‘Pokémon GO’: Don’t Play In These Locations Or Else [Video]
We have all heard the stories by now of people playing Pokémon GO at the most inappropriate times or in the most inappropriate places. But where do you think the worst places are to play this augmented reality mega hit game?
According to Slash Gear, Pokémon GO has landed a lot of people in trouble from the professional world of politics and journalism on down. If you are planning to pull your iPhone out and try to find a Jigglypuff in the middle of a meeting or other important event, let some of the stories below be a warning to you.
Perhaps the most surprising place listed as a no-no for the Pokémon GO app was a briefing at the United States Department of State. It is not surprising simply because we think Secretary of State John Kerry would have a little something hiding in his office or on his plane. It is surprising because a reporter apparently could not stop playing during a press briefing about important stuff, like America’s relationship with the rest of the world.
“One anonymous reporter learned this lesson recently, getting himself called out by US State Department Spokesperson John Kirby for playing Pokémon GO during a briefing on the United States’ efforts against ISIS. While that would have usually made for a funny little joke between Kirby and the other members of the press attending, US State Department briefings are on-the-record, on-camera events, meaning that the conversation between Kirby and the reporter was recorded for the world to see.”
Somewhere else you are not supposed to be playing Pokémon GO? How about an international border. You read that right. Do not get yourself distracted playing the game near a border with another country. According to Time magazine, two Canadian children found that out the hard way after they inadvertently wandered across the border into the United States.
“The two were ‘unaware of their surroundings’ while playing the popular game on their cellphones,” Time reported. “‘Both juveniles were so captivated by their Pokémon GO games that they lost track of where they were,’ U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Michael Rappold said in a statement.”
While Donald Trump is worried about building a wall along the southern border with Mexico, should he maybe consider a wall along the northern border to keep illegal Canadian teenagers playing Pokémon GO out of the United States? Is this the first documented case of Pokémon GO causing an international incident between countries?
Perhaps the last place you should consider playing Pokémon GO is Egypt, where a cleric has said the innocent Pokémon iPhone game could be potentially dangerous. Seriously. Let us take a look at what he had to say, courtesy of the Associated Press Cairo bureau.
“Abbas Shumman, the deputy sheikh of Egypt’s Al-Azhar institute, told The Associated Press that the game ‘makes people busy with it, ignoring their main work and it might also put them in danger,’ but says there is no problem with people playing it in moderation if they are at home or in a safe place.”
Just to be fair, Shumman also told the Associated Press that reading the Quran could be just as dangerous as Pokémon GO if people were reading it while walking down the street. What do you think?
All of the apparent dangers coming out about Pokémon GO come as the game has landed atop the ratings for the iPhone’s app store, which has reported the game as its No. 1 download in a week — ever!
What is the most interesting situation you have found yourself in while playing Pokémon GO? Tell us in the comments section below.
[Image via Nintendo]
