a way to help AKA and kick SP in the nuts at the same time...

[Gabriel]

Ok, so here it is... there is a thread on PBN in the AKA forum where you can send in your freak and $35 to have the SP logos milled off and an X milled over the crosshair emblem. $10 from each order goes to the SP defense fund.

Check it out...

http://pbnation.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=378953&perpage=21&pagenumber=1

And, just for good measure, here is the thread on how to simply donate to the fund:

http://pbnation.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=377089

Now, you all know that AKA is planning on fighting this thing. We have to help. If they lose, then SP has precident. That means ****ty things for the rest of the market. And for all of you people that dont exactly know whats going on, the short of it is SP patented the shocker design in 98. Then, last year, they applied for an expansion of the patent to where it says 'all paintball markers using electricity, a switch, or a selinoid to activate the firing mechanism.' That is pretty crappy, and that is why alot of people are anti-SP now. Let's help buck this thing before it comes the AGD.

[Gabriel]

mods, I know the lawsuit has been explained before, that was for people who dont want to do a search. This barrel thing is new, so I'm just passing the word on.

Gabe

[Miscue]

The barrel thing has been posted before... closed.

[AGD]

I'm reopening...

AGD

[afrankart]

Rock on Tom!

[shartley]

[cledford]

Originally posted by shartley

Sam,

I disagree on you opinion and (not so) oblique criticism of Tom. First, the issue is about "defacing" a product. In a hype and image driven industry like paintball, ANYONE (and the more the better) who sends the message that they aren't happy with SP is both hurting *future* sales (to what extent is debatable) and sending a public message that what SP is doing is unacceptable. This opens a whole world of additional players (who otherwise might not know what is going on) to being informed about the issue when they ask why we got our barrels hacked up. In my case I bought the Freak about 3 years ago, long before this issue surfaced - so it's a little to late for me to boycott the company - but I can still send a message to help contribute to the over-all effort. Let me ask you this, is putting a POW/MIA or NRA bumper sticker on your car "defacing" it needlessly? I'd say it's sending a message that the more people who know about an issue the better. While the moral issues in the 2 matters are worlds apart, the point is the same - you do what you can to bring public opinion to a cause to help bring about change. Cosmetic changes are a small price to pay for "billboard" demonstration of your opinion in such a matter. Second, let's not forget that a result of the whole process is that money to fight SP in court (where the real battle is being waged) is going to AKA - so the whole thing isn't even just a pointless gesture - it's contributing something tangible to the fight.

On the Tom issue, he may be a manufacturer, but he is also a player and a "fore-father" of what paintball is today. I think that it is perfectly reasonable for him to have an opinion on this and express it as he sees fit, especially at *his* site - which in this case the display is pretty low key. If he'd posted inflammatory comments at the *OFFICIAL* AGD website that would be one thing, but this forum is as much his playground as ours. To reopen a thread that he thinks is beneficial to a very damaging matter within our community is a far cry from a "childish thing." Since when is he (in his "off" time) held to some ethical obligation higher then you or I? Furthermore, you're a paintball manufacturer (granted on a much smaller scale) (who even markets his wares in substantial part through Tom's site) so using your logic isn't just as bad (if not worse) to show your disapproval of his actions through posting as it for him to show his about SP?

Regarding the bra burning - while I thought it was pretty tasteless I remember it getting A LOT of press. Something has contributed to a huge change in the role of women in society with in the last 2-3ish decades - I'd submit that as one of the rallying events it's individual role may or may not have been significant, but the bra burning sure helped to give momentum to something much larger.

-Calvin

[fire1811]

Originally posted by shartley
This reminds me of when the Feminist Movement went around burning their bras.

is there ANY way we could have that movement again

[Gabriel]

Originally posted by AGD
I'm reopening...

AGD

I love Tom

Originally posted by shartley
People are fee to do what they want to the equipment they purchase, but I have to say that this is about the most childish thing I have ever seen. And for another manufacturer to support it just makes me shake my head.

Childish, it is not. It is sending a message to the other people on the fields who may have little to know knowledge about the lawsuit. When they ask 'Hey man, whats up with that barrel? Isn't it a freak... Why did you mill the stuff off?', then you have a chance to tell them about it. Childish? No.

:) *EDITED AFTER SHARTLEY'S LAST POST* :)

Let'S just not forget the whole reason for the posting of this thread was the $10 they are sending per barrel to the AKA defense fund. Also, in my original thread I included a link to the post with information on how to simply donate money. The defacing of the SP barrel is just kind of a banner, which I happen to think is more effective as just simply putting an 'anti-SP' sticker on your gun or hopper. Everyone's got different oppinion, thats what makes america great. it just happens that mine is right... hehe, that was a joke... let's not all get bent out of shape...

[shartley]

Originally posted by cledford
Sam,

I disagree on you opinion and (not so) oblique criticism of Tom. First, the issue is about "defacing" a product. In a hype and image driven industry like paintball, ANYONE (and the more the better) who sends the message that they aren't happy with SP is both hurting *future* sales (to what extent is debatable) and sending a public message that what SP is doing is unacceptable. This opens a whole world of additional players (who otherwise might not know what is going on) to being informed about the issue when they ask why we got our barrels hacked up. In my case I bought the Freak about 3 years ago, long before this issue surfaced - so it's a little to late for me to boycott the company - but I can still send a message to help contribute to the over-all effort. Let me ask you this, is putting a POW/MIA or NRA bumper sticker on your car "defacing" it needlessly?

Originally posted by cledford
I'd say it's sending a message that the more people who know about an issue the better. While the moral issues in the 2 matters are worlds apart, the point is the same - you do what you can to bring public opinion to a cause to help bring about change. Cosmetic changes are a small price to pay for "billboard" demonstration of your opinion in such a matter. Second, let's not forget that a result of the whole process is that money to fight SP in court (where the real battle is being waged) is going to AKA - so the whole thing isn't even just a pointless gesture - it's contributing something tangible to the fight.

Originally posted by cledford
On the Tom issue, he may be a manufacturer, but he is also a player and a "fore-father" of what paintball is today. I think that it is perfectly reasonable for him to have an opinion on this and express it as he sees fit, especially at *his* site - which in this case the display is pretty low key. If he'd posted inflammatory comments at the *OFFICIAL* AGD website that would be one thing, but this forum is as much his playground as ours. To reopen a thread that he thinks is beneficial to a very damaging matter within our community is a far cry from a "childish thing." Since when is he (in his "off" time) held to some ethical obligation higher then you or I? Furthermore, you're a paintball manufacturer (granted on a much smaller scale) (who even markets his wares in substantial part through Tom's site) so using your logic isn't just as bad (if not worse) to show your disapproval of his actions through posting as it for him to show his about SP?

Originally posted by cledford
Regarding the bra burning - while I thought it was pretty tasteless I remember it getting A LOT of press. Something has contributed to a huge change in the role of women in society with in the last 2-3ish decades - I'd submit that as one of the rallying events it's individual role may or may not have been significant, but the bra burning sure helped to give momentum to something much larger.

-Calvin

Originally posted by fire1811
is there ANY way we could have that movement again

LOL Who knows!

[AGD]

This is getting stupid.

Closed

AGD