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

[robertjuric]

12 yo?? shouldnt he be out playing in the dirt or riding a bike or something? Anyways, Ive heard the kid is more of a publicity stunt then all skill(not saying he sux).

who knows maybe I am jealous b/c I have to work my *** off at McDonalds barely making enough to go play twice a month, and finally saved enough for a mag, then this little kid waltzes out of nowhere and is playing S7?? Doesnt seem right IMO. Oh well guess I am jealous, so what. Do I think the kid deserves it?? No, no way he has put in the hours, sweat, tears that even the other players in S7 have. I dont think Im jealous, b/c I personally rather like the feeling of earning something from my hardwork. I rather think that the kid doesnt deserve it.

But thats just my .02

[Lord_Whoopass]

Dude I thinks it cool for parents to back their kids in such a great sport... LOL I wish I was that lucky when I got into paintball... I started playing woods rec ball when I was 12 and borrowed equipment from a friend... then I had to save money and bought a stingray, a mask and a VL200 hopper from the local feedmill that my friends dad owned... And if my mom ever found out that I played paintball she would have put an end to it right there... but I managed to keep playing until I was 16 without her finding out and by that time I had upgraded to a M-98 and also had an original "Spyder" before kingman added names to them... lol so yeah let the kid be and I am sure his small profile makes him a good frontman... LOL if my lil brother was faster I would put him on my team and play him as a front...

[Ov3rmind]

Originally posted by robertjuric
12 yo?? shouldnt he be out playing in the dirt or riding a bike or something? Anyways, Ive heard the kid is more of a publicity stunt then all skill(not saying he sux).

who knows maybe I am jealous b/c I have to work my *** off at McDonalds barely making enough to go play twice a month, and finally saved enough for a mag, then this little kid waltzes out of nowhere and is playing S7?? Doesnt seem right IMO. Oh well guess I am jealous, so what. Do I think the kid deserves it?? No, no way he has put in the hours, sweat, tears that even the other players in S7 have. I dont think Im jealous, b/c I personally rather like the feeling of earning something from my hardwork. I rather think that the kid doesnt deserve it.

But thats just my .02

Man, McD's sucks. I work at Wendys and have enough to play every week and save for a new Viking.

If he has the skill, let his parents support him. You know just as well as I do that you'd accept free handouts if they were offered also. Also, it's not like he's old enough where it's possible to save up for the equipment he wants, it would be a shame for that to hold him back from playing national tournies.

[TheBigRaguPB4L]

I don't think it's right for any kid to be spoiled. It's all in what they deserve. I've seen kids demand their parents get them $2000+ plus setups simply because they wanted it. Absolutely unnecessary. I really don't know and you can't really tell how he is. Really though how many can you truthfully admit taht as a kid, if your parents would give you anything you wanted, you wouldn't take it so you wouldn't be spoiled? I'll bet none of you would refuse. I sure wouldn't have. As you get older maybe, but as a kid, no way.

Just because your parents by you everything, doesn't make you spoiled. If you worked hard for it(IE: chores, yardwork, housework, ect.) then you've earned it. Like i said, however, some parents give their kids everythiing and the kids don't respect them for it.

[einhander619]

As long as he's reasonably good and doesn't let the free gear go to his head, I'll say rock on to that little dude. Hell, I played tourney ball when I was 12!

[jdev]

look at it this way.

this is the same scenario as your parents buying you your own soccer equipment or football equipment.

I remember when I was younger, my parents paid for all of my football stuff. now, granted, my equipment didnt total $2000, but, its along the same premiss.

on the other hand. if this kid goes out and breaks a $1000 marker every game and his parents replace it for him, that is spoiled.

the kid is just getting into the sport and his parents are helping him along. If I had discovered paintball at the age of 12 and my parents offered to pay for my stuff, hell yes I would take it. jobs are hard to come by when you are 12 years old, aside from paper routes and yardwork.

[AngelBoy]

How is it wrong that his parents got off their butts and found a good paying career, and are now happily supporting their child? Isnt that what every parent wants to do? That might be the case, and it might not, I dont know and you probably dont either.

Maybe his parents buy him everything he wants instead of caring much about him? Would you trade your parents love for some stupid paintball gun? But again, we dont know the entire situation.

And for those of you that keep saying stuff like "Their parents buy them everything they want and they dont respect them, thats why its wrong."... You dont know if their parents deserve the respect or not. Since when has respecting your parents been just on how much they buy you?

And who are you to judge anyway?

[Python14]

The biggest question of all is.....Why are you arguing over something that has absolutely no effect whatsoever on you? I say let the kid get spoiled half-way stupid. Hopefully, one day, before his trust fund kicks in and after he is out on his own because he was kicked out of college for failing(because he's never done actual work), he'll learn exactly what it takes to earn a dollar, and exactly what you can buy with a dollar. But until then, he will be another kid with a cocker he didn't pay for.


In other news, if I was in his position, I'd graciously accept a free cocker from my parents. When I have little Python14s of my own, I'm gonna spoil them, but only on their birthdays and christmas because I don't want them to get used to it, but I do want them to be able to have some of the things that I don't, or didn't. It's what any level headed parent wants for his or her child(ren).

He does look kind of dumb with a oversized JT hat on sideways though. But then again, reading through FACEFULL, it seems to be the style for JT teams.

[shartley]

[SIGSays]

well... in a way yes... but we're just jealous

[AngelBoy]

Originally posted by shartley

Very well put, props to you again.

[Duke Henry]

How can anyone online at all have any sort of opinion on what kind of person this kid is? I mean come on! How many of us have talked to him in depth? How many have hung out with him? How many have watched him play and practice? No one, well what a shock. Chalk up another victory for the internet police. Anyway, let's run a little scenario.

Let's say that the kid received a brand new setup worth $2000+ after expressing interest in the game. Does that mean then that he is a spoiled kid who is a brat and doesn't deserve any positive attention? Of course not. If this little scenario was the case, then perhaps an argument could be made for his father being a bit hasty in his purchase, but you cannot blame the kid for wanting to play a game.

Now, if I remember correctly in the article (I read it yesterday while surfing), this wasn't a hasty decision. They had played before, and used a few different guns and so they had an idea of what the game was about, and knew what they were getting into. So, after playing for a while and becoming accustomed to the game they decide to step it up to the next level and buy some more gear that they feel is better (either because it is simply more money, or perhaps because it is gear more suited to them - geez this problem doesn't sound unique at all). I fail to see what is soo bad about this!

Here you have the future of the sport, and people resort to name calling and whining about how he is getting "free" gear. Heck, we don't even know if this gear is "free" for him. We know it isn't free for his dad, or whomever is buying the gear. However, since we don't get the gear for "free" like he does, let's attack him because he is different.

That's where the rub is. I admit, seeing his pics with his sideways turned hat is funny (to me). To me, anyone who wears a hat like that looks funny. However, I won't call someone a name because of how they wear a hat, how they dress, or talk or whatever. What the heck is the point? Do we want everyone dressing, talking, walking, living the same? Wow, if that kind of homogenized world comes around then I will be in trouble because I tend to value my individualism.

So, let the kid play if he wants to. If you see him, perhaps talk to him and find out if he really has it to be the future of the game. And, if in the end you conclude that he is not the kind of person you want to say nice things about, then remember the old addage: "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Have a nice day, eh!

[Lohman446]

I can speak from the sides on this - I was/am spoiled, kind of. My dad has owned a business my whole life - and since I was twelve or so I have been handed good money for the work I did there and given help on what I did. I was/am overpaid for what I do, if I need money I know it is available - but I have been always told, as long as I am working, my parents will help me, and working, as well as seeing my dad work 70+ hours my whole life (and still being there on the weekends for us) and getting to where he is today, has taught me the value of work.

As for those of you working your own jobs and living with your parents and whining about this kid being spoiled... when I was 18 and living at home I had a convertible Corvette... now I'm down to living on my own (married wiht kids) and driving an 8 year old Taurus. Get the point? Parents help there children, some can/will more than others, its a judgement call. If my children get to tournament level ball, why should they be hampered by there inability to pay for high-end equipment. Sometimes its a mental thing, I know that my gun is the best for me, but if my child is going to be hindered by using cheaper gun in a highly competitive tournament, why should I not get them better.

Admit it, a lot more of us are "spoiled" than claim to be, its a matter of looking at things differently. I just thank god I'm not in some country working for nothing an hour so I can feed myself. We (most of us) are all spoiled, we know there is food, we can afford it, we have time to think about other things besides scraping together enough to live.

[Muzikman]

I think supporting your kids in what they are good at, enjoy and love is a good thing, no matter what it costs. When I was young I use to race R/C cars (on a national level) and except for the stuff that I got from sponsorships, my father bought everything else, including the travel expenses. In many ways R/C car racing is more expensive than paintball. I am very gratful for this and in no way think I was spoiled.

Now, once I was old enough to get a job and pay for my hobbies myself, I did. I have been playing paintball for 11 years now and not once has anyone bought or paid for my gear. All 28 guns, paint, travel expenses, field fees, etc have been paid for by me (except IAO paint, Thanks Palmers).

[MagAl]

Damn... leave the kid alone If I was twelve and all of started callin me whatver.. this and that I would feel upset and stuff.... now for the spoiled part... I know for a fact even if I was really talented at paintball ( which I am not... been playing for like 4 years but I still suck ) my parents would not buy me 1000 dollar guns... Hell even if they were RICH they would not buy me 1000 dollar guns.. I think its wrong for somebody that age to have something that expensive without knowing how hard his parents work to buy that crap for him... yes I would except the stuff you all would... but I would never ask for it, to think that my parents work all day to feed me.. cloth me.. pay the mortage... and I ask them for a 1000 dollar gun... thats not how I was raised.

Now they say he is talented... good for him.. I do not play paintball every week... nor do I want to.. its just something on the side to go out with friends and have fun.. then when we get home we talk about all the stories...

Also, this is kinda irrelavant. I do not believe somebody is born being talented in paintball... I think the more the play the better they get, I dont believe somebody is born being talented in "snapshooting" or a..... stuff that make you good in paintball.. I think all these skills are acuired while playing.. they more you play... the better people you play the better you get... I think its as simple as that... theres also the gun factor in there.. but that doesn't mean as much as raw skill. Sure some are just better then others I guess, then again some people are just better then others.. but becuase they work fot it... but I do not see how you can "just be naturally talented at paintball"