Citing "the encouragement of addictive gaming," the government of Thailand recently shut down approximately 72 websites "offering access to online gambling and games." The decision was made shortly after the tragic suicide of 12-year-old Pongsathorn Wattanabenjasopha, allegedly caused by his father banning him from playing PC games.
While a variety of studies have simultaneously "proven" and "disproven" the addictive properties of video games, Bundit Sornpaisarn, director of the Rajanagarindra Child and Adolescent Mental Health Institute, told the Bangkok Post, "The boy's suicide reflected that children who were addicted to games and had an aggressive mentality were more likely to commit suicide than others." While we're not sure of the correlation with video games in Mr. Sornpaisarn's statement or why shutting down gaming/gambling websites in Thailand is the response to a child's suicide, we extend our condolences to everyone affected by the events.
[Via GamePolitics]
Reader Comments (62)
Posted: May 25th 2009 4:26AM The Dark Trooper said
"we extend our condolences to everyone affected by the events."
I see what you did there. Very nice.
I see what you did there. Very nice.
Posted: May 25th 2009 6:04AM jhowlett said
read a post from the source that says the government started this on the 19th. the boy died on the 21st.
Posted: May 25th 2009 8:35AM (Unverified) said
one person commits suicide after having access to games cut off. so the obvious response is to cut off all access to games from all people...?
Posted: May 25th 2009 11:47AM TheShaper said
If a kid in Thailand killed himself over his parents not letting him playing videogames, banning videogames althogether from the country woundn't make even more kids to commit suicide?
Posted: May 25th 2009 12:37PM (Unverified) said
And in tomorrow's news: "Mass suicides in Thailand over ban on gaming sites"
yeah, surely replicating the supposed reason for the suicide will prevent more of them.
oh, wait! it won't!
yeah, surely replicating the supposed reason for the suicide will prevent more of them.
oh, wait! it won't!
Posted: May 25th 2009 1:01PM Rentaro said
Let's ban video games but leave other problems like human trafficking alone!
Posted: May 25th 2009 1:59PM RageOverdose said
If a boy committed suicide over losing access to video games, he was probably very dependent on them. There could be a slew of reasons why he did it, either he lost all he enjoyed or perhaps his life was really hard and was using it as an escape, as many said already, and he just hated his life. Maybe he had selfish thoughts. I don't know.
Nevertheless, parents do need to pay attention to children playing games. If they let the games "raise" the child, the games will be the life of the child. Family is the ultimate and most important socialization tool, and without them the child tends to lean towards an unhealthy psyche. I wonder where parents went when they decided to let media raise their children? Laziness or hoping that they can try and get the fantasy marriage where their kids grow up and they have time to themselves?
Nevertheless, parents do need to pay attention to children playing games. If they let the games "raise" the child, the games will be the life of the child. Family is the ultimate and most important socialization tool, and without them the child tends to lean towards an unhealthy psyche. I wonder where parents went when they decided to let media raise their children? Laziness or hoping that they can try and get the fantasy marriage where their kids grow up and they have time to themselves?
Posted: May 25th 2009 3:27PM (Unverified) said
hmm wonder if he was olaying Call of Duty
Posted: May 25th 2009 5:27PM Nobledevil Gaming Optimist said
I agree with the previous sentiments of the child's obvious other mental issues. That kid needed help, serious help. The parents probably thought they were doing him a huge favor by not allowing him to sink further into gaming like he was likely already doing. It's too bad the boy was obviously more unbalanced than even his parents may have figured.
Posted: May 26th 2009 1:46AM (Unverified) said
Ok, let me get this, a kid commits sucide because his dad wouldn't let him play anymore and now the government won't let a whole lot of kids play anymore, I just can't imagine what the result of that could be ¬_¬. If only responsible parenting existed in the world...
Posted: Aug 5th 2009 6:40PM (Unverified) said
1: Child plays online videogames
2: Child is deprived from online videogames
3: Child commits suicide as a result of being deprived from online videogames
4: Government reacts by deciding to deprive all children in the country from online videogames
Hmm.
2: Child is deprived from online videogames
3: Child commits suicide as a result of being deprived from online videogames
4: Government reacts by deciding to deprive all children in the country from online videogames
Hmm.
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