Gotta catch 'em all!

[rogueslayer452]

++ Okay, so, I'm someone who never got into the Pokémon phenomenon. I knew people who collected the cards and watched the anime, but it wasn't on my particular radar as something that appealed to me, personally (aside from Pikachu being adorable). With that being said, the recent release of Pokémon Go has actually got me contemplating actually playing it. It's a free interactive app that operates similarly to that of a scavenger hunt, where people you outside to find and capture Pokémons, choose a team, and level yourself up as a Pokémon trainer. It has taken over the world by storm, and even though we all know that this craze will ultimately die down within the next few weeks, it actually does sound rather fun. People have been going outside of their homes, meeting other people playing the game, just hearing the stories from this new phenomenon has been entertaining and interesting. It's also a clever way of getting people more motivated to become physically active by engaging with something that is fun and enjoyable.

++ Mara Wilson, Aubrey Plaza and Stephanie Beatriz have all recently come out as bisexual. In a world where media perception of bisexuality is often skewed, either not taken seriously or barely acknowledged and erased altogether (sadly, even within the LGBT community as well), it's always wonderful seeing those in the public eye come out as such. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

++ In related news, the California Board of Education has unanimously approved of teaching LGBT history in public schools. In my opinion, this is an amazing step forward for not just inclusive learning, but is also hopefully provides a safe place for students to learn about the history of the LGBT movement and the importance it has today. I like that it'll include gender roles too. No doubt this won't go over smoothly for certain parents who will be "aghast" about this new curriculum, and I expect there will be bumps in the road along the way, but I think this is incredibly healthy for kids to learn about this stuff. I truly think adults underestimate the intelligence of children, and teaching them about this isn't provocative or inappropriate because, well, it's part of fucking life. It's incredibly relevant to everything that is happening all around them. I mean, I never learned about of any LGBT history until much later in life, from both online and in college courses (where the minimal amount was discussed), and I honestly wished I had that opportunity long ago. Hopefully this will open the door for more states to do the same.

++ In case anyone has been living under a rock (lol puns), Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson now has an official YouTube channel! Dwayne has actually been quite in-tune with not just social media, but also respects new media platforms and content creators (which he plans on collaborating and doing more things with on his channel). He knows what's up when it comes to things like Twitter and Instagram and such, and his friendship with Lilly Singh is probably the best thing ever. She helped promote his channel with these hilarious sketches.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/]

Yay for more celebrities coming out as bisexual! As you say, this will be good for bi visibility. :-)

I wish we had learnt more about LGBT matters in school. It was just never mentioned, except maybe Rimbaud/Verlaine? And yep, there will be opposition, because just gender issues got a lot of opposition when they were recently introduced in French schools. What the hell, people?

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

The only thing that I remember was briefly discussed in school was Matthew Shepard, because at the time it was such a recent devastating tragedy that it needed to be discussed, but other than that I don't recall anything else specific. Which is unfortunate because the LGBT movement is a very important part of our history. So I'm happy that there has been more effort in recent years of including it, and now we have a good step forward in actually teaching it as an official part of the curriculum.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I still need to get that lipstick, I've been wanting to ever since it was announced. Because I just really want to feel like a ~bawse. ;) ♥

It just makes me so happy that we're moving forward. It may not always seem like it at times, with the horrible things that we hear on the news, but we knew that it would be a constant uphill battle. Small steps, small victories, these are things that get progress made in the long run.

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that more celebrities are coming out as bisexual - it's really important and so welcoming :DD

Talking about LGBT history in school is very necessary and here's hoping that it will help out a lot of people.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I feel like bisexuality tends to be treated as "trendy" and it is really frustrating. But maybe it is because it isn't "edgy" enough for the media - ooh she is bisexual but dating a guy right now so...she is straight in their eyes.

WOW good for California! I hope it sticks, I'm sure they will be met with online petitions by the thousands of ignorant people bemoaning the end of innocence blah blah blah. It's a civil rights movement like any other and one that looms large today.

Oh Dwayne Johnson, who knew he and John Cena would be SO ENDEARING?! I'll have to check out his channel when I'm on my personal computer at home. :)

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and that's the most irritating thing. I know several actors and other celebrities who identify as bisexual have spoken out on this particular issue on people not taking bisexuality seriously or misunderstanding what it actually means to be bisexual, which is awesome on their part, but unfortunately there is still this huge stigma surrounding it which there honestly shouldn't be. Even within the LGBT community there is still discrimination and hate towards anyone who identifies as bisexual, and I just don't understand it. It's ridiculous and it needs to stop, and hopefully with more people coming forward there will be more positive representation that will rid of this nasty stigma attached to it.

I'm so proud of my state! :D It's not perfect, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Seriously, I already like Dwayne because he is someone who just likes having fun with his movies, but he honestly is so endearing and such a sweetheart in general. He doesn't take himself too seriously, and overall he just seems like such a chill kind of guy. ♥

[silverusagi]

hopefully provides a safe place for students to learn about the history of the LGBT movement and the importance it has today ... No doubt this won't go over smoothly for certain parents who will be "aghast" about this new curriculum

Yeah, I can already hear the cries from those in the conservative bubble of how the new agenda is teaching their children how to be gay. THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

It never ceases to amaze and baffle me with that kind of backasswards way of thinking. Not that I expect much logic from anyone who legitimately believes that there is a "gay agenda", but still.

[mulder200.livejournal.com]

I used to watch Pokemon when it first came out but after became bored when I realized they just repeat and regress the stories and plots over and over again.

And California proves that once again proves they have more common sense than the rest of the country.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I actually never heard much about the anime in general aside from the fact that many people watched it growing up. Though I wouldn't be surprised if people have the same reaction you did with the constant plot/story regression and repetition. Did you collect any of the cards or played any video games from it, or were you just not that huge on Pokémon as a whole?

California may have plenty of issues which has been demonstrated from the past (Prop 8, anyone?), but it's moments like this that make me incredibly happy that at least we're heading in the right direction.

[mulder200.livejournal.com]

I collected a few cards but I was more focused on the anime.

[nemophilist.livejournal.com]

That's so great they're going to teach the history! People are so stupid for thinking love ans and life should be hidden from view.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Sadly, there is a lot of valuable and important history that is kept away from being taught in schools, for one reason or another. At least we're heading in the right direction of making that step towards changing that, at least with some subjects are concerned. It's not perfect, but I'm hoping that one day it won't be an issue anymore.

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

In related news, the California Board of Education has unanimously approved of teaching LGBT history in public schools.

Yay! And also duh, people! The movement has become an important part of American history.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Seriously. It's about damn time, too. The LGBT movement is such a huge part of our history, it honestly needs to be taught in schools, now more than ever.

[teagues-veil.livejournal.com]

Didn't know about Mara coming out! LOVE IT. *waves bi pom-pons around*

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I really love Mara. I loved her as Matilda, obviously, but I have loved her other works, particularly her involvement in Welcome To Night Vale. She also has been very vocal in speaking out against 5SOG, which I absolutely applaud.

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

So far I'm enjoying Pokemon Go. I do walk a fair bit anyway but for sure this does encourage me to get out even more and to talk to random people in my neighbourhood which is nice.

Yay for bisexuality being a recognized thing! I'm of the mindset that the majority of people are a little bit bi. For sure there are some who have zero interest in the opposite sex but I think that number is far smaller than we force ourselves to believe in society. It should be seen as totally normal to love whoever you love and not seen as people trying to be greedy or slutty or confused or whatever rude thing people want to say to put it down.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I keep hearing so many great stories about people meeting each other, visiting different places that they've never been before (which can actually be good for certain small businesses), and just the whole unity of people enjoying something. It kicks the whole "technology is ruining society/making people lazy/turning everyone into mindless zombies" argument in the teeth, tbh.

In my view, sexuality is indeed fluid, and the fact that there is still this stigma attached to how you identify is devastating and disappointing. At least we're making progress in that department, even if gradually.

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

I went out for a 2 hour walk last night! I do walk a lot but this app is definitely adding to that. A few people took it upon themselves to help pick up garbage where we were (to counteract the fact a lot of people left garbage there this week sadly) so I helped out with that and chatted with nice people.

I've also heard about people wandering to random neighbourhoods and finding new stores and such so this is overall I think a great game. I do see people hating on it but really it's getting people outside and having them engage with their community. If you don't play that's totally cool but it's not like the game is evil.

I hope we make better progress in terms of just letting people love who they love. I'm so glad my parents raised my brother and I to be accepting of people no matter who they were dating. I really appreciate that now.

[sictransits.livejournal.com]

Pokemon Go is so much fun! It's amazing to go out and see so many people playing. It's definitely gotten me out of the house a few days/nights when I usually would've stayed in and watched TV.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I've seen a lot of people talking about how this further motivates them, not just for increasing their physical activeness, but also to talk to other people. There are so many stories of strangers conversing and sharing their interest/love over Pokémon that I think it's fantastic. I've also seen reports of businesses actually gaining more customers because people end up going to locations they've never been before and getting introduced to something new. It's quite a phenomenon to witness.

(And this is why I roll my eyes whenever someone tries to bash technology for turning people into "zombies" and not connecting with the real world or whatever, because, aside from such claims being a ridiculous generalization, it's completely missing the point of what this kind of technology can do when used in this way. Like, who would've thought an app to catch Pokémon in the real world would turn into some a social event for people?)

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

I've never been into Pokémon when young but I'm having a lot of fun with this game and I reconnected with some of my childhood friends thanks to it. I'm getting quite annoyed with people hating on it just because... It's like everyone has to have an opinion on this and it's either very positive or extremely negative. I hope haters will leave lovers alone soon because I'm tired of seeing posts on Facebook of pictures of car accidents used on posts of YEARS ago blaming Pokémon Go... I'm glad you're enjoying it and seeing it for what it is... Kids usually stay indoors playing video games, now they're playing video games outside... For as much as their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc want: kids will never go play outside all day every day like they did (and I did too, but I'm in between because I was doing both, so I see it for what it is) no matter what. This is kind of big... And not just for kids!

As for the LGBT community I have to say one of my friends just came out as Bi and the gay part of the group took it extremely well. When she told me she said she wasn't sure she wanted to share the news with this other group of friends and we both thought it was kind of crazy the fact it was easier to come out to a straight person... Everything went well and we had some reactions on camera that are hilarious! :D