Knowing the limits of Pokémon Go

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Players take the game everywhere.
Players take the game everywhere.
Stock image.
Does an animated monster know no boundaries?

    Apparently not, especially if it is a creation of Pokémon Go. The game's players use their smartphones to pursue animated creatures --sometimes onto the properties of religious institutions, government buildings and public memorials.
    Along the way, they exercise. There have been 500 million downloads of the game around the world, and “players have collectively walked 4.6 billion kilometers, which is the distance from Earth to Pluto,” according to the game’s developer, Niantic Inc.
    With school starting again, some players will be taking a forced hiatus. Schools have varying rules. Some ban Pokémon Go, while others allow it between classes. Some churches even use the game to build millennial membership.
    But not everyone is onboard. In the two months since the game's release, Pokémon Go players have chased monsters onto front lawns and into workplaces. But at these four locations the monsters are definitely not welcomed:      
  • A cemetery. And not just any cemetery -- a landmark. 

     A notice on Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery website says: “Out of respect for all those interred at Arlington National Cemetery, we require the highest level of decorum from our guests and visitors. Playing games such as 'Pokémon Go' on these hallowed grounds would not be deemed appropriate. We request that visitors to ANC refrain from such activity.”
  • The tomb of someone of historical relevance, such as George Washington, Founding Father. 

      Pokémon players have played the game at historic monuments, which is both good news and bad news, according to the website for George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, in Alexandria, Virginia:
      “Mount Vernon appreciates that this new game has a focus on historical sites, monuments and other cultural locations. Our hope is that players will be motivated to visit historic sites in their area and to learn more about the rich history all around them. In addition to several PokéStops that are located in restricted locations, there are PokéStops within the Mansion, at the Washingtons’ tomb, the Mount Vernon slave cemetery and slave memorial that we feel are inappropriate. Mount Vernon asks that all guests refrain from engaging in Pokémon Go activities at these locations.”

  • A memorial designed to be a reminder of lives lost in war. 

    On its Facebook page, the National Park Service defended its decision to use the Pokémon craze to build interest in memorials, although there are exceptions:
    “While we understand and agree that there are solemn places of respect and reflection on the National Mall, such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where playing a game like this is inappropriate, there are many places between and around the memorials and monuments that are designed specifically for recreation."

  • The inside of a police department (seriously):

    This also should fall under the duh category, but some Pokémon Go players aren’t thinking things through. It’s not just that enthusiasts are trespassing on private property; they are trespassing at the neighborhood police department. Consider this July 11 Facebook post from the Pflugerville Police Department in Texas:
    “Although the new Pokémon Go game has become extremely popular, please be respectful of private property and do not enter secure premises, such as the Pflugerville Police Department, to catch them all. As always, be careful, remember to look both ways before crossing the street, and keep your eyes on the road while driving."

    Related: 

    Researcher: Time to study Pokémon Go 

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