I have never really understood the craze of Pokemon Go. As my path has never crossed with a Pokemon-goer, it has never mattered to me that much.
Imagine my surprise whilst in the beautiful Frogner Park in Oslo. It happened whilst I was looking at the amazing but slightly strange sculptures in the park when our paths collided!
There were at least 50-60 people with their heads deep in their phone and standing within the frames of tourist’s photos. They were using their power packs to charge their phones for a game rather than to take photos of lasting memories.
It made me ponder for a moment. Why were they not enjoying this wonderful place? Why were they not enjoying the culture of the city? Why come here at all?
I felt it ruined the atmosphere of touristic places but could I be wrong? So, once leaving Norway I did a little online research on Pokemon Go. Was I missing something? Is there something about the Pokemon Go craze that I failed to get a good grasp of?
Interestingly, during my research, I discovered that places use Pokemon Go to bring people to their city. It attracts Pokemon tourists. Perhaps, Pokemon were helping tourist boards.
I thought further. Once I was a child uninterested in culture, as well. I had been dragged around, sulking, by my parents. I am pretty sure that I would have benefited from an incentive of cartoon characters.
So either love it or hate it. Pokemon Go is here to stay . . . until the next craze kicks in.
Haha, unfortunately I have a friend in Oslo who spends a lot of time chasing Pokémon in that park. My boyfriend is also obsessed with that game.. I thought I’d give it a year and he’d be over it, but so far I’m wrong :/ well..whatever gets people out of the house, I guess..
I am not into mobile phone games, let alone Pokemon Go. It has been a craze for sometime and I believe the enthusiasm for this game has already subsided today (at least from where I live). I’m sure there are other more creative ways to encourage kids and tourists in general to enjoy the sights and culture of a certain destination.
Pokemon Go kind of bypassed me too and while I totally agree that it’s a great means of getting kids out and on the move, there’s a hell of a lot of adults who get sucked in too! Certainly, I have been to numerous cultural sights and seen people glued to their phones, without ever looking up. One of the most distressing things I heard was that the owners (possibly government) of the Holocaust memorial in Germany had to ask people to stop playing while there because it was extremely disrespectful. A sad sign of the times
I have never played Pokemon Go myself or, I tried it for ten minuted but felt it wasn’t for me. But if people like it, who am I to complain? I just ignore the players and carry on with my life. At least it brings kidsvto cultural places 🙂
I think that Pokemon craze has long left the building by now. I do remember I was in London one time, at a coffee shop, and the owners have created a “Poke-stop” there, paying for special Pokemons to show up at their location. I guess this was a way businesses used the game to attract more customers.
You do have to take the time to look up from the phone and appreciate where you are, but I think it’s a fun way to explore and see new places.
So true. I love you post on the subject. An alternative view point. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I used to love Pokemon. I still watch it when I’m babysitting sometimes and get into it, haha! 🙂 But I haven’t tried Pokemon Go. I agree that it’s a good way to help kids be active. But I’ve also heard too many stories of people getting so into their phones while playing that they walk into the middle of freeways without looking. In a town not too far from where I live, there was a car accident because someone walked out into the middle of the road. So I think people get a little too crazy about it sometimes!
Yes I have also heard about a few accidents due to it. I love that you still watch it 🙂
I used to love Pokemon as a kid and admit I went through a bit of a Pokemon Go phase when it first came out. I don’t play it much anymore though. Hmmmm I don’t know – I feel conflicted about it. The game is really fun/addictive, but when I’m out enjoying my day and I pass people who look like zombies flicking away at their phones, it makes me sad, especially when I’m travelling and see all these people blind to their beautiful surroundings. I guess it’s about striking a balance!