Do you think Pokemon GO is a positive or negative thing for society and/or technology?

Not a hate thread don't panic

So obviously Pokemon GO is an epic premise. I can't wait to see it mimicked with other games or even incorporated with VR. I've seen many, many people I know walk or cycle more than they have in the past few months in a couple of days and have met new people and bonded over an interest. Pretty cool right? Not to mention the concept opening a lot of doors for games in general. But there are ultimately some downsides - both to those playing the game and those who aren't but are in the vicinity of people who are. First is obviously people hurting themselves or others by not paying attention to their surroundings (granted, we live in a world where this is pretty average anyway), kids perhaps wandering astray looking for Pokemon in places they shouldn't or aren't allowed to go... things like that.


What are your thoughts? Let me know

 

I think it is just a fad, just like flappy bird, or angry birds. It will be dead in a month or two.

Negative also, it makes kids just wonder around, not paying attention to the real world. I've seen multiple people post about stopping on the road to catch a pokemon.


Also when I say dead, I don't mean literally dead, I mean all these little kids playing it that never played real pokemon or the ones who are just playing it to "look cool" on facebook. I literally have hundreds of friends on facebook posting about it that never even played pokemon. I also have seen those friends already post "it's getting boring."

 

I reckon it's one of the dumbest yet ''funnest'' inventions made in awhile, there are a lot of examples where people could get hurt if a little kid has access too this game and trust me a lot of spoiled kids have iphones before they even know how to text and call, they might sneak out the house at night time and look for those elusive pokemons and end up hurt in some way or in trouble by going to a restricted area as you mentioned. There is also the fact about general sociability, alot of humans already have the tendency at mindlessly looking at their phones and not communicating, Pokemon GO in the near future could be as big as other things that fall into the category (I LOVE MY PHONE) such as snap-chat etc. The world really is falling into technology and most people are adapting but does it make you happy? alot of people prefer the old ways without social medias such as myself i love to go out party and skate with my friends i only use my phone for texting and calling. Pokemon GO is just another new WOW factor that appeals to people mostly younger humans as snapchat, instagram, twitter do to a lot of people, and it is gradually and slowly evolving and almost dumb-ing down a new generation. as you know Pokemon go is quite a big hype and mainly appeals to the younger generation but even some older people too, back in the day all kids knew where to go out play and socialize Pokemon GO is another way of kids saying to there parents they need that new iphone. If you look at it in this way and how most of the corruption in the world is stemmed from it's all a big elaborate money trap. Anyways i can keep on ranting and this is the first proper forums rant I've ever done but i will keep it at that it was fun to write im not that good with grammar once my mind sets i can just write and write for hours anyways that was my small opinion on Pokemon GO and i added a-bit of flavor and incorporated how it affects people and how technology does as-well, cheers.

 

I think it's good for the gaming community to take a step back into actual human interaction. I've met dozens of people and even made a few friends just walking around meeting people. It's really been an awesome thing to do. A lot of things I find that you do outside are just boring to do on your own, whereas this is something that is fun to do on your own, because you're not really alone. you meet new friends along the way.

 

I think a big population will stick with it for longer than a couple months, I think it is a fad for many though, and I think people will return to it instead of deleting the app for those that it is a fad for.

I think it's a step in the right direction. It gets people out of the house but also forces you to look at your phone constantly. Personally, I just hold my phone at my side while on for a lot of the time when I'm walking around. It buzzes when there's something near, anyway. But I think they need to make purposeful updates to encourage people to get out more while not having to be constantly looking at their phone. If applications/games were so interactive like this and also worked on wearable tech (but not a Pokemon watch), I would buy a Samsung watch (I have a droid) so that I could use them more.

 

The youngest person I've seen play this game is 14. I don't think the main user base of Pokemon Go is children, it's definitely young adults+.

Good:

• Get's people active
• Makes people more social
• Gives some people something to relate to with others
• Fun

Bad:

• I am literally scared to drive on the road because of how many dumbasses there are in South Florida that play this game and stop their cars in the middle of the road for a Pidgey

The whole "kids going places they shouldn't" thing isn' true. Parents don't just let their kids walk around a city by themselves. It's not like they'll think "Oh it's fine they're playing Pokemon I'll just let them wander the world by themselves." People aren't that stupid. Most kids that play this game are accompanied by their parents or adults.

 

I think it's positive because it makes the society more friendly again.
I don't know how it is in other places but here in Germany is everyone a cunt, the most people in my age (20) are really unfriendly and aggressive.
Also it helps you to get out of the house, even if it's for a short walk, still better than completely don't go out.
Also i can't understand why some people are saying that now everyone will look permamently or there mobile, i mean, all people i know are looking on there mobiles because there listening music or chatting with other people, so nothing changes. You just have one more opinion, play or don't play.

 

It's easy for a kid to wander off without a parent's say so, happens all the time without this game. Parent says "don't leave this block" but they go farther or follow other people. Plus kids have way more technological freedom than I ever did these days. So it's definitely a possibility.

 

But you also have to consider how many kids have unlimited data (if they didn't they wouldn't be able to play this game for more than a few hours outside of their house before their parents freak out over the data bill) AND have a new enough phone to play this game. I just don't see an 8-yo with an iPhone 6 and unlimited data that understands the game well enough to go searching for Pokemon outside of their neighborhood.

 

I read somewhere about a kid using wifi hotspots *shrug* who knows, I'm sure we'll find out if something hits the news and we get bombarded with #gamesareevil #millenialsareruined

 

Definitely positive
Here in the UK the official app isn't out yet but there is ways to get it hehe
Thanks to Pokemon Go I made new friends and found a few pokemon gatherings and met people to catch pokemon with
I think its awesome for us who was born in the 90s young adults and such
I didn't feel i needed a reason to ever leave my house but now i do
it's definitely good exercise very motivating too <3

 

Well it's definitely got positives, my siblings 15 and at least it's getting him out the house just to the local neighbourhood/park/even if he's traveling to different area's, as well as that he's always trying to get everyone else up and going out with him. So actively making people go out for a walk is a benefit. Especially with how society is today in, US and UK obesity etc is an issue.

It's different to the normal games where we're forcing ourselves to stare at a screen sitting on our backsides and possibly munching a ton, hours on end mindlessly. People who are socially restricted can meet new friends and socialise this way.

Negatives out way the positives for me. It's released in the UK, but I can't even download it, because some Android phones are not compatible. Major downer. Also apparently there's risk with Android malicious viruses. As well as multiple people getting injured over stupidity, robbers trying to lure people to secluded area to rob them. A child going for a walk and finding a dead body near a lake. Would be scarred for life. People just using money to sit and lure Pokemon is an option that out weighs the benefit of being active. #moneytrap

A Pikachu was found on Downing Street (where the Prime Minister lives in London) I can't imagine what would happen if someone tried to break security breaches just to get a Pokemon.

That being said, I still want to download it. Get more fresh air and go for some lovely long walks.

 

As if we didn't have enough people walking around with their face glued to their phones already...

 

This lmao.

 

Security risks, dead bodies, obesity, injury... still getting it tho.

Literally me

 

Positive, encourages tonnes of games that spend their life indoors to get out!

 

I don't think technology should be discouraged because of stupid people. Stupid people will always find ways to be stupid. If you play at night use common sense and don't go to sketchy places. If you don't want to be hit by a car don't play near the road. I go to the park almost every night from 3-5 am to play and jog and at first I was kind of nervous going to a park this late but then I realized that I live in Canada.

I think it is positive. I think other developers will try to replicate this success by also creating augmented reality games themselves, which is cool because I like these types of games.

 

I tend to agree. Some posts here speak of accidents and things that have happened to people while they're playing and there's no fix to stupid. Like said above, use common sense and the game isn't dangerous. The fact that some people are even saying the game can be dangerous bothers me. It's not the game, it's the stupid users who are playing it. Furthermore, parents watch your children who are too young to know better.

All in all, the game isn't physically dangerous. It's the users with a lack of common sense. Also, what's finding a dead body have to do with whether or not the game is safe. Hell, it's a positive thing to have found the body

 

If you put millions of people anywhere doing anything, some are likely to hurt themselves. Whether its Pokemon GO or.. a tea party.

 

Exactly, so it's not an inherent problem with Pokemon go but rather an issue with common sense and stupidity