Is game harmless diversion or a monstrous obsession?

As if I need one more distraction.

“Pokemon Go” came into my life unexpectedly as a download on my iPhone by my 10-year-old son. After deleting the video game from my phone several times, I decided to see what all the hype was about.

The moment I opened the game, I was intrigued by the little unannounced cartoon monsters that appeared virtually out of nowhere, bouncing around in the car, on the sidewalk, at the office, egging you on to catch them.

For a couple of weeks, it became an obsession. Where’s the next Pokestop? Who’s the latest character lurking around the corner? I actually stopped at Leonard’s Bakery, one of the Pokemon “battle gyms,” after work one day and bought two malasadas just so I could battle it out while I waited for my order.

I found myself shouting aloud, “My Pokebag is full! I don’t have any balls!” and on another occasion, shoving my son out of the way when the state’s most popular Pokemon character, Pikachu, appeared in my sister’s living room.

It seems like everyone and their mothers are hunting for these virtual creatures across Oahu. My nephews, nieces and sisters are filling up their Pokebags while collecting more ammunition at Pokestops on their way to work, school and play. Co-workers and strangers I pass on the street are mesmerized by it. Even middle-age adults who do not fit the Poketrainer profile are taking part in the craze.

The game has been in the news for weeks as oblivious trainers make their way to parks late at night in search of rare Pokemon species, getting themselves into precarious situations and going to dangerous lengths in the pursuit of amusement.

Across America and around the globe, the thrill of catching virtual Pokemon has made addicts out of millions of people — even people like me, who have never been “gamers” spending hours behind a computer screen or dressing up at Comic Con. I haven’t been fixated on a video game since beating the original Nintendo “Mario Bros.” as a tween in the 1990s.

My latest obsession drives my husband nuts. One Sunday we were at the movies when suddenly a number of Pokemon appeared as we were waiting for our popcorn. “Get off that stupid game!” he barked. “You almost got hit by a car in the parking lot!”

I get his frustration. I already have difficulty being present in the moment without this diversion. I don’t have enough real time in my daily schedule to waste any on virtual reality. I have more than enough responsibilities — such as taking care of kids — the No. 1 reason I should not buy into the hype.

But what’s the harm in escaping the stresses of life with some mindless entertainment for a few minutes — a quick break to recharge the brain before diving back into field trip forms and interview notes?

Hold on, I see Pikachu!

“She Speaks” is a weekly column by women writers of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Reach Kristen Consillio at kconsillio@staradvertiser.com.