What are the consequences of Pokemon appearing in the real world?
A few years ago, I made two threads that are related to the topic. Now, I thought about an in-depth analysis or such as a response to the thread's title. I just want to warn that this is going to be one long read:
So, let's assume that Pokemon just appear from an unidentifiable source. No researchers creating Pokemon from genes. Pokemon just appear in the world.
Now, within the first day, someone's going to video a real Pokemon going about with their phone and that video would become viral on social media networks. This can cause joy among the Pokemon fans and others at first (real Pokemon being a dream come true). However, a look at the things that Pokemon can do (just looking at Charizard and its moves will do) will cause panic in a lot of people.
Governments would, of course, want to keep the order. The governments need to act as soon as possible: at least make an announcement on the nation's official stance on Pokemon. Pokemon just appearing out of nowhere should be a priority in the government's list of things to tackle.
Law enforcement would be involved almost immediately. Some Pokemon would be unruly so the police force will react for the safety of the people. However, how can the police respond to Pokemon? They're not trained to fight dragons and psychic creatures, among others.
In many areas of the world, there would be chaos: people who do not know how to properly interact with certain Pokemon, Pokemon misinterpreting the nearby humans, and so on. Urban areas would face building damage and infrastructural damages (like breaking a railway system). Electric-type Pokemon? They can cause blackouts even accidentally. Rural areas aren't safe either. Fire-types can cause unnecessary fires, crops can be ruined by mischievous Pokemon. When Pokemon know how to cause a flood, a firestorm, an electrical outrage, and even illnesses (Poison-type Pokemon), then the order of human society would go down for the first few days.
Sooner or later, the government would make its stance on the issue of Pokemon. Some would adopt a benevolent attitude and treat Pokemon as another kind of animal. Others would outright cage them and treat them as dangerous. Still, others would cage the Pokemon at first and then, after a short time of education about Pokemon and conditioning the public to be wise in their interactions with Pokemon, then they would allow the public to have Pokemon as we would have pets.
This won't be without its costs. Funds have to go to taking care of the Pokemon. Now, there's one more area of a nation to take care of. Also, any important bills and public projects going on might be halted or impeded by the early focus on Pokemon.
Nintendo and other companies related to Pokemon would become the most powerful video game companies in the world (at least for a few months to a few years). Company staff would be consulted on the concept of Pokemon and how to deal with them. However, they only know as much as they know about Pokemon. Subjects such as Pokemon biology and when many Pokemon will evolve are out of their range because as much as they designed and developed the games and the anime, they didn't go to details such as "How many stomachs does a Pikachu have?"
Due to the focus of Pokemon, international diplomacy would mostly be put on hold as the countries everywhere try to deal with the internal problems that Pokemon cause. At best, foreign aid can be asked to help get the country running through the Pokemon crisis. Some wars would be informally put on hold since both parties have to deal with the Pokemon within their borders. However, this can also cause a nation to lose a war: if the chaos caused by the Pokemon is chaotic enough, the aggressor can try an attack at the nation, further destabilizing the nation.
Pokemon can be treated as good pets. The public is advised that they should treat their Pokemon so. However, criminals can use Pokemon for crime. Suddenly, robbing a fast food chain just got more scary. Instead of inanimate guns, living Pokemon are the weapons. And who's to say that there wouldn't be Pokemon abuse? Criminals can condition their Pokemon to carry out their crimes and to treat the police as the enemy. If there are debates about gun control, then what about "Pokemon control"?
This leads us to how Pokemon would be classified under law and under ethics. How would the law treat them? If there's a legal definition for animals, how about a legal definition for Pokemon? Are they under the same area as animals, legally speaking? Or, are they more than animals, in that they show more sentience than normal animals and can have "secondary" desires (basically, any desire other than to survive and to be the best)? Would judges judge Pokemon on the same level as animals or would they be elevated beyond that?
Ethically speaking, can Pokemon be killed for food? Should we treat Pokemon the same way we treat animals or are they more than just other animals? With Pokemon being more sentient and "more human" than our animals, they may be considered sapient. We might have situations where hunters can shoot deer but not Stantler. This is a fertile ground for debate and discussion. On one hand, you have organizations such as PETA who would defend all animals and now all Pokemon, too. On the other hand, you have pragmatic people who would treat their pets as their pets, others' pets as others' pets, and other animals as just other animals so they can kill them for food, use them to help out in the farm work, et c.
Speaking of ethics, what about the religions of the world? Sooner or later, religions would have to accept the existence of Pokemon. Then, what would they do to the Pokemon? Some would just leave it that, others would provide clarifications on treatment of Pokemon from the sacred texts' stand on the treatment of various animals. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox may just leave it at that, treating Pokemon as more than animals. We reformed Christians would be wondering early on how to deal with this now that we have confirmation that psychic communication and Ghost-type Pokemon is now here, among other things. Some Buddhists may enlist the aid of certain Pokemon to help them reach Nirvana. Hindus would treat Pokemon in a higher incarnation level than that of normal animals and the idea being able to talk to a reincarnated cousin through a Psychic-type Pokemon would be a nice idea to Hindus.
What about research on and science from Pokemon? I guess we can treat many Pokemon the same way we treat animals, but it can only go so far. Scientists might unlock the "secrets" of telepathy by studying Psychic-type Pokemon. However, they may have a hard time researching Ghost-type Pokemon (or not). We can make new products based on research from Pokemon.
What about the economy? I don't know very much about economics, but I know that economy would suffer at least a minor blow due to early destruction caused by Pokemon.
Now that we've seen possible initial reactions, let's fast forward past the early turmoil and go on to other subjects.
First of all, culture. After some time, the culture of a country will adapt to the Pokemon. Pokemon would be incorporated in the culture of the countries. Traditions will grow around these Pokemon especially powerful/fearful ones. Other traditions that we have with dogs, cats and other such animals may be accommodated to fit dog-like Pokemon, cat-like Pokemon, and the like. Then, what about books about Pokemon? Not just "How to Take Care of Your Rattata in Three Easy Steps!" There would be novels that have a Pokemon as the focus of the book. Maybe a bestseller would be one of these. Then, TV shows and movies; we might see something like "The Dog Whisperer" and "The Animal Channel" applied to Pokemon. Radio? Songs about Pokemon? I don't hear many songs about animals but I don't know about you.
Next, economy again. Countries can benefit from Pokemon businesses such as Pokemon grooming and Pokemon veterinarians. Pokemon products like Pokemon food (even the Pokemon themselves) can help the economy as long as people want it.
Pokemon can be used to further the interests of the country. Police? Employ some agile Pokemon to catch speeders, and employ a few Psychic-type Pokemon to help interrogate criminals. Fire department? Bring out Water-type Pokemon along with the firemen. Food and agriculture? Let the Grass-type Pokemon help you out with that. Energy? Electric-type Pokemon (as long as they're trained). Guarding important people? What's cooler than the President being guarded by Psychic-type Pokemon who can scan the minds of people and root out the would-be assassin?
>Soon, humans will learn to live with Pokemon.
Well, what about Pokemon training? It would be cool to send ten-year-old kids out to catch and train Pokemon, beat gym leaders, and have a chance to compete in the Pokemon League Championships.
For starters, sending ten-year-old kids to cross-country trips on their own to be a Pokemon trainer is a sign of negligent parenting. What if some rowdy Pokemon hurts your child? What if some shady organization like Team Rocket kidnaps your child and/or your child's Pokemon? At best, parents should be watching their children from a good distance.
Gym leaders would be OK. Pokemon League Championships would be OK, too.
However, you'll still have to go through the challenges of catching and training Pokemon. And how do you catch Pokemon to begin with? Nets, cages, and other traps may do, but we'll have to become more scientifically advanced to have Poke balls. Also, we do not have Pokemon apricorns, so even Poke balls made out of apricorns are out of the picture unless it's some very small Pokemon.
(Also, before you catch and train Pokemon, be sure to sign some papers (or have your parents sign them) so that the authorities will be assured that you're registered Pokemon trainers. We don't want illegal trainers running around, right?)
If we're not careful, we might be catching way too many Pokemon that some species of Pokemon might be endangered or even extinct. Some groups will protest against that and for the preservation of the species.
And the gyms above? Make sure they're not illegal gyms, too. Also, no illegal leagues.
Back to the positive side of things, having your children (and yourself) participate in Pokemon training is a good thing. You spend time outdoors, you spend less electricity in using electronics, you get to bond with your Pokemon and your family and friends. As long as nothing too bad happens, it will be a fun adventure. As long as you can control your Pokemon, that is.
>Oh, there's also Pokemon contests. I see nothing wrong with that.
The world will be more dangerous with Pokemon, though. Instead of bears, you have Charmander, Pikachu, Drifloon, Geodude, et c.
I almost forgot the legendaries.
Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres? If they get into a fight, we're going to have a problem.
Lugia? A flap of its wings can cause a 40-day storm.
Groudon and Kyogre? Get them into a fight with each other and we might face the end of the world unless Rayquaza.
Mesprit can remove the feelings of someone, Uxie can remove the memories of someone, and Azelf can essentially paralyze someone.
Dialga and Palkia can control time and space. And then, there's Giratina.
Zekrom and Reshiram can burn down a region.
Releasing Yveltal can cause destruction in its wake.
And what about Arceus? If the myths about Arceus were true in the Pokemon world, that implies a lot of strength in this Pokemon.
Surely, angering them is asking for a beating. Although, they can be good representatives and diplomats of Pokemon.
(Proper information is from
http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/.)
Discuss about it and add in your insights.
