I’m sure you’ve noticed that America currently seems consumed by politics and Pokémon. Since I’m eminently qualified to talk about one of those two things, I figured I’d tackle them both at once. Please, just stay with me here, I promise it makes sense. Amidst all the chaos of the day, I think Pokémon can teach us all a thing or two.
I’d offer a brief explanation of “Pokémon Go” for those who aren’t aware of the phenomenon, but I’m pretty sure I’d be addressing a single man living in a cave in Norway. It’s out, it’s huge, you know the deal. You probably have an opinion on it, even. Perhaps it is a strong one. Or maybe you just very strongly don’t have an opinion.
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I feel like there’s been a new Washington Post article about the app every day since its release. Half the world is tirelessly singing its praises and reveling in warm childlike fuzzies, while the other half has promptly assaulted the game and its players for reasons that range in legitimacy. Full disclosure, I have downloaded it and “played” it twice. I am level five. I joined Team Mystic.
Regardless of where you fall in the Pokémon discussion, it reveals what I think are two major problems in our culture: self-division and anger misdirection. “Pokémon Go” should be exactly what it claims: a shallow game that’s prone to crashing and gathering personal data, which still succeeds on its joyous, nostalgic simplicity. A gleeful escape to childlike fun for those interested.
Instead, within days of its release, the public formed factions around it. Facebook pictures of Bulbasaurs standing on sidewalks quickly became memes disparaging the games three joinable teams, and fun excursions to catch Pokémon either became the next fitness revolution, or the final nail in humanity’s technology-reliant coffin. A week, and already we’ve divided ourselves on every possible component.
This in turn leads to anger misdirection. The amount of vitriol spewing back and forth over an app absolutely baffles me. There are validity in supporting “Pokémon Go” – it’s brought people outside and into community, and it’s a fun distraction if you like Pokémon. There are also unfortunate negatives, such as ignorant play at memorial sites and reckless driving. None of those however should justify the hate speech that is already clogging the internet.
Because we’re not mad that people enjoy Pokémon, we’re mad that some are careless and disrespectful. We don’t hate people for having different interests than we do, we’re upset that some folks would rather stir up conflict than let others have fun. We don’t hate Muslims, we’re fearful of a dangerous minority misrepresenting a culturally rich people group. We don’t hate the police, we’re rightfully maddened by irresponsible individuals who commit deplorable acts through prejudice and abuse of power. We don’t hate Republicans, or loathe Democrats, we are frustrated by dogmatic ignorance and institutionalized stubbornness.
There, see it now? The roundabout connection I’m trying to make? We as a nation have a natural tendency to choose sides, to self-divide, to turn perfectly rational perspectives to mob-fueled buckshot and fire away. This creates fear, pain and inaccurate stereotypes tear at wounds and prevent real healing.
Some issues don’t need two sides. Like protecting and preserving innocent lives, be they Christian, Muslim, male, female, gay, straight, black, white or blue. Like knowing and loving others for who they are, not what you label them as. Like understanding that all lives are equally precious, but some need a little more support right now.
So please, let’s take two steps back from whatever it is we’re shouting about, and listen instead. You might hear a lot more that you agree with than you detest, and find a lot more that unites us than divides.
