On behalf of the harmless little nerds, it is indeed very funny. (and useful: something like this would have saved me a lot of hassle while trying to explain to curious cops that no, we don't really think we're werewolves, it's called *make-believe*)

FGfaineg.bsky.socialOct 5, 2024 1:19am

The FBI has an official guide towards distinguishing LARPers from violent extremists that boils down to “the difference between harmless little nerds and dangerous little nerds” And I admit that’s a little funny

LARPing and Violent Extremism | FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin

Definitive practical and psychological distinctions between live action role play and violent extremism can help investigators during their pursuit of justice.

Jeff Foxworthy voice: Dear feds, if the nerd you're hauling in keeps yelling, "Potent bomb ties! Aegis! Aegis!" they might be a LARPer.

Short version of the report

spongebob squarepants is making a funny face with his hands in the air and says imagination .

ALT: spongebob squarepants is making a funny face with his hands in the air and says imagination .

This was written by someone who has never had an hour debate over grappling rules in D&D

If they throw seed packets and yell, "Fireball! Fireball!" They're probably a LARPer. If they have green skin and orc teeth... probably a LARPer.

I heard once about a vampire/werewolf LARP at a hotel during a con where something like "The dogs are going to get their fuzzy asses kicked tonight" was said in an elevator ... around normies ... who were also at the hotel for the dog show. Hilarity ensued. (Crisis averted. eventually.)

trying to explain to an officer with a gun the difference between frenzy and thrall

That's exactly what a werewolf would say, though. 🐺🤔

Once they figured out we weren't up to anything nefarious, the cops loved our local Changeling group, as a big mob of weirdos in a local building complex kept taggers away.