Is it a BAD thing to be a "spoiled" kid? Want to know your opinion...

[djbea]

Hi AO,

The posts at Paintball.com about Logan Holler (a 12 year old kid that plays tournament ball, in particular, the Super 7) have mentioned that this kid is SPOILED and people are name-calling him a WIGGER and basically posting HATER-style.

Now, is this not about jealousy and envy? If you can take a moment to read the posts (and the article associated with it), I'd like to get your point-of-view about kids playing paintball at such a young age, parents giving them everything they want, etc.

I personally don't think that it's a bad thing that his parents are so supportive by working as hard as they do to give their children the extra things in life that these kids have actually earned.

Your thoughts?

12-year old 4'9" tournament baller

[Featherlite 80]

depends, IMO.

If the kid has never played before and buys a $2k setup then its bad. If they kid plays, and likes it, and keeps playing, and then moves up to a better setup, selling his old gun to help pay for it, then I dont see the problem.

[Mag Master 04]

depends

buys his own gear..no, parents buy his crap...yes

[rx2]

Let me preface by saying I had an average upbringing. I wasn't spoiled, but I wasn't destitute, either.
_______

Ahh, capitalism. If you have qualms with kids getting expensive markers because their parents worked a little harder, or had it easy themselves, I would suggest you try communism.

Seriously speaking, though, I don't think that it is bad, per se. Problems arise when parents start using money and goods to compensate for interaction, and old-fasioned discipline. Often, those with money are more likely to buy their kids affection. However, this isn't something that is absolute. I know some spoiled kids personally, and they are quite well behaved, and rather personable. On the flip-side, I know a lot of angry people who use the fact that they had to work hard to get their gear as an excuse to condescend and badger the spoiled, or those who have expensive gear. Some of them are quite difficult to get along with on the field as they have a chip on their shoulder, and a superiority complex as they don't "compensate for lack of skill with high-priced equipment."

So, I think that buying expensive gear for your children is not a bad thing. Lack of parenting, which is oft associated with spoiling, is a bad thing.

I should also state that it can be good when kids have expensive gear bought for them. It makes it easier for people like me to purchase it when they quit, and sell it off for a price that is WAY too low, as they don't know the true value, and don't need the money anyways. My brother scored an 800 dollar guitar for 80 bucks that way.

[painball]

if your parents supported you that much wouldn't you gladly take all the stuff they gave you? C'mon. How would a kid that age support his addiction without his parents

hes sorta a wigga, but wiggaz are cool. www.wiggaz.com

[Troy]

Sounds like jealousy to me.

I'd do the same for my kid if they were into it.

[SlipknotX556]

I dont think it matters, that he plays tourny ball, people calling him a wigger, thats just wrong. The kid is 12 and is being called a white "N Word", thats just wrong.

[Will Wood]

Is it a bad thing? Sure. Greed is one of the sins, and so is Envy, so either side of the party could be quilty.

.. It's one thing if the "Spoiled" is outright spoiled, and their first time playing paintball they get a Xmag or something like that. They don't deserve it. But if they start out simple, and begin to like it, and advance in skill, and then get a high end marker to help them out, its nothing. But if they are like a jerk, and don't like any one try out their marker, it's bad. But if they are nice, everyone once in a while let the newbie shoot a hopper out of it or something, there is no problem with it. There will always be the jelousy no matter what. It's all about how the person is with the spoiledness.


.. People see me as spoiled. Am I? I guess. They don't go out and buy me everything I want, but I do have alot.

There's alot other people have, that I don't. I mean, it took us years of begging to get cable TV, we have only had it for 2 years now, and its the most basic thing. We don't go all out and get everything, what we have, everything has a purpose, it's just a better version.

.. I work my butt off at my work. I saved up alot. I got in a accident, I lost 1500 bucks to damage. My parents declined the other kids offer to pay for it (it was his fault) to help to teach me a lesson of the "real world". They are probably alot more harsh then alot of your parents. They try to teach me the skills needed to survive out there, but in return for being a bit more hard, I have some things better off.

[Benfica4ever]

Well he may be spoiled but if he is good enough to tourny ball then leave him be.
They had a pic of him bunkering someone before.

[CameraGuy]

I don't have a problem with this kid's parents supporting him in the sport of his choice if he appreciates what they're doing for him.
You're most likely correct in assuming that many of the people posting negative statements about him are motivated by jealousy because their parents didn't do the same for them (or perhaps some of their parents did, but they didn't appreciate it...).

[spider54]

definantly not a bad thing... i plan on doin it for my nephew... what there people dont realize is that kids startin that young will b so much better when they become the age of other players which will increase the skill level in the paintball community which will make the world a happy place...

i wish someone did it for me

[Crazy]

MY MOMMY BUYS ALL MY GEAR

[KornKamp02]

Hey, I'm 13 and I have bought all my paintball stuff with m yown hard earned money (yes I mean hard earned as in Mowing 10 acres a week and working in a corn field) It has taken me awhile to gather my money but it is worth it.

[NJPaint]

There is a difference between giving a nephew a m98 for his birthday and giving him an Angel because he asked for it. Hell, I got my brothers to pool money to buy an m98 for my cousin for his birthday. Came out to a nice $30 each (and I put in $50 since I'm the oldest) And now we have a 4th player when we want to go out and play.

We had never gotten him anything in the past so it wasn't like we kept sending money to him... but it was a really sweet bday gift for a 12 year old

[painball]

Originally posted by SlipknotX556
people calling him a wigger, thats just wrong. The kid is 12 and is being called a white "N Word", thats just wrong.

i dont really think he's a wigger. ac tually i hate stereotypes so i just make fun of them (the stereotypes not the people)