Another Dark Blow to Paintball

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

but the media just needed something more interesting. Very few people would be interested in raquetball

[Jerhew]

Originally posted by Hexis
A common mistake people make when trying to design something foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

- Douglas Adams

lofl
Douglass Adams was the man

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others,
are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so." - Douglas Adams

[Evil1]

This one shop I used to go to before it shut down would not sell you a gun without a mask no matter what, but I think that was one of the reasons he shut down b/c he used it to get more money not for safety. But that should be in effect for every gun I think even if it is some crappy mask it is still better than nothing. Also every single gun should come w/ a bag or plug, some do I know but some also don't. They should aal come w/ them whether it is a blade or an XMag.

[Scircal]

I actually went in to Wal-Mart about a week ago and picked up 200 rounds of weak paint. When the clerk scanned it, the register gave some message about checking ID for being over 18. I was kind of surprised, and the clerk actually asked if I was over 18. However, she didn't demand my DL (I think my 3 day old scruff and gray hairs tipped her off). So, they do have a system in place; whether it's uniformly used is another question.

Really, this is not a bad article at all. I don't condone lazy reporting, but it's better than I'd normally expect. No, it doesn't point out injury statistics from other sports, but this is only an 8-10 incher I'd say, which doesn't give enough room for fine detail. It's also been processed by the AP which often chop articles down. Still, it's possible this was as much that ran in the Trib. Been in the newsroom for a few years and I can guess what happened here. Fax/E-mail press release from David Listman, a doctor at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York, touting his new study made it's way to City/Features/Night/Weekend editor's desk. Said editor had heard about this "paintball" in the Chicago area and decided to give it to a reporter for a short. Said editor walked around the newsroom until he found a reporter with no daily story, or the reporter working on the fewest daily stories and said "Gimme no more than 12 inches." Reporter, who probably has little interest in paintball, probably copied much of the press release and reworked, made a couple calls, possibly to a certain paintball company who he's heard about before (and hopefully the president of that company wasn't too busy reading/posting on a certain Web site to return out-of-luck reporter's call. Nothing more evil than a source who doesn't return calls ). Anyway, reporter comes back with story after trying to be as fair as possible as far as he understands. Files story and shoots it to City/Features/Night/Weekend editor who makes some edits, including sexing up the description of paintball as a "battle" game. Article goes to print.

It would be nice if papers could spend more time fleshing out these kind of stories, but a lot of times it isn't possible. That's the advantage magazines have on your daily rag.

[rudy]

Re: Another Dark Blow to Paintball

i didnt read all the post but did any one check how many people were playing in 1997 and 2000. this report has ironicly, almost exactly a 300% increase in injuries over that time period.

i mean the sport grew tremendously especailly at that time. I will bet there was a much larger growth in gun sales, and players then injuries wich would actually lead to a decrease in percentage of injuries.

and some times people are just going to get injured i have been at feilds that do stuff pretty much right but some people will just take thier mask off no matter what and if they arent lucky they catch one in the eye.

[11_Mile_TMaster]

I swear, At the main field I go to, If I ever lose an Eye, it will be in the staging area. Bastards without barrel socks on, Dry firing and everything. It's a shame, in 2002 they were absolutely GREAT about Dry-firing. If you dry fired, sock on or off EVERYONE would scream at you like you pulled your mask off in the middle of the field.

This last year, Nope, nada. Rather a shame, Because it's an accident waiting to happen, and one that is so easily preventable.

And for reference, I have to actually SHOW ID to the clerk at K-Mart for 12 gram cartridges.

[Xyxyll]

Wow, a lot of comments to read back on.

But what the article doesn't point out is that the number of people playing paintball has also at least tripled. So sure, these kids are REALLY stupid, and I almost agree with the "No sale to minors." However, I still think this article was written with only one side in perspective. Take a look at the # of people playing now compared to 1999.

[Wes Janson]

I didn't even tell you guys the whole story: he sold us old dimpled out of round paint repackaged in Blaze boxes. I heard him ripping off a group playing the same day - they were from Japan, so he charged them double what he charged us because they didn't know any better. That same day i watched him light up a kid (who was willing) at point blank with a full hopper and an IR3 in exchange for a case of paint. The kid was pretty ballsy i admit, but this field doesn't even have insurance for christ sake. Actual quote "did you guys bring any booze?".

Somehow I'm pretty sure a full hopper on automatic at point blank would at the very very least, cause massive bleeding to the chest, and unless the kid was wearing some plastic or some some serious padding. In any case, if the story was true, I'd say the police, the Better Business Bureau, the insurance company, and probably some internet forums, should have all been notified.

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

Originally posted by AGDFlash
This one shop I used to go to before it shut down would not sell you a gun without a mask no matter what, but I think that was one of the reasons he shut down b/c he used it to get more money not for safety. But that should be in effect for every gun I think even if it is some crappy mask it is still better than nothing. Also every single gun should come w/ a bag or plug, some do I know but some also don't. They should aal come w/ them whether it is a blade or an XMag.

Or you can go to the shop with the current mask you have. cause that would mean you would have to buy a mask for every gun you get. and for people that buy a lot of guns, that's not a really good thing.