Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL
CHAMPION!
July 28 - Aug. 3, 2016 • Page 9A
Photo by Travis Hudgons
Pokemon Go craze leads to unintended dangers, nuisances
by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
F or millennials,
teenagers and adults
alike, the phone
application Pokemon
Go has become a
welcome distraction from
everyday life.
Since the application’s
July 6 release date,
Pokemon Go has become
one of the most popular
mobile games worldwide.
According to Verto
Analytics, Pokemon Go
had a total of 12.6 million
users by July 16. The game
is also one of the fastest
mobile games to reach 10
million worldwide users.
It took Pokemon Go just
seven days to reach 10
million users, which is two
days quicker than Clash
Royale, five days quicker
than Candy Crush and 12
days faster than Angry Birds
2.
However, having so
many avid gamers has
affected other aspects of
life for players and the
public. According to reports,
businesses are being
bombarded with Pokemon
Go players trying to “catch
them all.”
The game uses features
such as Pokestops, which
are designated by a phone’s
GPS. These Pokestops
can be locations such
as restaurants, gyms or
houses.
Leon’s Full Service in
Decatur happens to be one
of the game’s Pokestops
and the restaurant’s staff is
trying to deal with the influx
of traffic.
Manager and bartender
Sophia Veitch said the
restaurant has decided not
to charge participants of
the game looking to take
advantage of the bar’s
Pokestop, but wants players
to be more respectful of the
establishment.
“I can definitely say
that business is good and
it’s nice to see people who
don’t normally go out come
to our restaurant, but a lot
of [Pokemon Go players]
don’t understand the way
a restaurant works. A lot of
people are coming in and
camping out. The game is
fun, but at the same time
you have to be respectful of
employees,” Veitch said.
Veitch, who has been
with Leon’s Full Service for
more than a year, said she
enjoys the restaurant being
a Pokestop.
Veitch also said she
enjoys playing Pokemon
Go, but other users should
think about playing in
moderation.
“When you open the app
it tells you to be aware of
your surroundings and be
respectful. Just take the time
to look up from your phone
and be nice to our staff who
are just there trying to make
sure you’re OK,” Veitch
said. “We’re a Pokestop so
you can stop out front and
we don’t feel like charging.
We’re happy to do it and
hope you grab a drink while
you catch them all.”
Playing the game has
also resulted in unintended
dangers for some users.
According to reports players
distracted by the game have
walked on a military base
or wandered into oncoming
traffic. In California, two
men fell off a cliff while
looking for Pokemon.
Michael Yarbrough,
assistant chief with the
DeKalb County Police
Department, said the
dangers of being distracted
on a mobile device are real.
“We’ve seen high
school and college students
walking and they’re so
engaged their phone that
they miss the car turning
into the crosswalk,”
Yarbrough said. “We want
people to pay attention
and watch where they’re
going. Talking on the phone
or texting while driving
distracts you. If you’re using
your GPS to find the next
Pokemon your attention is
diverted away.”
In Missouri, four teens
were arrested after using
the game’s lure model to
rob victims.
“When you’re meeting
up at a group location, you
have to be careful of who
you’re meeting with or who
you’re communicating with,”
Yarbrough said.
D
MORE ACCESS &
EASIER PAYMENTS ONLINE
New Features Include:
• Self-enroll in E-billing and/or select
to receive paper statements.
• Name and password requirement
for enhanced security.
• Research your payment history
and view billing statements.
• Link multiple accounts allowing for
greater account management.
For more information or to pay your bill online,
please visit us at www.dekalbwatershed.com.
1 $4 processing fee will apply; fee can be avoided with auto-pay.
Check Out
the New Porta
www.dekalbwatershed.cor
