Wow. What a bunch of grumpy people.
I’m amazed at the number of folks who are hating on the new Pokémon Go game.
During a conversation about the game, a friend asked “What’s the point?”
The point? It’s a game.
“What’s the point of winning Monopoly?” I said. “You win, right? You don’t get a car or a trip to Italy or a shiny medal to wear on your lapel. You just win.”
I play a lot of solitaire – I win some, I lose a whole lot more. There’s no real “point.”
Same thing with this game. Now, I haven’t played the game, but honestly, it sounds to me like most of the folks complaining about it haven’t either. Maybe there is a big prize, but I’m guessing you play for the entertainment value.
Just saw a Facebook meme making its way around that exclaims the meme creator’s hatred for this game: “Get a life and stay out of my yard.”
It goes on to read: “This whole Pokémon Hunt(sic) is by far the stupidest thing I have ever seen, and I have lived through…” therein follows a list of silly things including Hammer pants, the Macarena and ten seasons of CSI: Miami. So maybe the whole meme is tongue-in-cheek. I hope so.
Just can’t imagine anyone getting that cranked off about the Macarena. Although I agree that Hammer pants were and always will be silly, unless you are at a costume party dressed as Aladdin.
A friend who always walks in a park, noted how many more people were in the park over the weekend. “There were lots more people walking around and looking at their phone,” she said. I told her it was likely the game and then tried to explain it.
She thought it was great that they were out and commented that it had been a long time since she saw that many people in the park. Yes, they were walking around looking at their phone – but they were outside.
Some businesses have used the game as a marketing technique, attracting new customers with news of an augmented reality character lurking in the parking lot.
As for those playing the game in Arlington Cemetery – wrong, go home. For those who fell off a cliff or walked in front of a car, well I say consider it a Darwinian exercise, a way of thinning the herd of stupid people. I mean honestly folks, look up, it’s just a game.
This game is all about nostalgia, but it’s nostalgia for the late 20-somethings who made this game a world-wide phenomenon in the late 90s. And now, those 20-somethings, who used to count on their parents for spending money, have dollars of their own. They grew up on digital games with Game Boys and various other gizmos providing their entertainment.
If you’re old enough to be nostalgic for the days of coming home when the streetlights came on, or playing Red Rover, Red Rover or riding bikes – it’s the same thing. Take a chill pill.
The world is full of smart people and stupid people. The same stupid people who text and drive are likely to be looking at their phones searching for Pokémon while driving. It’s stupid. It’s dangerous. We can all agree on that.
But it’s not the game’s fault.
It’s a fad. A trend. And eventually, this too shall pass.
Otherwise, as a wise friend recently pointed out, “we’d still be tapping a wooden hoop around the yard with a stick.”
Brenda’s column appears each Monday. Unless it doesn’t.
Curiosity got the best of me so I downloaded the game. Next thing I know, I am in the field behind my house chasing something. Finally got it. My Dad and brother were sitting on the patio laughing at me. Well, at least I tried. By the way, I am 66 years young.
Brilliant, Judy!!! Absolutely brilliant. I’m going to download the game too. I’ll meet you in the field. 🙂
It’s especially fun, watching certain players walk right into police custody due to outstanding warrants. It warms the cockles. It’s been so long since my cockles had been warmed, I almost forgot I had any! 😉
Stupid always does stupid. LOL
My son, his friends and their girlfriends all went Pokémon hunting this weekend. They were all overy Grand Blanc and then on to For-Mar chasing these pokemon. They are all 21-26 and we’re running, laughing and having so much fun. I’ve never seen them so exhilarated. Anything that helps people, young and old (er) have that much fun can’t be all bad!
Agree.
I’m building a relationship with my son (we had one but than he turned 13). A week ago we started chasing Pokemon. Over the weekend we did a mud run. Now we are planning a color run and the Warrior Dash. Pokemon Go may kill me, but at least I’ll die with my boy by my side. PS-we are normally couch potatoes.
Whre’s the color run Beth?
There is one August 6th in Grand Rapids but we probably won’t be ready by that date (and be we I mean me) so I told him we could do the one at Grand Blanc High School next year. If they are not doing one than he gets to pick one for us to go to or another obstacle race for us to do.
Don’t wait to be ready…go out and do it, ready or not! You can do it and you won’t regret it, Beth!!! Go girl, go!
That is wonderful Beth! Way to go. I’d rather learn knew things from my kids (even as grown as they are) then sit around yearning for the old days.
Whole-heartedly agree, Brenda! <3
Thanks Laurie!
You got me with the “Darwinian exercise” line. Pokemon on, people!
LOL — well sometimes you just can’t fix stupid. Doesn’t mean us smart folks can’t have fun.
Playing Pokémon Go reminds me of an old episode of Stargate SG1, Colonel O’Neal has the team relaxing fishing on the dock at his cabin. Someone remarks, “You know there are no fish in this lake?” O’Neal says something like, “Who said I was using bait, what’s your point? Pass me another beer”
That works. 🙂