To the Editor,
I had a fun and interesting experience at Maffeo Sutton Park. As I was waiting for a meeting enjoying the park by the Newcastle Island ferry pier, something fun happened. A grown man in his thirties was playing Pokémon Go on his phone, and commenting loudly. Then, three teenage kids appeared looking at their phones and chatting about some Pokémon characters. The man started telling them that this spot on the park was great to find x and y Pokémons. This exchange was lively and fun to watch (and odd, considering the age difference).
The interesting part came a few moments later when two ladies came by looking at their phone screens, along with a biker, who said out loud that he had his and his brother’s phone with him, in order to get ahead in the game. Then everybody around me was talking loudly about their monsters, how to catch them, and more. Then an elderly couple could not contain their curiosity and the gentleman started asking what was going on to one of the teenagers, while the lady did the same with the grown man.
So maybe 10 players of all ages, genders and nationalities were happily chatting about the game, following their phones and having fun and interacting amongst themselves. I think this is a great social byproduct of the new game phenomenon that Pokémon Go has brought.
I’m just happy having witnessed this in a nice Nanaimo park waiting for my meeting.
Gerardo IglesiasWest Vancouver