I’m going to start this off by saying that I enjoy Pokémon, but I’m not a huge Pokémon fan. Please keep that in mind as you read the rest of this little rant.
Growing up I wasn’t a big television watcher, video game player, or anything like that. So I never played the Pokémon video games, I was taught how to play the card game for the first time almost two years ago, and I watched the show when it was on, but I was never one of those kids that knew all of the Pokémon, their evolutions, the details of all the gyms, any of that. I only ever got one pack of Pokémon cards and the only one I remember is Treecko, so he remains my favorite Pokémon.
Now that you have the backstory I’m sure you’re wondering where I’m going with this, and here it is, I don’t like Pokémon Go.
That might be sort of a harsh statement, because I think that the game is really complex, interesting, and fun. I do have the game and enjoy playing it, but something I’ve come to realize is that sometimes the things you love the most are also the things you hate the most.
I am an Electronic Media major. I use social media all the time. Yet I hate technology.
I love junk food, and I hate it at the same time.
I realize this is because I love when these things are a part of my life, but I hate what they do to me and everyone around me. I hate being consumed in a computer, rather than having real conversations and experiences, I hate eating junk food and becoming more and more unhealthy. But I love the taste of unhealthy food, and the different connections that social media can make.
I feel the same way about Pokémon Go. I think the app is immensely entertaining, unique, and I will give credit to the idea that it’s getting people out and walking. However I was raised valuing something other than a game.
Remember when I said that I was never really a TV watcher or video gamer? This is because I was always outside playing. I remember my mother telling me that when I was younger she only wished I would sit in front of the television screen for a half hour, but that was an unanswered desire, I was always on the move, I wanted my hair blowing in the wind and my face covered in mud (there are more than one pictures of my messy adventures).
I love that more and more people are getting outside, but I hate that their eyes are glued to a cellular screen. Yes, there are good things happening with this app, friendships are being made, exercise is happening, but at what cost?
What if we didn’t have our phones? What if we weren’t looking for Pokémon? What if we just met some of these people by chance because we wanted to go for a walk? Or watch the sunset? What if we just took the chance to look up?
