Paintball a war game?

[MikeCouves]

I was told today that the reason my dad doesn't like paintball because it's a "war" game. He said all we do is go out there and "shoot" eachother up. I was steamed. I told him it was all about teamwork and having fun. The problem is, it's always hard to get the right words that shut up the insulter to paintball. Does anyone have some good words for my ignorant dad that doesn't know what it's all about? I want to print off some stuff for him and show him what paintball is really about.

[Restola]

yeah teamwork, fun, etc. tell him that stuff. but it really doesnt matter what you tell him if he is some bleeding-heart-gore-voting liberal nut then he may be a lost cause (dont call him that!). i would recommend taking him to a nice field with nice facilities with your most parent-friendly buddies and letting him watch you guys play. if he wants to call it a "war-game" then let him, it certainly doesnt offend me. bad for the sport? maybe. "guns" are probably worse for the sport though, and their aint much we can do about that either.

[MikeCouves]

Weird thing is he did come to my tournament that we won, but then he shows no respect! I enjoy paintball more than anything else, I wish people understood that!

[AssassN]

I am 37 years old and I think that it helps tons with exercise and teamwork building. I try to go as often as I can so that i can stay inshape. Also it teaches disipline, if you have a leader to your group you must follow directions. Paintball in my eyes is an all around good sport and I would recomend that everyone pick up a gun and play.


Sincerely,
Chris































Actually i am 14 but i tried to make something to show ur dad just show him everything else hope it works :)

[talls]

The one thing I have learned in the past few years is if they are unwilling to listen they will not change their mind. Taking your dad to a tourney was a big step, and while he didn't show it I bet he understands the sport more. Understanding something is the first step to accepting it as a normal thing. The only things I can suggest is tell your dad to try and read about it and what people on here are all about, and also try and talk him into playing as much as possible. The sport grows on you and you might be able to get him to love it. If you are like me though your dad is pushing the age where he says he is too tired or old but reasure him that it is not as physically demanding as one might expect. I hate to see it when parents don't support kids in activities, but as long as they are not badmouthing it or telling you they want to quit you can't really complain. Good luck though.

[liigod]

You try to tactically eleminate your competition so that you can achive your end objecting. Capitalism me friend, capitalism. Canada is socialist, but you get the drift.

[mag_pbg]

no diss or anything but, I can't stand people who think paintball is a war game! If it was a war game don't you think it would be having some type of military type name, or something that acually has to do with a branch or goverment. I personally don't see any reseblace to a paintball MARKER and a real gun, Nor do I see how people having fun on a weekend resembles pacticing to kill others. Just to get this out of my system, but I aslo can't stand Anti-Gun, and Anti-Hunting. I don't see whats so wrong about having a gun "Guns don't kill People Kill" And then the whole you shouldn't hunt or kill animals, if we didn't we would be over populated, we would all be tree huggin hippies! Sorry about the last two things, couldn't help it.

[DOWNWITHANGELS]

How is it different than little kids running around with toy guns? Or playing arcade games where you shoot people? Dont forget to mention that it has been proven that you are more likely to injure yourself in golf than paintball.

[Miscue]

I think of it as a modern game of freeze tag. Except, you have really long arms that can move at 300 fps. :)

[Bluntman]

Hey, I happen to be a bleedin-heart-NADER-voting* radical tree hugging hippie and I play paintball!


*well if I could vote

[MikeCouves]

Yeah I am printing off stuff that is effective and telling him to read it or I will make sure he never gets a good night sleep again ;). But I hope I can get my point across to him somehow...

[FatMan]

The best article I've seen about paintball and war was written by Durty Dan - and is published on his site:

www.durtydan.com

He has an article "Why Paintball Isn't War" Plus about a dozen other articles that are good info for dealing with this kind of thing.

(go to the site, click the graphic to enter, then click another for the "site map" and its easy to find from there)

See if that helps. Otherwise, try to get your dad to play a game. Nothing changes minds like first-hand experience!

Play safe and have fun,

FatMan

[Newbie505]

To me the essence of paintball is about "friendly" competition. It just happens to take place in a forum that many feel resembles war.

I am a 37 year-old dad who recently took up the sport so that I could do something with my 14 year old son. It gives us something to talk about and allows me to communicate with him other than nag at him to mow the lawn. To be honest I don't think you will be able to change your dad's mind because that is what his perception of paintball is. We dad's are very stubborn.

I personally feel that everyone should try paintball before you bash paintball. To me it is isn't about try to hurt the other guy more than he can hurt me, but about do I have what it takes to stand toe-to-toe against someone and come out on top. I don't want to hurt the guy, just tag him once with a paintball.

Good Luck in the continuing education of your dad.

[Hasty8]

Try this.

When ever we run one of our teambuilding corporate adventures the lesson is always the same regardless of the activitiy.

"The lessons we leran on the battlefield will be used in the boardroom."

It matter little whether the "battlefield" is a basketball court, baseball field, white water rapids or a paintball field.

Team dynamics helps you build character, intergrity and the most important ability needed in today's cut throat corporate world. Leadership.

Try telling him that, while keeping your emotions in check and see if he changes. If he doesn't then at least accept his feelings and thank him for supporting you by coming to your games even though he does not enjoy the sport.