It's been almost two weeks since Niantic dropped the app that is slowly taking over the lives of people all over the nation. Thanks to Pokemon Go, people have caused motor accidents, been robbed at knife point and have found dead bodies. But be warned, some of these news stories about Pokemon Go are not true. No, a man did not cause a major accident because he wanted to catch a Pikachu.
These kinds of stories are fabricated by sites like Cartel Press in order to generate ad revenue. As Abby Ohlheiser says in her article, while these news stories may be false, it's important to realize that they are not as far from the truth as they seem. People have been mugged at Pokestops. A girl did find a dead body while Pokemon hunting. If people don't take the necessary precautions, then things like getting mugged at a Pokestop are going to continue happening. But, in order to make the app safe for everyone, both gamers and nongamers need to step up.
Gamers: Stop asking people if you can go inside their houses in order to catch a Pokemon. You can easily stand on the sidewalk outside (which is public property) and catch it. Hell, I caught a Jigglypuff the other day that was inside my neighbor's house across the street and I didn't even need to get up from my couch. If you can see the Pokemon on you screen, then you can push on it and catch it. You don't need to trespass.
It's also important to always be aware of your surroundings. I know for a fact that you don't always have to be looking at your phone in order to catch Pokemon because the app notifies you when a Pokemon is nearby. A few glances every now and again is just what you need in order to become a successful trainer. There are multiple lists out there of things that players and parents alike should know about. These lists include tips like always hunt with a buddy, hunt in well-lit places and to never hunt while driving. If anything, the person in the passenger's seat could hold two phones at the same time.
Nongamers: Take extreme precaution when trying to figure out if that weird car parked outside your house is there for negative reasons or if it's just there because your house has a Pikachu in it. A Florida man literally shot at a car filled with Pokemon Go players because he approached the situation in a less than ideal way. To some, this app may seem like a precursor to the end of days, but in all reality, despite a few minor setbacks, Pokemon Go has a lot of positive effects.
In order to find Pokemon, players often have to walk for longer distances than they normally would, therefore giving them the motivation to exercise and become healthier human beings. The app encourages community, crowds of people are often found at parks and other public areas. And no, these people are not all just staring at their phones. People make new friends and have conversations with their fellow trainers. Try to remember those things when you see crowds of people in your local park and think, "Oh those stupid kids and their technology." That technology is helping them build new friendships and explore places that they never thought to explore.
Despite the negative events that happen when a player is irresponsible with the way that they are playing, Pokemon Go has has a positive effect on players. In order to make it safe for everyone, people need to be respectful of each other and use their common sense. Now if you don't mind, I have Pokemon to catch.
