Is Pokémon Ethical? - Video Game Theory - Tamashii Hiroka

[@timmyreobed5043]

This is just my take on things, but the second Pokemon-Amie became a thing, I threw all questions of whether or not the series is ethical out the window. It basically allows you to dote on your partners in ways that they obviously enjoy, and the work that goes into caring for them shines through. You could argue that "Oh, the trainer is only making them happy to have them fight better," but then you read the battle text for that doted on Pokemon. The Pokemon is enjoying the time it's spending with you, and the trainer clearly cares back. ("Go on, [name]! I know you can do it!") Heck, even when that Pokemon is doing poorly, the game states that it's "about to cry," showing both that the trainer is aware of their partner's emotions, and that it does have at least some degree of thinking for itself.

[@timmyreobed5043]

Also, as for the whole Hugh story, Hugh's late grandfather caught the Purrloin, and Team Plasma stole it later on. The personality change was caused by being used by Team Plasma. If that Purrloin hadn't been captured but dragged all the way to Hugh's household, someone probably would've gotten their face scratched off.

[@ActuallyNotHayden]

Interesting. Even IF brainwashing pokeballs is a thing, it would have to go to a large extent to include the effects of amie.

[@louisberghuis1]

In Pokemon X and Y, they added Pokemon Amie, which allowed people to take care of Pokemon as allies, pets, etc., not just simply battle tools.

[@derplord3296]

I always think the pokeball doesn't hypnotize them or anything like 5th gen tries to say to me, I imagine catching it with the pokeball proved your strength and that you didn't want to just faint it and leave either, so the pokemon found you a worthy friend and fought by your side from then on, and inside the pokeball was like a little neighborhood where all the pokemon in your party could talk to each other.

[@AndrewDinspechin]

I agree.

[@derplord3296]

no, I have a preference to battling with my level 100 reshiram

[@derplord3296]

well first of all what level are you? You might be ok in Alpha Sapphire.

[@derplord3296]

I think you'd be best in Alpha Sapphire, it's the only one that doesn't have all the pokemon over level 30 and a full team of six, what type are you? I have a water type, an electric type, a dark type, and a normal type

[@derplord3296]

Raccoon you can only be two types at once.

[@blueveins3238]

If Pokemon don't want to battle, they tend to simply refuse. Ask Charizard; he knows.

[@MihaelLawliet01]

If I remember correctly the Liepard in that game was stolen as a Purloin and Pokemon history shows us that when Pokemon Evolve their personality can change also. Example being Ash's Charmander. So it wouldn't be to far off to assume that it might not be the pokeball that changed that pokemon. Also, if the Purloin was convinced that it's trainers didn't care and weren't looking for it, it could feel betrayed and hateful. They are said to be smart and understanding creatures so it's not far fetched.

[@koifish835]

On the topic of Hugh's Liepard, Professor Elm says that if a Pokemon is raised by a bad trainer then the Pokemon will become bad itself. We can assume Team Plasma used it for so long that it started to act like them. As for N's Pokemon being said when he releases them it is most likely because he is just a good trainer who cares for his Pokemon. Both the anime and the games have shown multiple times that Pokemon can just ignore their trainer's orders like Charizard did with Ash.

[@TheAntagonistGreen]

Yeah I didn't really think Purlion was being mind controlled by the pokeball, simply that team plasma "beat" it's memories out of it and tried to make it a fighting machine. Because you can do that to an animal. You can make it forget it's past life forcibly. So it's completely understandable that it's not so much the pokeball but the trainers themselves.

[@RunicSigils]

The thing is they don't have to actually be "bad" per se. Liepard had been with him for years after being stolen so being on Plasma's side regardless makes sense. Maybe they had bonded with the new trainer or just had the equivalent of Stockholm Syndrome. Either way they'd have known it was their home at that point. It's what they knew. Of course it was going to dislike Hugh who was against it's "side". Whether it's side is good or bad makes zero difference psychologically and considering Pokémon have been shown to be VERY similar to humans there's no reason our psychology can't be applied to them.

[@rpgaddict314]

This discussion of Purloin reminds me of "Reek" from Game of Thrones.

[@owenchiang7877]

i was reading a pokemon book based on the anime and ekans a koffing said just because their trainer are bad doesn't mean they,re bad

[@rhymebeat1142]

This is called Stockholm Syndrome. This happens to humans as well. The difference between Team Rocket and Team Plasma is that while Team Rocket is "evil" Jessie and James aren't abusive and care about their Pokemon the vast majority of the time. Neo-Team Plasma on the other hand are actively abusive, breaking down Pokemon to use as tools, this is probably where all the abused Pokemon N was exposed to came from.

[@CoxTH]

What grinds my gears is that you can't capture a wild defeated Pokémon. I mean it'd be a lot easier just to beat a Pokémon unconscious and then capture it instead of trying to capture it while still conscious. Because of this, I think the Pokéball actually needs the Pokémon to be conscious, because it requires some kind of agreement on the Pokémon's side. On the other hand there are "stronger" balls, so I don't really know about them, maybe they are just more convincing for whatever reason? And for B2/W2s story about Purrloin/Liepard, we don't know if Team Plasma did anything to it after capturing it.

[@randomforester_462]

I don't think the wild pokemon ever faints. Think about it, would you only ''faint'' by a hydra pump?

[@Shadow-bi5ns]

In the anime, several times a Pokemon has been caught after it fainted, but that might make it to easy to catch things.

[@BibblyBubbles]

I think that the upgraded balls are not necessarily proving the mind control but rather the balls designs show a higher level of talent as you need badges to access them.

[@NoForksGiven]

I'm guessing that's because the games didn't want you to catch pokemon the easy way. why would yoiu ever need anything other than a pokeball if any fainted pokemon could be easily captured? no more spending tons of ultra balls on legendaries, no more chasing down entei so you can have one more attempt to catch it, no more pokeballs with cool effects like the heavy ball or net ball. beating a pokemon down, but not out, then using the correct ball adds a certain level of challenge to the fine art of capturing

[@CoxTH]

NoForksGiven I think this is crystal clear, but just think for a second what this design decision means in the context of the video.

[@sadib100]

Maybe Hugh's Liepard simply forgot who Hugh was. It's been five years.

[@goknba]

Or it was treated with cruelty by Team Plasma. Maybe after all the hardships it dealt with Team Plasma, it felt that everyone would be mean to it and lost that love once given to it.

[@llToLYll]

TurretGirl3725 Or the other way around: they actually treated him better than Hugh did, so he doesn't want to go back with Hugh. This is why Plasma is my favorite team. They wouldn't actually hurt Pokemon. I mean, Ghetsis would, but he is only Team Plasma's leader for selfish reasons. I think Team Plasma grunts genuinely believe in their ideals. You know, that trainers hurt Pokemon and that their Pokemon are better off without their trainers.

[@DarkVaati13]

TurretGirl3725 No Hugh gave it to his sister for a short amount of time before it was taken in. The Shadow Triad member had it for 5 years. It's bound to forget some girl who had it for a few days.

[@ElocinLuna]

yeah i always figured that somewhat too. I just thought that since it had been with Team Plasma for so long it had become trained to just obey them and forgot how life was before it was captured. Im sure it wasnt happy at all at first when it was captured but since it was there for so long and was used in battle then it just got used to the new life it was forced to have and forgot about everything before that, forgot about hugh and his little sister. i never thought it was a neurological issue at hand. just a simple matter that it was gone for so long and was trained to get used to a new way of living.

[@sadib100]

So... What was the evidence that Pokéballs = mind control?

[@weegeeman13]

Pokemon Amie has pretty much proved that Pokemon do live in a luxurious palace inside a Poke Ball.

[@Peppercat3120]

In Pokémon Amie they seem to be out of their pokéball. When you get out of Pokémon Amie, you can see them getting back into their pokéball.

[@larslysko3886]

Peppercat3120 What about the bottom screen when you can design the Amie Ball to match the Pokemon's habitat?

[@SevenSwordedRio]

Before you play with the Pokemon in Amie, they get sent out of the pokeball first. Where you actually are in Pokemon Amie is beyond me.

[@SalcranVGC]

SevenSwordedRio (Looks over shoulder) ...I don't see anything...

[@weegeeman13]

By Pokemon Amie I meant the "comfort zone" that they're in prior to you playing with them.

[@VirtuesOfSin]

I'd like to point out that wild Pokemon attack humans, not humans hunt wild Pokemon. It's the main reason why "its dangerous to go alone take a Pokemon with you!" was spoken multiple times through multiple different professes. At least in the game, I don't know much about the anime. Also: generally people to hunt Pokemon without their concent are evil.

[@philipsinagra718]

It's dangerous to go alone take this!

[@aoifeculllen1698]

actually the hunting works both ways. Humans have been shown to eat pokemon and team rocket were poaching slowpoke for their tales. So maybe many pokemon turned violent as they saw humans as an enemy

[@metapod]

Why would a Pokemon ever consent to being hunted? lol But yeah, like said, Pokemon hunting and poaching has been shown in the games to a small extent, though even in the game, it is seen as a villainous and unethical thing.

[@beta511ee4]

It should also be noted that wild Pokemon reserves exist, and Officer Jenny would place anyone who tried to harm any Pokemon in the reserve under arrest, presumably for poaching.

[@alxjones]

I think the "Pokeball as a mind control device" concept has less consequence in the real world as a literal interpretation, and more as a personification of the idea that animals' personalities are greatly defined by how they are raised. Take two identical dogs, put one in the hands of a loving owner and give the other to a dog fighter. Likely, the latter would be a more aggressive animal that could attack at any moment, while the former will simply be much more kind to most people and animals. Good animals in the hands of a bad trainer become bad animals, and the same is true for Pokemon. The instance of Hugh's Purrloin being aggressive towards him is a great example. Even though they had a great relationship before, the Pokemon was raised to be more aggressive and obey it's new trainer, and so it doesn't (or can't afford to) show any concern for his old owner. The literal interpretation doesn't give us much to go off of, since mind control technology is very obviously immoral. But take the Pokeball out of the equation, and you'll see that the way we manipulate animals to be the kind of pets we want them to be is just as much mind control as anything. The question of the morality of Pokemon becomes more about the question of the morality of owning pets, and whether or not we really have the right to make these animals into our ideas of good or bad.

[@ItsABassDammit]

My biggest problem with the PETA game is that it flat-out insulted people who play Pokemon, by portraying them by a character in the game who is a fat nerd who talks about how he will buy "anything with a Pikachu face slapped on it". I've been insulted countless times for being a "16 year old that still plays Pokemon" but this is just ridiculous.

[@mushroomdude123]

I know! PETA is a bunch of idiots.

[@kinghaxorusboss]

I hear you, I hear you. I'm ok with being teased for still playing Pokemon, but Peta brought it too far.

[@maxwellgarrison6790]

Don't worry. I've been playing since Pokémon Blue, and that was how long ago?

[@mcmuffinerson]

I'm actually a huge supporter of PETA (a vegetarian, hopeful vegan in the future), but even I think that their methods are sometimes terrible. They've done a LOT of good for animals, but they sensationalize and exaggerate so often that they lose a lot of their credibility. I read somewhere that Satoshi Tajiri was upset about the practice of Japanese bug fighting (which is what Heracross is based off of, if I'm not mistaken), which is like cock fights, but with bugs. So he made Pokemon so people wouldn't feel so compelled to fight with actual bugs. So Pokemon actually SAVES animals, and not just the cute ones, but the teeniest, most insignificant animals on the planet that are considered "pests" and most people just kill on sight in real life. I've loved Pokemon since I was in Kindergarten. PETA has plenty of other more effective methods that aren't insulting and sensationalized. They should stick to those instead.

[@maltesony]

I feel your pain x) But people who calls you childish, should take a look inside the pokedex. That thing is not for kids xD

[@dcommet]

That scene in Origins kindof scared me a bit when I first saw it. I never thought about pokémon actually violently attacking each other.

[@withercat]

I was like just a nice video....HOLY SHIT IS THAT SQUIRTLE GOING TO RIP THAT CHARMANDERS FLESH OUT?

[@EnderoftheEnd]

It's not bad. I treat Pokemon as real, living things, telling them they did a good job, etc... When I'm wondertrading, I always store any bird Pokemon I get, and eventually I'd actually train and evolve them before sending them off to the wonder trade. Of course, this mostly happens with Fletchling. Every Fletchling I have received from Wonder trade was trained to a Talonflame. This is because I'm sick of people exploiting these poor bird Pokemon for a chance of getting a better one. *I will show the world how powerful Talonflame can be.* I've even got boxes full of Rufflets and are trying to find homes for them, sending them to GTS since they level up at a high level and I'd have more difficulty evolving them. I don't care what Pokemon I get back, just as long as they have a trainer who'll use them to their full potential!

[@EnderoftheEnd]

Also, I own a cockatiel in real life. I've never thrown a ball at him and told him to use brave bird.

[@katherinejaager5949]

Never have i agreed more.

[@TornaitSuperBird]

Same thing with me. I always have my bird Pokemon out of the PC box as much as I can. I also take in underused Pokemon, make them stronger, and show the world what they can do. Sometimes my house is full of Pokemon of different types, training together, eating together and living as one huge community. When the different legions of do-badders tried to take over the world, my Pokemon selected their elite fighters and I trained and commanded them to victory. When i got that medal for saving the world, I demanded my Pokemon get some, too. I literally cannot live without my Pokemon. I love every one of them. This is one reason why I am so popular as the Champion. Trainers who want to understand the concept of being the very best come to me for guidance. I feel empowered because of this. This is the reason why my Pokemon and I can be the very best, like no one ever was or will be.

[@youngsterj4y]

I seperate my pokemon by level, goroup (eevees, starters, shinies, ect.) so when I have a solid team, I know, "well, since all these guys are in level 50 and above, right now I want to train a competitive team, so Yeah..." Sometimes I want to restart my game, but i cant. I feel for the pokemon I've raised and gotten in trade. If there are a few I know I wont have the time to train, so I either wondertrade them or If I think people wil accept them, I ask for a pokemon I really want, and when I get it, I finish whatever traininig i was doing, and put it in amie. I like amie. I can really know what it is like to truly love a pokemon. :)

[@EnderOfLight]

well... i know for a fact that i always feel bad for wonder trading weak pokemon and what not... so i train the pokemon... sometimes i just release the pokemon... becouse i think of the release button as of "releasing your pokemon"... i did this to my beedrill... but that was an mistake... and now i'd like to imagine that my level 61 Beedrill named "Psycopath" is somewhere out there... but i still feel sad, becouse he was going to be on my team...

[@emoeeveerainbownova]

"most people see pokemon as their friends" not if you play competitively lol

[@cheatainyabashumchayfish5784]

Lol gen everything

[@falsonaga]

aye lol. Competitive is more like eugenics with doping for maximum performance of your killing machines XD

[@krispr1me]

I'll never forget the time I bred generation after generation of Pokemon in Y. I ended up hatching a Shiny Lapras long before I realized I needed to cross breed it with a Pokemon in the same egg group with the desired nature. Oh man... Making sure that Charmander was holding an everstone too, I had a whole litter of sassy Lapras. I did the same for several other Pokemon only for that save file to be deleted. So... Maybe karma got me.

[@Iffondrel]

It would be amazing if their was a Pokemon spinoff game where there were no pokeballs and we had to form bonds like the kind described in the days of eld.

[@vtipoman]

*cough* pokemon conquest *cough* ... Also, Hey you pikachu! :D

[@OreMiner64]

vtipoman Pokemon Conquest is a Re-Textured Fire Emblem xD

[@gameliking]

And Pokemon Channel except there's really no battling

[@Jarino507]

Pokemon Ranger...sorta :U

[@lauchlinyurchuk1301]

OreMiner64 and fire emblem is a retextured Nobunagas ambition a series that crossed over with pokemon in order to make conquest

[@theflamealpha3053]

I think Hugh's Liepard brainwashing was due to Team Plasma and their methods and the Shadow Triad member's explanation of Pokeballs is more of them following Team Plasma's beliefs, not that the Pokeballs actually brainwash Pokémon.

[@poke548]

Official sources do state that Pokémon see battles as a sport, and that most hostilities are really no different than a couple of football players throwing around some smack-talk before a game.

[@Staggger]

I remember when Heart Gold and Soul Silver came out, and seeing your Pokemon follow you was an amazing consept. Because of this, I did a solo run with my starter because you can see the progression of friendship when it follow you around. Heck, I even Banned the thought of going into the Safari Zone once I heard it lowered your Pokemon's friendship. My Typhosion ended up being LV 93 when I finished the game. Good times.

[@OsQuinneOsGwynneOsRobynne]

Is it possible Pokeballs work sort of as an...incentive type machine? If you offer a homeless person shelter, I'm he/she'll live in your house. Same concept?

[@jameswadland7925]

That's a good idea. If a pokeball really had a idealistic enviroment for a pokemon to live in, it might believe that habitat is better than its current one, and go into the pokemon that way

[@OsQuinneOsGwynneOsRobynne]

I mean, many Pokemon seem to have an obscene IQ, (Alakazam, Metagross, mostly some other Psychic types). I would think it's be pretty difficult to hypnotize something that smart.

[@briantasker3919]

Hypnosis has nothing to do with intelligence but the persons ability to go into a state of extreme relaxation where you are more susceptible to suggestion and it requires willingness on the part of the person being hypnotized. people who work with hypnosis will support that the person needs to be willing to be hypnotized for it to work and for the person or creature in this cast to take a suggestion

[@OsQuinneOsGwynneOsRobynne]

I know it has nothing to do with intelligence, I was sorta trying to say that no creature with an IQ that high would ever be willing to stay hypnotized, ya know? I mean, an Alakazam can already do a lot of crazy crap, where would it see the benefit in hypnosis?

[@metapod]

A lot of homeless people would probably not live in your house. There are also tons of homeless people who choose to be homeless (like freegans, moneyless people, etc.) I'm sure there are plenty of Pokemon who would prefer to live in the wild even if a Pokeball provided incentives. But Poke Balls work on EVERY Pokemon, no question. There is no such thing as some Pokemon who simply cannot be captured based on their preferences. So I think that theory doesn't really work. Pokemon seem to have the ability to have preferences and personalities, so the Pokeball would have to somehow psychoanalyze the Pokemon and create a situation that would seem irresistable to the Pokemon... doesn't really seem like reasonable idea to me. And even then, how would it do that? It would be easier for the Pokeball to alter the chemicals in the brain to make the Poke Ball seem desirable even if it was not. And that is, well, essentially a brainwashing machine.

[@TsukinoAzura]

From what I can understand from cannon, Pokeballs convert the molecular structure of Pokemon into energy. When you transfer Pokemon to the PC the energy in converted into data, which is then either re-materialized at a central holding location, or simply stored on a server as data. Cannon is not consistent though, as at one point it's implied that the Pokemon converted into energy inside the balls are in a stasis and don't age, while other times it implies that effects such a poison can still affect the contained monster in energy form.

[@goknba]

Wasn't it explained once that pokemon in the PC live on some kind of ranch at someone's house? Kind of like Ash's pokemon.

[@TheSazukiultra23]

TurretGirl3725 I know for a fact that I have 1000 Pokemon living on a ranch. I got a Mew as proof.

[@TheAsianShadow100]

TurretGirl3725 That's in the anime canon. Not the case in the games, since Bill's, Lanette's, Bebe's, etc's place has no correlation to the Pokémon stored in their PC. The professors of each game have nothing to do with your PC, either. Wouldn't make sense since millions of other Trainers use the PC, too. So I'm all for believing the "Pokémon converted into energy and then into data" theory.

[@Sam-gk6kb]

This is what I think about catching pokemon. Once your pokemon and a wild pokemon begin to engage in battle, the pokemon is probably not going to be caught instantaneously. I think that as the battle proceeds, the wild pokemon starts to evaluate it's trainer. If it analyses the way the trainer encourages or shows anxiety towards their pokemon, the wild pokemon may eventually think that they would enjoy travelling with the trainer, given that it looks after the currently-battling pokemon. This is when it might give in and let it be caught by the trainer.

[@PikaLink91]

To all who calls Ash a pussy for rarely winning, probably never achieving his goal of Pokémon Mastery, and that Red is supposedly much better than him... take a note from this video, how kind Ash is to his Pokémon despite his flaws. Ash has filled my heart with joy ever since I was a kid though he did make me wanna facepalm, once in a while - but when I saw Pokémon Origins, how outright violent it was and how Red, in contradiction to Ash, won every single one of his battles and even managed to "Catch 'em all!", I was left with a very empty feeling in my heart. There was no joy to be had, no celebration or tears of happiness.. just an empty feeling that the main character had achieved perfection, no one stood in his way, no challenges were left, and his rival was literally bedwritten thus not posing a challenge anymore -- just empitness. Ash on the other hand, always has new competition, always has rivals that he learns from and they learn from him, and he doesn't always win, he is flawed, he is relatable, but most of all--- he is NOT a loser! Ash will always be a winner where it counts - in his heart! :-)

[@Enftony]

*claps and cries* i agree with u 100%

[@PikaLink91]

I am glad someone does^_^

[@beta511ee4]

Although I do agree with you, I think the haters make some decent points. Considering this has been going on since 1996, people want something new and not cliched. It's one of the main reasons why people (myself included) left the anime around the Advanced Generation saga or later.

[@ElBrandoTV]

A KZbinr named protomario also said this in a video which made me start to think Ash was rwally better, Ash always had more fun than red, Ash only used pokeballs(execpt when he caught totodile) and Ash makes new friends both Pokemon and people, Ash is always looking out for his Pokemon, he even got turned to stone for them and Ash resolves problems ledgendary Pokemon are causing, while Red just catches them

[@KidSnivy69]

Dude people not like Ash has nothing to do with his kindness as much that his story has gotten repetitive and boring (in anime his manga self kicks ass, and before you say anything his just as kind in the manga)

[@pigzarkewl]

What did we learn here, Pokemon emerald had the best story.

[@RockLee12236]

I agree!

[@XxSOURCREAMxX]

going on what she said about my pokemon being friends. I honestly was a very lonely child and it felt nice to have a place where I had lots of friends that would always be around in a wonderful world. I never released pokemon because I thought it would make them sad, I always took it out of the box and took on an adventure in the region, and when I finally beat the champion I didn't see it as a victory I did I saw it as something me and my 6 partners did.

[@trinathomas88]

pfft, i wonder if PETA ever went after digimon? i bet you they only waited to see which series would become more popular, then they'd boycott the most popular franchise, so when they made such a spectacle out of this so called 'controversy' they'd get some sort of credit.

[@trinathomas88]

oh yeh, i bet they also never raised hell about tamagotchi or beyblades. i know those are unliving things, but id think they be stupid enough to try.

[@greencumulon6968]

At least digimon has human like monsters and they fight because they need to unlike Pokémon fighting for entertainment -_-'

[@luminelapis4147]

trina thomas I'm surprised they haven't yet tbh :P It's best not to take anything they say seriously.

[@trinathomas88]

PETA are those same people who blame school shootings and gang violence on video games, because they dont want to take responsibility for what their kids do. im pretty sure micheal vick didnt play pokemon and think 'hmm maybe i should make something just like this!' if you dont like what your kids play then its YOUR job as a parent to turn off the tv and limit how many games they play, and to tell them wrong from right.

[@jdb2002]

Tamagatchi is about taking care of a virtual pet, with real consequences for the pet if you neglect it. Beyblade is simply fighting tops and has nothing to connect it to living beings.

[@LoudWaffle]

But there have been no recorded cases of children actually taking part in animal cruelty because of pokemon. Unlike some few cases where violent youth crimes can be linking to their playing of violent video games (which are few and far between and is an entirely different debate anyway), this whole argument that pokemon with its cockfighting parallels encourages apathetic treatment of animals by children exposed to the series, is entirely baseless because after 18 years of children playing pokemon, it has never once produced negative effects like that.

[@ZombieBarioth]

I'm no expert of course but in most cases animal cruelty in children is usually a sign of mental problems (lack of empathy or remorse, ect.), a healthy child should feel bad about harming them. Even in the case Kristina Eddy mentioned the kid probably didn't understand cats are predators of small pets, and just wanted to play, I'm sure he felt horrible whatever happened. If anything its a case of the parents not teaching the child about that stuff. The parallels to cockfighting assume Pokemon are like ordinary animals to begin with, that they aren't capable enough of enough self-awareness or sentience. Even in the games they seem to prove otherwise.

[@Openreality]

LoudWaffle I see where you are coming from and while i agree on some parts i disagree on others. I would rather show my kids pokemon than COD or MOH any day of the week. The news has been spreading lies and false information about violence in video games causing violent children. It boils down to parenting and telling little Johnny and little Susie that its not real. Games are for entertainment not to be taken seriously.

[@RubyofBlue]

In my opinion, wild Pokemon have a universal "culture" as it were, where they all acknowledge the possibility of being captured, or even aspire to be captured (the reason for random encounters?). Because if you think about it, what's something that all Pokemon strive for? To get stronger. The best way for them to do that is to be trained by a human as I always thought humans have the ability to "unlock" a Pokemon's true potential (seen in that a level 10 Trainer's Pokemon is always stronger than a level 10 wild Pokemon of the same species). So perhaps it's not just the Trainer who is choosing Pokemon, but the Pokemon who is choosing its Trainer. When that Pokemon is defeated in battle, the Trainer earns its respect and begins its new life to build its strength, while also becoming partners with the human along the way. It's all very business-like. Also, I believe the Poke Ball is just the symbol for solidifying the Pokemon and the Trainer's new partnership. So I don't believe Poke Balls brainwash Pokemon, as Pokemon of levels too high don't listen to you if you don't match their strength (supporting my respect and strength argument), so they still retain their free will. And I think the Gym Badges being mind control devices is utterly ridiculous. In short, the desire for strength is a major driving factor for wild Pokemon. Pokemon choose to respect and go along with their Trainers in order to get stronger, just as Trainers choose to capture the Pokemon and become partners with it for his own aspirations. Also Tamashii, I'd quite like to hear your thoughts on Pokemon Origins.

[@Openreality]

Ruby of Blue I think you and i are among the few people here that understand that concept.

[@legendofFranktheTank]

Here's my headcannon: Pokemon are monsters with tons of raw energy, this energy makes them powerful, but also makes them hostile in the wild to the point of attacking humans. (btw one point you didn't go over in this video was the fact that oak gives you a pokemon for protection from the wild pokemon that jump out of the grass and attack you). So trainers are needed to capture these hostile creatures using the poke ball, which stores the pokemon as it's raw energy and uses it in battle to get rid of excess energy to help the pokemon, and often befriending it in the process. Over time the trainers began to battle as a competitive sport and the pokemon league was formed, as a kind of Mutualism where both sides are benefited. Pokemon get to release there excess energy in battle safely due to the trainers stopping it before it becomes deadly like it would in the wild as well as trainers getting a fun new sport. But that's just a theory

[@Seashepherd97]

...A Game Theory!

[@legendofFranktheTank]

Seashepherd97 I typed that last line with the soul intention of someone replying with that, you have done good.

[@Seashepherd97]

Glad I could be of assistance.

[@briannaharter4411]

Frank Da Tank what about mystery dungeon?the only reason they fight with each other in that series or go bad is because of the dungeons and in the first movie the only reason mewtwo wants to fight is because every person he met wanted to use his power.

[@MrRioluRileyRykins]

The latest episode of the XY anime confirms your thing about Pokemon battles not being very violent and out of control. In a battle, Korrina tell her Lucario to calm down and stop battling so aggressivly, this shows that the Pokemon have the potential to go full force, but really don't, unless they loose control like in this case>_

[@MrBKainX]

the end of black and white was left ambiguous so YOU the player could decide for yourself who was right.

[@EquinoxWarrior]

James is a way better trainer than Ash, just think about it. Even though James isn't a better battler he's a better trainer. He asks Pokemon to join him instead of forcing them like Ash does.He also still loves his Pokemon even though they constantly poison, bite, etc him.

[@retnemmoc101]

Apart from a few exceptions, most of Ash's pokemon join him without a battle i.e. they willingly go inside the pokeball or allow themselves to be captured. How can Ash force pokemon to join him when he has never even followed the conventional method of catching pokemon like the rest of us? Not that Ash is a good trainer anyway.

[@CommodoreMudkip]

retnemmoc101 ash wins a vast majority of his battles, hell he's won 46 gym badges and beat the battle frontier! he just doesnt win the league tournaments since every other trainer there is at the same level as he is

[@mjangelvortex]

***** Ash doesn't force his Pokemon to join him. Like James, he tends to befriend his Pokemon before they willingly join him. In fact in some cases, Ash saved some of his Pokemon from abuse (e.g. Charmander, Lapras, Chimchar, Tepig). There are some cases where Ash battles to catch his Pokemon but most of them join his party after becoming friends with him.

[@Bnoopy]

If I recall correctly, just about anyone is a better trainer than Ash :D

[@uglyutter9845]

Pokemon origins scared me with the charmander versus squirtle scene. It was just so...

[@BudCharlesUnderVlogs]

"It is possible to love something and be critical of it". YAY other fandoms are finally learning from Doctor Who :D Now we can all be grumpy together :D

[@Seashepherd97]

Don't quote me on this, but I don't think Doctor Who fans invented constructive critiquing.

[@BudCharlesUnderVlogs]

Seashepherd97 I know it's a joke XP Whovians are known for being overly critical :P

[@Shiny_Misty]

Bud Charles So aren't Sonic Fans...oh my goodness...the Sonic Fandom is scary. *trembles *

[@qualifiedidiots2165]

Team Plasma could have unethically conditioned the Pokemon they stole. Solders can turn on their countries if they're met with the correct mental programming, so maybe that is what happened. And to Peta... " *It's you and me*, I know its our destiny, oh *you're my best friend*, in a world we must defend!" "A heart so true, our courage will pull us through, *you teach me and I'll teach you!*"

[@briantasker3919]

"...OUR courage will pull US through" - thought that should also have been made clear its cooperation

[@qualifiedidiots2165]

True. I did change a bit of the song already, "I know its my destiny" to "I know its our destiny" That lyric always annoyed me.

[@briantasker3919]

I believe they did change it for the first movie and after

[@TheChaosStormBringer]

Personally I feel that the whole mind control aspect of pokeballs was hacked in by the evil teams so they don't have to have the pokemon respect them for them to obey, and Team Plasma used this hack themselves and said that all pokeballs work this way to stir up controversy to make their job easier. Granted this is only a theory and I have no concrete proof at this time, but thinking about it at this angle makes a lot of sense, after all if we need gym badges to have high level pokemon obey us how do the grunts have high level pokemon obey them? Makes all the teams seam more evil huh?

[@ZechOfTheWest]

Here's the thing, the battling thing is fine. Because when a pokemon and its trainer do battle, they both learn and work together forging a bond of trust through teamwork. That trust turns into friendship. And of course, the two rival trainers also grow as friends, because of the respect for each others skill. Not to mention, Pokemon seem to be super tough. What could kill a human would barely scratch a pokemon. So dont worry, even in the wild; Pokemon seem to enjoy battling.

[@MatheusSM1000]

Yup, they are creatures that are hard to kill by "damage" means. I mean, we all know the story of the Pidgeys level 3 who gets a Hyper Beam to the face and only faints, right? xD

[@DataDrain02]

You know... to make Pokemon seem even more cruel. When you think about it, IV breeding seems HORRIBLY inhumane. Think about it... most trainers who do this (myself included) tend to release the "rejects". And inbreed them to get your "top percentage" fighter.... Also, on an unrelated note... what about the Pokemon who were once HUMAN? Like Phantump, or Yamask? One of which used to be a child? You're basically controlling a former human, to fight for you.... So... yeah... these are things I try not to really think about as I play.

[@TheAntagonistGreen]

IV breeding could also be horrible for the eco system as well. I mean think about it, trainer catch pokemon much like hunters hunt say, deer. Hunters do it to keep the population in balance so one species doesn't eventually take over the other. The same parallel could be drawn here. And now you IV breed like 50 pokemon or even worse Masuda method over 1000 pokemon of a species and then release them. How on earth does the world stay balanced.

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

I reflect only briefly on how I toss out newborn rejects, There's no point in dwelling on it, I just want my tools to be stronger! Muahahaha! ...I need to stop watching Elemental Gelade before playing Pokemon.

[@Tassooow]

IV breeding is just selective breeding, like they do with dogs to create new breeds and make the ones we have better, it happens all the time and no one considers it inhumane. Also, they are released in the wild, free.

[@EmeralBookwise]

Tasso Luz Exactly. Likewise, it's important for us to keep in mind that the games are just a simulation, and so as such the mechanics by which they function are not necessarily indicative of how that world actually works. If Pokémon could really bread as rapidly as they do when we leave them at the daycare the balance of nature would already be pretty screwed up by that fact alone regardless of human intervention. Rather, it's probably better to presume that the mechanics of breeding are simplification for the sake of gameplay and that "real" Pokémon breading would be as time consuming and expensive as it is with any real life animal. Especially considering that most players don't start breeding until after completing the games main story, by which point the passage of time, or rather seeming lack there of, is no longer really of much concern.

[@Enftony]

see that's why i cant do iv and ev training and breeding, it feels horrible to only catch a Pokemon based on its nature and then throw the others i caught

[@TheNoteblockLizard]

Hmmm, now I really want to get back to writing that story I was working on for Pokemon Black and White ... What would Unova look like if Team Plasma did win and all Pokemon were released? I've been working on and off of it for a little while now ... thank you for helping me want to write again :D

[@auraguardianlucario1697]

Well, the Lucario in X/Y has a pokeball but seems to like the trainer more than Korrina.

[@10chaos1]

why does this even matter when peta have al but abandoned there original goal and thus lost there credibility in the eyes of many

[@subzeroapplesauce]

They didn't have a lot of credibility to begin with.

[@subzeroapplesauce]

***** Correct. They once killed 23,000 adoption ready animals in one year.

[@tuckeyvideos3356]

PETA- We protect animals Realty- PETA has killed our not properly nourished them more then they saved

[@dragofand]

Since when did they credibility to begin with?

[@subzeroapplesauce]

TuckeyVideos Death to PETA.

[@michaeldavison5048]

The world is too sensitive

[@Hydverse]

Political correctness..

[@zachpetersman7352]

timewarpist The concept of being politically correct inhibits one's freedom of thought

[@michaeldavison5048]

timewarpist I don't give a rat tooth.

[@leelewis445]

Zach Petersman Not necessarily. You can say whatever you want, but your bound to get a tongue lashing from someone. A lot of the time (now a days at least) people tend make problems where there wasn't one in the first place. And that it has to be a serious issue because they are either "threatened", "offended", or it hurt their eg..I mean "feelings". People are much more sensitive and forcing others to change everything to fit certain individuals need is selfish and downright impossible. Someone is going to find something wrong with something in this world and if it is in fact nothing worth talking about you can brush it off as a "personal problem. Deal with it".

[@TheAntagonistGreen]

That was the major problem I had with 5th gen and the reason why I don't understand how people can like the story so much. They bring up this actually very deep issue as if it's a very major point that they are trying to make. They could have very easily explained why Pokemon is different than it's real world analogy. However they completely drop the plot point half way through and never revisit it again. We then go back to the same boring tired old story of "evil team wants to take over the world". It was such a huge wasted opportunity that I really can't enjoy 5th gen because of it. They promised a good story but they gave us the same old tiring world domination story we had in the previous two installments. People give X and Y's story crap for "not being as good" or give Lysandre crap for "not being as good as Ghetsis" but I don't understand how he or the story are worse at all. In the end all Ghetsis wants to do is take over the world, that's it the end. All that other stuff we had been shown about morals and whatnot is completely thrown out the window. At least with Lysandre he had a clear goal and stuck to it. His goal wasn't world domination his goal was to rid the world of crime and violence, making it "beautiful" again. He realizes and understand what our heroes don't in that if the human race continues on the path it has laid out, war will never end, crime will rise, and we will be the death of ourselves, no matter how much we try to change. His parallel to the mega ring is perfect in that if there is only one of something it will be fought over. And that one thing doesn't have to be a tangible object, it could be something like fame, fortune, or power. He just went about solving this issue on the wrong way and was a bit misguided. So how is that, a story that actually does have very strong morals and a powerful lesson worse than a story where all previous ideas of questioning morals are then dropped for a boring take over the world plot. At the end of the day though I don't really see pokemon's ethics as a bad thing. I think it's mainly because i'm 22, I know right from wrong, and I know what's just a video game. Though I do think it could be a very helpful conversation starter for a child to a parent and aid in teaching a lesson that you should always be kind to animals, and doing things like animal fighting in the real world is not cool. Everyone blames video games for being the problem bot most of the time it's the parents fault for not being involved with what their children are seeing and not teaching them those lessons of morality. Or they just ignore the clear ESRB rating and expect everything go go over like a peach cobbler.

[@tigertenaka]

I think the reason people like B/W's story is because the issue was never resolved. It made us think "are we doing the right thing for our Pokemon?" instead of the game telling you at the end if it was right or wrong. Ambiguity isn't necessarily a bad thing if it's pulled off well, and I think in B/W's case it was. Now I haven't had a chance to pick up X or Y yet, so I can't say I know the story inside and out. It does seem like a good concept, but you can kind of say it's related to B/W. Lysandre wants fighting to stop, right? So he does whatever means he thinks necessary to do so, kind of what we were led to believe by Ghetsis at the beginning. That's just what I think, I could be wrong.

[@Shadow-bi5ns]

That image of Ash wearing pink rubber gloves and drafting Pikachu was so funny! Especially the face Pikachu had.

[@wanny141]

the one fact no one seems to ever bring up is the fact that i can catch a tyranitar or other evolved pokemon in the wild which means that pokemon has battled enough on its own to evolve to that point.

[@BulbaTube]

Interesting thoughts on this - I have done research on this myself.

[@kingstorm44]

i'm gonna HMO1 you, birch

[@BulbaTube]

kingstorm44 yeah you are :)

[@flobberdon]

Hi professor bulba.......

[@SoloFenrir]

Hey there, Bulba! Long time, no see, eh?

[@BulbaTube]

OCDminecrafter Hmm I can't recall where I know you from, care to refresh me ? :)

[@Stathio]

Honestly, I don't see how Hugh's Purrloin/Liepard being loyal to Team Plasma proves that Pokeballs cause 'mind control' at all- I saw this more as an unfortunate case of stockholm syndrome than anything. Think about it- that Pokemon has been with Team Plasma for years, to the point where it even evolved- it was younger when it was with Hugh's family, so may not even remember much of that part of its life- you likely don't recall what was going on around you when you were a baby. I saw this whole plot point more as an interesting twist and realistic consequence of what had happened- actually, I thought it was very brave of them not to go with the expected 'happy end' to that particular subplot. Still- there's nothing to say that the Liepard didn't slowly regain its trust in Hugh and his family. That's the way I imagined it, it's realistic, it showcases the game's storyline theming of uncertain moralities, and it hammers home the point of just how harmful Team Plasma were being, essentially going as far as to break up families, in a Pokemon sense. It was certainly interesting writing, and I appreciated it, as unpleasant as it was.

[@Boyzby]

To be honest, I don't care about the ethics of Pokémon, because it's just a game. People make the argument that it teaches kids that forcing animals to fight is okay, but I've been an avid player of the series since I was a kid and I don't think that it is. That's probably since I was raised to understand morality.

[@ToastiLP]

Children wont get the animal enslaving factor, PETA makes them see it, so actually PETA makes the game Ethical

[@Boyzby]

How many kids do you think have played PETA's games? Now, look at those games and tell me if kids should play them to learn about ethics. I feel like they're just trying to raise a ruckus for something that really isn't a problem.

[@SpiderRiderKya]

I've noticed that whenever people talk about the battling aspect it's always about battles between trainers. What about wild pokemon? If a person wants to travel anywhere outside their city/town they need at least one pokemon to protect them because wild pokemon will jump your ass just for walking through a cave, mountain, forest, ocean or even grass. That's why you can't leave home in the games till you get one because you need something to defend yourself with against wild pokemon. And the wild pokemon aren't being made to fight, they initiate the fight! And in some cases keep you from fleeing, which forces you fight till you knock them out or catch them.

[@anonymousx6836]

It upsets when people try to give Pokemon a negative image. Pokemon have been my friend since forever. How could view it as something negative?

[@SaraEumehFranks]

Thanks I watched that

[@PikaLink91]

Is Pokémon ethical? F*ck no! And that's what we love about it xD Pokémon is about a 10 year old boy, who ditches his school and hometown, in order to travel the world ALONE, catching wild animals that possess deadly powers, and he then forces these animals to fight deadly battles on his behalf only for the sport of it, and because HE has a dream of becoming the best... did he ever ask the animals he caught what they thought of the idea?? And let me remind you that his mother is perfectly okay with letting her only 10 year old boy venture out into the world on his own, potentially getting hurt. That is Pokémon in a nutshell, or the uncensored version if you will, but that being said, I grew up with the franchise and I absolutely LOVE it to death, despite what actual dark and unethical elements we are dealing with here. And I hate how PETA are attacking my favorite childhood franchise!!>_

[@PikaLink91]

I didn't forget that, but I didn't wanna bother having to write "he/she, his/hers", all the time.

[@TheLuigiBrother77]

I completly agree with everything you just said

[@chrisj.2521]

Nonono! My pokemon are friends! Pokemon respect trainers because we allow them to survive! If a pokemon gets fainted in the wild it's basically dead! Pokemon go in poke balls to live instead of dying!

[@PikaLink91]

Christopher Simon You seem to have misunderstood something, Pokémon are not basically dead when they faint-- they just faint. When the first games were made, Satoshi Tajiri deliberately made the Pokémon faint instead of die when running out of HP, because he didn't support the idea of vilence,

[@TheLuigiBrother77]

Christopher Simon lol

[@RichardthePWNman]

But it's just a theory, a GAME THEORY. Thanks for watching!

[@jaylongivens1982]

This Is tamashiihiroka, Not Game theory.

[@owenchiang7877]

yeah game theory pretty much makes you hate any video game

[@jaylongivens1982]

Always has, always will, but it's what matpat's famous for

[@Otize1]

I loved pokemon Origins, sure there was more violence, but it was meant for the people who grew up playing these pokemon games, who wouldn't care too much about the violence in it, I loved the whole Red and Charizard thing, it's awesome, it gave me a nostalgic feel

[@willmoyer8882]

I imagined the pokeball was cozy like a little home but I do like the robot chicken parodies of pokemon like pikachu clubbing in its pokeball. One fan comic made me laugh but also feel bad for the pokemon (the one where charmander was reading a newspaper in a living room and smoking a pipe when all of a sudden the top of the room is opening up and charmander is flown out of the pokeball and land head first in mud on a rainy day and Ash is like,"Charmander I choose you!!!!" with an excited smile on his face)

[@amandathompson8074]

When I thought about the makeup of pokeballs as a child was that they were like digitalized, portable homes for the Pokemon depending on their species. Such information could be harvested through the Pokedex to meet their needs. Especially now that Pokemon-Amie has come around, it encourages more human-pokemon interaction. My thought is that pokemon enjoy fighting along their trainers, and the gym badges represent the trainer's skill so more powerful pokemon can identify that the trainer knows what he/she is doing and that they will bring them to their best potential.

[@danshive4017]

Without Pokémon, that hoodie would not exist. ETHICAL.

[@SolidSnivy]

Does anyone feel like they can write an argumentative essay on this for school and get a perfect score?

[@EpicPixels1]

I've always thought of Pokemon as a way to learn how to treat animals in the real world. The Poke Ball representing the respect that any animal owner has to earn from their pet(s). The Badges representing your knowledge to take care of them, and your capability as an animal owner. Honestly the battling any everything reminds me of the different types of dog shows each attuned to the dog's breed's capabilities. Sound familiar? Maybe like the typing of Pokemon? Plus it is made VERY obvious in the anime that most trainers care very deeply about their Pokemon, to the point where some would risk their lives for them and vice versa such as the relationship between Ash and Pikachu. While there are still some sketchy places here and there in the Pokemon world, it leaves room for us to learn from these things as well and apply them in the real world. Wow...this was a really long explanation. Gonna go cuddle with my Pikachu plushie now ^^ Ciao~

[@TheKeatonWarrior]

The pokeballs always have me curious as well. I'm a huge fan of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series and it sheds a whole new light on the franchize as well.

[@killeroftheweek]

Something I noticed yesterday while walking my dog was that he's pretty much no different from what I saw to be a pokemon, a creature that you've gained their trust that will protect you. In fact, it seems like most of the dogs around my neighborhood are the same way. Are we all running a dog fighting ring? No! We're just caring for animals that happen to want to protect us. I don't think the pokemon is much different from a leash in that regard. The only difference between pokemon and actual pets is that it's near impossible to care for 700+ pets like you can in pokemon.

[@cookerlv]

Remember, ethics are based on society. So Pokemon "ethics" wouldn't be ethical in our society, but they would be in the Pokemon Society.

[@friedwill3]

If Alakazam is so smart, how can he only learn 4 moves?

[@RunicSigils]

IQ is not directly related to memory on it's own. Memory can help boost IQ (I'm sure my eidetic memory is no small part of my 180 IQ for example) but it's not a vice versa thing. Just because you have a good memory it doesn't mean you can recognize patterns etc. easily and in the same line if you have a high IQ, it doesn't mean you remember everything. You could just be really good at pattern recognition which is also part of IQ tests.

[@ridorock6]

GullsAK I seriously want to know if your IQ is 180

[@autumnlauber]

My favorite spin on the Pokéball lore that wasn't mentioned in the video was comes from the anime movie Pokémon 4-ever. In the movie Ash and friends meet a boy named Sam that Celebi brought to the future. Sam (who grows up to be a certain Pokémon Professor) carries his Pokémon in primitive Pokéball. This bit of lore does come from the anime world, but I think it puts the Pokéball in a more humane light than the 5th gen games do.

[@dannykazari]

Nice video! I've never really thought about the ethics of Pokemon too much before, but it really is an interesting topic. I've always thought of the Pokemon I catch and raise to be more friends than anything else, since I only raise the Pokemon I like, as opposed to people who just train the top-tiered ones so they can win all the time.

[@EtnaBoy666]

(sigh) This debate has been going on since Pokemon came into existence - I am glad you voiced your opinions on this issue. I think that any video game which deals with RPG battling shouldn't get slammed for violence. Look, if they REALLY wanted to be offensive, they should look to South Park: The Stick of Truth, which is FAR worse in the violence and crudity aspects than any Pokemon game ever. ;p It's just a game, you haters. Stop trying to compare it to real life. There, my two bits.

[@EtnaBoy666]

Okay, I didn't mean it like that after watching the video. I totally agree with Tamashii - even if capturing Pokemon is unethical, that is negated by the fact that Pokemon react to the way their trainers treat them. I think that trying to figure out how Pokeballs work is ludicrous because the game developers don't explain it well enough. As long as Pokemon are treated nice, we won't have any issues with it.

[@sam06pr]

Agreed I think people think about it too much.

[@arungeorgejohn373]

Exactly. If people want to get super-critical, then even games like "Hide and go seek", Dodgeball and even classes like Home Ec. can be seen as "unethical".

[@Kuchenjaeger]

"sweep the issue under the rug"? Which issue? I appreciate the work you put into this video, but everyone who really thinks that Pokemon fighing is a problem has too much free time.

[@florakelly170]

I always thought that each PokeBall was like an apartment for Pokemon, and that the different types of PokeBalls had different setups. For example, a Luxury Ball would have appeal to the Pokemon's taste; a Dive Ball would have an ocean setting, with lots of water and exotic plants; and a Master Ball would have exactly what each select Pokemon likes. If the Pokemon didn't like the setups of the different Balls, they would escape, which is why Legendary Pokemon are nearly impossible to catch without a Master Ball; they're picky little bastards. But that's just my opinion.

[@wharfjfj]

In Pokèmon X and Y, when you select Pokèmon Amie, I found out that inside the PokèBall you casn put wallpaper and chairs. They get shaken around though lol.

[@Dan_Dan_Ruu]

I can't remember which game mentions this, but there's also the factor that some pokémon seek strong trainers to be catched by them (like Bulbasaur in the anime) because they know it's a good chance for them to evolve and get stronger by fighting. I think it was a dialogue in Diamond/Pearl, but I'm not sure. So, while I agree that capturing creatures to fight for human entertainment is not ethical, it also seems to be beneficial for the pokémon (assuming the trainer treats them right), since they're actually designed to fight and get stronger by doing so. Good video, there's not a simple answer to this.

[@endorb]

My favorite example of caring for your pokemon is that in one episode, after Pikachu is confused and tries to volt tackle into the wall, Ash dives in front of Pikachu to prevent the damages that may have happened

[@FlCl3000]

i always took it that pokeballs digitized or broke a pokemon up into electricity. thats how they can be moved around and stored so easily. i dont think pokemon are brainwashed either. there are way to many examples of pokemon not listening or just refusing to work witha trainer.

[@Carameja]

Pokemon origins gave a more realistic view to pokemon then other pokemon games, manga and anime's.

[@TenketsuKuroryu]

Origins was incredible. It's such a shame people think it's too violent. It's also a shame we probably won't see more of it.

[@Carameja]

I know right, I found it more realistic then the kids version of pokemon.So they claim But pokemon are living beings, really than where's the blood when their badly hurt? =\

[@Delfinagon]

Most realistic one would be Pokemon Adventure (special) manga, origin is like a short version of that

[@sparkblitz7921]

Squirtle biting Charmander in Origins was really realistic and creepy o.o Sadly no more Origins , but I belive they will make Pokemon Origins 2 and follow Gold's story and final part Red vs Gold in anime

[@Delfinagon]

Giovanni killed Magmars (in pieces) in manga....thats more curel

[@979JuJu]

Ah, yes! The dark side of Pokemon: Cloning, deaths, and brain-washing! Pokemon is what you make it out to be.

[@Someone-nd5gr]

When I play Pokemon, I develop feelings for them. When I played Soul Silver, I had such a bond with my starter, whenever I thought of her, I would smile. Pokemon Amie makes me feel even stronger bonds with them. Now when I think of deleting a save file, I try not to start crying, because I'd have to say bye to my friends forever. I sometimes even cry when my Pokemon faint, not because I'm going to lose, but because my friends are badly hurt.

[@ohalright1]

I believe the reason that Black and White's story was so good, "my favorite storyline in a pokemon game yet" was because they asked this exact question, and throughout the games it made you think, "is what im doing as a trainer really right?" and the fact that that question was left unanswered only added to the experience for me. They did not give a concrete answer because they wanted to leave it up to the player to determine the answer. Black and White where some of the most thought provoking games ive played in awhile and they really made me think about how I treat the pokemon I catch.

[@xLoadez]

It's not as if Pokemon is making 10 year olds go round and capturing animals in balls, and fighting them against each other.

[@tilteddomino44]

People these days are simply looking for something to either bitch about, blame for something, or just entertain they're "trolling" habits. Is Pokemon ethical in every manner? Probably not, but it definitely wasn't intended to encourage animal abuse in real life. Video games and even cartoons/anime in general have been a source of people's arguments for a while now. Although something isn't "ethical" such as GTA, CoD/BF, Skyrim, etc. part of the fun is being able to do things you couldn't do in real life. I think it'd be humorous if something bad happened in real life (not the part about someone being killed or something) and blamed the media or some important group instead of letting people speculate entertainment.

[@OreMiner64]

I can't say Skyrim as an non ethical game because of the SomeWhat of a Time Period.Lemme remind you that even the God that Romans and Greek wroshipped,Zeus,went and Fucked with OVER 9000 women.In each FUCKING myth of ancient greece Rome there is at least 1 son of Zeus.Taking in account their God,the base of their Ideologies,not much ethics to go with that.In that way History is like GTA xd

[@tilteddomino44]

OreMiner64 I agree Skyrim is correct for the time period, but there are still people who would simply look at it as a violent game about killing other people regardless of what is actually there.

[@IanTheRed1]

Amen, it is idiotic how the media literally promotes acts of violence by giving tons of attention to rapes and murders, showing people with warped minds who feel insignificant how to become instantly popular, yet people blame games that take place in a fake world for their problems. If violent video games makes people kill each-other then why isn't there mass murder on the streets? I mean about 50% of people in America play some sort of game, I'm sure tons of those people play violent games. The media is happy leaving you to believe that pretend games cause the worlds problems, its just like the big D&D occult thing back in the day. The same media that tries to make internet media like twitch and KZbin look like unprofessional sites where all the teens living in their moms basement can make a couple bucks for ramen and macaroni at Walmart. Completely ignoring the fact of the amount of professionals on those sites who want to provide quality entertainment. Its because they know that things like KZbin will kill them as they are becoming far more popular forms of viewing compared to TV. So to sum all that up, yes, I hate the media...

[@MegaGraceiscool]

Ugh... Charmander's scream still gives me chills

[@mushroomdude123]

It's creepy man....

[@nickb2396]

At 4:04 what episode is that? Where ash keeps throwing the pokeball at pikachu? It made me laugh lol idk why

[@fullmoonxxxx]

The 1st episode ever in the series,how do you not know that

[@DuskyPredator]

I think of the games more than just fighting, it is why a friendship aspect was added into gen 2, how other type of contests came after, and how recently playing with your Pokémon became a core concept. I always look my in game Pokémon, for starters I never give them herbs, I try hard not to let them faint, and I focus on Amie. I remember in 2nd gen, as soon as it was offered I gave my Furret a haircut. Although I have also bred dozens of Pawniards and released them from the PC near the Preschool. Well the next remakes will have Pokémon contests, and there are absolutely not controversy connected beauty contests, I am so going to parade my baby Pokémon.

[@GarretTheHedeghog]

remember when team plasma tried to brainwash people to follow their beliefs, maybe they changed the pokeball a bit to do just that to the pokemon they caught.

[@saloosh777]

PETA is such a stupid cult that makes a big deal out of things that shouldn't even be a big deal. Pokemon are monsters, not animals. They LOOK like animals but they're not. That's why Pokemon = Pocket MONSTERS. Also, most of the things they talk about don't make sense. Capturing a Pokemon does not mean you're enslaving it and using it for selfish needs, it means they become your teammate and help you win. They also become your friends, which was something clearly obvious from the anime and the game. They even make a big thing about Pokemon Trainer Blue not respecting his Pokemon and using them for tools in battle, only for him to realize that he kept losing because they shouldn't be used that way. So yes, Pokemon is ethical and it's for kids (even though adults play it too) and they don't think about Pokemon as tools. It's just a game. You play, you have fun. End of story.

[@Openreality]

Valkyrie The funny thing is that it's geared towards children, yet the general audience playing Pokemon still are those that started 20 years ago. While COD and MOH are geared towards adults yet children and teens are the general audience who plays those games.

[@Dlarzz]

Intro theme song name?

[@thesilverranger1]

pokeball factory pokemon X and Y

[@Z3r0AnimeLover64]

Check out glitchxcity she has a good remix of it :D

[@RighteousBronco]

Darude -Sandstorm

[@Greco678]

RighteousBronco no it is some pokemon track

[@Dlarzz]

RighteousBronco AHAHAHAAH

[@Seashepherd97]

Additionally, one thing I wish you would have mentioned more is the overworld mechanics of Generation 2.5--that is to say, HeartGold and SoulSilver. These games, as you probably know, allow you to directly interact with the head Pokemon in your party and see how they react to you. I feel that this ability could potentially shed some light on the interactions of humans and Pokemon, especially in the theater of behavior post-capture but not during battle, which we rarely see within Pokemon video games.

[@Pokemon123631]

I remember when I had a Stoutland and Reshiram in Pokemon Black that I loved, and I turned into one of those people who hacked legendaries and stuff, and it was hard putting my Stoutland and Reshiram into the PC. I've had the Stoutland since it was a level 4 Lillipup, and he's level 100 now in my Pokemon X game.

[@alexk1418]

Aren't FPS games unethical too?

[@ColterDewitt]

Well, my one criticism is that you discuss the open-endedness of Black and White's moral question, but at the end you decide that the answer is not concrete. Maybe that's what B/W was trying to get across. The theme of ideals vs truth is something we try to learn from: how to distinguish these themes that we can not find a concrete answer.

[@ColterDewitt]

So that in the end, we can come to a compromise as two bodies and face the known issues in the world, a.k.a. Ghetsis.

[@Yous0147]

True, but they should've put an emphasis on that then rather than the plot-twist "Plasma is really evil" surprice we got. Also, there were many more aspects to explore in terms of Pokemon loyalty/force. It's fine to end at an either or, but the whole affair seemed white-washed and forgotten at the end of the game. But I guess that holds true for every Pokemon game, it's just more apparent in BW since there were an ACTUAL reasonable amount of story there.

[@SuperNguyenChannel]

I feel it's ethical as long as people realise it's a game. We all know Satoshi didn't have any ill intentions or anything. PETA though loves to overreact, and take things out on the fans and the franchise. And I question PETA for doing this because they could've done their research and see that Satoshi had no ill intentions. The thing is, Satoshi could've put more thought into the concept

[@claire1909]

In my experience, the biggest animal lovers among my friends also happen to be huge Pokemon fans. You CAN draw a huge parallel between animals and Pokemon, but that seems to be why a lot of my animal-loving friends like Pokemon as well - it reminds them of something they love, like their pet cat or dog.

[@caesaralexsander]

I'm always amazed by your ability to go above and beyond the simplicity of some concepts and analyze them at the core. Your explanations are always fascinating.

[@chloesmith6615]

Call me weird, but I love your voice :) :3

[@dorkiesanman]

Who doesn't?

[@davidmaciver6598]

You're weird.

[@collapsedlung_]

Same here!

[@GamesGuruGuy554]

Pike lake?

[@eddwen2]

Same here

[@kenouk6183]

what i think about this topic? i think i just... I JUST....!! I just wanna be the very best, Like no one ever was. To catch them is my real quest, To train them is my cause. I will travel across the land, Searching far and wide. Each Pokemon to understand The power that's inside ok sorry i couldnt resist xD

[@Openreality]

Oukawa王川Kenshin謙信 Teach Pokemon to understand, not each Pokemon

[@Necromancer1230]

They've established in the games that pokemon eat each other (See various pokedex entries for ekans and victreebel specifically) and that we eat pokemon (or parts of them) as well (I.E. the Slowpoke tails in Gold/Silver). It's also been shown in numerous games that not all people who have pokemon necessarily use them to fight (It's even been established that they serve very important roles economically). So the idea of just owning pokemon to help with jobs and/or for non-battling competitive sports like racing and what not are fine in my opinion since it protects them from predation by humans and other wild pokemon. Really though, I can see where people are coming from when they criticize the practice of pokemon battling ESPECIALLY when you consider the legitimately interesting moral questions brought up by Black and White. That was actually one of my biggest issues with that generation, it decided it was making kids think too hard and decided to take the easiest way out at the very end. Also that battle scene from Pokemon Origins just had my jaw hitting the floor, when you actually have pokemon writhing in pain on the ground and screaming like that it suddenly becomes horrifying. I've seen stuff that's way worse but for some reason that just freaks me out man.

[@PifaceBwells101]

I always thought that Pokemon benefit from being trained by humans. In one episode of the anime, the Pokedex mentions that some Pokemon are jealous of human-trained Pokemon. While Pokemon may be powerful on there own, human intelligence and strategies help the Pokemon become the strongest they can be. And besides, how many wild Gyradose do you find anyway?

[@ShadowXerneas]

What bugs me about PETA is that they think all who play Pokemon are created equal. That all who played Pokemon as a child learned that animals are just things for us to control and fight for our benefit. I, along with others who grew up with this game, are proof that this just isn't the case. Even though my mom gives me the line "they're just rats", I take care of my pet rats and the rest of my pets to the best of my ability. I'm even in the process of opening a rescue for my area for the rodent pets that people simply can't take care of anymore and has no where to take them. I know there are kids out there that treats their pets inhuman, but are we all as Pokemon fans created equal? And to the ones who do sadly treat their pets in such a manner really can put the blame on a game that was designed for kids?

[@duncanscott5315]

I know I may get some flack for this but isn't this a +1 for Digimon in P vs D debate? In Digimon, it is shown that for most tamers, you need to earn the Digimon's respect to become it's partner and DigiDestined's have been shown they need to care and respect there Digimon for them to Evolve or stay loyal (or you get a problem of Skullgreymon proportions)?

[@MurimlinnYsondre]

game freak needs to make a pokemon first person shooter

[@HuyNguyen-vv6jv]

They made plants vs zombies a first person shooter so WYNAUT

[@Dojibu]

Technically, didn't they do that with a first person rail-shooter called Pokemon Snap? Or are you talking like one of the more Modern FPS'es?

[@lilyuwuu]

Life is not a first-person shooter.

[@brooklethill7569]

Pokemon snap. You shoot pictures of pokemon. Oh... That's not what you meant...

[@rrrr-im9oz]

agh...no more first person shooter games please!

[@VespetineGaming]

I understand both sides of Pokemon, and since I enjoy the game so much, and love animals, the game has not affected me in a negative way; but that Pokemon Origins clip was disturbing. I think that's something Pokemon should definitely stay away from.

[@nitadennen5589]

It is always stated in the main series games that the protagonist and their Pokemon grow a strong bond with each other throughout their journey prior to facing the champion and after you defeat the champion their always like you and your Pokemon have grown a marvelous bond with each other and that they love and care about all Pokemon in existence.edit:also pokeballs are not mind control devices they are just tools used to gain the ownership of wild Pokemon with.

[@Setosama02]

And even then, they DO touch on the fact that pokemon are are partners and not tools in Origins. That's Red's full revelation in the first episode! Blue is the one who failed to grasp that fact even up until when he lost to Red in the 4th episode.