Fear and paintball, take 2

[Carbon]

This is to re-iterrate Exodious's long as all hell post in regards to fear. Im gonna try to paraphrase it into a few questions, some mundane and some less clear. He touched on character issues, fear and all the new age, existential stuff i wonder about regarding paintball and life.

1)What is the best way to get a rookie over the fear of paintball.

2)What is in your opinion, other than pain, causes fear in the realm of paintball?

3)How effective is/does "leading by example" aleviate the fear amongst your peers in paintball.

4)Do you still get intimidated playing Rec, tourney or otherwise. Occasionaly, always, rarely? Do you get the "shakes" after and/or before the games.

5)Do you use intimidation as part of your game? Is it purposefuly done, or inadvertantly.

6)If you could go back in time and meet the noob that was once you, what would you say to yourself.

7) What life lessons have you learned playing paintball. How is paintball, a parable in your life.

Anyway, thnx for your time.
Exodious, heres yer chance to give some short answeres

[elpimpo]

1) get shot
2) people telling others it hurts really bad
3) not very
4) sometimes on a big tourney game
5) yes. purposely
6) cowboy the **** up
7) u can relate paintball to anything

[fyse0]

1)get shot
2)not having the best gun, innate fear, rumors
3)Doesnt normally.
4)I think most of us play because of it, the fear isnt fear, it's excitement.
5)Inadvertantly, lack of fear for yourself scares people.
6)Stop worrying about your gun, b%tch
7)Screw drugs, I got adrenaline

[Konigballer]

thats a good thread questionare carbon

1. "its just a game"....this cant be stressed enough to a new guy. When the whissle blows and the game starts, he needs to know that their is not as much riding on the outcome of the game as his fear and uneaseness is telling him. Its just a game, your not about to hit Ohmaha beach.

2.I think, for myself, it was always the man vs. man struggle that freaked me out before my first game. I knew it was just a game, but when me and a squad of newbs were ambushed and cut to pieces my first game out, it felt personal. Some guy I never met had the edge over me and eliminated me. That was my first encounter with a automag actually and it made an impression Alot of it also has to do with yourself, will you perform up to your own expectations or fail. Will you live up to your team and hold your own or will you let them down. That stuff makes you nervous no matter how many times you've played.

3. People respond to a leader, when someone makes a plan and implements it, right or wrong, others will follow. Its a sign of strength and people will pick up and feed off that. It can alleviate your own fears too, it feels good to take a game into your own hands and never give the other team an inch.

4. I get intimidated everytime I play if I dont know my opponents. Its important to never show this weakness though. You cant be to overconfident in your own abilities, you have to be able to realistically acess the abilities of your opponent. This vanishes when the game starts 'cause then whatever abilities your opposition has will be based in reality, not in your imagination. Your mind can sometimes create boogeymen were they dont really exist.

5. It is very advantageous to use intimidation as part of your game and their are many ways to do this. I workout alot and I'm usually the strongest, biggest guy on the field, about 235lbs. This often intimidates people before any game has even begun. My size has NOTHING to do with my actuall ability but it makes people afraid to go against me. That helps me win phycollogically before a paintball is ever shot. Your look can do alot, when some people wear the jersies and tote the nicest guns, many opponents will automatically overate their abilities simply because their intimidated. You can feed off this durring and in between games. If you get in a couple crushing wins over the other team early on, then they will most likely be defeated in their minds from fear the rest of the day. Its of course harder to do against real experienced, confident players, cause they will be doing the same thing. The mental aspect of the game is often just as important as the reality out on the field.

6. "Dude, dont bunch up you tard, you knew that before you played but you went out and did it anyways you moron!!

7. Go out and seek your victories, dont wait for them to be handed to you.
The team comes before the player, not the player before the team.

[Tyger]

Well, if I may :

1 : Best way to get over the fear of playing is to play. Either pace up the game slowly by getting people used to the game slowly, or dump them in at the high level before they know to be afraid of it.

2 : The unknown, in the sense of "What's around that bunker?" Or the known, as in "Man, we've got to take on the ADG Lions? We're gonna get hosed." And some between. Mostly it's extremes, however.

3 : It's not, really. In the end, the individual has to make the decision to go or not go. And I can't tell you how many times I've heard "LET'S GO!" and seen nobody actualy go. You cn motivate, but you can't make people do what they're not prepared to do. But you can motivate people to do things by some creative wordplay.

4 : Not really. I have games I don't look forward to (IE : When I see that the "home team" has decided to bash the walk ons by "playign together" against 80% rentals) That being siad, I do have performance anxiety, that usually vanishes after the first game. But that's more pressure I put on myself to perform up to my standards, and not usually external stimuli like opponents. But while on the field, it's zen. Live in the moment, do the things you need to do in the moment.

5 : I have used intimidation, yes. It's VERY intentional when I do it. I've also dressed down to avoid visual intimidation. I've gone out of my way to gear down as well, for the same thing. When I want to dress 'up' for intimidation, I can do it. It's a very concious decision. For the most part, however, I try not to do it. But when I do, it's VERY intentional. (Showing up to a "High Firepower" day wearing a grey t-shirt and NOT a jersey really throw people off...)

6 : Probably nothing. Things happened the way they happened, I don't think I'd believe myself if I said "Let me tell you about this e-mag thing." I was lucky, I learned how to play paintball through lasertag games, when you just reacted to stuff if it was going badly. So I cut my teeth playing laser games, and applied it. Besides, when I started playing the highest ROF gun out there was the SMG-60, and that was only for 20 balls...

7 : More than I can mention here without taking up tons of bandwidth... But one of the biggest lessons is actually a lyric from a song by Rush. "If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice." If you have a choice in actions, and you take none, you may have taken the worst choice available. Trust that little voice in your head that says "GO! DO IT! GO GO GO GO GO!!!!!" It's usually right.

-Tyger

[cockermongol]

Re: Fear and paintball, take 2

Originally posted by Carbon

1)What is the best way to get a rookie over the fear of paintball.

Have them play paintball. When they feel fear take them out and play a game.

Originally posted by Carbon

2)What is in your opinion, other than pain, causes fear in the realm of paintball?

Equipment is a big thing. Inferiority. Videos on the internet of guys getting bunkered. Stories of people getting knocked out by overshooting point blank in the back of the head.

Originally posted by Carbon

3)How effective is/does "leading by example" aleviate the fear amongst your peers in paintball.

If anything, it increases the fear. When you're scared and you see the confidence of another player, it just makes you feel less ready.

Originally posted by Carbon

4)Do you still get intimidated playing Rec, tourney or otherwise. Occasionaly, always, rarely? Do you get the "shakes" after and/or before the games.

I get shakes still during the games, but only when I feel like I might not win. I always have a mindset while I'm playing that says, "I am GOING to win, no matter what." When that goes away I get the shakes. It lasts for about 10 seconds. I have to slow myself down and get back in a positive mindset. It's funny, I always go into games KNOWING I will win, so I am always suprised if I get shot. I've been playing 3 years and I've always felt this way.

Originally posted by Carbon

5)Do you use intimidation as part of your game? Is it purposefuly done, or inadvertantly.

My intimidation is inadvertant. I stay calm, cool, and collected. Everyone else is so nervous/excited they can hardly stay still.

Originally posted by Carbon

6)If you could go back in time and meet the noob that was once you, what would you say to yourself.

I would say get your fat *** on a diet. lol.

Originally posted by Carbon

7) What life lessons have you learned playing paintball. How is paintball, a parable in your life.

From paintball I've learned patience. I've learned that I'm most effective when I'm calm. My sharpness and calmness on the field is an example for my team not to be worried, even if we're losing.

[Steelrat]

Carbon, quit doing psychoanalysis and post on the "NorCal AO day 4" thread

[ZAust]

Originally posted by Steeratt
Carbon, quit doing psychoanalysis and post on the "NorCal AO day 4" thread

yeah man.. yur sophixicatedness dun be two hie fur us nurcal fowks

[Steelrat]

Obviously Carbon has taken his game to a higher level, where he no longer actually plays paintball, instead choosing to ponder the deeper issues.

[FooTemps]

Re: Fear and paintball, take 2

Originally posted by Carbon
1)What is the best way to get a rookie over the fear of paintball.

The best way is to either get them excited over something else or just shoot them in the chrono area.

2)What is in your opinion, other than pain, causes fear in the realm of paintball?

What causes fear? Intimidation, being worse than others, being trashed talked on. (the last 2 are newb fears) Sometimes you run into the player that can spook even the more experienced players.

3)How effective is/does "leading by example" aleviate the fear amongst your peers in paintball.

Wha? Leading by example? Just use plain ol' normal leadership, usually people don't follow examples if they don't know what they're doing.

4)Do you still get intimidated playing Rec, tourney or otherwise. Occasionaly, always, rarely? Do you get the "shakes" after and/or before the games.

Intimidation? Nah, more like sheer excitement. I'm pretty psyched before I play even though I don't look it. I'm just itching for the next game. I get the shakes (not the real kind) sometimes after games if get shot in the hands... hahaha

5)Do you use intimidation as part of your game? Is it purposefuly done, or inadvertantly.

Well, I have yet to really try to be intimidating. I'm usually just nice.

6)If you could go back in time and meet the noob that was once you, what would you say to yourself.

GET KNEEPADS!

7) What life lessons have you learned playing paintball. How is paintball, a parable in your life.

Life lessons... hmmm... Uh... there are a ton, I can't think of any since I have no clue where to start. But the sharing, nice, sportsmanship, etc, on and on, forever and ever...

[heftylefty]

Re: Re: Fear and paintball, take 2

well put Foo

Originally posted by FooTemps
GET KNEEPADS!

lol yes definetely get a pair, they will save your knees life!

[plmcmahon]

1) What is the best way to get a rookie over the fear of paintball.

Getting shot in the neck. My first day paintballing I got shot in the neck twice, one on each side. Both left huge welts, and I felt great because... I wanted to get shot! It didn't hurt that bad... so the rest was easy.

2) What is in your opinion, other than pain, causes fear in the realm of paintball?

Thinking that it's training for the army, and not wanting to deal with people who are "too serious". My first time out was in a private game and I told the rest of my party (who appeared well equipped), that it was my first time, and if they wanted someone to just run out and get shot to let me know. They laughed, and accepted me as "the new guy", so I didn't feel like I had to prove anything to them. It put me at ease and I was able to just enjoy the day.

4) Do you still get intimidated playing Rec, tourney or otherwise. Occasionaly, always, rarely? Do you get the "shakes" after and/or before the games.

No, my interest in paintball is purely for entertainment/fun (like most sports I participate in). I couldn't care less if I win or lose, as long as I have fun with my friends, so it's hard to get nervous in that situation. And when I get to shoot my friends along the way, all the better.

7) What life lessons have you learned playing paintball. How is paintball, a parable in your life.

Has anyone watched the Band of Brothers extras disc? There was an interesting comment (I think in Ron Livingston's diaries) that I thought was relevant to my first paintball experience. Basically, the actors had to train themselves not to run away when they were under (in this case, simulated) attack. In many ways, I wanted to see how I would react when someone sent a hail of paint in my direction. I think I passed with flying colors. I wouldn't say that it changed my life, but I do think I reinforced my self confidence to some degree. I knew going into the situation that I had taken the proper safety precautions, so perhaps I was destined to succeed.

[Carbon]

Thanx for yer replies yall. Theres some great responses here, who knows, maybe some of these notions will make it into a paintball coffee table book.

Obviously Carbon has taken his game to a higher level, where he no longer actually plays paintball, instead choosing to ponder the deeper issues.

Rat, Oh man i wish.

[Carbon]

bump!

[natgry]

Re: Re: Fear and paintball, take 2

Originally posted by cockermongol

I would say get your fat *** on a diet. lol.

yeah, if I could go back to 2 months ago, I'd say the same >.<

not sure, personally, about the other questions, but I agree with the majority on the first question...first time I ever held/fired a paintball gun, a friend of mine loaned me his and we set up small bunkers (about 15 feet away) in my backyard and shot at each other...the first time I got hit, it hurt a little, and I got a huge welt, but it didn't hurt enough to make me not want to keep playing...I think getting hit with a paintball is more surprise than pain, and once you figure that out, only thing left to fear is inadequacy (sp?) in yourself or your equipment, but the first time I saw a mid level player with an angel get masked by a kid with a rental setup, I didn't worry too much about my equipment or skills being inadequate...after all, recball is mostly about having fun...