With Pokemon Go, we seem to be living through a “historical moment”, according to Dr Andrea Tosatto, clinical psychologist at Dubai-based Synergy Integrated Medical Clinic.
He explains that gaming itself is a positive thing and people should play at any age. But, the issue is with electronic gaming, because it can have side effects.
He told Gulf News: “It can cause isolation, especially amongst children. Many of them don’t evolve when it comes to interacting with other people. It is just you with yourself. People should be focused on reality and avoid getting too absorbed by an electronic game. There comes a time when they let humanity escape from reality.”
Whether the game is good or bad is difficult to say, states Tosatto. In his opinion, you cannot judge if it is directly affecting the way people socialise. Smartphones and other technology put together are all affecting humans in general.
He said: “It’s not based on one instrument or game. It’s different things and the abuse of those things that has affected the way we socialise. For example, a knife is a tool that can be used to spread butter, but also to cut someone’s throat.”
That might be a harsh analogy, but in reality, too much of something can prove to be bad. In Dubai, the obsession over Pokemon Go led a young motorist to stop his car on Jumeirah Road because he spotted a virtual character. In Australia, a police patrol vehicle had to swerve on a main road to avoid hitting a girl who was looking down at her phone while playing the game. In California, US, two men fell down a cliff while trying to catch a Pokemon.
Tosatto said: “When something becomes central in your life, it’s a concern. This person has an empty life or feels the need to get away from something. If someone is satisfied with life, he or she will not indulge in something to such an extent. I don’t think the game is the problem. It could be the wrong solution to a problem.”
In his opinion, the positives of the game do not outweigh the negatives. If people are using it as in excuse to get out, then “it’s a problem”. He recommends getting out, interacting with people and seeing the world, without the need to catch Pokemon.
