Any night I drive through the town of Boonton, the streets are flooding with children. Ages 8 to 18, they roam the streets in search of something very special -- Pokémon. Yes, you read correctly, Pokémon.
When my younger brother enters the room and is strangely acting incredibly nice to me, the reason is Pokémon. When my sister asks if I want to go out with her, the reason is Pokémon. When my oldest brother turns down parties with his friends in order to hang out with my youngest brother, the reason is Pokémon. Let me clarify what I mean.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the new Pokémon app where people have to actually walk around in order to play the game and certain places in their community give them different Pokémon. It's a way to get kids to exercise while video-gaming, or a way to get kids killed while they walk through the streets with heads down in their phones. This game is widely popular, but it seems to be causing many issues around the world.
My younger brother, Caz, can’t drive and is super, super annoying. Therefore, when he isn’t being annoying, it usually means he needs a ride. Ever since this Pokémon game came out, he’s been a lot nicer to me. In addition, my sister constantly asks me for rides, or to go on walks and spend time with her just so she can get new Pokémon. Even my 20-year-old brother is enthralled with this game and spends his Saturday nights wandering the streets with my younger brother to find a level 2000 Lapras ,or another Squirtle, so they can evolve the Squirtle they already have.
My mom warns them saying it’s a disaster waiting to happen and I definitely agree with her. Having kids run amuck in the streets staring at their cellphones is never a good thing. Being consumed by this game stunts their ability to notice the world around them. As they cross the street with their eyes glued to the screen, they are way more prone to car accidents or other incidents. Not to mention that they’re often unsupervised, leaving these children easy targets for predators.
However, I don’t mind being treated like a queen as Caz brings me sodas and makes me popcorn in exchange for a ride. Nor do I mind spending more time with my sister, or watching my brothers bond while trying to “catch em’ all.”
This game definitely has many dangers, but I can’t help noticing that it might actually be bringing people closer together. Previously, nights in my house would leave us all separated; my brother would go to one party while I’d be at another and my sister and Caz would hang out with their friends or see a movie. Now, any night is a bonding opportunity for us.
Even though I'm not as into the new game as they all are, I happily tag along to watch them level up. We can strut through the streets, phones in our hands, on the quest to find Pokémon and the quest to become closer.
