You know how it is, you sit down at your computer to play a few games and update your Myspace page and the next thing you know, your kids are starving. In one of those news stories that make you feel embarrassed and even a little sick to be a human being, a couple in Reno Nevada have pleaded guilty to after their 11 month old daughter, Shannon, and 22 month old son, Brian, were found malnourished and near death. The couple, Michael and Iana Straw – who claim to be “proud parents” on their myspace pages, are blaming their actions – or should I say ‘inactions’—on an addiction to online games and the internet, which according to them begun after Michael inherited $50,000 and bought computer equipment and a plasma TV.

At first I found this to be an especially odd story because I've never heard of any hardcore internet addicts that didn’t have a hoard of snacks within an arm's flop of the keyboard... but apparently the parents did have food – in fact they had a fridge full of food and formula – they just cruelly didn’t give their children any (if you look at their mug-shots you’ll notice that both parents seemed to be well fed).  Their daughter Shannon apparently weighed only ten pounds when she was found and was suffering from a mouth infection, dry skin, severe dehydration, and had hair was so matted with cat urine that hospital staff were forced to shave her head. Their son Brian was found to be so emancipated that he had trouble walking (due to poor muscle development), and had to be treated for a genital infection.

The next question that entered their mind was, how does an addiction to the internet prevent someone from feeding their kids (I mean, I’m addicted – both mentally and physically – to cigarettes but I’m still able to function and take care of my responsibilities)?  I can understand how an addiction to drugs or alcohol might severly alter a person’s brain to the point of them not being able to function and take care of their kids, but that’s because drugs and alcohol are substances that impair a person’s judgement and renders them intoxicated – video games on the other hand don’t have that same effect on a person’s brain. Sure a person may feel the urge to constantly play games but, their brain is still clear enough that they are capable of feeding and washing their children. This whole internet blame game is just an excuse to avoid facing the fact that they are REALLY REALLY BAD PARENTS! 

And speaking of which, I was curious to see what kind of people these parents were so I ventured on myspace and found their pages. Here’s what the mother had to say:

”As parents, teachers, and human beings, we are responsible for the messages we send, the violence we condone, and the children we raise. I love my kids...” I wonder if she knows that we are also responsible for feeding them too.