Pokemon taking over our lives
Pokemon Go has started taking over in Dubai, too (‘Motorist leaves car to chase Pokemon on Dubai road’, Gulf News, July 18). The other day while I was driving, I was going up the ramp to the office parking and the car in front of me stopped in the middle of the inclined ramp while holding his cellphone just to chase a Pokemon in the parking area! All of the cars behind piled up and waited over for him to move. This game is alarming! Good thing it didn’t happen in the middle of the streets. You can play the game, but you should be responsible enough not to cause chaos or harm to yourself or to the people around you. Talk about a Pokemon craze.
From Ms Apryl Vessie
UAE
Website comment
It’s dangerous
Few months ago, my brother and I were playing a video game while crossing the road. Suddenly a taxi stopped and honked at us loudly. Then we noticed our surroundings. We thank God for saving our lives. After that incident, we promised that we will never play video games while commuting outside – walking or any other way. Pokemon mania is more dangerous than other games, especially for children. When they get interested in these games, it causes many accidents because they are only concentrating in this game without noticing their surroundings.
These types of video games are very harmful to children. Other video games and also Pokemon reduces reading habits in children and communication with their parents. They won’t even be interested in physical activities.
Parents should only allow children a limited time for playing such type of games.
From Ms Anjana Subramanian
Abu Dhabi
Irresponsible driving!
The hypocrisy of modern society is unfathomable. It could just as easily be argued that texting has the exact same effect as this game in that it distracts drivers. The game isn’t at fault, the irresponsible drivers are.
From Mr Rakkan Mahmoud
Dubai
Facebook comment
What gets people
This is really madness and stupidity! You have hardcore games provided by developers whose size may come in gigabytes, but people are going crazy on this 58-megabyte tiny game! It feels even silly to hear that you buy the most expensive iPhones and Androids with A9cortex and snapdragon processors and maximum possible RAM just to play Candy Crush, Temple Run and now Pokemon Go.
From Mr Aju Jacob
Dubai
Facebook comment
Confine to parks
First, the UAE authorities should ban this game temporarily. With time allow this game only in parks. It’s the only way to play this game safely without disturbing others.
From Mr Mohammad Sanim
Djibouti, Djibouti
Facebook comment
Misuse ruins for everyone
This irresponsible behaviour will lead to a ban on this game. What is wrong with people these days? Why can’t people use stuff responsibly? First it was the hover board and now this. These things are not so dangerous to start with. It’s only when senseless people misuse it that it becomes so dangerous.
From Ms Mahnaaz Shaikh
UAE
Facebook comment
Can’t sit still!
I wasn’t able to make my young children stay with me and finish their food during meal time, they moved every few minutes to catch a Pokemon Go around Mall of Emirates. What’s going on?
From Ms Jennifer Refinnej
UAE
Facebook comment
So many distractions
This is the second case in two months, it’s unfortunate how two seconds can result in disaster (‘Two killed as pickup truck crashes into McDonald’s in Ajman’, Gulf News, July 19). Driving a vehicle is a big responsibility. Although this case is special because the man had epilepsy, but mobiles, selfies, Pokemon Go and other distractions are aplenty nowadays and we must remain focused.
From Ms Rita Vaz
UAE
Facebook comment
Allowed to drive?
If the driver is really a patient of epilepsy, then he must not be allowed to drive because epileptic seizures can occur at any time. Epileptic seizures can be triggered even by bright lights. One child I know had an epileptic seizures for this reason. He was nine years old, and now he is 19 years old.
From Ms Syeda Ahmad
UAE
Facebook comment
Operating large vehicles
How about the drivers of these big vehicles? Don’t you think the police should ask them to be tested extra in order to operate such large vehicles? If you look at the statistics, a lot of accidents are caused by people not being able to control the vehicle. Many families have been destroyed due to no fault of theirs.
From Mr Yasin Ali
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Trust the system
Mr Yasin Ali, thank you brother, I agree with your points! Truly, it’s so sad to hear this news. I trust the authorities as they do their best to protect us all. The problem is with how we forget what we have learnt about safe driving after getting our driving licences.
From Mr Ali Khamis
Dubai
Facebook comment
Reckless drivers everywhere
The authorities are doing their part to implement safe driving practices. You could take a road test every year and still people will drive recklessly. Anyone can pass a test for the sake of it and even the reckless drivers got their driver’s licence after passing the tests. It’s best to create awareness and implement a growing sense of responsibility among all the drivers. God willing, the roads will continue to become safer in future. There will always be exceptions as some people never change.
From Mr Omar Farooq
Al Ain
Facebook comment
Driver’s responsibility
It’s true that it’s not the first time a car has been driven into a restaurant recently. I don’t think there’s a need for barriers between parking lots and buildings to stop this from happening, as some readers have suggested on the Gulf News Facebook page. The restaurant wasn’t located in middle of the road, was it? It is fully the responsibility of the driver to control the speed of their vehicle at all times. Those with special conditions need to take responsible decisions on whether it’s appropriate for them to be on the road. We need to bear in mind all rules and regulations while in the driver’s seat. It is really sad how with all of the Roads and Transport Authorities (RTA) efforts to raise awareness, there still are some drivers out there who take life for granted.
From Ms Tayba Mohammad
UAE
Facebook comment
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