In my opinion.. yes I think it's sad, but what about any other game on any console or computer? I know I can't stand many games out there yet my friends will sit and play PS2 for hours on end constantly switching out games. It gives them something to do I suppose. I just preferr to put a few hours a week into a goal oriented game such as EQ instead. So it's just one game, all things can, and should be handled responsibly. It's very unfortuanate that someone felt the need to end their life under any circumstances.. wether it had to do with a game or not, and my best wishes go out to his family.

Almada 49 Bard Drinal

Let me start out by telling you about who I am and what my experience with Everquest (EQ) is like. I’m 35 years old and have been playing EQ for slightly over one year. My Fiancée and I play together on separate accounts. We both play 12-20 hours per week during the winter months and 4-10 per week during the rest of the year. Until recently I worked with several EQ friends, most of whom play between well over 20 hours per week. With regard to EQ being addictive, I do not agree with this theory at all. When I think of addiction it is in the context of something, which a person becomes physically dependent upon, such as alcohol or cocaine to name just two. This is not to say that mentally addictive substances are not harmful, but no one is going to get the shakes or feel they have bugs under their skin if they suddenly stop play EQ or quit smoking pot. For the sake of this argument let us break EQ players into two groups, adult (18+) and children (under 18).
If there are children out there playing EQ even five hours a day, then I think the issue is with the parents. This is not to say that parents that let children play this much EQ are bad parents, but I do think they are not serving their child’s best interest letting them in the long run. EQ is a great game full of adventure and can be wonderful fun for a child. Yet it is important that children learn to diversify their interest and to interact with others face to face. Allowing a child to seclude themselves in a room with a computer and EQ for 30+ hours a week does not prepare them for life as an adult. Believing the latter to be true I cannot see the purpose or good of a warning label. Although I could further defend this argument in the interest of brevity I will move on to adults that play EQ.
I have no problem with adults that choose to play EQ for 30+ hours a week. However, if they are playing EQ that much I suspect it is because they have nothing else to do or perhaps they don’t know how to do anything else. Perhaps they lack the social skill necessary to interact with people face to face. If the latter is true then again the purpose of a warning label escapes me. If the player is married or involved with others either socially or romantically and their EQ play is hurting these relationships it does not necessarily follow that they are addicted to EQ. Rather their complacency or lack of social skills is hurting their relationships. Real life relationships require more energy and dedication then the relationships we build in EQ. Therefore it is not surprising that some prefer EQ relationships to real life relationships. Once again this issue will not be resolved by putting warning labels on EQ or any other game.
This is an interesting debate and I look forward to any rebuttals.

OMG, I hope the poor woman does'nt read these post. We have her hanging from the tree already. Though miss directed she may be she is not responsible for her son's death. As parent's we make mistakes but most do a heck of a job raising our children and some times they get in trouble no matter what or have mental illness's that eventually lead to tragedy such as this . How many times is 80-90 % of our conversation's at home and over the dinner table about EQ? Don't your parent's get frustated over it and how much time you spend on it.Then it happen's and someone takes their life and leaves a note or tell's a friend . Can you see how easy it would be for some lawyer or friend to suggest to this mother it's EQ fault and to prevent it from happening something should be done.This mother probably heard her son raving about the game day in day out and I'm sorry, it's not her fault. The farther society get's from God and social values deteriorate mental illness will run
rampant. It's all our fault's, not this poor mother or Sony's. Before casting that first stone we just might look deep within our own lives and the society we've made for our children. God bless this woman and her son, amen

As i do grieve over the loss of anyone this lady needs to realize some things. Her son was an addict with problems, which she openly admits. When you are and addict at anything there are always certain risks and what not that arise. If you were addicted to running there is a possibility of running yourself to death. People come close quite often by "hitting the wall". You could become addicted to milk for Christ sake and drink yourself to death. Obviously these kinds of things are a little over the top to think that someone would actually do them but you get my point. As I said before I do feel for the mother and I hate to hear that her son is dead. But, he did not die because of an addiction he had. He died because of suicide. When a person dies because of suicide it is because of DEPRESSION, and I really do not want to come off as a jerk, but I don't think there is anyone out there you can sue for the matter. My heart goes out to this heartbroken mother, but maybe if she is that concerned about the cause of his death she should look into why he was depressed. In most cases that I have seen or been involved in myself, being 21 also, I have realized that most of depression is from people and often times parents. While I understand what parents do to try and raise us best they can, some things get ya down you know, as anyone can relate to. I doubt that Shaun was getting depressed over his game, maybe a little pissed from time to time, but he played so much because he was depressed not the other way around.

My advise for to Elizabeth is to look at home before you go around blaming your neighbors.

Deggalla
32 Wizard

sorry folks! posted that twice (

Edited, Sat Apr 6 09:36:38 2002

A person killed himself listening to Ozzy's Sucide Solution and Ozzy was sued.
People's character from Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, died in a game so those people thought they had to die. D&D was sued.
Now a young man kills himself because he played Everquest and his mom wants to sue.
GET OFF THE FREE RIDE FOLKS!!!
She knew her son had problems, seizures and mental health, and she wants to sue SOE and/or Everquest.
I hope this does not make it to court. This is a waste of everybody's time.
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I am an IDIOT
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Here is your sign lady.

I am sorry Shawn killed himself and I do greive with the parents for the loss of a child. Please don't try and get a free ride from the things your child liked to do hoping to get money. I doubt your child would have wanted that. The money won't bring the child back.

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Xiren (Forever Wind)
Dark Elf Necromancer
Solusek Ro
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Edited, Sat Apr 6 08:44:35 2002

I have know three people in the last 5 years who have committed suicide. Yes life kicks you in the nuts sometimes, thats it. I am not out to sue the drug dealer who supplied my first friend who died, nor am I out to sue the car company who made the car another friend used to kill himself. Maybe I could have done more to stop what happened, maybe not. The truth is who can foresee these things happening? Yes, usually there are clues, but sometimes you can not pick up on them before it is too late. I agree there are too many people out there ready to make a quick buck off of suing someone, and actually it sickens me. Maybe the mother needs help dealing with her anger and depression too. I know I would be depressed if my son was mentally handicapped, I also would feel guilty and responsible if he committed suicide.

Also I love how this lawyer has basically stated that everyone that plays EQ is doing so because the are fat ugly and outcasts ( not a direct quote) I for one think that is the silliest thing I have ever heard. I play EQ cause I love it. It is fun time consuming and relatively an inexpesive form of entertainmene. I cocktailed at the casino's, I have also delt cards. I have been in a pool league at the local bar. None of this means I am a drunk or a addicted gambler. Quit sterotyping it makes me sick.

Of course this is just my opinion, I could be wrong. ( that is a direct quote, thank you Dennis Miller)

If you ask me, I think Sony should just take this lady and her attorney to court. This guy had a history of mental illness. I doubt they would get anything from Sony at all.
It's these kinds of stupid suits that cause the prices to go up. True, the label could get more people to buy the game, but being one of the younger people of the Everquest community, I know that parents would be less likely to let their children play the game if it has a warning label on it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sorry for her loss, but she should have been paying closer attention to her son's behavior and keeping an eye out on his interests.

It is my oppion that if his mother would of spent more time with her son, this tragity might not of happend. I truly belive that the mother feels so guilty for the death of her son that she seeks a blame. The first step of faceing a major delima is DENIAL, ovolisly what the mother is going through. As metioned before the man did have mental problems, and since this is a factor SONY should not have the blame.

(sorry cant spell guys)
Shaar 50 necro
Rath

OMG! When are we going to stop placing blame for our mistakes and failures on companies that create succesfull products? When are we going to stop trying to profit from "opportunities" like this? Perhaps, (not necessarily, I admit before the flames begin), taking a look at the mirror will help you find other reasons why your son chose to do what he did. Everquest could only have been a catalytic, if anything at all, to real life problems pushing this guy to the brink of desperation, not the actual cause, for God's sake! If you are really concerned about this happening again to one of us EQ players, start an Awareness Foundation and bring the message home of how important it is NOT TO IGNORE the signs described in this article. Take constructive action, not destructive action.

/OOC Chill out guys... it's just $3 extra bucks a month, no need to loose your life because of the rate increase!

There is no doubt that EQ can have negative consequences. There is also no doubt that most people play the game and lead completely normal lives. This person was obviously mentally handicapped. It is normal that his family would grasp for some kind of explanation for the unexplainable. Unfortunately, they, in all ignorance of what is actually is, latched upon Everquest.

I hope for their ultimate sanity that they don't just cling to their lawyer and let him lead them on. And I say this as a plaintiff's lawyer myself and as a constant champion of the rights of the little guy. In this case, the corporation is not the evil one. No warning could have prevented this. Nobody could have forseen something like this happening. This person was clearly suffering without EQ. In fact, EQ may have prolonged his life by giving him something to cling to when everything else may have been gone. Who really knows?

As hard as it is to realize, sometimes nobody is to blame. Sometimes life just comes around an kicks you in the nuts. Some people rail against it and never recover. Others learn to live through the misery and concentrate on the positives. This guy was obviiusly dealt a losing hand. I enthusiastically represent those who have been wronged by the system (and there are many), but I will not represent someone who has just suffered through no abvious fault and wants someone to pay for it. I understand the attitude, but will not condone it.

All I can ask of those who read this story is to realize that no two people are alike and that Everquest players are as diverse a lot as any other group of people.