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Would you look at that, actually looking through my notes app actually got me something that I had completed. I think I talked about this once in terms of wanting to write a fic that was an academic essay for pokemon. Might become a series, might not.
Varied Studies of Pokemon (7/26)
You've got Mail!
CC: Midterm Essay
After the final tournament battle caused the stadium to explode I couldn't think straight.
I’m handing this in for like a C professor I sincerely doubt this one’s getting published anywhere
Just pick the best one from the notes or something... i give up...
— August Oakley
Attached below is a document called AugustMidPDS.
Notes from debate club regarding studies of the pokemon world (title pending)
I. Ideas from varied essays/arguments within the club itself summarized
The existence of “animals”. As in non-pokemon creatures that have no powers whatsoever. Pretty sure we just call those normal types. Never heard of a bird type. (No, Jason, a cow is a miltank and a bull is a tauros or bouffalant.) Previously called magical creatures, yokai, gods, and fae, but we don’t use the last one anymore because of fairy types. Pikachu is classified as a mouse Pokémon, but what is a mouse? Meowth is called the scratch cat Pokémon, but is meowth considered “the cat” that all other catlike Pokémon follow? (The pokedex initially following just Kanto and expanding outwards has not helped this classification question because alolan meowth and galarian meowth have been divergences that have existed simultaneously but do not predate the cat question.) The phrase raining “cats and dogs” implies some kind of dog like creature that isn’t a snubull or lillipup.
(I’m pretty sure this idea was stolen from some poketubers in regards to the pokedex and can be disregarded, Professor.) Not sure what any professor is doing with the hard labor of children and the "automatic dex entries" aside from something like “one day a boy woke up as kadabra”, that’s Kafka. Why is it called the “national dex” once trainers abroad from other regions got it anyways, shouldn’t it be called the Global dex? Like it’s called the global trade station, not the national trade station… irregardless. Classifying Pokémon is difficult enough as is and then you add in regional variants and slightly altered Pokémon and then artificial ones or “newly discovered” that were actually misidentified as other Pokémon. Researchers took 6 years to figure out bulbasaur's classification and that field guide was written decades ago. Basically, our lives as researchers will never end. Count Tajirin started classifying them decades ago, then sometime in Hisui (modern Sinnoh) a professor Laven something made the first pokedex iteration which was modernized by Oak. What? Why would anyone think Count Tajirin is a vampire? What about the newly discovered species of Johto?
Pokemon that ecologically moved or you know, the fact not many people bothered with identifying mons plus the ones that were on the brink of extinction. So, fossils would be newly discovered by definition? Yes? Not the galarian ones, those are not identified by the regional museum association.
Are we going to have another essay debate on how pokemon shrink into the balls again? I do not want to have to deal with the backlash of the last guy who said “minimize” and then was tossed out of the magazine scene. How exactly do balls work now that they’re all digitized? Sliph Co produces the balls but does not tell the public the exact breakdown. (As an aside, can Pokémon be corrupted in the PC? Ask research assistant Bill, send him an email if he’s not busy with the system.) How did it work before in ancient times with the apricorn balls? Quite frankly, I was more into studying ancient battle methods like strong and fast style so I didn’t pay attention. Then the opposite end of this is dynamax pokemon being physical projections rather than being giant, but that’s a regional exclusive, which has already been posted by both Galarian Professor Sonia and Professor (assistant?) Hop.
How does one measure “bonds?” The sheer factor that the power of friendship is a tool that can be utilized and put into the hands of small children that happen to feed and treat their pokemon well does not make it easy to equate because of how inherently difficult it is to measure a “friendship” statistic. The alola mega evolution controversy put a lot of people under scrutiny which made this kind of thing a big debate topic— then someone brought up Plasma and things got really hairy in here. By definition, mega evolution is about the bond between trainer and pokemon in order to harness the power, and again, only the pokedex has that sort of thing of measurement… people who can afford rotom phones are lucky. Do the rotom consent to being put into the phone? (See, this is just turning into Plasma rhetoric. They really did a number on all aspects of the community.)
What’s up with eggs? Pokemon have to reproduce in various ways. Like ditto might be through mitosis. Has anyone actually ever recorded an egg being laid by a pokemon, check elm’s studies? Are they eggs or just “egg like?” Look at the trainers with togepi and eggxecute as an example. Or you know, Chansey and Blissey. The move “softboiled” comes to mind. Pokémon edibility is yet another debate but I can only write down so many ideas from this debate session (I forgot my laptop and someone’s Pokémon used bubble on my tablet after the explosion and it’s still getting repaired).
(What do you mean the camera footage corrupted in our database.)
(All daycares? Who’d be that petty to have a mass power outage just for that?!)
If you stacked two togepi on opposite sides of each other would they become an egg again? (Why would anyone do that if anyone in the club has done that I will have no words.)
AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE HERE HAVE TRIED TOGEPI EGG STACKING.
Legendaries are a different sort of thing. (not getting into the mythological debate.)
Consider it and ignore it because we’re researchers in the science department, not the arts department. Take it up with the history students, Andrew.
(That guys a real piece of work. Then again I'm probably just as pretentious, aren't I?)
2. Self studied research on the structure of a pokemon journey (questions and analysis)
Introduction: To Be Added in Later
Defining the Journey
The Pokemon Journey is the definition for trainers in order for them to learn and live with pokemon.
A typical journey tends to have a rival who may or may not be in the same town as you (consider them on the same level as the buddy system that Junior Scouts/Picknickers receive) and they will be an active goal to strive towards as competition is needed as a motivation. Typical pokemon starters/first partners are normally given out through programs either sponsored or maintained by local professors in the area, caught by family members, or breeders in the area. Otherwise traditional structure has a child be given 5 pokeballs and a pokemon from a gym leader to help them catch a pokemon. Gym leader's pokemon is normally returned because trying to steal one would be incredibly stupid. (note: stupid isn't academic). Journeys usually entail of gathering information for a pokedex, learning training techniques, and usually joining either the league or contest circuit or a combination of both. Not every trainer goes on the same exact journey nor should they be expected to. Some won't use the pokedex, some won't start with a sponsor, some will start for their own personal reasons, and some will go solely to search for things like legends and myths. Normally the circuits alternate starting in between spring and fall to coincide with academics as some trainers do both their journey and academic pursuit at the same time (like me.)
Defining the Trainer
The definition of a Pokemon Trainer is "A person who raises Pokémon and trains them as partners in battle. In battle, a Trainer gives orders to the Pokémon and uses items. It's not an exaggeration to say battles can be won or lost on a Trainer's single strategic move. Trainers pour their hearts into their Pokémon and share anger, sadness, and joy as they adventure in the hope of becoming Pokémon masters." The license is what typically allows a trainer to officially begin their journey, though this is not always the case. The trainer/handler license is normally given out to people in the age range of 10-16, though there are some exceptions like if the children are truly prodigal, have shown excelled skill, or are already children of prominent trainers. Other ways are being sponsored by something like a corporation or gaining favor from a professor, taking exams in academies to be qualified, or just ignoring the legalities outright and going off the grid. There is one rule no matter aims or specialties-- when trainers make eye contact, they must battle.
Everyone knows what a pokemon is. They're the mysterious creatures we live with in our day to day life. Pokemon raised with exceptional love and care can sometimes display powers outside of the norm and become exceptions such as "light pokemon". Likewise, pokemon that are neglected or harmed psychologically and mentally can begin acting out and lash out. Worse case scenario is a person who cruelly experiments on their pokemon and toys with their emotions to the point that their metaphorical heart closes off as a defense mechanism and they lose emotions. Of course, to mention just pokemon would be to give a disservice to the trainer as well. A trainer's full role is to take care of both health and friendship of pokemon, taking care of their strength and skill, and capture pokemon in order to learn more about them.
Trainers tend to stick to a type or theme that fits them well because raising multiple pokemon of the same type tend to have the same temperament. There's a reason gym leaders tend to be people exceptional with monotypes. Various exceptions come from trainers that go above and beyond the norm by raising their pokemon individually on a case by case basis, who usually tend to be people who are also on journeys to complete their pokedex as given out by their local professors. It is a common practice to train only six pokemon in a team as the maximum because to carry more would not be to give them a fair amount of attention, but most trainers either stick to three or four due to the same practice. Less mons, more time to focus on them all. Only those who are extraordinary can train a team of six pokemon or maybe more based on how many they've caught and rotated within their team. Those are the ones that go on to become prominent within league proper, like Gym Leaders, Ace Trainers, or even Champions. Gym Leaders prove to be the usual first step in a journey on the league circuit, where the usual is to prove strength in either a battle or proving their skills in another sort of way since Gym Leaders are the judge of the trainer.
Go more into Training section
This part has been marked with a red pen
Everyone trains pokemon so differently that its basically impossible to figure out what the most efficient method is outside of love and care in a timely manner that can’t be rushed.
But where is tough love considered? Where is the defined line where it’s too far? How can people determine when coddling is necessary, when kindness can become a cruelty? Don’t even get me started on virtual simulations and the new sorts of technologies that can make a pokemon stronger stats wise… to measure pokemon in statistics is to do a disservice. What about feeding habits? Is it wrong to go for only natural versus preprocessed? Not every pokemon is cut out for battling nor do they have to be. They have the choice to as much as the trainer does.
Pokemon Coordinator section (should I cut this?)
This part has been marked with a red pen.
Contests began in Hoenn and spread to Sinnoh and Kalos has Showcases which they insist are different (why is it girls only?)
Didn't Kanto have that huge contest facility by Mt. Silver? (You know, I'd actually love to see footage of that and spot if anyone prominent showed up)
the definition of being beautiful with pokemon is debated upon since contests haven't been around as long as the concept of battling
I mean, contests are a journey as well, but there's not many people who also don't just become trainers in the league circuit because these things cost a lot of money if you don't have reliable transportation like my sister did...
After a journey is completed, trainers normally return to their hometowns where they get jobs and pursue other lifestyle goals with their funds used from training and the circuits to do so. Pokemon that can adjust to a small lifestyle stay, while those more interested in battling are either given to the local professor to be passed through a rigorous adoption system where they occasionally revisit their trainer. The statistics of people who have given up on journeys due to abnormal exceptions has never been a fully measured number, but occasionally they'll be referred to with derogatory terms like "dropouts." Dropouts normally do not resume their journey but if they do so they either have to start from scratch or take an alternative path based on how many badges they have (I've noted that the average tends to be around 4-5 badges based on online posts I've looked up (note: find better sources outside of Pidgey posts). Only truly exceptional people go all into pokemon training as a profession-- and thus, they begin the journey to becoming a pokemon master.
The definition of a pokemon master has largely been debated upon. It's not enough to be just a champion, nor a member of the elite four, nor catch all pokemon, nor trainers who participate in the pokemon masters league, and being a master trainer specializing in a single pokemon would make you a pokemon master just for that pokemon. As for people I interviewed, all their answers were mixed as well. Is it to be able to beat every battle you've come across? To conquer the pathway that's laid out upon you? To have mastery over every and all pokemon? Could we not define a trainer like Red or Leaf as a pokemon master since they have fufilled the criteria of completing a pokedex, becoming a champion, and generally being agreed upon as a strong trainer? Couldn't Gym Leader Green reach that exact same criteria since he became Champion before Red, even if he was never registered in the hall of fame for long? But even he was able to be beaten, so can he truly be the master? It's a complete headscratcher because the three of them are on equal levels of strength, after all. The relentless pursuit of strength is an endless task that will never truly be able to be measured, at least not in our history.
Citations: The Documentary of Pallet Town
A History of Gym Leaders
Orre's Darkest Secret
Balancing Act: Gentle or Bad Raising Habits?
The Curious Case of the Pokedex
Super training and physical fitness
An Illustrated Book of POCKET MONSTERS/ Pokemon Zukan
"Holy miltank, I got a B!"
Most of the citations on this list are fake except for two, the translated Zukan book that goes into some of the shrinking lore and a book in Kalos in some NPC dialogue . It's never said how long Green (rival) was in the indigo league as champion before Red/Leaf showed up and beat him. Also I'm going to continue keep putting Leaf on the same measurement of strength as Red probably as a thing for my fics. Various peppered in references to anime stuff based on things I recalled. There can be exceptions to the journey’s age sort of thing but I think I’ve got it cemented down.
Varied Studies of Pokemon (7/26)
You've got Mail!
CC: Midterm Essay
After the final tournament battle caused the stadium to explode I couldn't think straight.
I’m handing this in for like a C professor I sincerely doubt this one’s getting published anywhere
Just pick the best one from the notes or something... i give up...
— August Oakley
Attached below is a document called AugustMidPDS.
Notes from debate club regarding studies of the pokemon world (title pending)
I. Ideas from varied essays/arguments within the club itself summarized
The existence of “animals”. As in non-pokemon creatures that have no powers whatsoever. Pretty sure we just call those normal types. Never heard of a bird type. (No, Jason, a cow is a miltank and a bull is a tauros or bouffalant.) Previously called magical creatures, yokai, gods, and fae, but we don’t use the last one anymore because of fairy types. Pikachu is classified as a mouse Pokémon, but what is a mouse? Meowth is called the scratch cat Pokémon, but is meowth considered “the cat” that all other catlike Pokémon follow? (The pokedex initially following just Kanto and expanding outwards has not helped this classification question because alolan meowth and galarian meowth have been divergences that have existed simultaneously but do not predate the cat question.) The phrase raining “cats and dogs” implies some kind of dog like creature that isn’t a snubull or lillipup.
(I’m pretty sure this idea was stolen from some poketubers in regards to the pokedex and can be disregarded, Professor.) Not sure what any professor is doing with the hard labor of children and the "automatic dex entries" aside from something like “one day a boy woke up as kadabra”, that’s Kafka. Why is it called the “national dex” once trainers abroad from other regions got it anyways, shouldn’t it be called the Global dex? Like it’s called the global trade station, not the national trade station… irregardless. Classifying Pokémon is difficult enough as is and then you add in regional variants and slightly altered Pokémon and then artificial ones or “newly discovered” that were actually misidentified as other Pokémon. Researchers took 6 years to figure out bulbasaur's classification and that field guide was written decades ago. Basically, our lives as researchers will never end. Count Tajirin started classifying them decades ago, then sometime in Hisui (modern Sinnoh) a professor Laven something made the first pokedex iteration which was modernized by Oak. What? Why would anyone think Count Tajirin is a vampire? What about the newly discovered species of Johto?
Pokemon that ecologically moved or you know, the fact not many people bothered with identifying mons plus the ones that were on the brink of extinction. So, fossils would be newly discovered by definition? Yes? Not the galarian ones, those are not identified by the regional museum association.
Are we going to have another essay debate on how pokemon shrink into the balls again? I do not want to have to deal with the backlash of the last guy who said “minimize” and then was tossed out of the magazine scene. How exactly do balls work now that they’re all digitized? Sliph Co produces the balls but does not tell the public the exact breakdown. (As an aside, can Pokémon be corrupted in the PC? Ask research assistant Bill, send him an email if he’s not busy with the system.) How did it work before in ancient times with the apricorn balls? Quite frankly, I was more into studying ancient battle methods like strong and fast style so I didn’t pay attention. Then the opposite end of this is dynamax pokemon being physical projections rather than being giant, but that’s a regional exclusive, which has already been posted by both Galarian Professor Sonia and Professor (assistant?) Hop.
How does one measure “bonds?” The sheer factor that the power of friendship is a tool that can be utilized and put into the hands of small children that happen to feed and treat their pokemon well does not make it easy to equate because of how inherently difficult it is to measure a “friendship” statistic. The alola mega evolution controversy put a lot of people under scrutiny which made this kind of thing a big debate topic— then someone brought up Plasma and things got really hairy in here. By definition, mega evolution is about the bond between trainer and pokemon in order to harness the power, and again, only the pokedex has that sort of thing of measurement… people who can afford rotom phones are lucky. Do the rotom consent to being put into the phone? (See, this is just turning into Plasma rhetoric. They really did a number on all aspects of the community.)
What’s up with eggs? Pokemon have to reproduce in various ways. Like ditto might be through mitosis. Has anyone actually ever recorded an egg being laid by a pokemon, check elm’s studies? Are they eggs or just “egg like?” Look at the trainers with togepi and eggxecute as an example. Or you know, Chansey and Blissey. The move “softboiled” comes to mind. Pokémon edibility is yet another debate but I can only write down so many ideas from this debate session (I forgot my laptop and someone’s Pokémon used bubble on my tablet after the explosion and it’s still getting repaired).
(What do you mean the camera footage corrupted in our database.)
(All daycares? Who’d be that petty to have a mass power outage just for that?!)
If you stacked two togepi on opposite sides of each other would they become an egg again? (Why would anyone do that if anyone in the club has done that I will have no words.)
AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE HERE HAVE TRIED TOGEPI EGG STACKING.
Legendaries are a different sort of thing. (not getting into the mythological debate.)
Consider it and ignore it because we’re researchers in the science department, not the arts department. Take it up with the history students, Andrew.
(That guys a real piece of work. Then again I'm probably just as pretentious, aren't I?)
2. Self studied research on the structure of a pokemon journey (questions and analysis)
Introduction: To Be Added in Later
Defining the Journey
The Pokemon Journey is the definition for trainers in order for them to learn and live with pokemon.
A typical journey tends to have a rival who may or may not be in the same town as you (consider them on the same level as the buddy system that Junior Scouts/Picknickers receive) and they will be an active goal to strive towards as competition is needed as a motivation. Typical pokemon starters/first partners are normally given out through programs either sponsored or maintained by local professors in the area, caught by family members, or breeders in the area. Otherwise traditional structure has a child be given 5 pokeballs and a pokemon from a gym leader to help them catch a pokemon. Gym leader's pokemon is normally returned because trying to steal one would be incredibly stupid. (note: stupid isn't academic). Journeys usually entail of gathering information for a pokedex, learning training techniques, and usually joining either the league or contest circuit or a combination of both. Not every trainer goes on the same exact journey nor should they be expected to. Some won't use the pokedex, some won't start with a sponsor, some will start for their own personal reasons, and some will go solely to search for things like legends and myths. Normally the circuits alternate starting in between spring and fall to coincide with academics as some trainers do both their journey and academic pursuit at the same time (like me.)
Defining the Trainer
The definition of a Pokemon Trainer is "A person who raises Pokémon and trains them as partners in battle. In battle, a Trainer gives orders to the Pokémon and uses items. It's not an exaggeration to say battles can be won or lost on a Trainer's single strategic move. Trainers pour their hearts into their Pokémon and share anger, sadness, and joy as they adventure in the hope of becoming Pokémon masters." The license is what typically allows a trainer to officially begin their journey, though this is not always the case. The trainer/handler license is normally given out to people in the age range of 10-16, though there are some exceptions like if the children are truly prodigal, have shown excelled skill, or are already children of prominent trainers. Other ways are being sponsored by something like a corporation or gaining favor from a professor, taking exams in academies to be qualified, or just ignoring the legalities outright and going off the grid. There is one rule no matter aims or specialties-- when trainers make eye contact, they must battle.
Everyone knows what a pokemon is. They're the mysterious creatures we live with in our day to day life. Pokemon raised with exceptional love and care can sometimes display powers outside of the norm and become exceptions such as "light pokemon". Likewise, pokemon that are neglected or harmed psychologically and mentally can begin acting out and lash out. Worse case scenario is a person who cruelly experiments on their pokemon and toys with their emotions to the point that their metaphorical heart closes off as a defense mechanism and they lose emotions. Of course, to mention just pokemon would be to give a disservice to the trainer as well. A trainer's full role is to take care of both health and friendship of pokemon, taking care of their strength and skill, and capture pokemon in order to learn more about them.
Trainers tend to stick to a type or theme that fits them well because raising multiple pokemon of the same type tend to have the same temperament. There's a reason gym leaders tend to be people exceptional with monotypes. Various exceptions come from trainers that go above and beyond the norm by raising their pokemon individually on a case by case basis, who usually tend to be people who are also on journeys to complete their pokedex as given out by their local professors. It is a common practice to train only six pokemon in a team as the maximum because to carry more would not be to give them a fair amount of attention, but most trainers either stick to three or four due to the same practice. Less mons, more time to focus on them all. Only those who are extraordinary can train a team of six pokemon or maybe more based on how many they've caught and rotated within their team. Those are the ones that go on to become prominent within league proper, like Gym Leaders, Ace Trainers, or even Champions. Gym Leaders prove to be the usual first step in a journey on the league circuit, where the usual is to prove strength in either a battle or proving their skills in another sort of way since Gym Leaders are the judge of the trainer.
Go more into Training section
This part has been marked with a red pen
Everyone trains pokemon so differently that its basically impossible to figure out what the most efficient method is outside of love and care in a timely manner that can’t be rushed.
But where is tough love considered? Where is the defined line where it’s too far? How can people determine when coddling is necessary, when kindness can become a cruelty? Don’t even get me started on virtual simulations and the new sorts of technologies that can make a pokemon stronger stats wise… to measure pokemon in statistics is to do a disservice. What about feeding habits? Is it wrong to go for only natural versus preprocessed? Not every pokemon is cut out for battling nor do they have to be. They have the choice to as much as the trainer does.
Pokemon Coordinator section (should I cut this?)
This part has been marked with a red pen.
Contests began in Hoenn and spread to Sinnoh and Kalos has Showcases which they insist are different (why is it girls only?)
Didn't Kanto have that huge contest facility by Mt. Silver? (You know, I'd actually love to see footage of that and spot if anyone prominent showed up)
the definition of being beautiful with pokemon is debated upon since contests haven't been around as long as the concept of battling
I mean, contests are a journey as well, but there's not many people who also don't just become trainers in the league circuit because these things cost a lot of money if you don't have reliable transportation like my sister did...
After a journey is completed, trainers normally return to their hometowns where they get jobs and pursue other lifestyle goals with their funds used from training and the circuits to do so. Pokemon that can adjust to a small lifestyle stay, while those more interested in battling are either given to the local professor to be passed through a rigorous adoption system where they occasionally revisit their trainer. The statistics of people who have given up on journeys due to abnormal exceptions has never been a fully measured number, but occasionally they'll be referred to with derogatory terms like "dropouts." Dropouts normally do not resume their journey but if they do so they either have to start from scratch or take an alternative path based on how many badges they have (I've noted that the average tends to be around 4-5 badges based on online posts I've looked up (note: find better sources outside of Pidgey posts). Only truly exceptional people go all into pokemon training as a profession-- and thus, they begin the journey to becoming a pokemon master.
The definition of a pokemon master has largely been debated upon. It's not enough to be just a champion, nor a member of the elite four, nor catch all pokemon, nor trainers who participate in the pokemon masters league, and being a master trainer specializing in a single pokemon would make you a pokemon master just for that pokemon. As for people I interviewed, all their answers were mixed as well. Is it to be able to beat every battle you've come across? To conquer the pathway that's laid out upon you? To have mastery over every and all pokemon? Could we not define a trainer like Red or Leaf as a pokemon master since they have fufilled the criteria of completing a pokedex, becoming a champion, and generally being agreed upon as a strong trainer? Couldn't Gym Leader Green reach that exact same criteria since he became Champion before Red, even if he was never registered in the hall of fame for long? But even he was able to be beaten, so can he truly be the master? It's a complete headscratcher because the three of them are on equal levels of strength, after all. The relentless pursuit of strength is an endless task that will never truly be able to be measured, at least not in our history.
Citations: The Documentary of Pallet Town
A History of Gym Leaders
Orre's Darkest Secret
Balancing Act: Gentle or Bad Raising Habits?
The Curious Case of the Pokedex
Super training and physical fitness
An Illustrated Book of POCKET MONSTERS/ Pokemon Zukan
"Holy miltank, I got a B!"
Most of the citations on this list are fake except for two, the translated Zukan book that goes into some of the shrinking lore and a book in Kalos in some NPC dialogue . It's never said how long Green (rival) was in the indigo league as champion before Red/Leaf showed up and beat him. Also I'm going to continue keep putting Leaf on the same measurement of strength as Red probably as a thing for my fics. Various peppered in references to anime stuff based on things I recalled. There can be exceptions to the journey’s age sort of thing but I think I’ve got it cemented down.
