I'm an adult playing Pokemon Go... and I'm not sorry.

Hi y'all, I have a confession to make...  I've been playing Pokemon Go.  To be honest, I probably would have been content to have few people close to me be aware of this guilty pleasure, but then I saw Facebook (the social medium of choice for the adult demographic, by data) be all like:

There are so many memes and harsh comments out there, some that are downright offensive.  I guess I was a little bit surprised to see such animosity over something so trivial, especially given the seriousness of news around the world...  but then I realized to the uninitiated, it's just an annoying trend that you see a ton of people doing that doesn't appeal to you.  Like planking or dabbing?  Candy Crush?  There are things I see that I don't quite understand either.  But to focus on the positive, I realized that EVERYONE has a fandom.

What?  You're not a nerd, so you don't have a fandom?  Trust me, you do.  Even if you don't have a smartphone, computer, or television, there is something in your life that you enjoy, and go some lengths to enjoy, that makes other people go, "Huh?"  Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest... and that could be watching a specific sports team religiously while wearing that team's apparel, or lining up at a store or warehouse hours before it opens to buy your favorite designer's stuff/video game/vintage clothing, or having an intense collection of stickers and stamps for your Erin Condren Life Planner/Happy Planner (guilty as charged).  There are people who view your fandom and think, "That's lame."  Because they don't share that common interest, they write it off.  I still haven't joined Snapchat.  I don't get it.  But I don't have disdain or animosity for those who use it.

I loved the Pokemon cartoon when I was younger, catching it after school if it was on (no DVR or Netflix in those days!).  I would argue that in this day and age of 90s reboots (Fuller House, Girl Meets World, reunion music tours, Britney Spears in residence in Las Vegas), this Pokemon release was just as much for adults as for kids.  The market is primed for nostalgic releases like this, especially since our age group now has its own wallet; the MBA nerd in me is all about this genius move.  I love seeing clever marketing that local businesses are doing around this, including some places introducing pub crawls or even historic tours that double as Pokemon hunts (looking at you, National Park Service, you go!).  Local businesses know that you can't buy foot traffic, only maybe now you can literally lure people to your storefront.

Amusing photos of Pokemon Go in the world... and the last one is great marketing.

So here, as a grown, educated, employed, married, social adult with real-life friends and family and things to do...  I share why I personally enjoy a little Pokemon Go in the morning.  (And during my lunch break.  And some evenings.  #honesty)

• It's a break for my brain.  After my divorce, I struggled with anxiety and shame and worry.  I had a therapist tell me once that my brain was so active, I needed a way to relieve anxiety or worry that turns my brain OFF for a little while.  At the time, we laughed that reality TV helped a whole lot with that; I used to love the Real Housewives of OC and New Jersey.  Now, Pokemon Go provides me the perfect little break from the grind.  It's also helping people battling depression/agoraphobia, for real!  And it’s FREE. 

• The idea is really cool.  It uses GPS technology to map your real world, and you discover a little magic within it; it's amusing to see, through your phone, these Pokemon pop up and be visible through the camera in the context of reality.  This is going to change the gaming landscape, I guarantee it.  Nintendo is seeing positive stock results, and all it did was license the characters.  Tech nerd in me thinks this alone is worth acknowledging, whether you play or not.  Does it affect my phone's data/battery?  Sure, but I pay my own bills.

• It forces you to go outside and play!  The first night I downloaded the app, I deleted it, because nothing was happening while I sat sedentary on the couch.  Once I went outside, I realized how fun the scavenger hunt could be, kind of like geocaching with less navigation.  I've struggled with finding motivation to work out, and Pokemon Go actually seduced me into going to my local park to jog actual MILES, pausing for Pokemon if I happened upon them.  I see groups of kids on bikes, or running through parks, having the kind of active summer I remember having as a kid.  I see self-deprecating adults waving at each other, sheepishly admitting we're having fun.  People are rediscovering their cities in a new way.   As a friend on Twitter put it, we don’t stop playing games because we grow old.  We grow old because we stop playing games.

I'm SO keeping track on MapMyFitness because exercise, yo.

• It brings people together.  If I had a dollar for every story of a sullen teenager suddenly interacting with their parent who is playing, or every kid who used to be sedentary who is outside clocking 6+ miles a day, I'd probably be able to buy some Pokecoins.  I personally have met some fun people while playing, many of them seemingly normal adults like me who laugh about it.  We catch a monster, then we talk.  It's more social than any social media I've seen, to be honest.  I'm meeting people I didn't even know lived in my community, face-to-face.  All ages, all races, all creeds.  Talk about real-life networking.  I'm waiting to hear about the romances that spin off these kinds of interactions too!  The game now has more users than Tinder.

Look, I acknowledge the bad stories that have been going around the internet about this game, because we live in America and dumb people do dumb things.  Yes, I think it’s dumb to go to a Pokestop lure at 2am and not be aware enough to notice people staking you out to rob you, or walk into traffic playing a game, or climbing a tree thinking you’ll find a Pokemon…  This is just natural selection at its best, people.  The herd will thin itself out, this is just a vehicle like everything else.  SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND COMMON SENSE.  Don’t play in hallowed places like a memorial or the Holocaust Museum, have some damn respect.  Don’t play at work, you’re an adult, you gotta pay the bills.  Don't ignore your spouse, your children, your family.

But this isn't any different from another fandom.  Some people just take it too far.

For me, the game is a fun little escape that doesn't take over my life.  I still have one, and if you don't believe me, let's chat.  Because everyone has a life, and they're entitled to their fandom.  What makes us weird makes us different, and what makes us different makes us richer.

P.S.  I do find this meme below to be funny.  Because the funniest things are based in the truth.

Ramblings of the Loudmouthed Introvert

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I don't think most of the people in my life would call me an introvert.  To them I'm a social being, a chatterbox, a busybody.  But those who know me really well would disagree.  I know what you're thinking... "Aubrey is constantly on Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.   She's obviously an extrovert."  But social media isn't the same as true, confrontational socializing; social media is passive-aggressive.  You have more personal control over what you present online.  Observant friends might notice that my smiles and rambling are merely symptoms of nervousness, that my eyes dart rapidly in crowds because I feel overwhelmed, that I have trouble remembering names when I am introduced to too many people at once.

During my trip to Hawaii, my longtime friend CF and I had a long conversation about what it's like for introverts in society.  She'd posted an article entitled "10 Myths About Introverts" on her Facebook wall, which I felt was very accurate.  Being an introvert doesn't automatically make you shy or quiet, it just means you are comfortable in your own thoughts and like to connect with people one-on-one instead of larger crowds.  I like to have fun, but I'm not an adrenaline junkie.  In most social settings I find I can really connect with at least one person, but not many more.  I make social mistakes, and sometimes it costs me friendships, but mostly only superficial ones.  I like to spend weekends at home on my own, sewing, reading, cooking, etc.  I am very comfortable in solitude, in the quiet.  And I think most folks who fall into the nerd/geek category are introverts to a degree; we don't need other people (or their approval) as much, but we do like them.

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In the February 2012 issue of O Magazine, there is an article by Susan Cain, the author of QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, which really interested me.  I read every single word and felt like she really knew who I was.  And I love that she highlighted the ways that non-introverts can learn from introverts.  There's a lot to be gained from deeper conversations instead of small talk, reading more, listening to others, and wielding "soft" power in the ability to reassure and make alliances.  I also related to what she said about working better alone; I don't like collaboration as much as the time to work on my own performance.  I do like being a member of a team, but I am more creative and productive when alone.

After reading these articles, I'm glad to know I'm not alone, no pun intended!  :)

More FREE iPhone apps I'm playing with...

I haven't written about the fun I'm having with my iPhone since I got in in March, but the truth is I can't put it down.  I've recently upgrade to the new iOS, and I really love it.  I figured since I've been using it so much, and I'm a total cheapskate, I'll share some of the FREE apps available in the app store that I use the most!

Social Networking.  I use Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest (you can pin from Safari!) on my phone, in that order.  These are all free, and something that you should have on your iPhone if you use the sites on your laptop!  Another great one is Bloglovin, which allows me to read all of the latest from my favorite blogs in one centralized location.

Camera.  I love camera apps!  The iPhone is now my de facto point-and-shoot; once I get my DSLR next month, I am giving my old camera to my sister.  I love that the new iOS allows for some cropping and minor editing now, but before I used Adobe's Photoshop Express.  For fun filters and effects, I like Instagram and Paper Camera (great comic book-like effects), and recently tried out CamWow for funky photos.  (CamWow leaves a watermark on its free version.)

Facebook and Friendship

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I'm an early Facebook adopter (circa 2004?) and an admitted addict.  I Facebook, blog (obvi!), Tweet, and I'm on Klout checking out my social network influence.  That said, lately I've been thinking a lot about social media and how it affects our relationships, specifically Facebook.

Since going through the divorce earlier this year, I've realized that friendship is not a word to be tossed around lightly.  I need people in my life who contribute/complement it in some way.  I don't need 'lurkers' or people who don't reciprocate friendship, because it's a two-way street.  So I went through my Facebook friends list and slowly trimmed it from a grossly large 1000 to under 600.  There were some hurt feelings, apparently, as people requested to be my friend, sometimes multiple times.  But I can honestly say it doesn't hurt my feelings to have someone delete me from their Facebook, and it shouldn't hurt yours.

Aristotle said there are three types of friendship, based on utility, pleasure, or virtue.  When I think about who is on my 'Friends' list on Facebook, that's exactly how I decide who to keep and who to delete.  (SN: The word 'Unfriend' is particularly cruel-sounding, isn't it?)  But if I'm not getting any useful networking/assistance/advice from you, I don't enjoy hearing from you/you don't contribute to my happiness, or if you aren't one of my "true" friends, someone I can call or count on throughout the years... why should I keep you and divulge so much of my life story to you?  Are you really my friend?

If we attended the same high school but we were never friends in real life?  If the last interaction I can find online between us was you wishing me a 'Happy Birthday' in 2008?  If I don't trust you enough to give you my cell phone number?  THEN WHY SHOULD WE BE FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK?  If I look at your name and I think, "Who?" I will probably delete you.  Often when it's your birthday, because it pops up on my sidebar and comes to my attention.

I also get annoyed when people are upset with you for not responding to something they wrote on Facebook.  I try to be vigilant and look out for when my friends are sick, lose a loved one, etc. and post my sympathies.  I always read direct messages and posts to my wall.  But Newsfeed is constant (and these days even more confusing) and I may have missed something.  That doesn't mean I don't care... it just means I wasn't glued to my Facebook at the time.   Call me!  E-mail me!  Send me a direct message!  But don't assume that because you stick something in your Newsfeed that a response is merited from me.  Please.  Sometimes I 'hide' people from my Newsfeed that I love because their posts are obnoxious.  I don't do Farmville.  So don't get mad at me over something so silly as Facebook 'friendship'.

I love Facebook.  It's been an amazing way to keep up with friends and family over long distances, life changes, and more.  It's my window into the lives of people I know.  It's a way to share my thoughts and express myself in a way that wasn't possible before the era of social networking.  But it's not real friendship, and it doesn't replace phone calls and lunch dates and hugs.  It's not worth fighting over, it's not worth the drama people derive from it.  Definitely doesn't replace hugs.

I know, serious post.  But I couldn't end it that way... check out this brilliant Toyota Venza commercial that will really make you think about what I've said.  :)

Here's an old but good WSJ article on this...  How Facebook Can Ruin Your Friendships

Pinterest

A few friends kept telling me that I would love Pinterest... but I ignored them.  But then I got curious, because they were so convinced that this is something I would be into.  So I tried it.  And I'm hooked.


Pinterest is a virtual pinboard.  Huh?  Well, basically you find something you like on the internet, and it lets you organize and share them.  So instead of the dozens of random bookmarked recipes I had in my Safari browser, I was able to create a "Food & Drink" Board that has beautiful color photos and lets me browse them for whenever I need inspiration.

A peek at my Pinterests

I also started marking things I'd like to buy, things that inspire my style, things that I like for home decor...  and it just keeps going.  Pinterest is so easy to use, and it's just enjoyable to look around.  Who'd have thought that such a simple concept could be something so great!

My Pinterest boards include Things I Want, Food & Drink, Wanderlust, My Style Pinboard, For the Home, and Products I Use.  It's so fun to browse what others are sharing as well.   You can even share the things you like to Facebook and Twitter.

Check it out, and Follow me on Pinterest!

I love my iPhone!

A couple of weekends ago in Nashville, I finally joined the smartphone bandwagon... I bought an iPhone.

I. am. in. LOVE. How did I live without this thing before? I was a text-messaging fiend, but I could never get online. Now I can use my bank's app to deposit checks (amazing!), stream movies using Netflix, sync to my MacBook for iTunes, calendar, contacts, and photos... I am inseparable from my phone.

For my fellow smartphone users, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite apps!

For shopping, I can't even begin to say how awesome apps are. Amazon, Gilt, Rue La La, and HauteLook all have apps. You can also get Groupon and LivingSocial deals through your phone. If you have a Kroger card, you can use their app to load coupons to your keychain, and Food Lion's app shows what's on sale at any given time. Everything is at your fingertips! I also love getting recipe ideas from BigOven, Epicurious, Whole Foods, and AllRecipes to add to my shopping lists.

My #1 app, of course, is Facebook. I was a Facebook addict before, but now I can get my updates instantaneously. This one is self-explanatory.

GroceryIQ is an app that has replaced the Post-It note grocery lists I used to make, then curse when I would accidentally leave them at home or in the wrong purse. Now, as soon as I notice I need something for the house, I can add it to my list. You can even scan barcodes! I wish it didn't make me enter the prices myself, but since prices vary by store it is nice to have a portable list with me that I can always update, with items sorted by section.

Lose It! is an app I have had on my iPod Touch for a long time now. Over time, it actually helped me lose 17 lbs; now that I have gained some weight back, it is my go-to again to get back in shape. Lose It! takes your weight loss goal and gives you a set number of calories per day to eat. When you add exercise, you get to eat more calories, and it tracks your progress. It is very simple, and has a lot of restaurant/brand name foods already built into its database. I know that calorie-counting isn't the best way for everyone to diet, but what Lose It! does for me is hold me accountable for my snacking/eating binges. I choose to focus on my meals rather than chomping food mindlessly in front of the TV.

Ringtone Maker does exactly what it says... makes ringtones. I can use the (unprotected) music from my iTunes and let's me create ringtones for my phone. It's really great, because it's all FREE. Imagine the money you can save, instead of buying them for $2 each.

I have SO many apps on my phone, and I haven't even mentioned games. But these are a few that, aside from Facebook, you may not have heard of. I'm learning new things about my phone all the time! Are there any apps out there you think I need?