All Abuzz about Pokémon Go

"Catch them all @ your library!" encouraged the Houston Public Library on their Facebook and Instagram. 

I was at a friend’s wedding this past weekend - which was basically a college reunion, as many weddings are - when I found out about Pokémon Go. I had been seeing snippets of conversation about it on social media and was starting to wonder (Pokémon? What year is this?) but didn't realize the specifics of the latest craze.

I didn’t ask for more information until I heard about the groomsmen, all getting the day started with bourbon and Pokémon hunting. And I started to spot other wedding guests walking around this beautiful, sleepy seaside town reminiscing over college memories, everyone with phones out seeking those nostalgic creatures from our childhoods.

Of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon to check it out, remembering my brother's huge binder of Pokémon from circa 1995. I captured my first Pokémon after the wedding, on the bus from New York to New Jersey on the next leg of our trip. This is when I started noticing the news stories.

"Please don’t make us have to create a campaign called 'Don’tPokemon-Go and Drive...." Texas Department of Transportation posted on their Facebook page. 

First, it was all seemingly positive: A new obsession over a game, which is not unusual, but at least people were being motivated to get exercise and get out into the world. Then, it turned kind of scary. People hurting themselves because they weren't paying attention. Criminals attuned to the situation, robbing distracted game participants. And taking the serious issue of texting and driving to another level, there is the danger of people using the game while driving. Texas Department of Transportation posted on their Facebook page a funny (but serious) post about it:

Y’all. Please don’t make us have to create a campaign called “Don’t Pokemon-Go and Drive.” We know you have to catch them all, but only look for Pokemon when you are not behind the wheel. Also, don't stop traffic just for PokeStops, and don't cross the street without paying attention.‪#‎WeShouldntHaveToTellYouThis ‪#‎TalkTextCrash ‪#‎PokemonGo 

Chief JD Sanders from the Memorial Villages sent out an e-newsletter to residents to raise awareness about Pokémon Go, explaining the app in more detail, how it accesses GPS and as players walk around, they can find and capture Pokémon.

“Residents should be aware of the game because they may see increased foot or vehicle traffic on usually quiet streets.  Kids may even wander around your front yard while staring at their phone,” Chief Sanders wrote in the e-newsletter.  

Memorial Villages officers even installed the app to check it out and understand it better. Chief Sanders described how officers spotted five cars parked at the First Congregational Church on Beinhorn. If they hadn’t known better, it might have looked like these people were up to something suspicious. But it turns out they were “battling” at a virtual “Pokémon gym” located there. 

“We would much rather visit with hundreds of Pokémon enthusiasts than miss one bad guy,” Chief Sanders emphasized.

Similarly, Chief Byron Holloway from the Bellaire Police Department said, “Anything that can cause a child to wander into or from an area has the potential for abuse by predators.”

Chef Holloway said it’s important to remain aware that phones and iPads are a target item for thieves. In addition, “Criminals can predict where gamers might be and have an idea as how remote or secluded an area is.” He said that Bellaire officers are mapping the high-traffic areas, such as Bellaire Park.

Personally, I became disinterested in the game after just that first Pokémon, but all the “buzz” has been fascinating. I’ve read articles that pose the question as to whether the game participants are actually engaging in the world more: Just because they are walking in the park, are they actually noticing their surroundings or talking to others? Is this the latest fad or is it a game-changer?

Are you playing Pokémon Go? Why or why not? We are seeking Buzz residents who are actively playing it to share your thoughts and experiences in an upcoming article. Comment below or email us at [email protected].