Paintball Is Not A War Game!!

[Vex]

Do you agree, or disagree? Why?

Please only post if you have something intelligent to say. Use references, either first or second-hand, and don't flame anyone else for thier opinion.

Happy debating!

phazeshifter

[Phil]

Humans are a warlike species. Our societies revolve around warfare. We make games that simulate war so we can hone our skills in our spare time. How anyone could believe that running around with toy guns shooting non-lethal projectiles in a game where the objective is to eliminate the enemy team is not warlike is beyond me. WE are what we are accept it and move on... This is what happens when omnivores rise to sentience. Just imagine our society if our ancestors were true carnivores. We probably would have self destructed by now.

[Gup44]

Paintball really has 2 very different categories of games.

It has tournament style which is a sport and is played like a sport. These players are pushing for paintball (tournament paintball) to be accepted as a sport and don't like the war-like image that paintball has. They stay away from anything that resembles "war simulation".

The other group is the Rec group who plays paintball as a war simulation. They shoot at each other for the thrill of "pretending" war. There are large scenario games built on the foundation of war simulation. To these paintballers, it's fun and you can't convice them to make it "politically correct". They like it the way it is.

So, I would have to disagree with your statement by saying this... Paintball IS a war game for some. But for others, it is a SPORT, and nothing close to war simulation.

[Vex]

Gup44:

I think that was a very well-put statement.

But do you think that if people don't change their views on paintball, by seeing the sport (as a whole) as a war game, that it will never truly become accepted by the general public?

[OldSchoolMag]

The thing is, it IS a war game.

If you want to change the views, drop the 'guns and paint, and get a football. John C. Public sees anything with "gun-like-projectile-launchers" as war like, and can you REALLY blame him? What would you call a bunch of people running around in the woods shooting things at each other? If the first thing that comes into your mind is "sport" and not "war" then you're either very conditioned to being politically correct (or incorrect, however you may look at paintball) or you're just plain looney! The sport is based on a bunch of guys who wanted to feel the thrill of "Hide and Seek" and "Cowboys and Indians" that they felt as kids! It is a WAR-LIKE SPORT! War-like because it involves mimicing the acts of war, and sport because it is used to occupy time and is a fun diversion from life. It's war like, yes, but it's not WAR. There's a difference there, I think.

OSM

[meanelvis]

i don't see it being anything other than a war-inspired sport.

i'm sure this topic has been beaten to death in other forums, other chat rooms, and numerous fields across the nation. what it comes down to is that you and your team are shooting a gun at another player/team and trying to not get shot, tourney or rec.

on the same token, fencing is a war-inspired sport, as is boxing, wrestling, and to stretch a bit, track 'n field/equestrian. they all have their foundations firmly rooted in some form of war. Do the athletes in these sports believe that they are practicing for war? certainly not.

we cannot escape the fact that we are shooting at one another and trying to not get shot. that point is moot. anyone saying that paintball is not a war-inspired sport is either delusional or trying to sell you something.

The question I want to pose is, is there dishonor in paintball being a war-inspired sport? My answer is a big, fat NO. It's a young sport that some gun-control-favoring politicians want to see the end of.

Hopefully I added something to the debate-- it's friday and i'm tired. maybe i'll have something more intelligent to say come monday. reffing at 7AM is fun, yet not :)

[Gup44]

by phazeshifter
But do you think that if people don't change their views on paintball, by seeing the sport (as a whole) as a war game, that it will never truly become accepted by the general public?

I think the more the general public learns about paintball, the more accepted it will become. If more people play, both types of games will be accepted because everyone will "know someone who does that." Usually people who object to paintball don't know very much about it. They only know what others have said or what their impression of the game is by what little they may have seen.

Bottom line? Get people into it. Show your friends, get people involved. Let people touch your stuff and seee that it's "OK". Get parents into it. Steer away from stuff that will turn perspective parents off (like naked chicks holding paintball guns). That kind of stuff only hurts paintball. Ya, it's nice on the eyes, but it doesn't need to be a part of paintball.

The general public can (and I think WILL) accept both types of games. IF... the players conduct themselves appropriately on and off the field.

[ThePatriot]

Sure, paintball has come under fire for some of its issues. But every year the sport is growing, how many people do you know that tried paintball once and HATED it?? To a first timer, i am sure there is a war aspect, and the fact everyone(for the most part) who plays it, likes it shows people are warlike. This is because humans have the instinct to go to war. We are one of the only animals that kills its own species...

[FooTemps]

PaintBALL is a war game actually...

It includes the idea to get the oponents out of the skirmish. It also includes tactics similar to fighting tactics. It is just applied in a different style. It still includes a "weapon" which is used remove people from the game. Unlike games like baseball, basketball, football, soccer, hockey, racing, tennis, golf, bowling, and etc, paintball uses the idea of take out your opponent instead of the idea of best your opponent. You see other competition sports follow the idea of besting the opponent by performing better than them. The idea of paintball is getting the opponent out of the picture so it's easier to win.
BUT, on the other side, paintball is a good thing. It teaches people how to critically think about the tactics that you or your oppenents use. It sharpens your mind. Chess, checkers, go-ban, and etc are like paintball in that way. But if paintball is like chess, wouldn't chess be a war game too?

EDIT: I am soo dumb...lol... I called paintball paint...

[Panzerr]

I disagree. Paintball is nothing more than an advanced game of "Tag".

[FooTemps]

Originally posted by Panzerr
I disagree. Paintball is nothing more than an advanced game of "Tag".

Pretty damn advanced game of tag using tactics like this... anyways, tag is still a game so that's another reason people wouldn't consider paintball a sport...

[Vex]

FooTemps

A little off the subject, but in your signature, you show clearly what paintball isn't: two people at war, shooting guns at each other. Yet you state that paintball is a "war game"--I'm not flaming you, but that looks a little hippocritical towards you.

[FooTemps]

Hmmm... Wow, I completely forgot about the sig! lol... Oh well...

[Dude]

I think that when people first start playing it is a war game for them, but as the player gets more into paintball it becomes less of a war game and more of a sport.

[meanelvis]

yes, i'd argue that chess is a wargame from a strategy point of view. Even tag! These games are focused on eliminating your opponent through either tactics or athletic ability.

the game of tag reminds me of those nature shows where you see the baby tigers chasing each other down and tackling each other-- they look like they're playing, but they're actually training for the real thing-- hunting, in their case.

again, i think arguing the war-game question is a dead argument. i guess the question that should be asked over "is paintball a war game?" should rather be "what do you get out of paintball?", or "what are your motivations for playing?"

for the most of us, we have fun, run around, play outside, and have a physically and mentally constructive (not to mention stress relieving!) hobby that we participate in with millions of others.

on the other hand, some folks do play paintball- either blatantly or secretly- to train for the day where it might possibly be for real. they might think that paintball is the closest you can get to modern, person-on-person warfare without actually killing people (and if you look at it in an honest light, it is). I dont want to expound on a group of people i suppose exist but have no personal experience with. But there have to be these types of players-- aren't there? (i'm not here to bash these types of players- just trying to open some eyes here)