“The other day, someone caught a Pokemon on my couch and I was flabbergasted, and a little terrified. What is this suddenly very popular Pokemon Go phenomenon, with the power to send reasonable humans out into the world to catch critters in an augmented reality viewable through smart phones?” …
https://consumerist.com/2016/07/11/7-things-we-learned-about-the-insta-popular-pokemon-go/
There are a lot of things about that that are disturbing…;I have been reading reports that the company who produced the game retain the rights to collect a lot of data about you, including e-mail accountsand the like. Worse, you sign in using your google account from an IOS device, according to buzzfeed that would give them access to the totality of your google accounts, including e-mail, google drive docs and the like. Because of the detailed location mapping the game requires, it means they have a map pretty much of everywhere you go and what you are doing (again, this has been written about in several places).
This is the real way for the criminals to lure kids…the way I see it.
Most of what you’re hearing, musicprnt, is fake. Snopes has been frantically working to debunk all the crap going around.
Even statements released by police (as in a case in MO) is complete rubbish. They have no idea how the game works and what they described isn’t possible.
I play. Pretty much everyone I know plays. It’s not a big deal and the myths out there about it are mindboggling.
ETA: You can read a statement by the victim here describing what actually happened: http://www.snopes.com/2016/07/10/armed-robbers-used-pokemon-go/
PS: Our furbaby is very much enjoying the game. She gets about 4 walks a day now while her dad hunts for pokemon 
I doubt they are tracking everyone. If they are they are going to be sorely disappointed in what my teenagers have on their google drives… It’s most school essays.
You don’t have to give it any access to any google stuff. You can choose to sign in with your google account (which I did because I’m not paranoid) or you can create an account just for the app that has nothing to do with any google products.
The “all access” permission was a glitch limited to iOS products. Here’s more info: https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/12/pokemon-go-promises-to-fix-the-bug-that-let-it-access-all-your-google-data/
I had planned to ask my son what he thought and then I saw that he already had the ap (we share a family account). He says his friends in LA have been playing since it was introduced. He played the Game Boy version years ago so it is a nice blast of nostalgia according to him. Although it seems too hot to go outside right now, I think I will try it later. Maybe it will be the carrot that will get me out of the house for an early morning walk instead of staying in bed and reading CC.
I was walking around Central Park yesterday and saw dozens of people trying to catch Pokemon. It seems like a blast. Plus you get to say great things like “aw, it’s raining, I can’t go outside and play video games.” I guess I’m kind of biased because my boyfriend is the official Pokemon Go reporter at a certain newspaper so it’s all I’ve been hearing about for the past week, but it really seems like nothing more than pure fun.
Apparently my house has some significance with this game. I live in a very walkable neighborhood. I have looked outside at various times no less than six times to see a nerd aiming his iPhone at my house. They are standing in the street and not trespassing. It bothers the puppy. I find it funny but a little creepy. The busy time will be this evening right before sunset. Gotta Catch Em All!
Apparently players have started trying to catch Pokemon at the Holocaust Museum, which is currently trying to remove the museum from the game and asking visitors not to play the game…
I admit I downloaded the app after discussing it with DS (who was into the cards when he was young). He had gotten the app after reminiscing with me and was amazed how many Pokestops there were in his suburban neighborhood. It got him off his laptop and out of the apartment, walking around local parks, and talking to other collectors. So I appreciate the aspects of fresh air and socialization!
I don’t actually mean to do anything but collect where I happen to be anyway, but it adds a fun dimension to my walks around San Diego (which is rife with Pokestops). To date I’m far and away the oldest person I’ve seen collecting. I also will be more cognizant of people on their cell phones while walking, biking, skateboarding, etc. I can certainly understand the distraction problems.
Suddenly kids on bikes in the neighborhood and kids walking through our woods with flashlights last night. What fun. I want to play.
If you look at most apps that you download you are giving permission for MUCH more than you think. Read some of those term agreements. They are insane.
It is basically a mainstream version of Geocaching, a hobby which I have been enjoyed for many years.
^ Hmm, just reading about transmitter hunting in “All the Light We Cannot See”
My kids played Ingress, which was the precursor game to Pokemon Go from Niantic (a Google spinoff). It had the following differences from Pokemon Go:
– No augmented reality in Ingress. Display was harder to connect to actual streets (for me, not so much for kids).
– No Pokemon; more of a SciFi theme – aliens coming through portals. Portals were attracted to “civilization”, which is why Pokemon gyms and PokeStops tend to be a churches, libraries, university buildings, etc.
– You could create more portals by submitting information and photos. Some of the PokeStops in our neighborhood are in the same locations and use the same photos submitted by my kids for Ingress portals they added.
– 2 color teams vs 3
– You could send IM type messages in game to other players on your friend list. My kids expect this feature will be added sometime to Pokemon Go.
@fractalmstr Well, Geocaching without getting your hands dirty… And, the kids doing Pokemon aren’t hiding from muggles.
(I’m not serious about it like the kids, but I am at level 5 on Pokemon Go.)
@sax - sounds like Snipe Hunting from my day…are the kids just making fun of us now?
Hey, all I know is that I caught a pony and a kitty, so I’m happy!
(And walked 3000 steps, which is more than I’d have done staying home and reading CC posts…)
My parents are staying with us for a few days because we’re heading to a concert. When they got here earlier, my dad asked me to explain to him what pokemon go is. My phone was dead so I just downloaded it on his phone to show him. After explaining it to him, he said it was stupid and can’t believe people are playing it.
That was several hours ago. About 2 minutes ago I heard him yell, “(insert expletives here) I don’t want another Weedle!”
Mr R and I could not breath we were laughing so hard.
I followed my kids around outside tonight after curfew. My daughter was excited to hatch an egg and I completed my 10,000 steps according to my Fitbit. I bet they will get tired of it soon but this week it is great fun!