Pokemon = socially unacceptable?
- Thread starter fieryseraph
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Chromecatz
New Member
haha
fieryseraph
New Member
I didn't explain that part real well becuase I didn't want to quote the whole argument, but she was saying that since I am going to be a "role model" for the kids, and now my focus on it is greater, and pokemon stuffI order keeps coming in the mail, I am going to make the kids "obsessed" with it. I told her we're not moving from 'passing fancy' to 'obsession', we're moving from 'passing fancy' to 'hobby'.
Haha... great responses, thanks for commenting, everyone. Glad I'm not the only one who got the head scratch from my co-workers when I brought a pokemon magazine to work to read while I was on the excerise bike at lunch. :-D
Given that this is the "cool" way to be, and playing Pokémon isn't, I'd venture a guess at the answer being "yes, with an if, or no, with a but."
Though really, if I had kids, I wouldn't want them associating with D&D players either (going from the OP's comment about "socially-awkward, gencon-attending, D&D-playing, girlfriend-less geeks"). D&D is a terrible game, and I'd impress it upon them as much as I could. I'd want them playing a good RPG. That said, I'd also be trying to get them into Magic instead of Pokémon, but I wouldn't say "no" to Pokémon so much as, "well, have you at least taken a look at..."
But seriously, Pokémon is never going to be mainstream "cool." If you play it straight and unashamed, you'll get respect out of anyone you really want respect from. You're never going to get respect from jocks or airheads, but then again you don't want their respect. The animé is truly godawful crap and goes a long way to maintaining the image of Pokémon as for kids and losers, but then again, a lot of the players do too. Especially the players that try and be "cool" about it. Acting ignorantly "mature" does not earn you respect. Quite the opposite. And it hurts the image of Pokémon quite a bit, too.
PokemansForGeeks
New Member
Unfortunately playing pokemon IS considered socially unacceptable, however, it's mainly due to that percentage of players who give off that "geeky" impression. Honestly, I don't go around school saying I play pokemon, cause quite frankly, who really cares? I do however go around bragging about my knowledge of cars, good looks, awesome grades, and 2 jobs I currently hold. Yea, pokemon is NOT my life. In fact, it is a stepping stone on the way to the rest of my life. Metaphorically speaking, of course. haha.
Magic_Umbreon
Researching Tower Scientist, Retired
It's not just pokémon.
Religion (no way he said THAt word flame war alert) of any sort can be cool or very uncool around different crowds.
Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:
Sorry, I just have to air this.
Does it annoy anyone when people ask if they can have a go on your DS game while you are in the middle of EV training or pokéradar chaining? Arrr it drives me mad.
Religion (no way he said THAt word flame war alert) of any sort can be cool or very uncool around different crowds.
Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:
Sorry, I just have to air this.
Does it annoy anyone when people ask if they can have a go on your DS game while you are in the middle of EV training or pokéradar chaining? Arrr it drives me mad.
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Burninating_Torchic
New Member
QFT
bullados
<a href="http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?
How can Pokemon sell over 10 million copies of DP combined in the US alone, and still be considered socially unacceptable? At worst, that means that there are 5 million individual Pokemon players out there. How can a franchise be socially unacceptable when so many people either play it or are aware of it?
desert eagle
New Member
I don't understand why people assume that playing Pokemon will get you into geeky stuff
I play Pokemon.
I also go clubbing, drive around chilling with friends, play/watch sports, hang out with girls, play poker etc
I would also like to point out that the majority of Pokemon players who are good at the game, are also cool and do cool things outside of Pokemon.
Take our WORLD CHAMP Jeremy SK for instance. His second day back from Hawaii, he went and chilled with 2 hot girls older than him!
I play Pokemon.
I also go clubbing, drive around chilling with friends, play/watch sports, hang out with girls, play poker etc
I would also like to point out that the majority of Pokemon players who are good at the game, are also cool and do cool things outside of Pokemon.
Take our WORLD CHAMP Jeremy SK for instance. His second day back from Hawaii, he went and chilled with 2 hot girls older than him!
I think it's "***" to go out with someone the same sex as you. Oh wait... that is what the word means...
Anyway, I just don't get the whole "drinking/clubbing is cool" thing, nor the whole "cool is directly proportional to how good you are with the opposite sex" thing. "Cool" such as it is, is highly relative. Some circles will stare at you blankly or even shun you if you "chill with two hot girls older than you", just as some circles will stare at you blankly or even shun you if you have a legit shiny Manaphy. Yet each is "cool" in their own circles. Go figure.
Anyway, I just don't get the whole "drinking/clubbing is cool" thing, nor the whole "cool is directly proportional to how good you are with the opposite sex" thing. "Cool" such as it is, is highly relative. Some circles will stare at you blankly or even shun you if you "chill with two hot girls older than you", just as some circles will stare at you blankly or even shun you if you have a legit shiny Manaphy. Yet each is "cool" in their own circles. Go figure.
ixidor89
New Member
You forgot to add drinking coffee like it's water.
I was in grade 7. And then it was more a fad craze than "cool."
vanderbilt_grad
New Member
Marril I’m going to take a bit of umbrage at your comments about DnD.
I started playing the game in 5th grade back in the late 70’s. In high school I still played but I branched out to other games too like Hero and Top Secret. In college I played Palladium games, Shadowrun, and Rolemaster but still participated regularly in DnD games too. After college it was harder to find games but after 10 years of looking I’ve found a group of intelligent, mature, creative, and fun gamers ... and they pretty much just play DnD.
In that time I’ve met some really strange ... and even creepy ... people in RPG circles. I’ve also met many fun, cool, and well adjusted folks that way too.
I’ve been playing Pokemon for less than a year, but my impressions are largely similar. I’ve met some really nice, fun, and interesting folks ... I’ve met some elitist snobs ... I’ve met a very few folks that set off my mental alarm bells too.
The main difference seems to be the kids. DnD is something where it’s pretty hard for the kids and the adults to do it at the same time. Where as with Pokemon you have moms and dads in the same place with their kids, either hanging out, helping with the event, or just playing too. It’s more of a shared experience that way.
But I’ll point out that my DnD group consists of three folks without children and three folks with young kids. We play around them in about a quarter of our games. My sons in particular are fascinated by the stories, miniatures, and atmosphere. They make me tell them about what happened for all the games that they aren’t present for and are excited by the idea of adventure.
I have no doubt that they will be embarrassed by Pokemon, DnD, and such during their teenage years. It’s just one of those things. Pokemon is COOL when you are young ... but after a certain point it’s just not edgy or rebellious enough and many older kids start associating it with the younger ones and these all conspire to make it less and less cool ... at least in a large peer group setting.
By high school both card games and RPGs just shout geeky ... but it’s up to the individual as to whether or not this defines them in school. Some will hide the fact that they play. Others will be open about it but will still somehow find a way to fit in and either be themselves or be cool. Others will just be geeky and that’s the way it is. A lot depends on the individual and the people around them.
I will have no problem if my sons play DnD, Pokemon, or similar things as they get older. I also will not mind if they move on to other things. They will find their own way and their own likes and dislikes. I trust them and I trust myself to do the best job that I can raising them. We will both make mistakes, but that’s life and we’ll move on and try to learn from them.
I have my family and my friends now and it doesn’t really matter to me if Pokemon is “cool” to all of them. My boys are having fun. I’m having fun. Even my wife is playing and enjoys the family time. That’s the most important thing to me. The fact that they are learning to read above their grade levels, are getting better at mental math than their peers, and learning strategy, sportsmanship, and such is all a nice bonus.
I started playing the game in 5th grade back in the late 70’s. In high school I still played but I branched out to other games too like Hero and Top Secret. In college I played Palladium games, Shadowrun, and Rolemaster but still participated regularly in DnD games too. After college it was harder to find games but after 10 years of looking I’ve found a group of intelligent, mature, creative, and fun gamers ... and they pretty much just play DnD.
In that time I’ve met some really strange ... and even creepy ... people in RPG circles. I’ve also met many fun, cool, and well adjusted folks that way too.
I’ve been playing Pokemon for less than a year, but my impressions are largely similar. I’ve met some really nice, fun, and interesting folks ... I’ve met some elitist snobs ... I’ve met a very few folks that set off my mental alarm bells too.
The main difference seems to be the kids. DnD is something where it’s pretty hard for the kids and the adults to do it at the same time. Where as with Pokemon you have moms and dads in the same place with their kids, either hanging out, helping with the event, or just playing too. It’s more of a shared experience that way.
But I’ll point out that my DnD group consists of three folks without children and three folks with young kids. We play around them in about a quarter of our games. My sons in particular are fascinated by the stories, miniatures, and atmosphere. They make me tell them about what happened for all the games that they aren’t present for and are excited by the idea of adventure.
I have no doubt that they will be embarrassed by Pokemon, DnD, and such during their teenage years. It’s just one of those things. Pokemon is COOL when you are young ... but after a certain point it’s just not edgy or rebellious enough and many older kids start associating it with the younger ones and these all conspire to make it less and less cool ... at least in a large peer group setting.
By high school both card games and RPGs just shout geeky ... but it’s up to the individual as to whether or not this defines them in school. Some will hide the fact that they play. Others will be open about it but will still somehow find a way to fit in and either be themselves or be cool. Others will just be geeky and that’s the way it is. A lot depends on the individual and the people around them.
I will have no problem if my sons play DnD, Pokemon, or similar things as they get older. I also will not mind if they move on to other things. They will find their own way and their own likes and dislikes. I trust them and I trust myself to do the best job that I can raising them. We will both make mistakes, but that’s life and we’ll move on and try to learn from them.
I have my family and my friends now and it doesn’t really matter to me if Pokemon is “cool” to all of them. My boys are having fun. I’m having fun. Even my wife is playing and enjoys the family time. That’s the most important thing to me. The fact that they are learning to read above their grade levels, are getting better at mental math than their peers, and learning strategy, sportsmanship, and such is all a nice bonus.
ryanvergel
New Member
I used to play Advance Wars during college classes.
Seriously, no one cares.
Hiding it only shows that there is something to be ashamed of.
Seriously, no one cares.
Hiding it only shows that there is something to be ashamed of.
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