Anti Anti Pokemon

What is AAP?
From about 1999-2001, Pokemon was a fad. It was everywhere. There probably wasn't a single person at the time who didn't know what a Bulbasaur was. During this fad, Anti-Pokemon sites appeared. Of course, they offended many fans, but most died out with the fad in 2001. Then, many people didn't like Pokemon anymore. Only the true Pokemon fans still liked it. It seemed then that Anti-Pokemon moved offline and Pokemon moved online, as the real Pokemon fans were more secretive and online. Even though every Anti-Pokemon site hasn't been updated in ages, there is still hate for Pokemon in the outside world. That's where Anti-Anti-Pokemon comes in. Anti-Anti-Pokemon, of course, is about defending Pokemon and its fans from its hate, and that's what this section is for. Now, before I get too far, do not take this the wrong way. I am not flaming the Pokemon haters or telling them they have to like Pokemon. This is to show my opinion on common AP arguments, give Pokemon fans advice, and defend the Pokemon fans' right to like Pokemon. Also, please look at these other AAP sections, they also have great opinions.
The Cave of Dragonflies
We All Live in a Pokemon World

AP Arguments

Most Pokemon haters will have at least one or two answers to "Why do you hate Pokemon?" These are some of the most common ones, and what I think about them.

* Pokemon is for little kids!

This I would have to say is the most common argument around. Even the people who know nothing about Pokemon will say this. But there is a big difference between "for everyone" and "for little kids." First, I'll talk about the games. Pokemon games have an amazing way of being really easy, but at the same time, really hard. It's pretty easy to beat the Elite 4 and go through the storyline, and that's probably where the younger players would be satisfied at. But there's more to the games than that. Pokemon also has a competitive side, that many older players would love (and surveys have proved there's many teenage and adult fans out there)and isn't "for kids only" at all. Since the game can be as in-depth as you want it to be, so Pokemon has proved to be for everyone. And now the anime. Let's compare it to other little kid shows. Unlike shows on Playhouse Disney and Nick Jr., the characters in Pokemon don't directly speak to the viewers. Also, they don't teach "little kid" lessons like the ABCs and sharing. Instead, the lessons taught are ones everyone can use, such as never giving up and always trying your hardest. Again the show has that "everyone" audience- it's as deep and complex as you want it to be. One more thing I'd like to point out is that there are TONS of teenagers and adults who are Pokemon fans- maybe more than the kids themselves.

* Pokemon is too violent! This one is mainly caused by seeing Pokemon the wrong way. Battles in Pokemon are not violent ones. They get bruises and scratch marks, but that's it-no blood or injuries. Think of it as more of a sport, like wrestling or sparring. Pokemon do not battle because they're forced to or because they hate the other, but because they enjoy it.

* Pokemon promotes animal cruelty! Some people might relate Pokemon to cockfighting, but that's not how it actually is. Pokemon do not battle against their will. A good trainer knows when a Pokemon would be happier in the wild (as evidenced by Ash's releases of Butterfree and Pidgeot). Also, as I said before, Pokemon enjoy battling. From this, I'll provide two examples-One, in the episode "Sitting Psyduck," a Psyduck was sad, but the girl who owned Psyduck didn't know why. Why? The girl pampered Psyduck to the fullest extent, but all Psyduck wanted to do was battle. My second example is when Paul released Chimchar. Chimchar didn't act happy and skip back into the wild because of freedom, instead he was sad. Then, Chimchar's spirits were brought back up when Ash offered to train him. It can be concluded from these examples that Pokemon enjoy battling and aren't forced at all.

* Pokemon lowers your IQ! Now this one... has no evidence behind it. Pokemon would actually make you smarter because of the strategy in the game.

* Pokemon is for nerds! And then the exact opposite point comes (which proves Pokemon haters will do anything to prove their point. The whole "nerd" thing has always just been a giant stereotype to me-if someone's smart, they're a nerd. And glasses count for extra points. But "nerd" was actually first used in a Dr. Seuss book-that alone explains how valid it is. But if Pokemon fans are "nerds", so what? Us smart people or "nerds" will rule the world one day! Muahahahaha!

* Pokemon is a fad!
Correction-it was a fad. And what's wrong with that, anyway? And unlike most fads, there were people who truly liked Pokemon and not just because everyone else did. While most fads are never heard from again after ending, Pokemon is still alive and well.

* Pokemon is dead!
It's true Pokemon wasn't everywhere like it once was, now it is more online than public. But is it dead? No. The games are still selling millions and the fansites online are still plentiful, which proves that Pokemon-and its fans-are still around.

* There are evil Pokemon, such as Houndoom and Darkrai. The key term to remember for this is "don't judge a book by its cover." While these Pokemon may look evil, they are good at heard and don't have evil intentions (The Rise of Darkrai covers this well). Same goes for all Pokemon, actually.

Why We Like It

Many Anti-Pokemon sites once had a list of reasons why they hated Pokemon. Some Pokemon haters might ask why we even like Pokemon, so I made a list here.

The Strategy
Pokemon is well known for having great strategy. Whether it's move choice,items, types, EVs and IVs, or stats, the strategy possibilities are endless.

The Competition
Because of its strategy, Pokemon also has great competitive potential. After the main part of the game, competition becomes a priority as you enter the Battle Tower and play over Wi-Fi. It is very fun to play with friends, and Pokemon tournaments can be found at a lot of game stores.

The Replay Value
In terms of replay value, Pokemon is ranked right beside the Smash Bros. series. That's right, you can play the game for years and never get bored. Yeah you've beat the game, but have you caught all 492 Pokemon? Leveled up 20 Pokemon to level 100? Gained entrance to the Ribbon Society? These are examples of some "mini goals" you can use to make the game last on and on...

The Pokemon Themselves
There are 492 Pokemon, and that number alone is overwhelming. The collecting aspect of the game is very fun, and the Pokemon you collect are interesting, too. Many have great designs, some look cute, some look cool, some look dark and mysterious, etc. This also offers a lot of room for creativity- drawing, spriting, fake regions, and more.

The Fanbase
Of course, the fans themselves are amazing. Just follow a chain of affiliate links(as I sometimes do when I'm bored) and you'll see why. All in all, I think the fans have done more than the creators themselves.

Pokemon in Public

You've probably seen some hate for Pokemon, somewhere. Usually, that somewhere is school, where Pokemon is thought to be for kids (see response here). With this going on, it can be hard for a Pokemon fan to reveal his/her liking for Pokemon in public. Many people keep it a secret or give in and stop liking Pokemon altogether. My advice? Don't do either. If you don't want to make it obvious, that's ok. But try wearing a Pokemon shirt to school one day: you'd be surprised how many "fan" comments you get compared to "hater" comments (I was.). And especially if you see Pokemon being teased about or someone being bullied because he/she likes Pokemon, speak out against Pokemon hate! But never feel like you should stop liking Pokemon or be ashamed of it. Instead, have this thought, "I like Pokemon and I'm proud of it!"