Kids Today...

[Curly]

pathetic

 

[stongle]

1. So you had a bad batch?

2. Regarding the cufflinks, if you're trying to suggest I'm minted, this is my first proper job ever I'm reffering to. There is no "Bank of Mum and Dad" for me.

3. If you're discussing kids playing pro then I'l stand down because I can't comment, but what I see when I go to a tournament or train totally contradicts your rather sharp view of things...

In response:

1. Quite possibly, but this isn't an isolated example. We had the same problem on a previous team, and it was happening to other teams around us. Even people whom were running Paintball Clubs and trying to further the game (such as Yorkie) were having problems with kids being dedicated and turning up when they said they would.

2. No, I was saying that maybe you were different to my generalisation. There are some bad / poor adults involved in paintball too, I was just stating perhaps you were one of the "good" kids. Bank of Mum & Dad is a good point though. Paintball is a major fianncial commitment, and this needs to befully appreciated. If you don't have teh full funds to commit to a team, then you should look at the type of club previously run by the likes of Yorkie. At least here you are taught and nurtured, rather than turning up to Novice events as the 2nd coming of Markus the Carkus (minus the skill).

3. I'm not against kids playing Paintball at all, but they need to be properly nurtured and brought into the environment correctly. We should have more adult / experienced involvement, but as a participation sport not many want to invest time in the younger players. Whilst I have witnessed 2 & 7, I'm not neccesarily saying kids themselves are at fault here.

 

[Matski]

Everybody will strive to get a free lunch - that's people, kids are going to strive harder for free stuff because they have less income. Obviously young players are good for the game, but not for the market. I don't think it really matters how dedicated younger players are, that spending power just isn't really there. A player who freeloads has to be really, really good before they are actually adding more value than they are taking - or at least breaking even. When such players don't turn up to practise then they are doing more harm to paintball than good, I don't see how that can be argued.

I don't think this is about whether or not kids have a place in paintball and its growth (because they obviously do), but they have to add value in some respect. In 99% of cases that should be paying your way completely and not expecting stuff. If you are really, really special then you may be able to add value in a different way and make up the numbers - the whole point of sponsorship/product placement. Unfortunately there is no appreciation for this balance and that is the problem.

 

[NSKlad]

In response:

1. Quite possibly, but this isn't an isolated example. We had the same problem on a previous team, and it was happening to other teams around us. Even people whom were running Paintball Clubs and trying to further the game (such as Yorkie) were having problems with kids being dedicated and turning up when they said they would.

2. No, I was saying that maybe you were different to my generalisation. There are some bad / poor adults involved in paintball too, I was just stating perhaps you were one of the "good" kids. Bank of Mum & Dad is a good point though. Paintball is a major fianncial commitment, and this needs to befully appreciated. If you don't have teh full funds to commit to a team, then you should look at the type of club previously run by the likes of Yorkie. At least here you are taught and nurtured, rather than turning up to Novice events as the 2nd coming of Markus the Carkus (minus the skill).

3. I'm not against kids playing Paintball at all, but they need to be properly nurtured and brought into the environment correctly. We should have more adult / experienced involvement, but as a participation sport not many want to invest time in the younger players. Whilst I have witnessed 2 & 7, I'm not neccesarily saying kids themselves are at fault here.

1 and 2, fair play.

3, good point, I've actually been there. My old team got a grant from the local council, we got given enough funds for a set of five full marker setups. I doubt I would still be playing if that had never happened, there's nothing quite like getting a helping hand with that sort of thing.

 

[Missy-Q]

well to be honest, you have generalized far to much here!!!! obviously you have had an issue with some kids and then now you are looking to blame something that has happened on a wider scale with all kids that play in the sport...

Thanks Unistu,
Interesting that you're so defensive. What exactly do you feel I am trying to blame kids for?

how do you know that its not the adults as such that is dragging down the sport no respect for the kids in the sport and all other points you have stated ...

Make a case for this and maybe I'll believe you. Everything I've seen would tend to convince me this is not the case though.

its the kids that are making our beloved sport grow and yes that list that you have put up of the older generation that has made it big in paintball give it time and as all them names how have mentioned will get old and grey(sorry guys and girls but that is life) and retire now i wounder who will carry the sport on HEY the newer generation will as they get older so my point in this is guide them in the correct way, teach them just as the older guys were tought as well as listening to them. this way we will all read from the same book and paintball itself will progress ...

That list of names is about 20% of what it could be. The first generation of kids were the pioneers, and they gave themselves to the industry - in fact, they are the industry.
How are the new kids making the sport grow?
What gives you the confidence that kids will pick up the torch from the pioneers?
Do you have an example of this, or does 'give it time' just mean that you hope and expect for it to happen?

but kids in general in the world may well be getting worse but its down to the graudians and people around them from young ages that bring them up, this is the reason for them with less respect for others and many more reasons they do, what they do and think it is fine to do so.

so theres my input fire away at me

My question is this: If you can always blame the parents and guardians, does that then absolve kids of all responsibility for their own actions/inactions? At what point does a kid have to shoulder responsibilities for himself?

You may see this as being an attack on kids, although I don't believe the questions asked are slanted that way at all, but what are you saying to defend yourself? That kids today don't know any better so its not their fault?

If so, thats fine, just pick numbers 5 and 6, and give 'because otherwise its so unfair' for your reason. The options are totally there for you.

 

[NSKlad]

My question is this: If you can always blame the parents and guardians, does that then absolve kids of all responsibility for their own actions/inactions? At what point does a kid have to shoulder responsibilities for himself?

Yes, until they can be taught to properly comprehend how their actions/inactions affect others. A child should learn responsibility from their parents, through petty things like toys when they are young, and then pocket money, and savings... so what I'm ultimately saying is they should have responsibility before a kid even thinks of playing paintball.

 

[Collier]

Wrongly enough 'some' people will take the piss and if not corrected or punished will continue to do so. In Evil Sharks if some of the kids missed training sessions they still played the tourney.
That said I'm not guilt free, and let Piper and PGI down. If I could turn back the clock I'd certainly do things differently I don't think I've ever actually apologised properly to Andy for that, which is another regret.

When I took the reigns of captain at Lincoln Storm I guess I'd grown up a touch and realised how hard the perks in this sport are to get. If you didn't train you didn't play.

 

[Missy-Q]

Yes, until they can be taught to properly comprehend how their actions/inactions affect others. A child should learn responsibility from their parents, through petty things like toys when they are young, and then pocket money, and savings... so what I'm ultimately saying is they should have responsibility before a kid even thinks of playing paintball.

So, you're saying that the parents are not teaching kids responsibility, therefore they can't be expected to have any, correct?

 

[jack_judge]

Kids are the future of paintball it may turn into a headband wearing love fest or it may progress well and maybe open a few eyes to the sport who knows but when people thinking that we are all a bunch of hoody wearing asbo strutting cider drinking chavs is not only ill informed but stupid. Yes kids will be cocky annoying and think they are gods gift to paintball but this isnt to do with age as i guarantee a few of the older generation of people believe that to be true about themselves. If we were all to assume how someone represented paintball due to the way the media portrays them the older generation would be just as bad as the Kids.

 

[NSKlad]

So, you're saying that the parents are not teaching kids responsibility, therefore they can't be expected to have any, correct?

Exactley. Where else will they learn any? Teachers can't because the kids won't listen unless their parents have tought them the right mindframe. And somebody mentioned kids having kids, if the kids don't have any respect or responsibility, how are their children going to learn any?