As a former actress, dominatrix, and burlesque dancer there isn’t much that makes me uncomfortable, besides being restrained and left alone without OOC being told that might happen… and being purposely urinated on without being told OOC that it was going to happen… but then again I think I’m rather a rare case…
I’m pretty sure formal public speaking would make me uncomfortable in most situations. However, it’s really the choice thing. Not having the option/opportunity to say no would make me uncomfortable. With that option not a lot does… but I’d still use it to exercise my right not to speak in public. 
Lots of things make me uncomfortable; however, the order of that set is dwindling bit by bit as time passes.
I’m of the mind that if I’m uncomfortable with something, it’s an opportunity to push my boundaries and grow. Feelings of discomfort may mean I don’t react quickly enough to get in on it (which often leads to regret later on), but they will never make me consciously choose to avoid something. After all, the only way to become comfortable with something is just to do it a bunch of times - if I let a little apprehension stop me, I’d never have taken up LARPing in the first place.
The only exceptions to this are kissing (being kissed would probably be fine, but I would not do it myself) and full-on sexual content - those are boundaries I’m not willing to push with just anyone
Those are a moot point anyway though, given that they’ll likely never come up.
[quote=“grrrlshapedthing”]and being purposely urinated on without being told OOC that it was going to happen…[/quote]I would imagine that most people would be uncomfortable with being urinated upon. Fortunately, I don’t think its something that’s likely to come up at a LARP around these parts. At least I really really hope not.
I would be quite uncomfortable with some sort of public performance, or impromptu public speaking, since I’m not a performer at all, and can’t think quickly enough to give an off-the-cuff speech.
Otherwise, there’s actually a lot of things that would make me uncomfortable I think - you’d have to give me a specific situation before I could really give you a good answer. I seem to be a bit more conservative than many LARPers in many regards really. Although, bizarrely enough, when Nazis have popped up in games over the years, I’ve seemingly been far more comfortable with it than many people (now what the heck does THAT say about me? 
)
Actually, my wife ran this larp many years ago where we got turned to stone for 100 years (we had a break in the middle). When we started the second game, we started as statues and in a clearing. We had our eyes closed and these goblins came into the clearing, drew mustachios on the statues, one of them came up behind me, I heard him unzip his fly and then the warm splash as he pissed all down my leg along with the sigh of relief…
…turned out later it was a squeezie bottle of warm water. But it felt very real at the time.
That is exactly why I asked the question. We have many new people joining the larp fun, and I would rather find that someone may be not quite ok with me shaking my breasts in front of their face while dancing, than doing it assuming it may be fine and then making them feel uncomfortable. And it’s not just the experience, some things are just there as part of personality, so if five years of larping later you still feel same way, it’s totally fine.
We want it to be fun for all. As Kara said, calling Time Out when really needed is fine. Plus, you don’t have to do it big and loud while roleplaying a small scene with someone in the corner of the tavern, you just make the OOC gesture and tell them your reason, like “Sorry, I am not comfortable with this kind of talk”.
I feel same way about many people, usually I just shift away a little and it’s fine, but in the first Teonn weekend game I sometimes had to physically shift them away from me That was an unsanctioned physical contact thing (not really pushing, but something similar) but I didn’t care because I felt really uncomfortable when I stepped away myself first and they kept following very close, so I hoped this would make them understand, and it did. But that’s a rare case, usually things are not going that far. However, if they do, don’t hesitate to make an OOC call to the person.
If you are talking about this April’s Nazis they were pretty hot, so it’s fine to be attracted to them… oh wait… maybe not for you… 
This kind of thing would anger me a lot if someone tried to roleplay it to me, and it would make me feel so uncomfortable that I would possibly avoid interacting with this person in case they do something like that again. Would certainly ruin the mood for playing 
One of the things I personally prefer in larps is more doing and less saying ‘I’m doing …’
For example, I prefer it if people are captured, that they be ‘tied to the chair’ rather than being ‘deemed tied to a chair’. There are a lot of reasons for this, but at the end of the day, I think it can make for a better game. If you are actually tied to a chair, then when the captor leaves the room, you can actually escape.
This does of course require a certain amount of trust and respect ( and it may not be every ones cup of tea 
)
I’m much the same on things like lock-picking, breaking into chests, picking pockets, disarming people etc. I’d rather present players with a strong box and let them figure out how to get in than have a piece of paper on the front saying ‘locked’.
But that, as the saying goes, is how I roll.
…and it’s a conversation that we have every six months or so
I think it’s one of those things where you have to pick your player. I thought it was hilarious! 
I think the best rule of thumb is to be conservative on what you do other players until you get to know them. Peoples boundaries are different, but they’re all worth respecting. Over time you’ll get to know people and in the frequent bits of time when nothing is really happening you can chat about this type of thing. If you’re not sure at the time, ask later so you know for next time. Questions like “hey, when you guys were brawling on the ground, would you have been pissed off if I’d turned the fire hose on you?” really are great conversation starters… 
[quote=“Aiwe”]That is exactly why I asked the question. We have many new people joining the larp fun, and I would rather find that someone may be not quite ok with me shaking my breasts in front of their face while dancing[/quote](strongly resists urge to make dodgy comment)
In all seriousness, no, I wouldn’t be comfortable with that unless I knew you OOC (which obviously I don’t). Even then, it would be pretty immersion-breaking for me as I’d be looking at pretty much everywhere else and everyone else to see if it was OK for them.
Also, there’s a sign? What’s the sign? (Told you I’m a noob )
Viperion
P.S Edit: In answer to Derek’s question that he didn’t ask me: absolutely that would be ok. Funny as hell, in fact
I think it’s one of those things where you have to pick your player. I thought it was hilarious! [/quote]
I’d think it was hilarious too.
Yup, agreed.
Absolutely. You have no idea how long Vanya was persuading me that it’s fine to slap him for real in pirates larp 4 years ago.
I keep wondering why people often feel this way around me…
Making “T” with your hands, they will be explaining it before the game on Friday. Every weekend game has little introduction from GMs on basic rules, like OOC sign, time out calls, difference between “Fire” and “Flame” calles (first is OOC, second is IC, to avoid confusion), so don’t worry about such things, the organisers will make the briefing. Also, if you forget something that you suddenly need, you can always ask someone later.
Actually now that I think about it, I am okay with just about everything, as long as it fits to the general rules of decency.
Hell, in a play I did, I actually told the person I was acting with (Who had to slap me in the face) to actually slap me in the face (For realism =D). However, I would like a short OOC notice just before (So I can prepare a little bit). And just not on full force XD.
And uncomfortable and not willing to do are two different things. I’ll even go to great heights (litterally) as long as it’s safe.
What makes me MOST uncomfortable in LARP is when I’m presented with a situation where I feel like the only way I can participate in the “action” is to act interested/get involved even when my character would not.
That’s where I struggle with the OOC want to be included versus the OOC want to be true to my character.
I realise that IC, like IRL, it’s good to keep an open mind about what you might pursue/who you might talk to. I also realise that sometimes, it’s powerful and meaningful to do a Le Stirge and walk away from the action because it would cause you to cross a line you’d drawn in the sand, as it were.
Short of that? Bring it. The warm water/pee trick? Bloody brilliant! I’d have loved to have seen your face Derek!
[quote]Actually, my wife ran this larp many years ago where we got turned to stone for 100 years (we had a break in the middle). When we started the second game, we started as statues and in a clearing. We had our eyes closed and these goblins came into the clearing, drew mustachios on the statues, one of them came up behind me, I heard him unzip his fly and then the warm splash as he pissed all down my leg along with the sigh of relief…
…turned out later it was a squeezie bottle of warm water. But it felt very real at the time.[/quote]
This is freaking hilarious! I’m with Derek. Tie me to the chair, grab me and pull me away from a fight, whatever. It’s all good. Anna dragged me backwards off Vanya when I was throttling him (yes, hands round his neck, but no, not cutting off his oxygen) at Witch House. We all fell over and probably got bruised a bit. Anna actually apologised after, but it wasn’t necessary, it was a great little scene and soooo much cooler that way than “I strangle you” “Ok, I pull you away from him”.
But yes, I accept that this is not everyone’s cup of tea. I also know Anna and Vanya well.
Probably the only ‘action oriented’ thing that makes me uncomfortable would be being picked up and carried. I’m not a little person and I’m heavier than I look, so that’s embarrassing!
Okay, adds to mental list…
Hahahahah, yup. She’s a fair bit smaller than me tho.
I’d just about give a prize to someone who can chuck me over their shoulder and not collapse! THIS IS NOT A DARE as I said earlier it’s mostly all about a touch of OOC warning that changes comfort to uncomfortable…
Also I agree with Jackie I’ve had experiences where it felt like the GM wanted/expected my character to do what would be something they wouldn’t do…
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks”
I don’t care if it happens for a solid IC reason… I just don’t want to spend a weekend breaking poor guys backs as they try to whisk me over their shoulders…