Paintball : violent image or violent sport

[shartley]

Originally posted by phatpat47
Shartley, I was refering to the topic of course, and it did portray the changes as a negative thing. So accepting them would mean that you dont think of the changes as negative. thats all I was saying. maybe accept wasnt the right word but still.

Fair enough. :)

[andreb]

Just read this at PBN

Just shows the exact two different points of view that I talked about in the origibal post.


AngelDye576

Scenario Paintball...just plain sucks?
If there is one bad image to paintball I think(including Clockstoppers), it has to be Scenario paintball. People trying to make "Sniper" markers or M16/M4 looking guns is ridiculous. I dunno, but just looking at people dressed in a ghuile suit with markers made to look like real fire arms is stupid. Go play airsoft and dress up like a Tac-Ops-person-thingy. Your two cents?

usaref

right, cuz seeing the pro's come up on a bunker and from a foot away shooting 5 rounds onto someones back (or head or neck) and then having the other guy start screaming at the referee because "he was hit first"........



Just though it was funny I ran into this today...

[rx2]

I have been playing since 93, and I really haven't noticed a change to more agressive playing. Of course, most of the people I played with were on competitive teams (yes, there were teams before speedball, and such). However, we were all pretty much of the same mentality when it came to the game.

When I began, there were times one would get overshot. There were also times when games were played in which hits didn't count, so one could get hit fifty times in one game (usually this was to get rid of paint at the end of the day). Now, MOST people at the fields were pretty friendly, and willing to help, even those on teams. But, there were still arrogant fools that would trash talk, attempt to intimidate, and would overshoot with their brand new Cockers or Mags.

Now, when I do make the rare trip to the field, I don't find that things are much different. There is still the competitive crowd, and the rec crowd. There are still trash-talkers, and friendly sorts. Overshooting is more common, but not much worse than when I started.

So, in my area, the sport isn't much more agressive, or any more violent. Actually, the overall atmosphere is a little bit more relaxed now. But there are exceptions.

I think the main problems I do see come from arrogant, under-appreciative members of resident teams, and naieve whiners/hotheads who saw paintball on a show, and come to the field with no idea what the game is really like.

On one hand, certain team players have an air about them that they are superior, and so is their gear. You are infringing on their time and space by playing on their practice field. They think anyone not sponsored is a joke, and they seek to make their day as miserable as possible, so that they can watch it on tape later in the back of their Escalade and laugh at the newbs. Usually they are the team members who have never had to settle for beginners gear who get the biggest kick; they are the type who went out and bought, or had purchsed for them, the most expensive gear, and almost immediately began playing with a team of some sort.

On the flipside, you have the kids and such who have only heard about paintball, and they want to be cool, so they go walk on to a field without knowing it can hurt to be hit, and that sometimes people do overshoot. So, they are caught off gaurd and start whining and/or ranting.
Back in when I started, in my area, most people have never heard of paintball. The only people who got into it were those who really wanted to, and while a few were naive, it wasn't to the extend that one sees today.

So, while there are a few types of negative people that are more prevalent today, in my experience, the overall level of agression and intensity hasn't changed much. Perhaps the negatives just stand out more, as there is a greater contrast amongst players.

[sbpyro]

Old yup

the climate of paintball is different.

I tend to play rec ball since I enjoy it.

I am going to clarify on what I don't agree with is that you have ppl who play competive paintball on a team and playing a rec game and treating it like a tourney.

I remember when you were likely to get extra shots on you because the paint bounced so much that it could hit rocks and trees and not break. So I agree that a couple (3 or 4) shots during bunkering is not over excessive but if you are standing in one spot and nailing some one for more than 3 seconds then that can be excessive even at 3 bps nevermind what some of these "players" can do.

[Farlow]

Once I again I will have to say it. Do not pick on the guy who dresses in the ghillie suit and wants to snipe people. I refuse to run and I refuse to capture a flag. Some of us enjoy sitting for 15 min plus and fire that one shot that hits the person in the back. Hence the reason why I play in my backyard. Just an opinion from the other side of the coin.

[coolcatpete]

I still have fun at the tournies even if I get rocked it is awsome and all my friends think the same.