The Safari Zone Allegory

You pay $500 of whatever currency it is to get in. Cool. No big deal. There's tall grass, some spots to fish, you walk around. Maybe you get lucky and run into something rare - a Chansey, Scyther, Kangaskhan, Dratini...whatever it is you're looking for. Hell, maybe you just want a Nidorino/Nidorina, because you've got that moon stone. Regardless, you encounter one, that little diddle-ee-doo chime plays and your heart skips a beat in anticipation. You've got four options at this point: Throw bait, throw a rock, throw a safari ball, or run. Choose wisely. Not all Pokemon react the same. Some take the bait. Some run. Some get angry when you throw a rock, but stay for whatever reason, because they're weird like that and are into it. Maybe you just go for it and throw a safari ball. You've got 30, so why not? Take a chance and just go for it. What's the worst that will happen? The Pokemon runs? You catch it? It's maddening. Your palms sweat and your eyes hurt because you've been staring so intently that they dried out. Some are easier to read than others and only respond to bait or rocks or balls. Others, like freaking Chansey's are just impossible. Sure it would be great to catch one, but is it worth it? Are Chansey's really that great when you could catch a perfectly good Venomoth instead? I don't know. I couldn't really tell you anymore. Then there are those times you just run. Diddle-ee-doo and oh crap, another Nidoran [insert gender]. You have to be selective, but not too selective. You have to try out different strategies. Or maybe use the same strategy on different Pokemon and bank on it hopefully working. It's a gamble. Then there's the fact that you only get 500 steps. That's ridiculous. You're entire path must be carefully planned out or else you're running into walls or getting lost, neither of which are why you're at the Safari Zone. There are some lovely items to collect, and that can keep you occupied, but it's not really the main draw unless you just want those Gold Teeth and subsequently HM 04, which means you're ready to move on anyway. Ding...dong time to go home. If you want to try your luck again, fork over another $500. Maybe next time it'll be different. Maybe you get (or even encounter) that elusive Chansey. You really never know. Some players won't stop the vicious cycle of 500's until they do. I say give it a try or two or three. It's fun. It's exciting. But always remember you never know when you're going to run into Dugtrio in Diglett's Cave, or an Abra in that little strip of grass West of Nugget Bridge (but then be prepared to lose your mind)...there are so many awesome Pokemon outside of Safari Zone that it hardly seems worth the time. Or maybe you have your heart set on that single Zapdos and you know just where it is, where it always is. You know it will be a battle. It might take a ton of restarts. It's worth it though. Zapdos is the shit.