Button mashing: all day, erry day. In all seriousness though, I always did this as a kid, and still do it a bit now. It was great for finishing battles when you were in a hurry, or just impatient like I was, as well as getting annoying NPC's to finally cease their talking, especially Nurse Joys. I did the catching thing too, but I didn't mash, so much as follow my own "catch rate improvement rules", compiled from various rumors among my friends and soccer team. I remember that I pressed A and B to catch regular Pokemon easier, and L and R to catch legends. Once I caught Rayquazza with a Timer Ball, on Sapphire, I was pretty much sold.