The Pros And Cons Of A Pokémon Go Obsession (AKA, Is It Worth Surrendering Your Life To Hunting Rattatas?)

Pokémon Go was only released into the wild a few weeks ago, and yet, despite some initial server issues, it's pretty much taken over my life.

It’s fun and has clearly defined goals that have dozens of people walking with their phone, trying to be the very best at catching ‘em all (even if it involves occasionally bumping into someone/ things).

I don't think I’ve accidentally exercised this much in my life, just trying to hatch its eggs.

For someone who isn’t terribly social, Pokémon Go has let me bond with random trainers on the street; I’ve even talked to people from the Netherlands on Pokémon Go servers on Discord! (I probably haven’t made lifelong friends but the interactions have been amazing.)

Of course, it’s been great for people who suffer from anxiety issues, the game being a reason to go out and interact. Many people who are hospitalised, especially children, can also enjoy catching Pokémon thanks to the people who lift their spirits by placing lures attracting creatures to hospitals.

Businesses have also flourished thanks to people flocking to cafes, restaurants or Pokémon hotspots around those areas.

However, it’s not all good news. Pokémon Go has made me more distracted. It's a great way to procrastinate on work despite being an incredibly social game. More people are seemingly opting to play Pokémon Go, rather than focusing on real life goals and aspirations.

Players have also been going out late at night, disturbing residential areas and trespassing on property. Many accidents have unfortunately occurred, due to trainers being unaware of the surroundings, although game developer Niantic does put a disclaimer cautioning you to be alert and aware of where you are going while you’re playing.

Even though people are going outside, they are still on their phones, so perhaps there's an argument to be made that it's making them more antisocial. Ultimately, it varies from person to person. It's also upsetting to hear in the media of vandalism or fights that have occurred between teams, with some people taking this way too seriously.

Although the augmented reality game does have its negative consequences, the blending of reality and fantasy has never been so fun, as I, along with many others, flock to the streets hunting down that Dragonite or Charizard.

Congratulations to Zoe for winning this writing challenge, answering: My Pokémon Go Obsession Is Taking Over. Zoe wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

Photo: iStock.