying it had to be studied further. Some said the issue is like alcoholism, while others said there was no concrete evidence it's a psychological disease.

Patrick Killen, spokesman for Nevada Child Abuse Prevention, said video game addiction's correlation to child abuse is "a new spin on an old problem."

"As we become more technologically advanced, there's more distractions," Killen said. "It's easy for someone to get addicted to something and neglect their children. Whether it's video games or meth, it's a serious issue, and (we) need to become more aware of it."

Yahoo! News/AP-July 16, 2007

Number 9 Dream · 07-16-2007, 12:15 PM

Oh my god, that is terrible...get off the f'ing computer and take care of your kids, you idiots

Courtnee · 07-16-2007, 01:18 PM

How stupid are people, really?
FEED YOUR DAMN KIDS.

catlover79 · 07-16-2007, 01:56 PM

Oh, shut up, you morons!!!

(I mean the Nevada couple, not the SO posters,

)

Ireneparalegal · 07-16-2007, 05:36 PM

Neglect due to internet obsession....Yeah doctor, a new term for an old problem, PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE CHILDREN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO CARE FOR THEM.

Courtnee · 07-16-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Neglect due to internet obsession....Yeah doctor, a new term for an old problem, PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE CHILDREN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO CARE FOR THEM.

Exactly. Although I don't have kids, I know that parenting is something you can't half-ass. You have to be there and give them your full attention.

Hollow · 07-16-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Neglect due to internet obsession....Yeah doctor, a new term for an old problem, PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE CHILDREN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO CARE FOR THEM.

exactly. i'm not going to act like i know how it is to have an addiction like that, but if it was REALLY that bad, then the VERY least the idiots could have done was put the children in temporary custody of someone else until they got help for their addiction. and if that wasn't possible, then adoption would probably be the only way to go before they killed the poor babies.

Dr. Thong · 07-16-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Courtnee

Exactly. Although I don't have kids, I know that parenting is something you can't half-ass. You have to be there and give them your full attention.

If you want to spend your life playing games or being on the internet, fine. Get spayed and neutered and spare some kid neglectful parenting.

I don't have kids either, but if I did, I would want to spend time with them, playing, laughing, talking to them. They're only young once. These idiots could have gone on the computer after they put their kids to bed.

If you choose your computer over your kids, you don't deserve to have them.

sara · 07-16-2007, 07:18 PM

This makes me wish we could have people neutered.

freshprinceofLA · 07-16-2007, 08:04 PM

I Wish we could sew people for BEING IDIOTS LIKE THIS COUPLE

Family should always be your 1st priority

TJL · 07-16-2007, 08:39 PM

"You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, to drive a car - hell, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they'll let any butt-reaming a**hole be a father."

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dawsongirl · 07-17-2007, 12:12 AM

They probably didn't think they had an addiction. Or any kids.

and how the hell does a baby get urine in its hair??? did they let the cat pee on its head??

Ireneparalegal · 07-17-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

They probably didn't think they had an addiction. Or any kids.

and how the hell does a baby get urine in its hair??? did they let the cat pee on its head??

That is what I was thinking. Did the baby just lay around because it was so weak it couldn't walk around, therefore, the cat decided to pee on the kid's head????

The litter must have been filled with urine and feces so the cat had to find new places to p*ss.

uke:

Courtnee · 07-17-2007, 11:13 AM

Did anyone see Nacy Grace talk about this last night? The parents looked like crack heads.

07-16-2007, 12:03 PM	#1
bossradio93 Game Show Fanatic! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2004 Location: Bellflower, California Posts: 2,392	Nev. couple blame Internet for neglect http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070716/...rnet_addiction Nev. couple blame Internet for neglect Mon Jul 16, 8:09 AM ET 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, authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal. 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. Viloria said the Reno couple were too distracted by online video games, mainly 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 the Reno Gazette-Journal. 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. Her brother had to be treated for starvation and a genital infection. His lack of muscle development caused him difficulty in walking, investigators said. The Straws have been given public defenders. Jeremy Bosler, head of the county public defender's office, declined to comment to The Associated Press on Saturday. Michael Straw is an unemployed cashier, and his wife worked for a temporary staffing agency doing warehouse work, according to court records. He received a $50,000 inheritance that he spent on computer equipment and a large plasma television, authorities said. While child abuse because of drug addiction is common, abuse rooted in video game addiction is rare, Viloria said. Last month, experts at an American Medical Association meeting backed away from a proposal to designate video game addiction as a mental disorder, saying it had to be studied further. Some said the issue is like alcoholism, while others said there was no concrete evidence it's a psychological disease. Patrick Killen, spokesman for Nevada Child Abuse Prevention, said video game addiction's correlation to child abuse is "a new spin on an old problem." "As we become more technologically advanced, there's more distractions," Killen said. "It's easy for someone to get addicted to something and neglect their children. Whether it's video games or meth, it's a serious issue, and (we) need to become more aware of it." Yahoo! News/AP-July 16, 2007
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07-16-2007, 12:15 PM	#2
Number 9 Dream That '70s Girl Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,875	Oh my god, that is terrible...get off the f'ing computer and take care of your kids, you idiots
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07-16-2007, 01:18 PM	#3
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413	How stupid are people, really? FEED YOUR DAMN KIDS.
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07-16-2007, 01:56 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Oh, shut up, you morons!!! (I mean the Nevada couple, not the SO posters, )
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07-16-2007, 05:36 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Neglect due to internet obsession....Yeah doctor, a new term for an old problem, PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE CHILDREN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO CARE FOR THEM.
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07-16-2007, 07:18 PM	#9
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	This makes me wish we could have people neutered.
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07-16-2007, 08:04 PM	#10
freshprinceofLA The Bosses Senior Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2005 Location: A small town in: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,810	I Wish we could sew people for BEING IDIOTS LIKE THIS COUPLE Family should always be your 1st priority
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07-16-2007, 08:39 PM	#11
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	"You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, to drive a car - hell, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they'll let any butt-reaming a**hole be a father." - Keanu Reeves, "Parenthood"
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07-17-2007, 12:12 AM	#12
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	They probably didn't think they had an addiction. Or any kids. and how the hell does a baby get urine in its hair??? did they let the cat pee on its head??

07-17-2007, 11:13 AM	#14
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413	Did anyone see Nacy Grace talk about this last night? The parents looked like crack heads.