Pokemon GO was released worldwide in July of 2016, for iOS and Android devices. It is a free-to-play location based augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic and published by The Pokemon Company. I'm writing this article a little over a week later, and it seems as though this popular trend has taken the world by storm in the blink of an eye. For those who have Facebook {which is the majority of the world} can find anything Pokemon Go related posts flooding through their newsfeeds. From memes, articles on how to play the game, everything that you need to know about it, even articles on the popularity of the game, Pokemon Go has won over the hearts of many. To my surprise, I've seen signs on the highway that say things like "No catching Pokemon while driving", or "Pokemon can wait. Driving first". Others have gotten a bit more creative with signs outside restaurants or coffee shops saying "We have Pokemon inside". Honestly, I am not over exaggerating when I say: It is literally everywhere, and it has been the most talked about topic enjoyed by the masses.

The question is, has Pokemon GO grasped the attention of everyone? The answer is no.

I'm not a fan of Pokemon. It's not like I hate it, or have anything against it, because I absolutely do not. I have a lot of friends who enjoy playing Pokemon and have always been apart of the fandom. I guess I just never took an interest in it, and instead, gravitated towards different things

I remember growing up during the time that Pokemon was the most popular, and witnessing the kids on the playground during recess swap and share their trading cards with each other. {Pokemon was first created in 1995, and the franchise later expanded throughout the late '90s and the early-mid 2000's} My seven year old self even pretended to like Pokemon, or forced myself to because I was an awkward first grader, and I wanted the other kids to like me because it was something that was very much popular among my peers. But even though I tried to like it, I just couldn't get into it and did not understand the hype of it all. Now, it seems as though Pokemon has come back stronger than ever, and it's like I'm in grade school again, trying to understand why it's so likable. Now I am constantly hearing about it everywhere that I go, and not even that - I'm seeing it in action. Even in my small, conservative town of Watertown, where it feels mainly populated by the older generation, teenagers and young adults are wandering around town with their phones out, in groups playing the well-liked game and coming together in new ways than ever before. These were just some things I screenshot from my newsfeed. Trust me, there was way more:

The thing is, I've found myself turned off by Pokemon when I once was neutral to it, or just didn't think about it. Ever since Pokemon GO took off into social media, and eventually crossed over into our culture as a whole, I can't help but be a bit annoyed with it's popularity, and how much people are investing their time into it. It's crazy how when social media hypes it up so so so much, that it makes those who didn't care about it, essentially become annoyed with it and can't help but grow to not like it just because of it's hype. I'm not kidding when I am saying that it is everywhere, and perhaps I am biased because I am not a fan of the franchise and because I know little to nothing about it, but I can't help but voice my thoughts. The main thing here is, {and with all things aside} I'm focusing on how internet hype can ruin someone's view on something. I'm not alone when it comes to not having the Pokemon GO fever:

"I don't understand it all that much because I was never a big fan and didn't usually play the games as a kid, but it doesn't bother me. I think it's just a fad that will pass eventually. The part that really bugs me is that people are jeopardizing their safety and common sense over a mobile video game. I'm worried the reckless behavior that it's causing" -Anonymous

"As someone who played Pokemon, both the cards and the Gameboy games, I think it's stupid, silly and a waste of time. You're still using technology that isolates yet you don't feel alone because it's a social based game and you're outside. If people spent as much time on it as they did improving themselves we'd be much better off" -Zach Adler

"I could care less, I mean I don't HATE Pokemon but there's other things I do in my spare time. And two, if it's fun for some people great, just don't be dumb. That's just my two cents" -Lauren Rose

"To me, I think there's too much of it, yeah it's successful, but if we could focus all the hype onto the presidential campaigns that would be a productive use of it" -Anonymous

I understand that Pokemon is a big part of people's childhood and I respect that. But this article is for the underdogs who aren't interested in it - that you're not alone in not being apart of the hype. And that's okay.