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Dad Hires Online 'Assassins' to End Son's Gaming

Son's character was killed off every time he logged on

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 9, 2013 12:01 AM CST

(Newser) – A father in China worried about his unemployed son's obsession with online gaming put a hit out on the 23-year-old's avatars in his favorite games, paying "assassins" to kill his son every time he logged on. The two reportedly reconciled after the son discovered the plot, though it's not clear whether the father's extreme approach pushed his son toward getting a job. "It's not going to do much for family relations," a gambling and addictions expert tells the BBC. "I've never heard of that kind of intervention before, but I don't think these top-down approaches work. Most excessive game-playing is usually a symptom of an underlying problem."

A computer user at an Internet cafe in Shenyang, China.
A computer user at an Internet cafe in Shenyang, China.   (AP Photo/File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
logwolf
Jan 10, 2013 10:07 AM CST
Am I missing something, or is this not a grown man (23 years old), living at home. This is not a child. Thowing his ass out would have been another alternative. And you're worried about disturbing his psych? Seriously though, this happened in China. They have different ways of dealing with their children, and other conflicts. So I think he did the right thing. Something we should all consider for our children. If gaming is that addictive, perhaps parents should control how often they do it.
lvan
Jan 9, 2013 6:45 PM CST
Kid needs to escape. It's just as bad as drugs or alcohol but at least not as destructive physically. Such radical approach will never work. People who prone to escapism addictions don't fare well when you take a carpet from under their feet. Firm and gentle approach of cultivating goals and replacing addiction with something positive and constructive works much better. Still it all depends on a personality and good kick in ass might do it. It will ruin their relationship for a while but if the kid got any sense, he will recognize that his father has best intentions.
LoginsSuck
Jan 9, 2013 11:21 AM CST
OK give it up, what is the name and contact info of this Assassin? signed - mom of 3 teenagers
 

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