What happens when you decide to pursue Pokemon instead of doing your job? Well, two Los Angeles police officers just put this theory to test and discovered the downside of chasing Snorlax mid-shift: unemployment.
However, we don't judge - we've all avoided a few responsibilities for those extra minutes with Bulbasaur or Squirtle. In this slogging thread, our community shares the time they've dodged a task or appointment so they could play Pokemon Go.
This Slogging thread occurred in slogging's official #random channel, and has been edited for readability.
Just saw a piece of news titled: Pokémon Go: Police fired for chasing Snorlax instead of robbers.
"Two Los Angeles police officers were fired for chasing Pokémon rather than fleeing robbers, court documents show. The pair were parked nearby when a radio call came in for officers to respond to a shop robbery.
But a review of their in-car camera footage showed they had been playing Pokémon Go and chose to pursue a nearby Snorlax - a relatively rare catch - instead of providing back-up."
A common mistake, right? What responsibility/event/appointment have you avoided so you could play a game?
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59953330
Mónica Freitas, I've seen that as well! I would do the same, to be honest... 😂
Mónica Freitas, I've missed some coffees with friends, but never something serious. But, I have made appointments for early in the day, so I could play all day long.
Sara Pinto, they got fired after. Not sure it was a good call, ahahah.
Sara Pinto, we're you playing Pokemon Go as well?
Mónica Freitas, not a good call. Plus, I don't see the hype about a Snorlax, hahaha.
Mónica Freitas, not Pokémon Go, but another version of Pokémon hahaha. But about Pokémon Go, I've gone to places earlier and sometimes ignored people for a few minutes to check which Pokémons are in the area 😂
Great question! I've avoided so many. One that sticks out is I pretended to be sick on one of my uni finals to I could play a Pokemon game. 😂
Sara Pinton hahaha a Snorlax hater? I can relate to his napping needs 😂
Sara Pinton oh I've been a witness to that, ahahah. How long have you been playing Pokemon Go?
Jack Borehamn nooooooo...you didn't! 😂
What was your excuse? Did they let you take it later?
Abeer, Limarc Ambalina, tell us, what responsibility/event/appointment have you avoided so you could play a game?
Mónica Freitas, I'm not a hater, but I definitely don't get hype, especially when you have a robbery going on, haha.
Mónica Freitas, yaaa I had to take it later 😂
They let me off.
But it was risky.
The thing is, I knew the lecturer pretty well. So, it was okay! It just goes to show building rapport is important 😂
Mónica Freitas, I've been playing for a little over a year. When it first came out, my phone couldn't handle it, so I didn't enjoy it at the same time the others did. And a year ago, it hit me that I could catch them all haha. Have you ever played it?
Jack Boreham, I have no words haha VERY bold of you to do it 😂
Sara Pinto, ahahaha, that's brilliant! At least they were in Snorlax's mindset. So there's a certain beauty in it 😂
Jack Boreham, god... the anxious student in me is screaming... I could never 😂
Jack Boreham, pulling some strings, I see... I'm familiar with the hustle 😂
Sara Pinto, ahahaha have you caught them all?
Sara Pinto, my phone is so full of apps I'm afraid it wouldn't be able to handle pokemon go, but I'll have to test it out.
Sara Pinto, Mónica Freitas 😂😂 definitely risky!
Mónica Freitas, I was teaching iOS App Development for a tech camp during the peak of Pokemon Go. We needed frequent breaks so the students could catch the Pokemon in the area and not be distracted during the lessons. Let’s just say I had to upgrade my Pokemon storage a good couple of times before the cohort ended 😅
Mónica Freitas, not yet, but I'm working on it, hahaha.
Mónica Freitas, when you decide to, hit me up. I don't mind doing a Pokémon catching session, haha.
Abeer, ahahahaah, this is brilliant! Did you join your students? 😂 You should have used pokemon in a rewards system.
Mónica Freitas, yup! It ended up being an extra perk of the job. 😂
I actually used it to my advantage as I promised extra breaks to go walk through the park and catch Pokemon if they stayed focused throughout the lesson.
Abeer, ahahah, I bet they considered you the cool teacher 😂 little did they know you wanted to play as well.