# Pokemon is pretty damn disturbing, if you think about it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 6, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559 "2011-06-06T22:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/1 "2011-06-06T22:19:08Z")
How did the development meeting for that thing go? “I’m sorry, Mr Game Developer, but marketing believes your idea, let’s see here… ‘super happy fun cock-fighting; for children four and up’ may show less than robust sales, perhaps we could tweak it a bit?” In Pokemon, the player captures wild animals, stores them in a tiny cage shaped like a ball until he meets other players, and then they release the caged animals to do violent battle for the players’ amusement. Michael Vick did that, and we arrested the bastard for it, so why does little Johnny get a pass? I say we force the makers to make the game more realistic by including Pokemon rights protesters and shelters for abused squirtles and pikachus. -A Monkey with A Gun ruiner of childhoods everywhere ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/2 "2011-06-06T22:58:31Z")
Interestingly enough, the theme for the current crop of games, “Black,” and “White,” touches on precisely that concern. The antagonist in the storyline seeks to free Pokemon from their human trainers for the reasons you suggest. Ultimately, however, he is moved by seeing the protagonist’s relationship with Pokemon to understand that a trainer’s motives can be positive, and not necessarily either predaceous or exploitative. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/3 "2011-06-06T23:29:12Z")
As creepy as the game’s premise is, it’s got nothing on [some of the Pokemon themselves.](http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/03/15/weirdest-pokemon-black-white/) ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/4 "2011-06-06T23:38:28Z")
I just got a phone call from 1998. Been a long time, but we had some good times, back in the day, even if I was broke and single and having some school problems. While I was trying to warn them about 9/11, the earthquakes, and the whole Bush thing, they repeatedly brought up the fact they were still borrowing anti-Barney-the-Dinosaur complaints from 1993. They managed to work how 1993 keeps asking for favors and showing up at dinner. More than once. They were too polite to say it, but they clearly would like their **own** superior Gen-X observation about kids entertainment returned. You know, when you get a chance. – GI Joe was pro war, Barney was facist, Bratz were pro-slut, Harry Potter was pro-witch, and I’m still broke and single. Some things change more than others. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/5 "2011-06-06T23:45:31Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > GI Joe was pro war, Barney was facist, Bratz were pro-slut, Harry Potter was pro-witch, and I’m still broke and single. Some things change more than others. You forgot the homosexual S&M rape dungeon that was _He-Man: Masters of the Universe_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/6 "2011-06-06T23:54:45Z")
It wasn’t intended to be an exhaustive list. Though that would be a fun project. Someone less lazy than I am should probably be encouraged to start it. – Though I like the idea that Pokemon and their trainers are involved in a safe, sane, and consensual relationship, that’s both positive and mutually enriching. Somewhere, William Moulton Marston, his wife, and their girlfriend are smiling. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/7 "2011-06-07T05:20:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > As creepy as the game’s premise is, it’s got nothing on [some of the Pokemon themselves.](http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/03/15/weirdest-pokemon-black-white/) Wow. That makes me go back to the claim my mom made that Pokemon were all Japanese spiritual crap masquerading as monsters. I’m surprised the fundies aren’t having a field day with this. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/8 "2011-06-07T06:05:37Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > In Pokemon, the player captures wild animals, stores them in a tiny cage shaped like a ball until he meets other players, and then they release the caged animals to do violent battle for the players’ amusement. [And that’s the best case outcome.](http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=1) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/9 "2011-06-07T15:22:03Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Though I like the idea that Pokemon and their trainers are involved in a safe, sane, and consensual relationship, that’s both positive and mutually enriching. [But sometimes…](http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/5/28/) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/10 "2011-06-07T15:49:27Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > As creepy as the game’s premise is, it’s got nothing on [some of the Pokemon themselves.](http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/03/15/weirdest-pokemon-black-white/) Yamask has just displaced Absol as my favourite Pokemon. That thing is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/11 "2011-06-07T16:26:58Z")
I wonder if part of the idea is to help kids conquer their fears. Yeah, monsters are scary, but I can control the monsters! I don’t have to be scared of them any more! ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/12 "2011-06-07T16:31:11Z")
Not to mention that there are several unsubtle references that pokemon were used as weapons in war. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/13 "2011-06-07T17:50:54Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > As creepy as the game’s premise is, it’s got nothing on [some of the Pokemon themselves.](http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/03/15/weirdest-pokemon-black-white/) Do not go to [rule63.paheal.net](http://rule63.paheal.net) and search for Pikachu. Especially not while you’re at work. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pokemon-is-pretty-damn-disturbing-if-you-think-about-it/584559/14 "2011-06-07T17:57:16Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > How did the development meeting for that thing go? “I’m sorry, Mr Game Developer, but marketing believes your idea, let’s see here… ‘super happy fun cock-fighting; for children four and up’ may show less than robust sales, perhaps we could tweak it a bit?” > > In Pokemon, the player captures wild animals, stores them in a tiny cage shaped like a ball until he meets other players, and then they release the caged animals to do violent battle for the players’ amusement. As God is my witness I was planning on strating this thread today. My kid has “Pokemon Black Version” and it’s like Michael Vick’s been infiltrated by the Inception people.