I seriously cannot believe how popular the mobile game Pokemon Go has become. I've been a Pokemon fan since the beginning when it made its debut out here in the West back in 1998. I'm 25 years old now and I have multiple figurines of these pocket monsters on display in my home. I've played every iteration of the main Pokemon games except the third generation of games (Ruby,Sapphire,Emerald) and I've seen the first two movies and the first two seasons of the anime. That being said you can't imagine how it feels like when everyone around has converted into a fan within an instant. It feels jarring and yet sweet at the same time. But how long can this last? That is the question I keep asking myself. At what point do people just lose interest. It has been weeks since this mobile game has come out and people are still playing. Personally I already kind of fell of the wagon. I just don't feel compelled to play anymore. I got to level 14 and I had to buy five dollars worth of Pokeballs since I didn't have any left and I didn't want to go out to so many Pokestops. And despite that I simply got put off by the whole gym mechanic. No average player that just walks occasionally is going to be a gym leader. You need dedication and a lot of time spent walking and catching Pokemon in order to receive those candies and stardust. There are good things about this cultural phenomenon too like the fact that it is bringing strangers together and promoting walking which is something I enjoy and do often. The other night I saw a man and what I assumed to be his daughter out on the street catching Pokemon. That surely brought a smile to my face. The fact that a father can have this private and perhaps bonding moment with his daughter. I guarantee you this will be a memory of hers; going out with her father to catch Pokemon. Of course there are downsides too like creating danger to those who are easily distracted and don't take in their surroundings. One of my managers after asking me if I'm into this whole catching Pokemon thing and after telling him with much vigor that I am and that I have been a life-long fan directly told me he was truly worried about me and what might happen. I tried to ease his concerns by telling him that I can take care of myself if push comes to shove. Then he told me with disappointment in his voice that he saw a car with a sign in the back of the window that read, 'Caution: Frequent Stops Made for Pokemon Go.' I couldn't help but laugh and tell him that was awesome. Although I did agree with him that it is a driving hazard and it is going over the line of driver safety. So will I continue to play Pokemon Go? Probably not. Does that make me less of a fan? Hell no! I know more than 700 Pokemon and have been training Pokemon for many years. I'm just happy everyone else can understand now why Pokemon is awesome.