In an effort to find a more visually-appealing package of sausage while grocery shopping this week I accidentally bought Irish sausage instead of the mild Italian I was after. Also, Irish sausage is apparently a thing. And I have no idea what to do with it. Ideas?
The topic of the week is, of course, Pokémon Go, the augmented-reality app that lets players "catch" Pokémon in the real world [it's like virtual geocaching]. You've probably already heard loads about this and seen people out and about playing it. I was the designated driver for my husband and one of his friends on Monday night, and subsequently downloaded the app to play with them Tuesday evening. My family owned a few of the first generation Game Boy Pokémon games, but I've never had extensive personal experience with video games. Thankfully Pokémon Go is insanely easy to play, and I have to say that I love the impact it's been having.
I work around a lot of people who are not interested in this explosive new game, and personal preference is fine, but I have no patience for the various negative and derogatory remarks about both the game and its players that I've heard and seen this week. In the last four days I have been witness to an absolutely exciting and inclusive community that has provided common ground for those with social anxiety to engage with complete strangers, an engaging reason to get outside an get some exercise [you have to move around to find Pokémon, and you have to walk a certain distance in order to hatch any eggs you find], and a very visual contrast to the general stereotype of what a 'gamer' looks like. Of all the people I've seen playing, I'd say about 98% of them look nothing like what you'd assume a 'gamer' to be. A college 'party boy' literally screeched with delight and took off running, high-stepping, past us when he heard that we'd seen a Ghastly. As a part of a generation frequently plagued with social anxiety, it makes me indescribably happy every time I see a group of people hanging out at a Pokéstop. It's the kind of energy and community that you feel at a concert or convention, but it's happening every day in ordinary places which is completely unprecedented.
So if Pokémon Go isn't for you, that's fine, but please don't criticize or degrade those that choose to participate, because this game—breaking downloading records in the week that it's been available—is doing a lot of actual good for a lot of people. And what's the point in raining on something that other people enjoy, anyway? We all need happier hobbies than pulling other people down, whether it involves cartoon characters or not.
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