In real life, Boon Sheridan lives in a home that was formerly a church about 40 years ago.
In the virtual world of Pokemon Go, that same location is a gym, and Sheridan is the gym’s “owner.” But not by his design.
Pokemon Go, the wildly popular game released July 6 by Niantic, scatters Pokemon in locations in the real world, which players have to physically reach to collect.
Landmarks such as libraries, parks, and churches often become “pokestops” or gyms where players collect items or train their Pokemon, respectively.
As Sheridan’s residence was labeled as a gym, that may have come about because it used to be a church.
Sheridan has tweeted en masse about the development:
Living in an old church means many things. Today it means my house is a Pokémon Go gym. This should be fascinating.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 9, 2016
Sheridan also answers the question of what’s it like to be home and seeing people approaching one’s yard at all hours of the day. He describes the process further:
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 (@boonerang) July 9, 2016
I’ve officially stopped counting after easily 30+ people walking up and as many cars pulling up for a few minutes.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 9, 2016
11:20 and people are still driving up and idling for 5-10 minutes while they train.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Sheridan does make a point that not all Pokemon trainers have been “jerks,” and some were mindful that they were essentially trespassing on someone else’s property.
He even met one of them, writing in a reply, “DUDE HAD A POKEMON BELT. He’s for real, yo.”
These cats figured it out, the bench in the park across the street is close enough to be ‘in’ the gym. pic.twitter.com/HAlVp84cd6
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 9, 2016
Woohoo! I met the owner of my gym. Nice guy. pic.twitter.com/uujdC3JYbA
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
As the kids came and went, Sheridan took the opportunity to note Pokemon Go’s more sinister implications including the privacy issues it raises.
“Do I even have rights when it comes to a virtual location imposed on me? Businesses have expectations, but this is my home,” Sheridan says in a tweet.
Sheridan also makes the point that such occurrences can devalue a home. First, neighbors might not be too happy with it—though it isn’t something he can control. Meanwhile, a near-continuous stream of people coming and leaving one’s home can also give the impression it’s a drug dealer’s den.
According to Sheridan’s research, it would seem it is currently not possible to have your home removed as a Pokemon Go location. Sheridan also bemuses the differentiation between “adhering to real world rules” as stated in the Pokemon Trainer guidelines versus adhering to real world laws.
“Adhere to the rules of the human world.”
That’s a slippery phrase if I’ve ever heard one.
— Boon Sheridan (@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 (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
As it turns out, the points of interest used in Pokemon Go were submitted by Ingress players, Niantic’s former augmented reality game released in 2012.
Sheridan however, doesn’t consider it an valid excuse, citing that Pokemon and Ingress have entirely different levels of popularity.
For folks mentioning I should’ve known about the portal from the ’13-’14 Ingress days? I didn’t live here then. So… there’s that.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Sure these locations were in Ingress, but no one in their right mind can compare Ingress to the overwhelming force that is Pokémon.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Folks have mentioned Ingress has dispute functions but that function/content should have a clear entry point for Pokémon Go issues.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
