Playing fair...or playing stupid?

[CleenSweep]

I was at a local tournament this past weekend here in K.C. I did not get to play because of a funeral. However, as I was watching I noticed a player get shot in the pack. It was not a bad hit and left very little paint, but a hit it was. He felt it and asked the ref for a paint check. Of course he was eliminated and eventually his team was defeated.

As his team was leaving the field I was so impressed with his honesty that I told him so. He said thank you and proceeded to the chrono. It was in this line that I heard his teamates rip into him for volunteering himself to be checked. The hit did make it past the observations of the ref. They chewed into him for the next 20 min. and I felt very agrivated and sorry for him.

I have been playing paintball for a long time now and I know all about pushing the envelope. But were his actions honorable or just stupid. I felt it was the right thing to do and admired him for it. However, I hear otherwise from even some of the guys on my team. To me you have a lot more fun being honest than just not caring.

[TRIAD]

It was great that he did that, I mean, if you win and cheat, what's the point. His teammates must not have any morals, because cheating is really dumb. Whenever we play (rec only for now), we have refs and we all regularly check if we feel something, because there's no point in not checking. It just shows that he's honest and willing to lose to play fair.

[Schnitzel]

when in a setting such as a tournament, people will do things they wouldn't do if they were just playing rec. It takes a lot of will power to call yourself, when you could easily play on. I hate doing it, but if some 10 year-old saw me do that, i would be ashamed. who knows how such a little action could affect the future of his and his friends games. those who play fair deserve the high-end markers, not some punk whose balls haven't even dropped yet.

[Python14]

I wish more paintballers were like that. Yea, his team may have lost. But it's only a game. They don't have careers or big money riding on it. Honor and valor like that should be valued more than money and sponsorships.

Next time you see him, or if you ever see him, tell him how right that was of him. Doing the right thing, especially when all your friends don't like it, is very hard, but gratitude from a stranger makes it worth it.

okay, I digress.

[nutz]

Bottom line here...

Losing sucks

[Jonno06]

"cheating gets it faster"-Jimmy Eat World...


thats cool,but why worry about a small rec trny?

[magman007]

well what he did was good, where i play you have to baisically point out where the hit is to the ref, or they usually dont see it. i mean i got hit in the side of the mask and they didnt see it, i took the time to check my self and call my self out, i always play fair, whether it is a tourny or a rec game, and i figure in tourny's if you sdont win, the sportsman ship prizes are usually pretty bad azz 2

[Bwaites]

Bobby Jones, one of the greatest golfers who ever lived put it this way.

He called a penalty on himself when his ball moved as he addressed the ball. That is the proper thing to do by the rules. No one else saw what had happened. When he was congratulated for his honesty, He said "You might as well congratulate a man for not robbing a bank, for what would be the point if you cannot be honest with yourself" I think I paraphrased that a little, but the point is made.

The guy was right in what he did, regardless of the lack of morals of his teammates. "Win at all cost" only should apply in war.

I find that most people who cheat don't feel good about themselves, and they HAVE to live with themselves.

Bill

[MagmanLee]

What i think he did was very honorable, regardless of what others think about winning at all cost and pushing the envolope. Maybe others don't have morals and don't care how they win but it's good to see at least some ppl are honest enough to do the right thing.

[TheBigRaguPB4L]

Originally posted by Bwaites
I find that most people who cheat don't feel good about themselves, and they HAVE to live with themselves.

Bill

I disagree. People that cheat are playing for one purpose, and one purpose only, to win. Winning is the only reason to play. To most "proffessional" paintball players, winning means that you are the best. As long as their team is ahead and winning, any means of doing so is justifyable. There really isn't to much sportsmanship in "proffesional" paintball. I realize that there are honest players and honest teams. But they are so few and far between, they're really hard to spot in the midst of all the wiping, playing on, and arguing a a call just to get a few points.

I once, not to long ago, had a discussion with a kid that works at my local shop. Actually, he's the son of the owner. He was trying to tell me that cheating is a normal aspect of paintball. He was trying to justify cheating. I would have argued, but really, is there a point? He would have never let down and most of those type of people see only their way. It just seems to me that the higher level of paintball you play, the more dishonest you have to be to succeed. Kinda makes me want to stick to rec ball.

[shartley]

Bobby Jones, one of the greatest golfers who ever lived put it this way.

He called a penalty on himself when his ball moved as he addressed the ball. That is the proper thing to do by the rules. No one else saw what had happened. When he was congratulated for his honesty, He said "You might as well congratulate a man for not robbing a bank, for what would be the point if you cannot be honest with yourself" I think I paraphrased that a little, but the point is made.

The guy was right in what he did, regardless of the lack of morals of his teammates. "Win at all cost" only should apply in war.

I am with you on the first sentence, but you lost me with the second. Winning at all cost and warfare can be a pretty scary thing if you think about it. That is why we have War Tribunals. You may want to rethink that one. (nuff said)

Bottom line here...

Losing sucks

[mykroft]

I was watching a video of that Russian team, Iron Legion? when one of their back guys ran up, under fire to tell a front guy that he was hit, the front guy walks off, and the back guy runs back.

That team has a rep for ironclad honesty, even so much as to risk another tag to make sure they played honest.

[nutz]

wow... isnt where were the refs in this game?? in any big teams game theres always more than 1, 2 or even 3 refs

[mykroft]

nutz, the ref ahdn't seen the hit, it was 10 man, with about 5 refs, back guy saw the hit on the pack and ran up to tell the other guy he was out.

[FrAuStY]

I personally would have had some words with his teamtes about their behavior. First off...he's honest.. there is NOTHING wrong with that. That is one reason I won't play tourney ball... too many dishonest teams! Its been stated before...if you cheat to win... you don't actually win, you just stole the title of "The Winner" from the opposition. Its hard to believe that morals have regressed so bad that people cheat in paintball just like on their S.A.T's! I feel for those people, you know if they cheat in paintball they gotta be cheating elsewhere. What a sad lonely life to live. Thats not healthy. Anyway..I'd given him mad proprs in front of his team.. after having a few words with them for giving him lip about being honest..

Is he still on that team? If so..they should be greatful...what if he didn't call himself out..then they lost him+1 for playing on? Then they'da been even more upset.. Kinda Catch 22'ish, crazy.