Parental Neglect Kills Infant, World of Warcraft Involved

[ÜberJumper]

In this story out of Korea (http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200506/200506140037.html) we have yet another example of The Media implying that a game had something to do with the death of a child.


According to Incheon Police Station on Tuesday, a 29-year-old man husband identified by his family name of Yu and his wife put their four-month daughter in the bedroom of their home and went to a neighborhood PC café at around 4:00 p.m. on May 24 to play the online game "World of Warcraft."

Time flew by as the couple lost themselves in the game, and when they returned home at 9:00 p.m., their daughter was lying on her stomach, dead of suffication.

Clearly this is a case of parental neglect. You could easily replace "World of Warcraft" with "crack" and you would have a story we have heard before. Obviously the game did not cause the death of the child, but it is clear, from this and other related stories, that gaming can be addictive and can lead to harm.

Thanks to the Relic forums for the heads up.

Discuss!

[7ofswords]

"Clearly this is a case of parental neglect. You could easily replace "World of Warcraft" with "crack" and you would have a story we have heard before. Obviously the game did not cause the death of the child, but it is clear, from this and other related stories, that gaming can be addictive and can lead to harm."

In fairness by using this logic, crack is perfectly ok.

[Heretic Machine]

It should be said that they could of left the girl with her grandmother who lived just upstairs, but instead decided that leaving her home for a few hours would be a better way to deal with it. This is incompetence and laziness, nothing more and nothing less. Even someone who -needed- to play would of taken the time to get the girl upstairs.

[Abednigo]

Wasn't it in Korea where that guy stabbed another guy to death over an IN GAME sword? Morons.

[koobz]

It's bullshit. What if the parents got caught up in a good book? Would it be the author's fault??

[Kefkataran]

Police said, "It's unfortunate, because the tragedy could have been averted if the couple had just left their daughter with Yu's mother-in-law, who lived upstairs from them... We booked the pair on criminal charges, judging that when you consider the situation, they were responsible for their daughter's death."

You might want this to be an example of the media implying that it was the game's fault, but I don't see that they are. They're simply reporting the facts. This quote from a little further in the article has the police very firmly saying it was the parents' fault for this death. Nowhere does it imply that the game is at fault.

And, yeah, leaving the daughter without bringing her to her grandmother UP THE STAIRS is just ridiculous. I don't know how parents get that irresponsible.

Wasn't it in Korea where that guy stabbed another guy to death over an IN GAME sword? Morons.

Blaming the fact that they're Korean on their idiocy is almost as stupid as blaming the fact that they were playing a videogame.

[ferr]

"You could easily replace "World of Warcraft" with "crack" and you would have a story we have heard before."

Only problem with this is that crack is very much illegal. Maybe you're implying WoW should be illegal?

[Heretic Machine]

Wasn't it in Korea where that guy stabbed another guy to death over an IN GAME sword? Morons.

People have also been known to quite literally die of exhaustion in Korean LAN Cafes because they won't leave the computer...

EDIT: Oh, and come to think of it, I think the sword thing happend in China.

[ÜberJumper]

Or I'm implying that drugs should be legal and both should be regulated :-)

[Abednigo]

Blaming the fact that they're Korean on their idiocy is almost as stupid as blaming the fact that they were playing a videogame.

Yeah, because I was totally saying that it's because they're Korean that they're morons. :rolleyes: But let me explain...

They're morons for killing over an in item game. And in this case they're morons for not taking the time to take their baby upstairs to grandma. Where they're from has nothing to do with it and was not my point. But it does seem that you hear more stories like this from asian countries than here in the US. I think they ARE more rabid about their games than we are.

[Commissar Rob]

I really don't see that the article is implying that WoW was particularly the culprit. The "father" says that they would usually only leave their infant alone for an hour or two.

Sounds like a pretty clear case of child abandonment. Whatever the cause, the parents are clearly negligent and hopefully will be punished.

[ÜberJumper]

Abednigo:

Wasn't there a guy in the US that sat on his kid while playing PS2 because it wouldn't shut up?

[Kefkataran]

They're morons for killing over an in item game. And in this case they're morons for not taking the time to take their baby upstairs to grandma. Where they're from has nothing to do with it and was not my point. But it does seem that you hear more stories like this from asian countries than here in the US. I think they ARE more rabid about their games than we are.

I agree that games have sunk deeper into their culture than in they have to this point in America. They're more widely played, so you hear more stories like this, that's definitely true. But the only reason I thought you were implying their being Korean had anything to do with it is because you put it in there as a point of your response. You're right: it does have nothing to do with their nationality.

I really don't see that the article is implying that WoW was particularly the culprit.

QFT.

[ÜberJumper]

7ofSwords:

Anything in excess can cause harm (key word "can"). Is drug use (tobacco use, alcohol use, caffeine use), in moderation, less harmful than if consumed in a binge?

Heck, my step mom works at a mental hospital, and she used to work on the water drinkers ward. Those folks used water to get "drunk".

[Liquidize105]

WoW was not blamed for this at all, this is clearly a case of child abuse.

So I changed it.

[Swat]

It's a very addicting game, and just like other addicting forms of entertainment (ie. Gambling) sometimes people with a certain personality can't handle it. Take away WoW though and watch them do the same thing at the Casino.

It's a very sad story to hear, but YOU make a choice and YOU live with the results - this goes with anything. I'm certainly not going to blame anyone if I walk down the street to go try and buy crack for the first time, I made the decision to put on my shoes, walk out the door, etc.

Replace WoW with <anything> that is remotely engaging and time consuming, it's all the same, just a different venue.

[Swat]

You're right: it does have nothing to do with their nationality.

But it might have something to do with cultural differences..

[Liquidize105]

What do you mean differences?

[bapenguin]

They only played for 5 hours? :)

[Liquidize105]

This would've been preventable if only they played at home on their own comps :(

Maybe that's the cultural difference.

[Swat]

What do you mean differences?

Cultural differences, every culture is different. Maybe the culture is pushed to strive towards excellence . I don't know, I've never been to Korea.

I do know from talking to Chinese friends that there is a huge push towards perfection that we don't have here in the fat and lazy west. Maybe the Koreans have a similar push toward excellence, a strong determination and spirit to conquer.

It's not a fact, it's a random thought. If Koreans are equally as fat and lazy as us Northern Americans please correct me :D

[Kefkataran]

It does to a degree, Swat. I agree that much. Like I said, videogaming has sunk deeper into Korean culture. Thus we're going to see stories involving videogames in Korea (both positive and negative) more often than in America. Has nothing to do with the idiocy factor though.

[Justin_McElroy]

Can't they just wait for the baby to get back to its corpse from the graveyard?

Christ, I'm really sorry.

[LilEvilFish]

Parents fault, they should've spent the child's college fund on setting up a home network with an OC12 connection.

[Chagrinful]

Damn! Now it's offical anyway WoW leads to/causes SIDS! Be careful all you new parents out there! Heh. If thats not SIDS then it's similar too it isn't it?

[bapenguin]

Can't they just wait for the baby to get back to its corpse from the graveyard?

Christ, I'm really sorry.

Man...i spit my gum out at that. So wrong...ever more wrong that I laughed.

[Kefkataran]

Can't they just wait for the baby to get back to its corpse from the graveyard?

Christ, I'm really sorry.

I bet that right now you feel about the way I do every time I make a stupid rape- and/or cancer-related joke. Like I never wanna open my mouth again for a week. Heh.

[VoodooKarma]

Can't they just wait for the baby to get back to its corpse from the graveyard?

Christ, I'm really sorry.


Best tasteless joke EVER! I am sure I just signed my reservation in hell for laughing at it.

[Savok]

Can't they just wait for the baby to get back to its corpse from the graveyard?

Christ, I'm really sorry.
Hah! Funniest post I've seen in ages.

[entropy123]

Seems as though <insert any overly expressed form of behavior> would produce the same effect. Why don't societies teach their citizens how to recognize and handle addiction? Self control is unprofitable.

[Kefkataran]

Why don't societies teach their citizens how to recognize and handle addiction? Self control is unprofitable.

Hence, in the end, it's all up to good parenting once again. Society as a whole is probably never going to work towards something like that, so it's really in the hands of individuals to do so.

[Swat]

Self control is unprofitable.

If they keep dying, the won't be profitable either! :eek:

Well, the funeral/casket business will at least. Hmm.

[jacktion]

But it does seem that you hear more stories like this from asian countries than here in the US. I think they ARE more rabid about their games than we are.

Yes, I've heard two stories from Korea! So all Koreans are now "rabid" and "morons" to quote you.

Ok, I realized I'm just trying to start touble, so ignore me.

and that was a great dead baby joke. I feel wrong.

[Swat]

I really don't think anyone here is being racist, maybe we should stop pointing fingers in that direction, I'm sure we all want to avoid that ugliness. There's a difference between putting someone down because of their DNA and saying they are more enthuisiastic as a culture towards certain game genres.

"Hardcore" sounds so much better rolling off the tongue than "Rabid" - very little difference in my eyes though ;)

[VoodooKarma]

I think you guys are misunderstanding Abednigo, I am sure he wasn't trying to bash Koreans. Also, I bet you would hear more about this stuff happening in the US if home computers with high speed access weren't as prevalent in the US. You forget, a lot of Koreans have to go to those internet cafes to play these games where in the US you can just play right in your home while the kid is sleeping. I am not making excuses for these wastes of sperm who do this but just saying why you hear more about it in places like Korea than in the US.

[entropy123]

Hence, in the end, it's all up to good parenting once again. Society as a whole is probably never going to work towards something like that, so it's really in the hands of individuals to do so.

Pretty much. Families and communities are the unit of power here....the guvmint & corporations could care less.

On the whole "Korean" issue. This sort of thing happens each day in every country in the world. In the UK they are attending an international-football match in America they are watching baseball...<insert reason here>.

[outontheporch]

WoW kills babies!!

[FyrionX]

Of course, we all know that the media is out to get video gamers because clearly there is nothing better to write about in the world. I mean there is this little thing called a war going on and there's the largest political divide in the country since the Civil War, but no, that's not important, the media only wants to show the evils of video gaming. They have much to receive from that.

[Kefkataran]

Of course, we all know that the media is out to get video gamers because clearly there is nothing better to write about in the world. I mean there is this little thing called a war going on and there's the largest political divide in the country since the Civil War, but no, that's not important, the media only wants to show the evils of video gaming. They have much to receive from that.

Your point (assuming there was one you were trying to make) was lost in the internet sarcasm.

[FyrionX]

Sorry, what I meant to say is that gamers make too much of things like this. The media is NOT out to get videogamers and to think otherwise seems foolish to me. They have nothing to gain from it.

[Kefkataran]

I agree with you most of the time. But there are plenty of examples of the media using "VIDEOGAMES ARE BAD!" shock stories to try and garner attention. This just definitely is not one of them.

[XenonCJ]

Look, obviously Blizzard is at fault here. The lead programmer of WoW should be executed, immediatly.

[ÜberJumper]

I just mentioned this story to my wife. It's her impression that in some areas of Asia it's not uncommon that people feel if the baby is sleeping, its ok to leave it be and go out and do errands. She backs her impression up with reports from Au Pair websites suggesting that some countries have a cultural bias for such things. Her last statement however tells it all "Five hours? That's insane!" (we have an 18 month old daughter, and we're both PC and console Gamers).

Fyrion:

I'd like to think the Media's at least out to raise people's awareness that things like this are not ok. Problem is, a lot of the time the people that have no exposure to games and gaming hear something negative and think "oh, that means games are bad!" (D&D and satan worship comes to mind).

[The_Reckoning]

Well, having a Level 39 Demoniac Necromancer does come close...

[FyrionX]

The only reason most of these articles get printed is because it's something different. Many children are killed each year because their crack addict mother or father left them alone while they get drugs. Not many children die each year because their parents neglected them to play a video game. If you want to see true bias in the media, turn on Fox news network:P

[LilAbner]

This is sickening. I wish there was a law banning idiots from having kids.

[Savok]

When the Crown Casino first opened in Melbourne, a lot of parents left their kids in the car while gambled for hours on end, few kids even died. 95% of the time is was an asian family. Whether it was genetics or culture, I don't know, I just know that some nationalities have a few screws loose (only the germans would dip bodies in plastic to create "art" for instance).

[Blue]

When the Crown Casino first opened in Melbourne, a lot of parents left their kids in the car while gambled for hours on end, few kids even died. 95% of the time is was an asian family. Whether it was genetics or culture, I don't know, I just know that some nationalities have a few screws loose (only the germans would dip bodies in plastic to create "art" for instance).

My mother's side is Irish, they must have a drinking problem.

[Savok]

My mother's side is German and we're both insane, what's your point? That it's not the defining element of a personality? Of course it's not, I never said it was.

[Subbacultcha]

That's sad. It's not really logical to blame the parents, though. How long does it take to sufficate a baby? One minute? I'm not particularly knowledgeable regarding how to look after small children, but it doesn't seem that the parents could have done anything even if they were at home.

[Blue]

My mother's side is German and we're both insane, what's your point? That it's not the defining element of a personality? Of course it's not, I never said it was.

Point is, you said only Germans could think up something like that. Untrue. I mean, if you're going to attempt some sort of witty remark, at least try and come up with something that doesn't make you sound ignorant. I too am German and I wouldn't in the least peg myself as insane. Wouldn't say my father's side is insane.

Just seemed like you typed before you actually thought-out anything you were about to say.

[AversionFX]

I'm beginning to see a trend of stupidity coming out of Asia in regards to gaming. How do you just forget to get your child to a sitter? You deserve to rot in a jail cell if you neglect your own damn child like that.

[Rommel]

Like I never wanna open my mouth again for a week.

And yet your father's cock ends up in there anyway. Funny that.

[Savok]

Point is, you said only Germans could think up something like that. Untrue. I mean, if you're going to attempt some sort of witty remark, at least try and come up with something that doesn't make you sound ignorant. I too am German and I wouldn't in the least peg myself as insane. Wouldn't say my father's side is insane.

Just seemed like you typed before you actually thought-out anything you were about to say.
No I said a only a German would do it in the name of art, and one did. (http://www.bodyworlds.com/en/pages/home.asp) *a warning, yes those are real, no don't click if you aren't up to viewing a freakshow*

That said you must be completely blind to not see that different nationalities have different strengths and weaknesses, Take America, they can't for the lives of them make a decent car, but their aircraft are second to none. The Chinese make for excellent businessmen, while the Gurkha are superb soldiers.

[Shifteh]

"95% of the time is was an asian family. Whether it was genetics or culture"

Or, here's a thought, coincidence? Maybe, get this, the area happened to have a lot of asian families?

I'm not sure which idiot first came up with the idea that what race you are somehow determines what kind of parent you are, but they deffinately needed to have been killed earlier.

[Savok]

Melbourne, our 2nd largest city. At the time, Crown was the first casnio built there, the state government wanted it to be "the" place to go for entertainment and gambling. Think Vegas only with one building, footballers would beat each other up all the time there. Besides which, most asians settle in Sydney, which has a casino and no problems, proving that only the least of humanity's intellect goes to Melbourne.

[Zeal]

Solution: Ban Korea from the internet.