It took five years, but a woman who played World of Warcraft day after day as her three-year-old daughter wasted away, dying of malnutrition and dehydration, is headed to prison. Rebecca Colleen Christie of Las Cruces, New Mexico was sentenced to 25 years in prison yesterday.
An action-packed maths game students enjoy playing is a little too fun for some parents of the Albuquerque schools, one of whom went as far as accusing it of fostering video games addiction.
The latest proposal that would tax video games (and televisions) in an effort to fund other, seemingly unrelated programs has popped up in New Mexico, initiated by the Sierra Club. The environmental organization’s executive director, Carl Pope, writes on the Huffington Post that tacking on a 1% tax on games and televisions would generate some $US 4 million toward pushing the “No Child Left Inside” agenda, getting chubby kids off their humps and out to national parks where they can receive an outdoor education.
We suppose that this sort of diversion of funds makes more sense than others. I just hope they don’t limit the use of PSPs for these poor kids brought to tears by the prospect of experiencing “nature”. And, please New Mexico, make sure these kids are well stocked on Happy Meals.
A Tax to Remember [The Huffington Post via GamePolitics]
