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Pokemon Go | Pad Patter 7.12.16

scrapsandsass

scrapsandsass

Oh Ricky you're so fine ...
Joined
Feb 11, 2011
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So... have you been swept up into the rage of playing Pokemon Go? Have your kids? Have you run across big (or small) groups of people in your neighborhood playing?

My daughter downloaded and started playing it... on the *idea* that it was something she and Kennedy could do together, but of course, he's not that excited about it. But everywhere she and I went late Sunday or yesterday, she wanted to stop and catch something. LOL. AND on one of the main intersections downtown, there was a group of about 30 people on each of the corners, frantically working their phones. :giggle People were honking and cheering at each other. It seemed so totally crazy. She has always loved geocaching, so I think it is an extension of that for her.

What about you??? Have you been touched by Pokemon madness? :giggle
 
We haven't really. My daughter is on a church mission trip and has no electronic devices. My son is here and has his, but for some reason he is adamantly against playing. I thought he would be all over it! He was at Summerfest in Milwaukee with a group of kids from School of Rock (they were playing on the stages there this weekend) when it was released, so he was worried about data usage and battery usage since they were at the festival all day long. The director eventually had to ban kids from playing it since they would randomly wander off after a pokemon. The closest we've gotten is that my son just got the itch to dig out his old DS and play through his pokemon games again.
 
I'm not really interested in it, heard too many bad things already. I just saw on the local news how Pokemon was by the jail fence and in the sheriff's office. They don't want people playing there, also while driving or going into private property. Also, people can walk into a street distracted and get hit by a car or get assaulted if it's late at night, etc. etc.
 
My 12 year old is loving it, but he only has an iPad mini with no data, so I have to drive him or walk with him and let him use my hot spot. I've only done that for him twice because I don't want to use all my data, etc. The 16 year old that watches my boys in the afternoons and ALL of his friends are totally hooked.

I walk several times a week with a friend to our downtown area and there have been kids EVERYWHERE playing it. It's everywhere here.
 
Yesterday I saw my neighbor's teen son and 2 of his friends walking around his backyard with their eyes glued to their phone screens. They were walking around almost in a little circle and then they clumped near the back of the property. Then they started moving somewhere else. At first I was like "WTHeck are they doing at 8am outside walking around like THAT?" and then I remembered Pokeman lol so I figure that's what they were doing.

My kids are too young to play, and even if they were old enough, I'd be nervous about the safety issue--for all the reasons mentioned already by others. I thought they were just hidden around your immediate area (so they'd be in your house, for example, or the public park where you started up your game) and--in my own opinion--that seems like it could be fun; however, the idea of walking around in public, by busy streets, or around unsavory people who realize what an unsuspecting mark these players are, doesn't entice me at all. Again, just my opinion. :)
 
Yes, all 3 of my kids are playing (14, 19, and 25). Today, my younger son rode with me to deliver produce (my part time job) so he could snag Pokemon. He found a rare one so I drove him to it and set there while he caught it. Tomorrow both of the younger 2 are going with me on the route so they can play. Plus I bribe them with lunch out.

I am thinking about playing it.... My daughter's Girl Scout leader is geocache crazy and video game crazy. She is playing and she is 50+. So I would be in good company. ha ha

Dog is getting walked more since she makes it less obvious they are walking around to get Pokemon.

And son needs a new phone because the old one is really acting up now with all this use. Got him one today via Amazon Prime.
 
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Oh my gosh, yes! My 11 year old and I have been playing ever since my 25 year old and his wife came over Saturday and started catching Pokemon all over the house lol. It's fun and really motivating to get out and walk around. I've seen one of the teenage boys that lives across the street out wandering around in his yard with his phone, so I'm guessing that's what he's doing haha...never see him out much. I get the safety concerns, but I do like that it's getting kids moving. I was extra cautious out driving today in case there was anyone wandering around or deciding to suddenly stop.
 
It's fantastic! My girls don't like to take walks very much yet this has them out walking all over town, even though it's hot and humid! It also has them talking to people. People are smiling and asking "What team are you on?", not just staring at their phones.
 
My 19 yo is loving it. She has walked 10 km's by day 5 (you get an egg the further you walk apparently). She was out last night and was gathered with about 50 other people when a storm warning came - they all alerted each other and quickly cleared out. Seems like a very social event - esp good for gamers who don't get quite as much fresh air as they should...
 
I *try* to play the games my kids play (to play, chat and just have fun with them, like Slither.io or Clash Royale) and heard about this one first. I downloaded it, checked it out, and then told them about it. They had heard but were excited to try it out.

Until we had the account things set up, one boy had my phone and the other his own. We walked over to a nearby park, and school and walked. No complaints, and we walked for over an hour! That's fantastic. My kids will play outside, and I don't really have to monitor their devices, but this was fun since it combined outside, activity and their devices. Similar to geocaching. While we didn't fully understand how to find the Pokemon, we did find some, but now we know a little more, and it should be better next time.

While they were using devices, I was there to watch and help. I would not let them do it alone. I'd be worried. I tried to tell them to enjoy the walk, and when one was nearby it would buzz.
 
Lindzee said:
What I heard on the radio during a review is that you walk around with you phone, I guess camera app provides the reality environment, then pokeymen are overlaid and you catch them... Maybe I am missing something but isn't this dangerous like texting and walking?
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ah!! now I know what this game is all about!! I kept seeing posting on Pokemon on FB. LOL!!
 
This is the first I've heard of it, but I am all for things that get the boys out and moving about!
 
We won't be playing it. Kids are 12 and 9 and only DS has phone. He's not interested. He told me yesterday he thinks it's weird.

I think it's a good thing for neighborhoods, but I'm truly concerned about people not paying attention when they are walking. Going into yards they shouldn't be going into. Knocking on doors asking to "go in the backyard" and something happening.

I think with proper supervision and proper awareness, it could be good. But I'm still a bit leary about the safety of just wandering around looking at your phone. :( I've already had to steer carefully around a group in my neighborhood who wasn't paying attention
 
it's been on the news locally but my kids haven't gotten involved. when i was out walking the pug this morning ... i saw a small crowd of kids w/their devices and i'm pretty sure that was what they were doing.

i don't need another distraction. but it's a neat idea.
 
My 12 year old got the app a few days ago, but he got tired of being unable to register because there are too many others trying to register at the same time, or something like that. He uninstalled it yesterday because he was still not able to register. Did any of you or your children have that problem?
 
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