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At my six-year-old son's birthday party, one of his friends gave him Pokemon trading cards as a gift. I don't know much about Pokemon but have the feeling it is not right for a young man of God. We talk about choices and decisions and do they honor God or not. While not every decision or choice goes through that process, Pokemon definitely will.
I've researched the Internet a bit and found some concerning information (on Wikipedia) and thought I'd ask in this forum and get your thoughts.
What do you know about Pokemon?
If it's OK, why?
If it's bad, why?
I promised my son I'd do my research before giving him the decision on whether he is allowed to keep the cards.
Its just a game, you can battle with them, or you can just collect them, thats what most kids do. If you don't find baseball cards evil, I don't see how this is evil. To me, there harmless. Maybe a money pit if the kid really starts buying and collecting the cards. But certainly not evil.
I applaud you Hoosier for being a concerned parent. There is so much seemingly innocent stuff out there that kids are bombarded with everyday. Do your research and God will give the answer, maybe you already have the answer, if you are questioning it.
I remember hearing a news story several years ago about children in Japan going into seizures while watching it on tv because of the visual graphics. I don't remember all the details, though.
I remember hearing a news story several years ago about children in Japan going into seizures while watching it on tv because of the visual graphics. I don't remember all the details, though.
Thats really any video game or tv program that has bright colors flashing quickly on the screen. I think it is specifically with red and green colors. I don't know why that sticks out.
I would think that a couple of cards with pictures of fake animals would be alright. Now, if we are talking about the games and the shows, there are hints of Buddhism *such as ghosts not having legs for the most part* beliefs but not so badly that it is thrown in your face. More or less, I think those references just come from the societal views and acceptance of certain ideals - like in some games how you go to the church to heal your party (Final Fantasy 1, for instance).
If anything, the cards help in the process of learning the value of sharing (trading cards for instance). If he were to use them to "battle" a friend, he would learn the value of believing in one's self, perseverance (not giving up when things go downhill), and patience. There's also nothing wrong, in my eyes, about a little friendly competition every now and then.
Now, for the concern part... are we speaking about the "evolution" that goes on with the little monsters? If so, I don't think that there should be any cause for alarm. For instance, one pokemon is called a Caterpie - a caterpillar like creature. It's "evolution" is called Metapod, a cocoon type creature. Finally, it evolves into Butterfree, a butterfly pokemon. Does not the idea of changing from a caterpillar to a butterfly not exist in nature? Another instance would be Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venasaur - which the differences involve growth in size and the blooming of a flower, both of which occur in nature.
Now, the "evolution", or so it has been translated to, is most likely not dealing with actual evolution in the sense of genetics and such, but rather transitions through one's life. We start out small (there's even Baby Pokemon) and we grow larger and change. Our noses get bigger, muscle development changes, melatonin changes, etc, etc. And this is how Pokemon "Evolution" is.
Last edited by gallowsCalibrator; 01-21-2009 at 09:32 PM..
I remember hearing a news story several years ago about children in Japan going into seizures while watching it on tv because of the visual graphics. I don't remember all the details, though.
Interesting that you mention that. I read about the seizures on Wikipedia. More than 635 Japanese children were admitted to the hospital for epileptic seizures. It was due to the bright explosions with rapidly alternating red and blue patterns. It was called the Electric Soldier Porygon...they have not aired it since the seizures occurred.
Interesting that you mention that. I read about the seizures on Wikipedia. More than 635 Japanese children were admitted to the hospital for epileptic seizures. It was due to the bright explosions with rapidly alternating red and blue patterns. It was called the Electric Soldier Porygon...they have not aired it since the seizures occurred.
Yeah but most modern video games warn that they can cause seizures to certain people.
Interesting that you mention that. I read about the seizures on Wikipedia. More than 635 Japanese children were admitted to the hospital for epileptic seizures. It was due to the bright explosions with rapidly alternating red and blue patterns. It was called the Electric Soldier Porygon...they have not aired it since the seizures occurred.
Yes. That did occur. It would also happen when any TV show has massively strobing lights of red/blue or red/green. That is why TV's when you buy them have that warning. That is why video games have that warning. The incident was a freak accident that could have happened to any TV show. Out of curiosity, I have watched the episode in question. However, somebody overlayed the red with another color to make it "safe".
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