Keep your Poke-Judgements to yourself

 Keep your Poke-Judgements to Yourself

Let me start by saying I haven’t played pokemon-go… yet. In fact, the only thing I know about pokemon in general is that there is a cute little guy named Pikachu.  I missed the pokemon-craze apparently.

Regardless, I’m disgusted by the amount of people hating on pokemon-go players. Yes I’m talking to you judgy bastards who seem to not have any vices at all.  Oh wait… other vices… hmm.  Here are some things I’ve seen on people’s facebook walls who have dissed pokemon-go players. 

• “One more bowl then bed” (with a pic of a bong and a small pile of weed)
• “I just binge watched all of GoT in one weekend! I’m finally caught up”
• “26 hours of COD should I go to bed or keep playing?”
• “bar crawl, and yeah, I crawled home”

Let’s face it, everyone has escapes, ways to wind down, and yes, vices and addictions. So what’s the solution? Hate on everyone who has different forms of escapism? How about a little understanding instead.  A little love.  A little respect.  A little compassion for those who don’t share the wind-down routines as you do.  We are finally opening people’s eyes to the harms of body-shaming, and now we are going to start on interests-shaming? C’mon now. Think about those people with anxiety or depression issues that already hate themselves and have a hard time leaving the house.  If Pokemon-go makes them feel a part of something, gives them a little boost, and gets them moving and out and about, where is the harm there?

I took a walk last night, fairly late, and saw more people at the beach and park than I have ever seen at that hour in a long time.  Teenagers, adults and even a man with his son,  groups, and a few individuals but mostly twosomes playing pokemon-go. These people were working together, laughing and talking and encouraging each other.  With all of the hate in the world lately, this camaraderie was very nice to see. And no, they weren’t all looking down at their phones the whole time (part of the time yes, but not the whole time – there was actual interacting going on). 

So maybe you think it’s a waste of time… and I assume everything you do with every hour of your day is completely fruitful? Maybe it is, and if so, good for you. But I bet in all of your hating, you didn’t stop to research that there are some social benefits to pokemon-go as well.  Charity Miles is an organization that is working to put those pokemon “steps” to good use by donating money to charitable organizations for the amount of steps you take.  Check out woof tracks too – and help out a rescue cause.  There are many more philanthropic ways that playing pokemon-go can help  - check out this post for more ideas and charities http://www.frontstream.com/pokemon-go-for-nonprofits-charities-yes-really/

 

So stop hating on things.  Give support to people, you never know what demons they are trying to get a little reprieve from by escaping into a virtual world.

 

Be Kind

To Yourself

To the Earth

To Others…

 

It’s not that complicated.

 

Also – please pokemon-go responsibly.  Look where you’re going, don’t pokemon and drive, and keep an eye on your pokemon-going kids.