The 14 Most Ridiculous, and Most Inappropriate, Pokémon Go Captures

Pokémon Go has really taken off. For those who don’t know, it is an “augmented reality” game for smart phones that allows players to catch virtual pocket monsters in their real-life environments. The game requires players to travel around their neighborhoods, which encourages exercise, but it can also create some rather crazy and inappropriate situations.

Most of these are arguable, but people are understandably frustrated about seeing Pokémon show up in some rather odd places. There are two different kinds of locations in the game — Poké stops and gyms. The stops carry items and can be used to “lure” Pokémon which can there be captured. Trainers above level 5 can compete in gyms, training their Pokémon and battling them against other teams.

Some rather fascinating — and disturbing — uses for real life places have come up in the game.

Here is PJ Media’s list of the fourteen craziest places, from least crazy to most ridiculous. Enjoy!

14. Pokémon will bring you to church.

New evangelization! Hopefully it’s #PokemonGO today, friends next week, & Jesus in a month drawing them to Mass. pic.twitter.com/FRpRUs9in4

— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) July 14, 2016

As a Bible-believing Christian, I am not bothered by the idea of encouraging people to go to church through such blatant bribery. Expanding the message of the gospel by whatever means possible is good by me, but I understand how it might seem inappropriate to advertise your church with pocket monsters.

13. Don’t play Pokémon Go in the car. Seriously.

But seriously, don’t let loved ones #PokemonGO and drive…just be the passenger and harvest pic.twitter.com/4XduzqUcJ5 — Keegan Allen (@KeeganAllen) July 14, 2016

Google Maps for directions, fine. Texting, illegal in some states. Pokémon Go — ridiculous.

12. The middle of the road is also off limits.

oh my god #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/6ka6s9pOOZ

— Pokémon Go News (@GoPokemonNews) July 13, 2016

The game warns you to pay attention to your surroundings, and it’s important to take note. I know it’s tempting, but DON’T BE LIKE THIS EEVIE!

11. This pooch is playing Pokémon Go.

Please do NOT do this! DOGS ARE NOT MADE TO PLAY #PokemonGO! pic.twitter.com/beJSyDVUZZ — Shigeru Miyamoto (@RealShigeruM) July 12, 2016

Next Page: “The photo of the summer” — Pokémon in front of police in riot gear.

10. Catching Pokémon, in front of police, in riot gear!

This week in a single photograph pic.twitter.com/rSVjboWwf4

— Eric Hu (@_EricHu) July 9, 2016

This has been called “the photo of the summer,” for good reasons.

9. This might actually be an improvement on the location.

My local strip club is one of the Pokemon Go Stops

8. Check out the Church of Scientology.

The Church of Scientology has finally proven its usefulness by being a PokeStop. #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/s19m9xUXUk

— Adam Fletcher (@PezRadar) July 9, 2016

7. Snorlax controls the gym at the Pentagon. Appropriate.

Gym at the Pentagon has the most accurate Pokémon to represent the US Gov. #Pokemon pic.twitter.com/dQvj2O7nZP — Denz Dejawon (@DenzingDown) July 10, 2016

Next Page: Pokémon at Arlington Cemetery, The Holocaust Museum?!

6. Arlington Cemetery.

We do not consider playing “Pokemon Go” to be appropriate decorum on the grounds of ANC. We ask all visitors to refrain from such activity.

— Arlington Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) July 12, 2016

So the cemetery doesn’t think it’s appropriate to have a Poké stop there. It does seem to trivialize such an august and meaningful location, but then again, it draws people toward it. You spend the majority of the time in the game walking around, waiting for things, which might actually encourage some deep reflection on the sacrifices of those who gave their all for freedom. I strongly encourage players to do this, if they are anywhere near the cemetery. Nevertheless, it is completely fair for the cemetery to request visitors take a Poké break on their grounds.

5. The Holocaust Museum.

Someone allegedly found a poisonous gas #Pokemon in The Holocaust Museum #PokemonGo https://t.co/hTWlMzVHqD pic.twitter.com/9pXrhzxwwc — UPROXX (@UPROXX) July 14, 2016

This is entirely inappropriate — to have a poison gas Pokémon at the Holocaust Museum. No, just no. Nevertheless, the museum said they “welcome and encourage” visitors to “use technology to engage with our exhibitions” so long as they are “respectful of our role as a memorial.” It may be possible for someone to be respectful while playing the game, but let us never forget what happened in this tragic moment in history.

We welcome & encourage visitors to use technology to engage w/our exhibitions & programs while being respectful of our role as a memorial.

— US Holocaust Museum (@HolocaustMuseum) July 12, 2016

4. The 9/11 Ground Zero Memorial.

The 9/11 Memorial #PokemonGO Pokespot. pic.twitter.com/M0fzWgizxt — Erica H. (@bigratsgoboom) July 7, 2016

This one may make a little bit more sense — central Manhattan, a national heritage site — but it still could be considered inappropriate. September 11, 2001, is a day which will live in infamy and the site should be remembered for the tragic attacks, not as a location to find Pokémon.

This guy got stabbed, and just kept on playing! Also, you can play Pokémon at Auschwitz.

3. Getting stabbed, and just chillin’ with Pokémon Go!

#PokemonGO fan stabbed while playing game, continues mission to ‘catch ’em all’ after attack https://t.co/YTC9WgLEcK pic.twitter.com/cpD3DQKTBq

— WPXI (@WPXI) July 13, 2016

This man, 21-year-old Michael Baker, got stabbed on July 11 while playing the game, and just kept on playing. When he did eventually go to the hospital, he got eight stitches in his shoulder. When asked if this incident will dissuade him from playing the game, he responded, “No, it’s important to me. I gotta basically catch them all.”

2. An unclaimed gym in the Korean demilitarized zone?!

View post on imgur.com

So, for any brave soul willing to go into the no-man’s-land between North and South Korea, there is a gym sitting there, unclaimed. You can claim Pokémon gyms for your team, and gyms associated with your team help you train your Pokémon, making them stronger and more likely to beat the Pokémon at other teams’ gyms. Go Team Mystic!