Mom Calls Cops over Son's Game Addiction

News
By published

Mom calls 911 over her son's supposed gaming addiction.

The Boston Herald reports that 49-year-old Angela Mejia, a single mother of four children, was forced to call the cops on her 14-year-old son over Grand Theft Auto. According to the police report, the "addiction" has been a growing problem for quite some time, leaving the woman overwhelmed and exasperated. Mejia finally snapped when she discovered her son playing a Grand Theft Auto game at 2:30 a.m., long after he was told to go to bed.

Infuriated, Mejia unplugged her son's PlayStation console (the model wasn't specified). As most gamers know, unplugging an active console is a big no-no--might was well thrust a knife into our back--thus a heated argument ensued between the two. The mother eventually dialed 911 and asked the police to help with her obsessed son.

The two officers who responded to the call told the Herald that they were "surprised" that there was more involved than just cooling down a family feud. Ultimately, they diffused the situation, telling the son to chill out and go to bed. The report didn't reveal any details about what happened to the console and games, or if any therapy would be involved.

Lawrence Kutner, former co-director of the Center for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the Herald that the police call spoke more about the mom's frustration than the boy's so-called addiction. He also added that adults see videogames as isolating experience, whereas young males see games as a means of gaining social acceptance.

Kevin Parrish

Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then, he’s loved all things PC-related and cool gadgets ranging from the New Nintendo 3DS to Android tablets. He is currently a contributor at Digital Trends, writing about everything from computers to how-to content on Windows and Macs to reviews of the latest laptops from HP, Dell, Lenovo, and more. 

47 Comments Comment from the forums
  • tbl_slaanesh
    I think the issue here isn't the police call or the video games. The main problem is a 49 year old single mother with a 14 year old child and 3 other children who has no idea what the word discipline means.
    Reply
  • dingumf
    No one died? Awww...
    Reply
  • sunflier
    It's a good thing he wasn't playing Wii bowling, otherwise the cops might have played too.
    Reply
  • widcard
    Next thing she'll be calling the cops because he has a naked girl in bed at 2:30 a.m.
    Reply
  • apache_lives
    tbl_slaaneshI think the issue here isn't the police call or the video games. The main problem is a 49 year old single mother with a 14 year old child and 3 other children who has no idea what the word discipline means.
    Exactly
    Reply
  • but can he play crysis?
    Reply
  • sliem
    Mother is too soft. Should have sold or break the console.
    Whack the kid with some wood on the butt and get a husband.
    Reply
  • Stryter
    The kid obviously needs a good ass whippin'. Oh wait, that's politically incorrect now-a-days isn't it? I guess the mom is out of luck.
    Reply
  • warmon6
    StryterThe kid obviously needs a good ass whippin'. Oh wait, that's politically incorrect now-a-days isn't it? I guess the mom is out of luck.
    :lol:
    Reply
  • purplerat
    She needs to buy him a new game. Who the hell is still playing GTA?
    Reply