Before we talk about the dirtiest word in Dystopia Rising, let’s call out one other problematic larp behavior: splitting (also called black-white thinking). Splitting happens when we look at something as “all good” or “all bad” instead of realizing that the thing is actually a mix of both. There are behaviors that are all bad (hitting someone in the face is bad larp behavior), but most of the things we do at larp can have both positive and negative consequences. It’s important to remember splitting as you read the blog, because we’re about to say a word that some players have called “the worst thing ever.” Here’s the word:
Gatekeeping.
We’re going to talk about Gatekeeping, why it’s bad for Dystopia Rising, but also the problem with it’s status as the dirtiest word in DR.
What Is Gatekeeping?
Strictly speaking, gatekeeping is limiting access to a community, event, or other social organization. In geek circles, it’s often used to describe people refusing access to various fandoms, often informally (“Oh, you didn’t play during 2.0? Then you couldn’t understand why…”). In Dystopia Rising, we can be a little more specific: it’s usually used by players to prevent other players from accessing certain parts of the game. It might be limiting access to a mod, preventing someone from joining an in-character organization, or hoarding the only copy of a popular print. Like many larps, Dystopia Rising used to have a culture of overt gatekeeping that many chapters, including Dystopia Rising New York, have been working to overcome for years. We want players to have access to all the cool parts of our larp.
Why Is Gatekeeping Bad?
First, gatekeeping isn’t inherently bad, but when it’s a positive, we usually don’t use the word “gatekeeping.” For example, a chapter can issue a Refusal of Service to a problematic individual, and that’s a form of gatekeeping. So are things like Master Criminal Influence mods, which help organize requests for specialized plots and make running the game more manageable. However, we’re not talking about these forms of gatekeeping.
“Bad” gatekeeping typically involves players not sharing. Sharing is an interesting virtue; we teach children to share, and then forget how to do it as adults. Gatekeeping typically involves a tendency to say “this is mine” - my plot, my group, my item - when other people want you to share. It’s not gatekeeping to have your own things: to have your own in-character group or have your own equipment. But when someone else asks to join your group, or makes a reasonable request to share a resource, it’s time for a responsible player to start thinking “how do I make sure everyone participates.” Gatekeeping, in the negative sense, is this failure: the failure to share the experience.
We like framing gatekeeping as a failure (as opposed to something with malicious intent) because most gatekeeping is due a lack of understanding. Often, people don’t ask to go on the mod or to see the blueprint or to go to the Criminal meeting. But when someone does ask, and they get a “no,” that is gatekeeping.
The Problem With The Problem
Right now, some readers are bristling, thinking that we’re saying “any time you say ‘no’ to another player, it’s gatekeeping.” We kind of are. But remember what we mentioned at the start of this blog: you have to avoid splitting. Gatekeeping is usually “bad,” but sometimes it has positive or necessary consequences.
If anyone can go to the Criminal Influence meeting, why should people buy the skill? In this case, gatekeeping promotes fairness. If you just bring enough food for you to eat, why should you have to share food and go hungry? In this case, gatekeeping is reasonable. If you don’t pay for in-game goods and services, how can we have an economy? In this case gatekeeping is inherent to the game.
The problem with the problem is entitlement. Sharing implies a communal sense of fairness: we all want people to have a good time. But if we only consider our own access to social resources… can I get in the meeting, can I have some of that food, can I see the super secret new print… we’re not actually concerned about the community. We have to still be fair and reasonable and understand the limitations of the game before we make the call of “gatekeeping.”
People come to Dystopia Rising to play in a world that has scarcity, that has secrets, that has bad people doing bad things, and this means some game elements will always have to be behind gates. Some of these gates require a good deal of time and effort to open these gates, and doing so can be quite rewarding. Remember, you might only see the reward at the end, and not the effort that went into achieving it. Be considerate, even while you advocate for yourself, so that you don’t become part of the problem with the problem.