Chinese couple sells children to play games

[Luk3us 63]

A Chinese couple sold their three children for cash to play video games, according to a local report.

 

Sanxiang City News newspaper (translated by ABC News, via VideoGamer.com) said the parents, both under 21, sold their children for money to fund playing online games at internet cafes.

 

In 2009, Li Lin and Li Juan sold their second child, a baby girl, for less than $500. They reportedly spent the money shortly after.

 

They then sold their first child, a boy, for about $4600. They sold their third child, also a boy, for the same amount.

 

They were reported to the police when the man's mother found out what they had done. "We don't want to raise them, we just want to sell them for some money," they said. They claim they didn't know they were breaking the law.

 

The games played by the couple were not disclosed, or the type of games they were.

 

China has a troubled history with online gaming.

 

A year ago China's Ministry of Culture issued new regulations banning children from using virtual currency to buy items in games.

 

The new rules also included restrictions on "unwholesome and corrupting content" and kids' gaming time.

 

The controls are made possible by a requirement that online game players register with their real names.

 

Minors will be banned from buying or selling items with virtual currencies, although the purchase of "products or services" will be allowed.

 

Game companies will be required to develop "techniques" limiting children's gaming time in order to prevent addiction, an issue which has been in the headlines in China since a series of deaths among "internet-addicted youths" in 2009. But the techniques, or the amount of gaming time, aren't specified.

 

The Ministry also requires companies to develop means to keep children from playing "inappropriate games", forbidding online games from including content that involves pornography, cults, superstition, gambling and violence.

 

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-...s-to-play-games

 

I see stupid people. Walking around like regular people. They don't see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don't know they're stupid.

[Inferno 22]

I see stupid people. Walking around like regular people. They don't see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don't know they're stupid.

I love it when people tell the truth. Even though I didn't know I was telling the truth.

[Saracen 16]

I thought Chinese law clearly stated that no family could exceed 1 child per family?

 

I remember a documentary on it. Often couples who may have given birth to a girl, would dump their child on the streets in favour of trying for a boy. Since it is a firm belief in China that males can bring bigger wealth and prosperity to a family and themselves purely for being male. The situation is now said to be so bad, that the Chinese male population now exceeds females considerably. A survey was taken of just one junior school, and there were only 4 females to a male attendance of over 200.

 

This is why in the above story. The males went for big cash, and the female wasn't really worth the money they received. But then, this stuff happens in China all the time. They breed for the money, as opposed to the "family" aspect.

[Nmenth 291]

Only about 1/3 of the Chinese are bound by the one-child policy, and twins (or more) are also exempt, causing wealthier citizens to take fertility drugs in an attempt at a multiple birth.

 

As for the larger male population, while it does exist, is not quite as bad as your example (which was, I have little doubt, a heavily biased "survey"). It is more like 15% more males than females.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Meh. It's China. They're not exactly living the free life.