Hmmm - Mainstream

[Darkstorm]

Tom asked a question about scenarios and it is turning into a mainstream discussion. As to not hijack that thread, I started this one. I may be just old but I see it through different eyes and sometimes get religious on a topic.

I remember when a little band was popular with the trenchcoat crowd. The name was kind of unique; U2. They sold out and went MAINSTREAM. Their fans were upset because it was THEIR band. It would seem that a lot of people wanted it to be THEIR paintball, sorry folks it was never yours in the first place.

If this game BELONGS to anyone, it is the little field operators, the gun manufactures like Tom, and game operators like Viper and Pacman (among others). To them MAINSTREAM offers challenges, and they need to stay ahead of the wave and ride it where it needs to go. As things get bigger, someone will become the "suits" of paintball, I have cast my votes for them.

When you listen to those who really know, these are the guys you hear the good stories about. There are no "snipers" here. They have made mistakes, but they live up to them and don't hide. They step up, speak up and reach out to teach people the right way to play. How many other can say the same?

To those who only want paintball to be elite, start your own field, be my guest. But don't invite me because I don't want to come. I much rather learn from the real paintballers and not just a pretender. My experience, be it on a wave, rails, or in the woods; the best always make room for someone else in the hope that they someday can watch someone better.

So, how would something like paintball be ruined?...hmmmm...in the end it would be because people like Tom K, you and me let it be. By all accounts, Tom is a good guy. I have a lot to learn but I am learning from the best. I guess that might leave you.

Darkstorm - Stepping down from the soap box.

[datapimp69]

well i was in a toy store today,


and i was staring at the shelf saying, "now paintball is mainstream".

why was i saying this looking at a toy shelf???

because they were no less then 3 diffrent types of "child safe" paintball games..

i think it is a good inducation of mainstream accptance, is when they take something and modify it to be used by children.

some of the toys didnt even shoot balls. they were squirt guns with colored paint for water..

but they were labled "PAINTBALL", i think this helps people get used to the word meaning something other then "guys in the woods playing war".

it is all coming to a head, it will soon be even more popluar then it is now.. this will bring some new people to the sport. some good and some bad.

as with any new sport. look at skateboarding, long history and have finaly come to the mainstream. you can goto all most any town high school and see kids riding there boards around. it wasent that way 10 years ago.

some skate boarding old school guys, say the sport has gone to the birds with all the new people not being in it for the right reason or just to be cool or what ever.. but look at it.

the pro sport has come so far today. the people doing it have come so far because there has been so many people pushing it farther. 10 years ago do you think any of the old school guys would have tought they would see someone on a half pipe doing a double back flip, or a inverted 900. or any of the Krazy stuff they pull off today.

you think the sport would have come that far if it didnt have mainstream backing? i dont think so, it would be a bunch of guys skating POOLS doing hand stands on there boards.

so where im going with this is.. if you look at any of the up and comming sports there is a life cycle to accpentce.

1. the sport is invented.
2. grass root folowing
3. people start making equiment for it.
4. places start poping up to do that sport.
5. big biz takes notice.
6. more people start to do it.
7. big biz says "we have to get in on this"
8. more people start doing it.
9. it creeps into every day life. (i.e. start seeing snipets of it on tv shows)
10. more people do it.
11. more big biz says "damm were late on this one, better get going"

i think you see where im going with this.. baby steps.

you just think of all of us involved now as the old guys riding in the POOL.

we are the new OLD SCHOOL!!!

and thats enuff rambbling, sorry for all the spelling mistakes..

[Brak]

i swam in a stream once...im not sure if it was a main one though..