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18 Completely Inappropriate Places to Play Pokemon Go

Evan Dashevsky
 & Evan Dashevsky Features Editor

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We know you like Pokémon Go, but there's not really a need to catch all of them.

What's up, hotshot? So, you fancy yourself a badass who doesn't give a damn about what the world thinks about you? Well, toughy, here's a big ol' serving of steaming hot truth: Your adorable little rebellious streak is absolutely nothing compared to a Pokemon.

Through the power of the nonsensically popular Pokemon Go mobile app, those things just go wherever they damn well please with zero regard to society's established norms. Museums, battlefields, doctors' offices, bathrooms—they go wherever they please. Pokemon are truly gangsta.

It's not that these new Pokemon have become inherently disrespectful—they're pretty much the same animated pocket monsters you remember from the 1990s. But through augmented reality, they have been let loose IRL and (for now) are completely unbound by geofencing or sound judgment. (Here's how to get started.)

Pokemon Go is a game that inhabits the entire world, in which free-roaming Pokemon have been bestowed with the vaguest semblances of digital free will. And so, it stands to reason that these Pokemon would occasionally wander into locations that most gaming entities wouldn't dare. They truly don't give a fudge.

One of the coolest aspects of the game is the feature that allows you to capture an image of any Pokemon you may be targeting, no matter how inappropriate the location. Click through our slideshow to check out 18 completely inappropriate—bordering on sociopathic—places these Pokemon have wondered into.

Emergency Room

I would hope it would go without saying that you shouldn't play Pokemon Go in an Emergency Room. But one hospital in the UK just had to implement a ban.

In the Birthing Room

The magic of a new life, but WAIT, there's Pidgey! In this one (now deceased?) new father's defense, there can be a LOT of downtime during the course of a labor and a release from the pressure can be greatly appreciated. (Image)

A Sign of the Times

July 2016, this is you in an image.

The Holocaust Museum

The Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. is a living document to the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, it's also home to three different PokeStops. According to a report from the Washington Post, the museum is currently investigating ways to be excluded from the game.

Auschwitz

I know that Pokemon's creators didn't mean to be disgusting, but come on. (Image)

RIP

Can't confirm if this true or staged, but damn, Pidgey. You just don't care at all. (Image)

RIP 2

I really hope this one is staged, too. (Image)

Fighting ISIS

A Facebook post (since made private) by 26-year-old American Louis Park went viral when he announced that he caught his first Pokémon on a battlefield near Mosul. Like a handful of Americans, Park has volunteered to battle ISIS alongside the Kurdish Peshmerga. During some downtime on the frontline, he posted about finding his first Pokémon. The post, pardon the pun, blew up. For his part, Park has actually not welcomed the attention, writing in a public post: "I hope this all helps draw attention to the Peshmerga and Dwehk. Sad that it takes pop culture to do that." (Image)

Is No Where Private Anymore?

Well, he is called Squirtle. (Image)

When You Get Pulled Over

If you're getting a ticket, you probably have more important things you should be doing. (Image)

Marine Shooting Range

I hope the Marines took Pikachu out peacefully. (Image)

Pokechurch

That's one way to get the youths in. (Image)

Ancient Shinto Shrine

Oddly enough, Pokemon Go was a late arrival in Japan. But now that the phenomenon has made its debut in The Land of the Rising Sun, authorities are rushing to put limits on IRL gameplay. Izumo-taisha, which many believe to be the nation's oldest Shinto shrine, has outright banned the playing of Pokemon Go anywhere on its premises. The Poke-ban joins the contraband list along with drones. (Image)

In Court

Didn't pay that parking ticket? Have a Pidgey. (Image)

At the GOP Convention

One Yahoo News correspondent (or, shall I say now, Verizon News?) tweeted that he had "won several #PokemonGo battles on the convention floor."

The founding fathers didn't include any language referring to political parties in the constitution. They were some prescient dudes.

image: @hunderw / Twitter

State Department Briefing About ISIS

During a recent briefing updating reporters on the government's anti-ISIS digital strategy, State Department spokesman John Kirby stopped to ask a reporter if he was playing Pokemon in the middle of the press conference. (He was.)

Up a Tree in a Graveyard in the Middle of the Night

A New Jersey woman thought it would be a good idea to catch Pokemon up a tree inside a cemetery at night. That's not even the weirdest part. Apparently she wasn't able to get down and called the local Fire and Rescue department to come and help her get down with a ladder.

The cemetery's website has since published a post, which states the following: While we understand the new craze behind 'Pokemon Go' (it's addicting, we get it). We have noticed quit a few visitors playing this game within our cemeteries. We would like to remind everyone to be please be cautious and respectful as you visit. Thank you and go catch them all!"

On a Hot Date

Come on, fellas.

About Our Expert

Evan Dashevsky

Evan Dashevsky

Features Editor

Evan Dashevsky served as a features editor with PCMag and host of live interview series The Convo. He could usually be found listening to blisteringly loud noises on his headphones while exploring the nexus between tech, culture, and politics. Follow his thought sneezes over on the Twitter (@haldash) and slightly more in-depth diatribin' over on the Facebook.

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