Pastimes and Obsessions
I see people everywhere, in town, on my dog walks and along the road when I’m riding — faces buried in their Smart Phones connected to what I imagine — Pokemon Go. For those living under a rock, Pokemon Go is a new mobile game based on the classic Pokemon game and uses a variety of technologies and approaches (GPS location and augmented reality to name a couple) to create a game where you have to move and explore to reach your goals.
Move and explore. Sound like riding a scooter or motorcycle. I’ve heard a lot of funny comments, criticisms and head shaking disbelief aimed at the Pokemon Go players. But as I think about it the same is probably going on between non-riders as they look at those ego-driven, risk taking, crazy motorcycle riders. Scooter riders get a pass because people seem to think they aren’t dangerous and completely safe.
Another form of ignorance but a topic for another day.
I downloaded Pokemon Go last night to see first hand what the fuss was about. During the setup process they inquire of your age. I thought I was going to see a message stating I was too old to play the game.
After just a little time with the game I can see why people may get obsessed — there’s an interesting discovery and reward system that happens as you venture through the real world on foot. I’ve read that for some people the game has revealed to them their towns and communities.
Just like a ride on a scooter or motorcycle.
My friend Paul and I were on a little exploration of our own — a trip to the weekly livestock auction in Belleville, Pennsylvania.
American Bazaar
One of the nice things about riding a scooter or motorcycle in central Pennsylvania is always being able to find a place to park. Even if it’s in the weeds.
The Belleville Livestock Auction is a weekly event at a fixed location where you can buy and sell livestock in the auction barn or take part in the outdoor market where everything from produce to DVDs to guns are sold. Like the bazaars of the Mideast and Africa, this is an American version.
Culture and Commerce
The wares offered are as varied as the people who come to buy and sell them. I didn’t see anyone playing Pokemon Go — probably because of the weak to non-existent cell coverage, but there’s plenty of opportunity to walk around and discover.
Amish Faction
Belleville is in the heart of Amish country so it’s no surprise to see horses and buggies everywhere. And just as the English scour the market for treasure so do the Amish. I saw a small cadre of young boys bartering for a haul of fireworks — loot that transcends religion and culture.
The Crowd
Lots of people gather in the summer heat searching for bargains and necessities. Paul and I wandered along toward breakfast at Margie’s Restaurant.
Live Free or Die
There’s a definite streak of independence in parts of the market. One vendor had an extensive collection of marijuana sacks for sale along with a host of other symbols outside the mainstream. Eavesdropping on conversations I thought I would hear some conservative leanings but in terms of the presidential election everything I heard was a similar disgust and dismissal of both candidates. At least the ones talking out loud.
Reedsville Market
A few miles down the road we stopped at another outdoor market with a different collection of wares. For someone like me who’s hoping to rid his life of stuff these markets offer only deeper sinking into the mud. Paul found a light he plans to mount on his ’64 Vespa.
Flag and Folksong
I generally shy from crowds and events like these — an intentional move away from the noise and chaos of assemblies of people. But when I do find myself wandering such places I try and take in the details. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone playing the accordion. This fellow was there to entertain.
The ride provided a fair amount of discovery and exploration — something like Pokemon Go but different. The wandering through the markets provided some exercise too. If someone doesn’t want to play the game, maybe a scooter or motorcycle would be a fine second choice — a Pokemon Go alternative.
Just go for a ride.
Well, in fact, wandering on a pair of wheels – powered or not – has long been my preferred choice.
Not to get too down on this whole Pokemon Go “moment” – at least this game gets people out of their chairs and into the outside world (leaving aside the irony of utilizing VR/AR to do do) – but I’m a long-“retired” gamer, who recalls how easy it was to screen-suck for hours on end, well before the Internet As We Know It delivered its own beguiling distractions. Fun, and, for the time period, a necessary distraction from a few bothersome issues, but more important (and sometimes pleasant!) matters beckoned, and I left that world behind for good. These days, I’m much more prone to daydream a bit about those lovely bits of two-lane lovingly captured via your camera – “Gotta Ride ‘Em All!” is a more-relevant mantra here.
I can certainly relate to the need for distraction and escape. The Vespa serves that purpose at times. Experimenting with Pokemon Go I find that for me, it might have me walking, but I’m not really paying attention to the world. The screen and whatever sudden discovery it may reveal keeps my focus. Riding is completely different for me.
There is a fun aspect though I have to admit Pokemon Go isn’t all that much fun for me. I’m already out in the world walking. And the little cartoon characters don’t strum any chords. As a retired Unreal Tournament player (Classic) it’s just not the same as running around with a Flak Canon or Redeemer.
Don’t see a return to games at the moment. Riding remains to fascinating…
Steve,
Consider for a moment [or two] that “POKEMAN GO” is really a tool for creating a large throng of people at one site , at one time, as a soft target for a terrorist attack! Although you express that it may be a fun game or app, I challenge the wiseness of participating in this action. I firmly believe that this will soon be a major headline event with a very serious outcome…..call me a pessimist, but survival awareness is heightened today and it is no different than you wearing a helmet [be safe , my friend].
I read your bloodily and like it very much, but this size hit a tender spot in my psyche today.
The last sentence of my comment looks like gibberish. It should read…..” I read your BLOG DAILY and like it very much, but this SUBJECT hit a tender spot in my psyche today.
Dang technology and lack of personal editing skills led to this gibberish, sorry!
No worries. Everyone who writes is familiar with the occasional gibberish that our fingers unleash.
I sensed the topic is something that concerned you. It’s interesting how differently we can absorb or interpret the same information. It’s like one rider looking out the window at snow flakes and saying “drive today” and another saying “ride today”.
Your comments have me thinking again about the difference between safety and risk. Maybe you’ve triggered another blog post…
Well, we’ll have to disagree. Seems to me there are far more concentrated gatherings of people already in existence to provide a soft target for terrorists. But who knows — anything is possible. Odds are though that the chance of bad stuff happening is far greater driving or riding than a terrorist attack. The media and our political leaders would have us think we’re at risk every second. Fear is great for job security.
I don’t know enough about Pokemon Go to comment on it’s crowd gathering capacity. Must be features I’ve not discovered that would draw me to a specific location. And my own personal leanings have me generally walking the other way when I see a crowd.
Thanks for commenting. Always good to have other perspectives on life and living than motorcycles and scooters!
I’ve been asking people on the street “are you playing PokemonGo?” Invariably they look up, giggle and sheepishly say “yah!”
It’s my version of the game. I collect PokéGiggles. No smartphone or app required.
PokeGiggles. I thought that’s what people did when they see us riding a scooter???
Steve
you wrote: I’ve read that for some people the game has revealed to them their towns and communities. Just like a ride on a scooter or motorcycle.
That statement is dead-on. I didn’t know my own state of Colorado until the motorcycling bug came along, I’ve explored it now going on over ten years and there’s still more to see….the things I would have missed, the friends I would never have met….
Amazing how much there is to see. Pretty much infinite. When someone tells me “I’ve seen it already” I feel like saying “No you haven’t”. Riding stirs the explorer in me. Judging from your blog posts you have it worse that I do!
Man those are strong photos. This blog installment is something right out National Geographic (high craft, well written). I like that boy with the wind wheels and his dad with the ‘crab dynasty’ shirt. It’s very wholesome. I like to see people together, families together like that. It’s comforting to me when people are centered and behaving in a healthy way like that. I don’t see a way for me to post a photo in this comment.
Thanks Paul. Lots to see and photograph in those places.
You can’t post photos but you can include links if you have them posted elsewhere — on your website or in Flickr, something like that.