KMK: Baby Starves, Parents Play Online Game

I’ve just read an article that left me shocked and saddened. Apparently a couple living in suburban Seoul have allowed their infant baby to die as a result of malnutrion. Now the baby didn’t die because they couldn’t afford food, no, it seems the infant died from neglect. This couple just couldn’t bother to leave the PC bang where they spent 12 hour sessions in the MMORPG Prius.

Wow. Just wow. I’ve known the addictive quality of MMO’s. I’ve experienced it a little bit myself. I’ve seen the crazed temper tantrum of people like This. Then there was the news of the man who literally died from exhaustion because of his online video game obsession. The recent Frontline Internet Addiction episode couldn’t be more timely.

Even more appaling is that the couple, in their online virtual world, cared for an online baby named Anima. I guess they couldn’t cope with the fact that their own real life daughter was born premature. That poor baby never had a chance. Where was the safety net for this family? If they were unemployed how did they afford an apartment? Where was the extended family? Cleary these two must have been triggering warning signs  if they’re disappearing for 12 hours at an internet cafe!

I’m thinking that the PC Bangs, much like the bars back home in the USA, should start implementing a policy to protect their customers from their own self destructive behavior. Is that too much hand holding? Bars back home have become liable for their patrons who drink themselves blind drunk and then get behind the wheel. Maybe South Korean PC Bangs should make the rounds inside and kick out the customers who have been there over six hour or at least give them a piece of fruit and some water.

Of course these folks would probably just go to the PC bang across the street.

What do you think folks? What can be done about internet addiction? Sure, when kids deal with this the parents can step in and stop it, but when it affects adults I don’t quite see what can be done.

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• Were Game Addicts So Addicted They Starved Baby to Death? (abcnews.go.com)
• South Korean Couple Lets Baby Die While Nurturing Virtual Child (1up.com)
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