I think I hate Pokemon now...

[strange]

After a long, involved, and very interesting conversation I've come to the conclusion that Pokemon is nothing more than cutified slavery. Pokemon are not animals, they're a race; a species of sentient peoples. They have language and emotions and personal desires. You capture them and take them away from their homes and have them fight for you. Whether they want to or not, no trainers bother to ask them as far as I've seen. If they don't like their trainer and they run away they're still legally registered to that trainer. They live in tiny little balls like genies in bottles. While attempting to initially capture one they resist. They fight back. They do not want to live in your backpack full of tiny prison cells.

Sure you can call pokemon battles the equivalent of martial arts competitions. Sure, you can say that if they're unhappy they just leave. But you know what? Every time you say anything about pokemon, replace the word "Trainer" with "Slaver" and the word "Pokemon" with "Slave". See how much you sound like rich bags of dicks back in the day trying to rationalize slavery.

Apparently the internet has had this very thought. And another.

Why the fuck are we making slavery cute?

Comments

[clover]

I have had these thoughts, but having watched quite a lot of various series of the show I got over it or things were explained in ways I was happy with or the simple fact that it's a kids show and if we took all things dead serious/literal than nothing would be safe. I quite like Pokemon? The games, the stupid Pokemon Go. There are a few Pokemon that upset me - Cubone to name the biggest because it's so sad. It wears the skull of its dead mother. I also think its fucked up how these kids --- KIDS --- just leave their parents and go off training Pokemon. Like, ok, nice world where nothing horrible happens except, apparently, Pokemon snatching.

Also I'm fairly certain the Pokemon balls are 'bigger on the inside' - they never reveal what happens inside, but I think its been eluded to.

IDFK. I get what you are saying, and I get how depressing it is, but I still like Pokemon. I'm a freak. LOL.

[strange]

Oh yeah? I didn't know that about the balls. Also I have to admit I've not actually watched many Pokemon serieses, but I've watched nearly all of that one big series. Indigo? With Ash and the Rocket twits.

I'm not saying we should take it seriously, I know it's just a kid's show. But that can be said about a lot of things that were actually just terrible things cutified. ALTHOUGH.... that kind of thing is VERY anime/manga. Dark but cute? And we all know I adore many animes. So maybe I'm just too sensitive about stupid things? lol. I dunno. But it was a long weird conversation with lots of looking things up and it all came from a really random weird place anyway and I came out the other side of it just.... woah man.

I've also never been much of a pokemon fan to begin with. I'm what I'd call a casual fan. Oh, look cute badass critter looking things. Cool. And pikachu is the cutest thing just ever. Aaaand then I thought too hard. And wtf is with Cubone? It wears it's mom's skull? yikes. That is shit-tay.

[clover]

It bothers me how like some speak telepathically and then the ONE Meowth talks. Like I think the story is he chose to not evolve and chose to talk? And like... that bothered me because why doesn't Ash's Pikachu choose to talk? Can all Pokemon have the ability or just some and ... yeah. LOL. That said I've watched quite a few of the series and I still like it. I mean, not me on my own watching, obviously. lol. When my kids were into it.

I also think because its Japanese and Anime it's kinda got that whole... you gotta take it as fantasy, and frankly, almost all fantasy has elements we could take literal and become sad about. IDK man. LOL. I don't wanna get deep on freaking Pokemon. My brain already hurts regularly.

[strange]

All very excellent points. lol. My brain just didn't come out the other side of the conversation the same and now I'm just kinda stuck here.

[crush]

I honestly never thought of Pokemon that way...but man, this was enlightening.

[strange]

Woah! Hello you!! Didn't know you were still around here!

Yeah man, it was a weird ass conversation. lmao. I'm honestly still kinda waffling on it, because on one hand; yeah it's a fucking anime, lighten up. But on the other hand; EERRRR???? Yeah. so. LOL. Yeaaaah.

HI!

[crush]

It's been sorta forever. Also, Ivy gave me a nudge to do more here, so here I am!

It's hard to not see it once someone points it out, and there are compelling arguments. I mean, do we want this stuff to get internalized? idk. So conflicted. I love Pokemon so much!

Hellooooo!

[strange]

That's kinda where I'm at too. Cause pokemons are adorable badass critter things. And you know. I love adorable badass things. lol. But holy shit, man. Thinking too hard ruins many fandoms, I suspect.

Ivy gave me a DW nudge too. I'ma try to do something at least once a week. Hopefully more. Cause you know. Lots to say? Sometimes, at least... I have to get back into the habit of checking my reading page too, dammit.

[crush]

Adorable and badass are a great combo! Lol. I think when people really think a lot on fandoms, they start to see terrifying implications. People interpret things as they want though, and it's good to see multiple perspectives. Thankfully, Pokemon is a work of fiction.

I'm trying to do something at least every couple of days. It's tough, but I can do it. Also, add my other journal ~samwise, please! I'm going to retire this one. :)

[strange]

Aaaaand I forgot about DW again. lol. And yeah, ok! I will do this thing.

That's a good point. I bet I could find all kinds of really terrible fucking thins if I looked too hard at lots of things I love.

Oy. My brain hurts.