Growing up, Pokemon was never quite my cup of tea. But that is just me. If I grew up and enjoyed it, I would probably have had the 'Pokemon Go' app downloaded on my phone within seconds, like the world had done bringing the app to #1 on the App Store Charts for free apps.
In less than a week, I have seen the craze of this new app evolve as tons of people I know, anyone ranging from a child to a fully grown adult, are playing the game. The app is something that brings a common bond of interest among people, such as students at FIU. Friends are joining forces to find Pikachu and other various creatures and get some exercise while doing so.
As a camp counselor working at a public park in town, I have seen it all: ranging from my coworkers walking to the pavilion in the morning spending their last seconds of free time searching for Pokemon to random kids only coming to the park for the sole purpose of playing the mobile device game.
This is not an anti letter or something silly like that, but I will say this app has to simmer down. As exciting as the app may be, it is time to realize that it is simply a virtual app for the purpose of fun and reliving your childhood as you get to imagine yourself as if you were really catching Pokemon. You get to feel the anticipation and the fun all in one. However, it becomes a problem when I pull out of work and almost hit a few teens running down the street on a turn that is difficult to see and also has no shoulder on the road. Not to mention, while sitting in the pavilion working until the evening, me and three of my coworkers witnessed a car slowly pull in the parking lot, stop their vehicle, put their car in reverse and drive backwards at an insanely fast speed, not even looking where their car was going. I have driven by numerous drivers with their heads down playing the game while driving. First, it is against the law to be on your phone while driving, and second of all, it is so dangerous in the first place.
Imagine on the news headlines (which have already appeared recently) seeing that you killed someone in a car accident while you were playing Pokemon Go. Is it really that worth it to be playing while driving? NO!!! I will answer that for you! I am nervous every time I have gotten into my car this week to be on the roads watching cars swerve and drive like absolute dumb-drivers because of this game. No matter who you are, no one can truly multi-task.
“You can do two things at once, but you can't focus effectively on two things at once.”
Gary Keller
Not to mention, while working out bright and early in the morning at my local gym, the news on the television in the locker room said that people were led to rapists and getting killed in dangerous spots. For example, CBS News reported an article headlined: "'Pokemon Go' leads players to California sex offender home".
The app has many dangers especially when you are traveling not in a big group. Anyone can find a way to hack into this app and find out your locations. While walking with your head down looking at your phone, anyone can come from behind and cause harm to you, whether fatally or not.
To Pokemon Go players, enjoy the app for its intended purpose! But all I ask is you understand that just like any website or app or anything in the world, there are dangers and cons as well. We live in a very disturbed society and need to be cautious of what we do and be cautious of our surroundings. There is more negativity than positivity on the news, and the last thing you would want is to be on there and contribute to that. With many things in life, you want to measure the risk and reward. Be careful and play responsibly. Utilize your common sense; do not do it while driving or go out into the roads on your own two feet. Don't put someone's life at risk, including your own, over a virtual game that in reality means nothing.
