I’ve always been a fan of role-playing games and the idea of living in a fantasy world. That’s why, when I heard about Live Action Role Play (LARPing), I was instantly intrigued. I was excited to join a community where I could dress up as my favorite character, fight battles with foam weapons, and immerse myself in a different world.
But as I started to get more involved in LARPing, I began to see the dark side of this hobby. I noticed that some players took things too far and became emotionally attached to their characters and plotting death to in game enemies. They would become angry and confrontational when their characters were defeated or killed. This kind of aggressive behavior started to make it tense for everyone involved.
Additionally, I began to see a lot of drama and power struggles within the community. People would form cliques and alliances, and there were often arguments and disagreements over rules and decisions. It seemed like the fun and excitement of LARPing was being overshadowed by negative interactions between players.
I also noticed that the cost of participating in LARPing events was becoming more and more expensive and exclusive, why did I have to touch your toes before you granted me entry?
It seemed like the hobby was becoming less accessible to people who couldn’t afford to spend a lot of money on costumes and weapons. This created a sense of elitism and exclusivity within the community, which further contributed to the toxic atmosphere.
But the biggest issue I encountered was the physical danger posed by some LARPers. People would engage in combat with foam weapons, but accidents still happened and I witnessed players getting seriously hurt. Some neck beards didn’t take safety precautions seriously, and it became a major concern for me.
Overall, I was disappointed to see the dark side of LARPing. It seemed like a hobby that was meant to be about fun and imagination had become overrun by negativity and danger. I realized that I needed to step away from LARPing and find a different hobby that didn’t have these kinds of problems. While I have fond memories of my time in the LARPing community, I wouldn’t recommend it to others because of the potential for danger and negativity.