What the hell.

[warpzonetrekker]

Why is there always something stupid happening at this school? Everyone is walking around staring at the floor like they're embarrassed about something. Judging from what holiday just passed, I can ONLY IMAGINE what kind of bullcrap I thankfully missed while I was on sabbatical. I probably couldn't get anyone to explain what happened-- that is, if

Comments

Private

[monotreme_101]

I'll admit that I don't understand it either. The Pokemon thing, I mean. In fact I find the whole thing disturbing - The idea that someone can just catch you, force you into a tiny container and only let you out to fight IF they ever let you out again at all just makes me feel sick inside.

...but I sort of keep my mouth shut. Considering I have good friends who are trained Pokemon and we have a lot of trainers at the school, it seems like something to avoid soapboxing over I guess. If you figure it out, you should clue me in.

Private

[warpzonetrekker]

I get where you're coming from, and I certainly don't mind cutting to the heart of the matter myself. I'm not gonna make a big LOOP DEE DOO about it though, I'm just trying to wrap my head around why this kind of system works.

Although if it comes down to it, I certainly don't have any problems standing up to humans when it comes to their belief that they can do whatever the hell they want.

Re: Private

[monotreme_101]

Hey, I've had to stand up to NON-humans when it comes to the rights of other species. Remember that teacher Powalski? I eventually got him to include non-dissection options in his class so that people who didn't want to kill and dismember other animals n even people didn't have to. And he was a Chameleon. He was actually a pretty OK guy... just had some funny ideas about killing things.

And considering the number of trainers we have, it might be better to just find out what you can and let it rest after that. Not that I'm trying to interfere, but it would suck if they started getting angry or whatever.

Re: Private

[warpzonetrekker]

Meh. I get the feeling that bringing it up with the actual trainers themselves won't accomplish much. They just don't see anything wrong with it-- not because they're EVIL, but maybe because wherever it is they come from, this kind of thing is just matter-of-fact.

I dunno if I can just leave it alone though... but I guess I'll try being low-key about it.

[ghostly_nyx]

Honestly, I hate how most trainers work.
You know, unless the pokemon's willin' to let you catch it, you gotta beat 'em down 'till they're too weak to resist? it's sick.

Even with that, there are pokemon who would give anythin' for a strong trainer to catch 'em, and let 'em be part of their team. Give up a good life in the wild to live in yer own personal fuckin' jail cell until they get tired of you, or don't need you anymore.

God I hope my trainer don't read this.

[warpzonetrekker]

So it's not all sunshine and rainbows, huh. Of course not, rarely is when it comes to humans. But aren't there any kind of laws to prevent abuse or something? Or did they not bother to give pokemon any rights?

[haswetpokemon]

*Ohoooo Shadow, Misty still doesn't like you.*

What do you mean?! Pokemon aren't just slaves! I don't just make my Pokemon fight and get hurt. They're my friends!

[warpzonetrekker]

That's funny, I don't recall having to force people to be my friends by beating them up and stuffing them into a tiny ball.

Or have I missed something?

[haswetpokemon]

But some Pokemon like battling and like getting trainers! My Pokemon do.

[warpzonetrekker]

What you choose to do with the Pokemon isn't really what concerns me, it's the fact that you don't see a problem with acquiring them in the first place. But then, neither do many Pokemon, so I guess it's a moot point.

[blazinglizard]

Buddy, you're in luck. I've lived it both ways, and I've seen good trainers and shitty trainers.

I can tell you right now that I ain't built to do nothin' but fight, but I ain't kiddin' myself into thinkin' this trainer stuff is natural. I oughta be off livin' on my own -- when I say Charmeleons don't need nobody, I ain't just tryin' to sound badass. We find our turf, we keep it to ourselves, and the only time somebody gets to act like the big alpha male around us is if they're some other Charmeleon who's just barged in and beat you out of your own territory. So yeah, havin' somebody tryin' to boss me around don't sit too well with my gut instincts.

But you know what? When it's doin' what Green tells me to do... it's different, y'know?

[warpzonetrekker]

I can understand that eventually there's a bond that can form with someone who respects you, and if mutual trust can happen. I can imagine that good times are entirely possible.

But the whole premise of what is essentially a less lethal form of poaching, when applied to sentient creatures... It just makes me sick.

[blazinglizard]

Poachin'? Whoa, buddy, don't go gettin' the wrong idea. There ain't nobody out there who can keep me against my will. Even if it's an order comin' from Green, I ain't gonna do nothin' I'm dead set against.

This ain't a one-sided thing. It's a contract. I beat up whoever he wants me to, and I get a full belly, a roof over my head, and a surefire way to get stronger. I stick with it because Green's earned my respect, not 'cause he has a shiny red ball with my name on it. And he knows better'n anyone that I ain't no slave. I've punched, I've bit, I've ignored orders... hell, you remember that time I took off a couple months back, right?

[warpzonetrekker]

I see. Well, I'm not entirely convinced, but I suppose maybe it's not what I imagined it all to be.

Thanks for the viewpoint.

((sorry wall of text))

[hasbandanacap]

I guess some people see the Pokémon battles as a form of communication and a test, to see how good of a trainer you are and how strong bonds between you and the Pokémon are too. It's like how some guys like to challenge others to a spar. It's a practice.

Catching Pokémon can be like a test from the Pokémon to the trainer to see how good you are as a trainer, I guess. It's a mutual agreement between the trainer and the Pokémon that once you get to catch it, you've proven yourself to be worthy, or something like that. I'm not sure how other people see it as, but that's how I see it. I got to know my Swellow when she was still a Tailow and I had to battle against her for her to earn my trust.

If you're using Pokémon to purposely hurt other people and Pokémon, then that's just wrong.

I don't prefer to fight against anyone if it isn't necessary. It's too barbaric. My teammates are my friends. They've helped me go through obstacles while I traveled around in Hoenn. If it weren't for them willing to follow me, I probably wouldn't

[warpzonetrekker]

That's all well and good, but you're missing the main point here. You are capturing living, thinking beings, and whether or not they eventually come to some kind of understanding with you, it doesn't change the initial fact that it's humans just taking what they want because they can. Good intentions do not excuse a despicable act.

[hasbandanacap]

Pokémon aren't used for battling only, or as slaves at all. Lots of people have them as friends, as partners to travel with, and learn from each other. And we don't take whatever we want, that's what criminals do. I've traveled around Hoenn to take observation notes of Pokémon, and I never forcefully taken any Pokémon from their natural habitat unless they wanted to tag along with me. The only reason why I don't even have a full party of six.

Real slave labor and torture happens when the person give little concern for the Pokémon's well being. If any Pokémon dislike me, I won't be forcing them into a Pokéball.

[warpzonetrekker]

Well, good for you.

Still not convinced about the whole business though. It's nice that there can be cooperation, but that seems to come after the fact from most of what I've gathered.

Maybe I need opinions from more actual pokemon. Humans seem to have already justified it to themselves, there probably isn't much point in trying to convince 'em of anything...