6 Pokemon GO Myths Debunked!

By Peyton Carper on July 24, 2016

The world was taken by storm on July 7 with the release of Pokemon GO for iOS and Android, and since then, thousands of people across the globe are forming groups on social media to swap tips to succeed in the game. We’ve managed to separate the fact from the fiction, so here’s the top 6 myths that could keep you from catching ‘em all.

 

Image via youtube.

 

6. Legendary Pokemon can already be found in Pokemon GO. 

Though many a doctored photo of an Articuno or Mewtwo appearing on the “nearby” screen have been circulating the internet, there have been no reports of anyone catching legendary Pokemon in the game so far. The creators of Pokemon GO are expected to shed some light on the subject sometime soon.

 

Image via youtube.

 

5. All 150 Pokemon can be caught in any given location.

Unfortunately, at this time, it’s impossible to “catch ‘em all” if you live in North America. Though the game’s Pokedex has room for all 151 original Pokemon, only 142 can be caught in North America. 3 Pokemon are confirmed to be region-specific; Kangaskhan can be caught only in Australia and New Zealand, Farfetch’d can be caught only in Asia, and Mr. Mime can be found exclusively in Europe. The remaining 9 Pokemon have not yet been unearthed. As mentioned previously, more information should be revealed soon.

 

4. Adults who play Pokemon GO are unemployed and should get a job rather than play the game. 

This myth is popular among younger folks who don’t play Pokemon GO. The phrase “Pokemon go get a job” has become especially popular on Facebook, but holds no genuine merit. Even the man who has caught all 142 North American Pokemon in the first 2 weeks of the game’s release works 50 hours a week, and is arguably the most dedicated player of the game. This myth is not only inaccurate, but almost solely based in cynicism and hate.

 

3. Pokemon GO players could not care less about the 2016 presidential election.

This accusation is particularly ridiculous, considering that presidential candidate Bernie Sanders received overwhelming support from youth voters, the same demographic that makes up the majority of Pokemon GO players. This historic election has garnered unprecedented levels of attention all over the globe, and young people are just as involved in the discussion as any other demographic. Considering that up until the game’s release, Facebook and Twitter were flooded with political arguments between young and old, this myth is absurd.

 

2. Pokemon GO players have no capacity to care about recent tragedies like those in Nice, Munich, Dallas, and Baton Rouge. 

Terrorism is taking place across the globe, often in our own backyards. Police officers in the United States have been on both ends of guns recently, both being aimed at in Dallas, Texas or taking down civilians like Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. All of these events have resulted in even more hate on the internet, particularly social media, where racism and Islamophobia run rampant due to lack of understanding. The Black Lives Matter movement has been gaining traction lately, resulting in responses of “all lives matter” and “blue lives matter.” No matter which side they’re on, people on tthe internet have been quick to accuse Pokemon GO players of “not caring about social issues” and being “part of the problem.”

My only request for these people is to take a look back at the posts being made by Pokemon GO players before the game’s release. If there’s even one political post taking a stand on even one of these issues, these people have no room to talk. Generalizations are ridiculous and criticizing young people who are enjoying a harmless game is even more so.

 

All of this culminates in the number one myth about Pokemon Go, which is…

 

1. Pokemon GO is a pointless game that distracts its oblivious users from important social and political issues. 

Baby boomer curmudgeons and holier-than-thou white knight millennials alike have united over Pokemon GO to scorn the vapid youth who dare distract themselves from the horrors broadcast through the media in this dark time. Certainly, the number of political Facebook posts, social media arguments, shared articles, and gory videos came to a screeching halt with the July 7 release of Pokemon GO, because OF COURSE IT DID. In the midst of violence, terrorism, hatred, and fear, youth and adults alike were given a new way to experience a beloved childhood game with real-life applications and ways to meet new people through friendly competition. Of course we took that opportunity!  We would have taken any joyful news as a way to distract ourselves from the terrifying things happening right outside our door!

Last month, my LGBT brothers and sisters were slain in a nightclub just a hundred miles from my home. I was shocked and saddened and terrified for my safety as someone who identifies as the “B” in “LGBT.” But when people wanted to distract themselves, to post on social media about happier times or fond memories or fun new recipes, I was not angered. I was understanding. Because when terrible things happen, we need somewhere to turn to make the world seem okay again, and social media is often an important tool through which we heal. I knew that these people had not forgotten what had happened to us. They just wanted a little sunshine in their lives in the midst of something terrible happening to people they knew, people that had grown up just around the corner from them. And that is perfectly okay. We’re only human.

There are dark things happening, things that we can and will change. But if we want to make social progress while hunting for monsters we’ve spent our lives hoping to find in real life, let us. Let us enjoy the wonder of technology while fighting to make our future beautiful again.

 

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