Family Home Becomes 'Pokemon Go' Gym, Owners Are Confused by All the Random People Turning Up

"I just realized all the people walking or driving up, lingering, then moving on could easily make this place look like a dealer’s house."

Jul 11, 2016

Image via Nintendo

Image via Nintendo

So in Pokemon Go, there are ‘gyms’ where you can train and fight, dotted all over the place. They are usually local points of interest — so a lot of churches end up being gyms. But what if your home used to be an old church, that is no longer a place of worship and now just a normal house? And that becomes a gym?

That’s what happened to Boon Sheridan, a designer from Massachusetts.

Living in an old church means many things. Today it means my house is a Pokémon Go gym. This should be fascinating.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 9, 2016

For the record, I've counted 15 people stopping by and lingering in their phones so far. I think at least three car visits as well.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 9, 2016

When a car with two or more kids in the backseat on their phones parks for 20 minutes I'm counting it as a gym visit.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 9, 2016

He was worried what message this sent to the neighbours.

I just realized all the people walking or driving up, lingering, then moving on could easily make this place look like a dealer’s house.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 9, 2016


And they kept coming.

I’ve officially stopped counting after easily 30+ people walking up and as many cars pulling up for a few minutes.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 9, 2016

11:20 and people are still driving up and idling for 5-10 minutes while they train.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

11:20 and people are still driving up and idling for 5-10 minutes while they train.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

This is what I'm a little leery of. People pulled up, blocking my drive way as they sit on their phones. pic.twitter.com/WpRbilk6g6

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

Turns out he doesn't have much control over it either.

Niantic is only doing triage right now on Gyms & PokéStops. I’m interested to learn about how it will evolve. pic.twitter.com/sr7tBra4IB

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

Interesting to note Niantic’s support page says nothing about disputing/removing locations. Ditto the TOS. pic.twitter.com/nUuUAuL2m0

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

The only real reference in the Pokémon GO Trainer guidelines is "Adhere to the rules of the human world." pic.twitter.com/EjjcRVq0h6

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

"Adhere to the rules of the human world.”

That’s a slippery phrase if I've ever heard one.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

But he's keen to point out that he's not all grumpy about it.

A quick follow-up about the whole gym thing: I don’t want anyone to get the impression visitors have trespassed or been jerks.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

I'm working on a sign for the front, something like "Train well, play with honor, leave as friends" or something equally cornball.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 9, 2016

He's now met the gym owner!

Woohoo! I met the owner of my gym. Nice guy. pic.twitter.com/uujdC3JYbA

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

“Are you training?”
“Heck yeah, this is *my* gym!”
“Cool, this is *my* house! We should be friends."

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

What I wish I’d captured in this photo? DUDE HAD A POKEMON BELT. He’s for real, yo.

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016

This is one of the best outcomes I could ask for. https://t.co/qADfhbBC3y

— Boon Sheridan (Parody) (@boonerang) July 10, 2016


 

 

 

PokémonAppsNews

Latest in Pop Culture