Initially it was exciting, but I got turned off when I realized how much the two sides hate each other, and how much that hate festered into petty dramas.
The last thing I need is a reason to hate on and talk shit about other people for a completely made up reason
The game is full of in-group/out-group dynamics, but it really depends on players in the area.
I met people treating this game too seriously. People who turned Ingress into source of interpersonal dramas. I met people from the other team, who looked at me with angry eyes when we shaked hands. And then I met others; I stood there at 3 AM in the park surrounded by a family playing for the other team. The father was telling me interesting stories while at the same time his wife and kid were kicking my butt in-game. We had a good laugh and went our separate ways. I had a lot of friendly chat exchanges with "enemy" players.
Like with all competing groups - whether political, sports, business or videogame - hating is a choice. Play by the rules, steer away from people who seek excuses to hate others, have fun and remember that both sides are playing the same game.
I was doing something late at night (probably working on a hobby project, but I don't remember). I was just going to bed, when I got a warning notification that someone is attacking a portal near my flat. It was a player I came to recognize by nickname because she was constantly retaking the few portals that are next to my home. I decided it's an opportunity to finally meet her, to connect the nickname to a face, so I dressed up and run down to the park.
Upon arrival I met someone with a phone hiding in the shadows near a fence. I just stood there, countering her actions and waiting to be noticed. A kid yelled, "mom! are you coming?", to whom she replied "yes, just wait one minute". After that she noticed me standing there, so she told her kid to go and bring his dad. Moments later I was surrounded by three Ingress players and had to accept those portals are to be theirs that night.
We talked for about half an hour, exchanging stories about the city and Ingress community in it, all in completely friendly atmosphere. I haven't met them IRL again since then, but they take my portals over every now and then :).
It's very addictive when you're within striking distance of next level.
It was only a few times and it was back when I was to low level to take down claimed portals.
I'd plan a route to open portals in surrounding towns on the intel map (after farming as many resonators as I could).
Of course I'd be farming while playing the route so I'd always have more resos than I'd planned and the next town "wasn't that far" and "I've already come all this way", etc. etc.
Wow, that's a strong reaction. I had no idea the sides in Ingress had led to this. Perhaps Google will use it to illustrate the silliness in the "sides" available in politics.
The last thing I need is a reason to hate on and talk shit about other people for a completely made up reason