In case you've been living under a rock for the past few days, Pokémon Go has officially been released, and let me tell you, my backyard has never seemed so appealing. Twitter, Tumblr, and other, popular social media sites have become the hosts for hilarious posts regarding the locations in which players find their prospective Pokémon, and as the general audience continues to grow, the pure, unadulterated happiness that radiates from these budding Pokémon masters is readily apparent.

And in these days of heavy violence, that is something very, very important.

In case anyone is unaware of the glory that is this game, let me briefly explain it. Remember when your younger cousins or siblings would wish for Pokémon to be real when they blew out their birthday candles (please say that wasn't only me)? Well, it's essentially this scenario, wherein you download the app--which is completely free, by the way--and the game utilizes your location to showcase Pokémon near your avatar (which you can customize!). When the blades of grass rustle next to you, that means Pokémon are in that general area, and you should head in that direction! Soon, a creature will appear, after which you will tap him or her on the head and proceed to throw Pokeballs at him or her until you have landed a successful hit.

(http://nerdist.com/19-of-the-funniest-pokemon-go-f...)

Pretty simple, right?

Of course, there are plenty of other features, such as the Incense, which begins attracting Pokémon to your general area for thirty minutes, and the details revolving around the Pokespots (which will be indicated on your map), but I don't necessarily want this article to be about the specifications of the game itself.

Now, I'm a twenty-one year old woman that, despite her chagrin, does consider herself to be an adult. However, when this game was released, it was as if I had been transported back in time (but, you know, with my smart phone). My younger brother--currently seventeen--began running about the house shouting about where he found Spearows or Bullsprouts, and for that brief moment, it was like nothing else mattered. I wasn't thinking about my college debt; I wasn't thinking about work tomorrow; I wasn't thinking about paying my bills. The only thing on my mind was having fun with my sibling, turning our ballcaps backwards like Ash Ketchum and heading out into the grass to discover Pokémon.

When I was younger, I didn't consider the influence things like fandoms and general such social groups could have over those within them. When I was eight, I simply thought Pokémon were cool, and if the other kids at school wanted to battle me with their cards, I was delighted. I made plenty of friends in this fashion, some of which I maintain to this day. And, yes, I still totally have all of my Pokémon cards. Now that I'm an adult, though, I'm starting to realize the huge impact that Pokémon can have on the world, especially right now.

As I mentioned beforehand, this world right now is a hotbed of violence, tension, and general unrest. The news is littered with death and injustice, and it sickens me to the point where I feel helpless as to what I can possibly do about the situation. And while I'm not proposing the idea that this app can drastically change our current situation, I definitely think the results of the release of this game deserve to be analyzed.

So many people are banding together to play this game. Outings and events are being planned, friendships are growing stronger, and some parents are getting involved in the action, and that includes my own! This remarkably innocent game is bringing smiles to the faces of so many people around me, and I couldn't possibly be happier about it. This silly, wonderful game is bringing people around the world together for the sake of a single goal--being the very best, like no one ever was--and I think that is a truly beautiful thing.

So, in the midst of all of this hate and madness, let's continue hoping that it vanishes, and in its absence, we find more Charmanders and less gun violence, more Squirtles and less racism.

Let's catch 'em all.

(But, like, please don't run into oncoming traffic while playing this game, and follow other, general, common rules. Be safe, look both ways, etc.)