Since the release of Pokemon GO, I’ve been inspired to rewatch the original Pokemon: Indigo League. Luckily, Netflix has the season available. So I did what any self-respecting adult would do and binge watched as much as I could. It was pretty easy, though. The server outages have given me plenty of time to fill. My experience showed me something new. Honestly, it’s something I couldn’t have realized before Pokemon GO. Everyone’s just a big, huge, jerk.

Look at that. Even Pikachu is a sassy jerk at first. Everywhere Ash went, people would berate and insult him, sometimes to the point of tears. Especially at first. Ash has a hard time learning the ropes as it comes to Pokemon. Instead of anyone offering him a helping hand, they just yell at him for being ignorant. How can anyone expect trainers to learn and grow if they can’t catch a break every once in a while. I bring this up in regards to my experiences playing Pokemon GO. I have only met the kindest complete strangers in my journeys. They’ve discussed rumors, tactics, tips, and even their favorite spots. I do understand that there’s a big difference from a collection of pixels and live creatures. Perhaps they berate Ash because his incompetence puts his Pokemon in danger. But that makes it even more crucial to help him out. In the end, it helps me to further appreciate the way poke-culture has developed.