New players and $1400 guns?

[C_22]

It's not a bad thing, depending how you look at it.
Down here we have that too and it's NOT that bad. Most of those people, not just kids but your regular posser, eventualy go back to play with their X-boxes or whatever and quit PB; thus... you have cheaper high end guns in the market. Guns that have been used a couple of times which cost 20% - 30% less and are still in mint conditions. It's never the guns fault; blame it on the owner. And while I agree parents should do more research (a lot more) on what they are buying for their kids, so should the people that sell them (sometimes they are to blame as well).

[SlartyBartFast]

And while I agree parents should do more research (a lot more) on what they are buying for their kids, so should the people that sell them (sometimes they are to blame as well).

THe parents want to buy their kid good equipment and have the money to spend. What's the complaint? The parent earned the money and has the right to spend it as they see fit.

As there is no evidence that there was an attitude problem on the part of these kids I fail to see what the issue is. Spoilt brats and immature players can have the best equipment on the field or have hand-me-down Syders.

And what blames does the saleperson deserve? They just managed to sell a trunk full of equipment. Why should they not sell it? "Oh, I'm sorry, your children are too young and buying them this equipment will spoil them..."

How many Xboxes and computers, and hockey equipment and all sorts of other toys wouldn't be sold if retailers were dumb enough to NOT sell them if it might "spoil" the kids.

[Chris42050]

THe parents want to buy their kid good equipment and have the money to spend. What's the complaint? The parent earned the money and has the right to spend it as they see fit.

As there is no evidence that there was an attitude problem on the part of these kids I fail to see what the issue is. Spoilt brats and immature players can have the best equipment on the field or have hand-me-down Syders.

And what blames does the saleperson deserve? They just managed to sell a trunk full of equipment. Why should they not sell it? "Oh, I'm sorry, your children are too young and buying them this equipment will spoil them..."

How many Xboxes and computers, and hockey equipment and all sorts of other toys wouldn't be sold if retailers were dumb enough to NOT sell them if it might "spoil" the kids.

I have no problem with a kid or new player starting out with say the best mask. But, I dont think they should start out with a gun that they dont know how to handle properly. It's a safety issue when u give a 10 year old a top of the line electro that shoots very fast and has a hair trigger.
I think what C_22 was trying to say is that maybe the salesman should explain to the parents buying these guns for thier kids more about the safety issues and how fast and easy these guns shoot. He could potentially lose a sale so I see why they dont always do this.

[sabrefanpc]

my local shop, hangin loose, gives new kids a safety lecture of sorts whenever they buy any marker. had to wait for him to finish one once, and listened in. very thougoh. raised my opinion of the store.

[SlartyBartFast]

But, I dont think they should start out with a gun that they dont know how to handle properly.

But that's just as true for a Splatmaster or Nelspot as todays most "advanced" electronic marker.

It's a safety issue when u give a 10 year old a top of the line electro that shoots very fast and has a hair trigger.

No. You could say it's a safety issue putting a device that fires projectiles of any sort into the hands of a 10 year old. And even then I take issue with that statement.

Really, it's a safety issue when you put a device that fires projectiles of any sort into the hands of an inexperienced person.

I don't question that there's a need for basic training for new players. However I think the responsibility is with primarily with the manufacturers, then field owners and referees, then fellow players.

Honestly now, how much difference is there learning the safe use of a 100$ Walmart marker and a 2000$ "top-of-the-line" marker? Considering the 10 year-olds probably could whip the average "older" players back-sides in any given video game, I doubt that any worries of the "hair trigger" really merit consideration.

Put the jelousy (if they have 200$ markers) or snobbery (if they're carrying 100$ Walmart specials) aside and teach the new players (regardless of their age, 10 or 40 makes no difference). If they prove to be too immature or arrogant to learn or act appropriately, then complain.

[C_22]

I have no problem with a kid or new player starting out with say the best mask. But, I dont think they should start out with a gun that they dont know how to handle properly. It's a safety issue when u give a 10 year old a top of the line electro that shoots very fast and has a hair trigger.
I think what C_22 was trying to say is that maybe the salesman should explain to the parents buying these guns for thier kids more about the safety issues and how fast and easy these guns shoot. He could potentially lose a sale so I see why they dont always do this.

[TeamNausea]

There is nothing wrong with new players with rich parents.... The only time it gets bad is when those rich noobs try to put everyone else around them down just because they have 2000+ in gear.

[SlartyBartFast]

But what's wrong? The new players probably won't like paintball whther they buy a cheap or expensive marker first.

The only thing the salesperson has to care about (if anything) is that the person buying the products seem responsible. And if they know it's for kids, they should offer to give a quick lesson.

But what's wrong if they sell all the stuff later. That's a GOOD thing. More cheap markers for the rest of us!

[can'tthink of1]

It doesn't matter if a new player has a nice marker and gear. Paintball is all about fun, simp;e as that. Also, if someone has the money, why not lavish their children? I commend the maker of this thread for helping them out, I wish there was more people like you in this world.

Granted, the kids were inexperienced, and didn't know squat, but they didn't seem immature and ignorant at all. There are some safety concerns, but for the main part I don't see any real problems. Hell, even experienced players can have a dangerously bouncy marker.

[barberjohn]

i live in the same city as these kids and have played with them on several occasions. i must admit, they are a bit spoiled, but the eldest and middle aged ones are not too bad, and i was suprised the first time i played with them (them shooting an ANS cocker and A-5 at that time). yet the eldest did want to get more into the sport, and has gotten a paintball "club" up, and, from what i hear, plays pretty regularly. really the only thing that has kept me from just totally calling these kids little spoiled brats is that the eldest did attempt to buy a dm4 a few weeks before christmas. he did save up about half the money to pay for it, and the other $600 was going to be part of his xmas present. well, he bought it off ebay, and got scammed for around $1200 of his money and his parents. so i believe it has a bit of sympathy from the parents as well as just wanting thier kids to have a "good time". i know i used to be just like that, getting an ir3 when they were the shiznizzle and at the early age of around 14 (pretty young for an at that time 1200 gun), so i am not really holding their want for the best gun out there against them. i still know i can beat them with my $500 angel, and thats all that matters to me.

[Evil Bob]

There is nothing wrong with new players with rich parents.... The only time it gets bad is when those rich noobs try to put everyone else around them down just because they have 2000+ in gear.

Give that man a cigar! That's where most people have a problem with the filthy rich, its the elitist arrogant snobbery "I'm better then you because I have money" attitude. Sadly, that type of behavior is usually a learned trait, the kids dont come up with it all by their selves, they usually learn it from their parents.

Having been raised and worked in and around silicon valley I have had the opportunity to bump shoulders with many of the rich and powerful. To put it in perspective, I cleared $140k in 2003, but sadly in calif with its over inflated economy, that's just barely above the poverty level, you cant even afford to buy a house on that kind of income unless you want to live several hours away and commute.

Some of the high tech entrepenuers I met were humble, others were so arrogant you wanted to run them down in the parking lot when it was dark and you had 2 tons of aluminum and steel protecting you. Usually those who worked their way up into the filthy rich category through years of hard work were the humble ones and those who typically inherited their wealth at an early age tended to be the arrogant ones.

There is alot to be said of spoiling children and what it does to their psychological developement. I can spoil my children if I so desire but I choose not to, life has taught me that my kids will appreciate and care alot more for something they work hard for then for something that is just outright given to them.

-Evil Bob

[tyrion2323]

Man, I hate these whiney posts..

Some kids get nice gear. Doesn't make them spoiled. Doesn't make them elitests. I knew a kid who was probably 11 years old. He had a full set of DYE, a dm4, a freeflow ebladed, and an impulse. His mom had bought it all for him, and she had a cocker as well. It turns out that this kid's father ditched them when he was young and the poor kid gets picked on at school. His mom rarely plays; she bought him the stuff and goes and watches him play every week. Sure, he's shy, but it doesn't make him spoiled or elitest. (plus, the mom buys pizza for us every week!!!)

I'm just saying, don't complain about people unless you know them. Unless someone's getting up in your face, taunting others, or acting like a jerk, he has EVERY right to be there. Years played DOES NOT give you precedence over a new player. ("you" = rhetorical)

[Dryden]

Amen.

I dunno, I guess I picture these parents rationalize these purchases as an investment in their children's future. Some parents enroll their children in "everyone plays" youth sports, other parents shell out top dollar to send their rugrats to the most exclusive sports camps and leagues available. Some parents help their kids pick out a used student instrument at a pawn shop and encourage them to enroll in the school band, other parents buy their kids top of the line musical gear and find personal instructors. To each their own. As long as the parents are encouraging good activities for their children to participate in after school and the kids are having fun, so what?

There's no shame in spoiling your child and helping them experience everything there is out there that's healthy and fun to do, and I think that is especially true with team sports. If these kids ultimately fail to respect the value of their parents hard work and generosity, that's their problem and their parents' failure, not mine to worry about.

[OmniDynmc]

For me and those who I play with, we tend to welcome any newbies, spoiled, or not. We play rec ball so the situation is slightly different then most here who play speedball, but, the more people on the field to us the more targets we have to shoot. It doesn't matter to me if they are dressed up like a clown in Dye gear or have a Tipman or top-of-the-line Angel. Either way they are fun to shoot out, and the more targets we have to shoot out whether hard or not, the better the day is.

There are always the proud and protective parent that don't understand the rules of the game and the responbility and liability you take on as a player on the field. But I have met adults that get just as upset when you bunker them mainly because you suprised the hell out of them, and because it hurt like hell. Suck it up, if you can't take the heat go back to laser tag.

Everyone is carrying a loaded marker whether they are 10 or 80; they are a threat to my survival in the game. If you're not on my team and I have a shot, I don't care what your age is, I'm going to take it. That doesn't mean I have to fire 5 at close range, but I'm going to make sure with at least one hit that you are out. :)

Greg

[kurama]

Well, I don't hate kids with good gear. I'm a kid and I have good gear...

I dislike people who cannot handle all the gear they have. If their rich parent buys them a dm5, power to them. If they are afraid/suck/don;t know how to maintain the marker, I dislike them because they make people like me who are young with good gear look bad. I work for most of my gear and my parents pay for paint. That's as spoiled as I'll let myself become. If the person is a 10 year old with a dm5, but good, power to him. I know younbg players who are great and young players who are afraid of getting hit. I take it on a person-to-person basis