Video;

[schachmeister]

[The video opens on a nice little beach towards the sunset hours. A large red Gyarados is laying with his head in the surf, enjoying some good rubs to his crest from Armin, who addresses the camera without taking his eyes off the big lug on the sand.]

I spent a lot of time reading the Pokedex when I first arrived here, but the longer I am here and the more research I do, the more I realise there are a lot of falsehoods in the Pokedex as well. Or at least, a lot of uncorroborated information. Which, unfortunately, seems to lead to some pokemon having a very undeserved reputation.

Take Gyarados, for example.

[He gestures with his arm to the Gyarados laying on the sand, who lets out a low rumble of enjoyment.]

All the Pokedex talks about is how vicious and destructive they are, and how they go on constant rampages.

Now, I won't deny that they can be dangerous and territorial in the wild, but I don't think it is right to portray them as mindless rampaging monsters either. They behave that way for a reason and each has their own personality. They can make perfectly fine pokemon, as long as they are handled by an experienced trainer.

[In fact, Armin got some theories about how their bad reputation really is the result of being handled by a few too many inexperienced trainers.]

I'm not sure how to go about submitting corrections to the Pokedex, but until I figure that out, I wanted to ask: are there any pokemon you care about that you feel have a very undeserved reputation? Or any other false information in the Pokedex that you know about?

[Armin can't research every pokemon as much as he'd like. But perhaps other people can help him correct any misconceptions he might have.]

Comments

[brokencode]

[Why does Angel look like she's being held hostage. Why are there pink, fluffy ribbons at the corner of her screen.]

I have been told that not enough people acknowledge that Sylveon is the best Pokemon.

[schachmeister]

Is that you or Adorababy speaking? Blink once for yes, twice for no.

[strings_theory]

[Oh good grief. Jolyne's snorting softly to herself before taking the video outside with a hell of a whiplash and jolting around before focusing it on a pod of fancy magikarp, regular magikarp, and the huge honking gyarados that's clearly watching over them.]

You ain't wrong. Though... [She turns the screen around on a slowking that seems to be staring out into space, but looks absolutely distressed.]

The 'dex says somethin' about slowking being calm and collected all the time but Butterball always looks fucking distressed by who the hell knows what. Also question the whole "more intelligent than scientists" thing, honestly.

[schachmeister]

[That poor Slowking has anxiety is what it has.]

And you have no idea at all what causes it? Slowking is a psychic type, right? Any luck trying to communicate with it?

[uber_marionettist]

I want to know where it gets its information from.

I got ahold of this build-a-fish dinosaur thing about a year ago, before anyone had seen or heard of anything like it, and the only thing the Pokedex could come up with about it other than a name were two claims about its survivability that I'd call dubious at best.

[schachmeister]

I wish I knew too. At least then I'd know who to contact for possible corrections. I can't imagine it came from actual professors or researched material though. There are too many inconsistencies for that.

I'm sorry, build-a-fish dinosaur?

[video]

[paladinlost]

Personal experience has taught me that the issue with Gyarados is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy caused by trainers who cannot respect Magikarp. Seifer tried to eat Squall's head upon evolving, while Excalibur merely became a very large, scaly puppy.

[Strangely enough, Cecil sounds absolutely delighted by both reactions.]

In addition, my Hatterene is far more tolerant of noisy teammates than her Dex entries would subject. She has yet to tear anyone apart, even when their roughhousing interrupts her beauty sleep.

[video]

[schachmeister]

I agree. I fear it is a case of too many inexperienced trainers ending up with a Gyarados because Magikarps are so common everywhere and easy to obtain, not knowing how to handle them when they evolve or even how to give them proper stimulation and then being surprised they don't listen.

[Is Squall a person or another pokemon? Armin is not sure if he wants to know.]

Hatterene is one of those newer pokemon, isn't it? I can't say I am very familiar with it.

[nastyboy]

[The screen opens to an extreme close up of a Rattata's face. Presumably it is being propped up against a wall on the floor, since that... sure seems to be the background! When Gremlin the Rattata pulls away, it's clearly an inn bathroom, with a certain someone peering underneath a sink cupboard. Dimitri is just barely visible behind the little cupboard door, with a Gardevoir patiently peering over his shoulder and occasionally pointing at things.]

[Even as he works, however, Dimitri still tries to speak.]

You know, the Pokedex often describes Rattata as "extremely cautious", and yet I have not found that to be particularly true? If anything, every Rattata I have come across has often been incredibly clever and personable. One of my Raticate, Knocker, actually tried to steal some of our supplies by making sounds happen in one direction so that we would be distracted.

If we had not had Gremlin with us - mm, yes, I see - then she no doubt would have gotten away with something.

[Gremlin preens.]

Also, some parts of the Pokedex say they are exceptionally violent, but, from the description, it merely sounds as if people ignored the personal space of a living creature and were surprised at the result?

After all, you certainly wouldn't put your hand near a human's face.

Frankly, I feel as if whoever wrote these has not given nearly enough due to Rattata and Raticate, merely because they are an extremely common breed of Paliens. They are unbelievably intelligent creatures!

[schachmeister]

I know people where I am from often fear rats because they carried diseases, but I don't think that is true for Rattata. At least, I've never read anything about pokemon transferring diseases to people.

It's a pity, because they are really intelligent little creatures.

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[shiro2hero]

Gengars.

I've only ever seen one that was even a little like the pokedex entry. And you know Haunter is

pretty much the opposite.

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[schachmeister]

I've only had one bad experience with a Gengar, but I'm sure that was because that one particular Gengar was a jerk. And he would've been a jerk no matter what species of pokemon he was.

Of course, it's easy for me to blame the individual and not the species when I've had the luck to have had many great interactions with Gengars, including Haunter. But I imagine that for people without that, one very bad experience can really sour them on that particular pokemon species or type. Especially when the Pokedex seems to confirm their worst fears.

Video

[tsunotarou]

I find my pokémon to be very sweet and playful. Specially the ghost ones. [A pause.] I have a Drifloon and a Mimikyu, and they really friendly. Confetti -that's the Mimkyu- is really clingy and coos happily whenever I pet him.

Video

[schachmeister]

They really have an unfair bad reputation, don't they? I don't really have many ghost pokemon myself, but my friends do, and all of them have always been very kind and sweet.

Of course, there is always the occasional individual that is... less so, but I think that happens with any pokemon type of species.

[The Gengar that had made Armin proclaim his love for Angel's boobies on the network was a jerk because he was a jerk, not because he was a ghost. He probably would've been just as much of a jerk if he had been, say, an eevee or a caterpie.]

voice

[fingersandteeth]

I feel like ghost types in general have a worse reputation than they deserve. All of mine have been very sweet and loving.

[Admittedly, this might be because Steven loves them back just as thoroughly.]

voice

[schachmeister]

I imagine it is because people project their fear of death and dying on them, even though ghost pokemon don't really have anything to do with that. I know there are a lot of myths in the Pokedex about them being the souls of people who died, but really, is there any evidence of that?

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[uncutetomboy]

I think Golurks and Goletts are typed incorrectly. The Honedge line too. They're not ghosts--ghosts are awful and torment you. They're anti-ghost robots and swords.

[Akane is very firm about this.]

video

[schachmeister]

[Oh no. See, this is exactly why those tall tales in the Pokedex are so terrible.

Armin's voice is gentle though because he knows the way to change people's minds is not by calling them dumb or mistaken.]

Is that so...

If I can ask, has a ghost pokemon ever mistreated you?

» video

[lordofthefries]

Feebas!

[Prepare yourself, Armin. Sasha has feelings.]

People think it ugly and useless and they ignore it. They even call it stupid and stuff and that's wrong!

[Sasha may be taking this to heart a bit too much, though she does have good reason.]

» video

[schachmeister]

I didn't know you liked Feebas, Sasha.

[Listen, of course, Armin is going to support any and all fish-loving.]

And you are right, people really do underestimate them, don't they? It's the same with Magikarp. People call them weak and dumb, but in reality, they are incredible survivors. They can live where many other pokemon can't. Doesn't sound so weak to me.

[video]

[pidge_out]

[Have a Pidge, exasperatedly watching Rover roll around the room and aggressively barreling into all of the house cats, hooting wildly. Armin may not be able to see him, but that sure is a racket he's causing.]

I'm pretty sure the PokéDex never said anything about rolling Rowlets. Or loud ones.

[video]

[schachmeister]

... I think yours just might be a very special case.

[Video]

[sharddrive]

Wow that's a big fish- People tend to make generalizations when they're scared, accurate or not.

[Video]

[schachmeister]

You're right. But that is why it is so important to get the correct information in the Pokedex. Now you get people turning away from certain pokemon, even if they are otherwise perfect for them, because of unfounded rumours. And it is not that they are malicious in any way, just... misinformed.

Video

[braveloyalhugs]

[Scorpia is nodding along.]

Oh yeah, Bewears totally aren't named right. I mean, yeah, they're strong, but they should really be called Hugging Pokemon! The way the Pokedex describes them is also kinda mean too. Bewear hugs are the best! I can't see how they're dangerous, unless somebody is really fragile. Which, I guess, some people might be? But still, don't go on about people getting hurt from Bewear hugs when it's probably only happened once or twice ever!

[Scorpia, no.]

Video

[schachmeister]

... aren't those the pokemon that can break your ribs by hugging you?

[Oh no, Scorpia, oh no. Armin doesn't want to encourage dangerous behaviour here and hugging Bewears absolutely feels like it falls under dangerous behaviour to him.]

video

[epitaffio]

I don't really get the Gyarados thing either. Maybe it's because it gets so big, or because it's such a dramatic change... But mine still acts pretty much the same. Sometimes he breaks stuff when he's excited, but I don't think he does it on purpose.

[Pesci is... jumpy sometimes.]

I dunno about the Pokédex! I haven't met that many Pokémon yet. [A pause, and he tilts his head with a bit of a pout.] ... I wouldn't mind if it was wrong about Parasect, though.

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[schachmeister]

My theory is that a lot of inexperienced trainers end up trying to handle a Gyarados before they are ready. Magikarps are pretty easy to find everywhere, and it doesn't take that long for them to evolve unlike with other powerful pokemon. It's not their fault exactly, but being inexperienced, I imagine they aren't able to properly handle a Gyarados leading to, well, disaster. Noctis here is a sweety, but I do need to give him plenty of stimulation and chances to burn off his energy. An inexperienced trainer probably wouldn't know how to do that.

But this is just my theory.

[He's willing to debate it if it comes to that.]

What makes you say that? I'm not very familiar with them. They are the evolved form of Paras, right?

video

[fearinahandfulof]

[Cassandra's PokeGear briefly lingers on the sight of a Pikachu and a Hydreigon playing in the water outside Vermilion City - that is, the Pikachu is on the water, while the Hydreigon is above it. They appear to be playing some strange form of tag and are clearly having a grand time. A short distance away, a Gyarados watches, looking amused. After a moment, the camera swings back to Cassandra.]

Dragons seem to get that a lot.

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[schachmeister]

From what I've seen, people seem to be very divided on dragons. They either think they are really cool or they think they are really dangerous, with not much room for anything in between.

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[un_oiseau_rebelle]

I've noticed that there are some pokemon who will actually play up some of the behaviors and characteristics listed in the PokeDex, either for their own amusement or to get humans to keep their distance, but that's by no means a universal trait. A lot of it's likely humans reading into pokemon behavior because they don't know how to interpret or react to it, plus some prejudice in the cases of the 'weirder' or more frightening pokemon.

[And of course some individual pokemon are actually Like That, but Shinobu doesn't think he needs to point that out.]

video

[schachmeister]

Sometimes it feels like while people love pokemon a lot in this world, they don't always respect them. At least not the wild ones. They expect the same behaviour you can expect from a trained pokemon, and then get upset when the wild pokemon acts, well, wild.

For instance, people get upset when a wild pokemon acts territorial, but I'd wager that most people would get very upset with anyone breaking into their home too.

[fortuna_tenax]

I don't have a lot of personal experience myself- I've only been here like, what. A month? Give or take a week. But a lot of the dex entries I've glimpsed at sound... suspect. Like drifloon attempting to spirit children away. And I'm positive my froslass isn't the result of a woman freezing to death. There's a legend about that sort of thing back home, but that doesn't make it true.

I think maybe the entries based on rumor deserve more of a closer inspection since it's unprofessional and not based in fact... So I guess that would likely mean most of the ghost types, or anything that looks 'scary'.

[schachmeister]

They all sound like the kind of tall tales people tell children to keep them from messing with wild pokemon. Which have their place, of course, but not in something like the Pokedex.

[He shakes his head for a moment.]

There are a lot of amazing pokemon myths out there. I enjoy reading about them. If nothing else, they can often be insight into how a particular species was viewed by people in the past. But they are just myths. They shouldn't be bandied about like fact.