Is paintball a sport? What makes it a sport?
- Thread starter jeremy7
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In response to:
Larry, u gotta be kiddin us ain't ya, u come on here spouting this and that about what you've written for other publications at every opportunity and then introduce the idea of it being inappropriate on PGI's web site ?
Robbo
US Editor of Paintball Games International
Now I can't tell if you're kidding or not, so I'll take the low road.
I always use the justification that any information no matter its source is helpful, if only to generate more conversation even when incorrect or not the same as the general opinion.
If your comment was do I think PGI's site is beneath the articles, I actually think the forum is sometimes more insightful than some magazines I read on the same topics.
The progression from not-even-a-sport to super-sport was exactly what I intended; the reader will probably need to treat any article that tries to define something, or take a more philosophical look, as something requiring more thought. Doesn't mean agreement, just thought, to spark debate or generate greater interest.
Oh and the comment about this sport of ours with guns ... very close to the mark as far as public perception, make no mistake about that.
Larry Muddying the Waters Janecka
Larry, u gotta be kiddin us ain't ya, u come on here spouting this and that about what you've written for other publications at every opportunity and then introduce the idea of it being inappropriate on PGI's web site ?
Robbo
US Editor of Paintball Games International
Now I can't tell if you're kidding or not, so I'll take the low road.
I always use the justification that any information no matter its source is helpful, if only to generate more conversation even when incorrect or not the same as the general opinion.
If your comment was do I think PGI's site is beneath the articles, I actually think the forum is sometimes more insightful than some magazines I read on the same topics.
The progression from not-even-a-sport to super-sport was exactly what I intended; the reader will probably need to treat any article that tries to define something, or take a more philosophical look, as something requiring more thought. Doesn't mean agreement, just thought, to spark debate or generate greater interest.
Oh and the comment about this sport of ours with guns ... very close to the mark as far as public perception, make no mistake about that.
Larry Muddying the Waters Janecka
Larry, dude, take a chill
And before I get started, perhaps Robbo was suggesting that since you routinely comment on other articles you have written for other mags, if you weren't simply tooting your own horn or really thought it was potentilly inappropriate you wouldn't have made mention of all that in the first place. After all, you could'a made the same points without bringing the article into it. Just a thought.
Otherwise, geez, Larry, you got's way too much time on your hands. Maybe get out and play a little pball instead of dissecting it.
Sorry, no such thing as sandbagging, leastways not as you seem to be describing it. Particularly as the designation 'Novice' is virtually meaningless except to imply a level of competence.
If that whole spiel was intended to generate interest--ouch!
Normally you've got something interesting to say but this bit made me feel rather like Malcolm McDowell being re-educated at the end of 'Clockwork Orange.'
Baca 'Throwing a hand grenade in the Koi pond' Loco
Sorry to come late but hadn't actually bothered to look at this thread before.
And before I get started, perhaps Robbo was suggesting that since you routinely comment on other articles you have written for other mags, if you weren't simply tooting your own horn or really thought it was potentilly inappropriate you wouldn't have made mention of all that in the first place. After all, you could'a made the same points without bringing the article into it. Just a thought.
Otherwise, geez, Larry, you got's way too much time on your hands. Maybe get out and play a little pball instead of dissecting it.
Sorry, no such thing as sandbagging, leastways not as you seem to be describing it. Particularly as the designation 'Novice' is virtually meaningless except to imply a level of competence.
If that whole spiel was intended to generate interest--ouch!
Normally you've got something interesting to say but this bit made me feel rather like Malcolm McDowell being re-educated at the end of 'Clockwork Orange.'
Baca 'Throwing a hand grenade in the Koi pond' Loco
Larry, dude, take a chill
In one my learned friend !!!!!!Originally posted by Baca Loco
And before I get started, perhaps Robbo was suggesting that since you routinely comment on other articles you have written for other mags, if you weren't simply tooting your own horn or really thought it was potentilly inappropriate you wouldn't have made mention of all that in the first place. After all, you could'a made the same points without bringing the article into it. Just a thought.
Is it a sport?
No it can't just be about teamwork. Office workers stack furniture and call that team building. So it must be down to getting an adrenaline rush achieved through success or failure. Although if stacking tables floats your boat then maybe paintball isn't for you.
No it can't just be about teamwork. Office workers stack furniture and call that team building. So it must be down to getting an adrenaline rush achieved through success or failure. Although if stacking tables floats your boat then maybe paintball isn't for you.
Exploding koi? Yikes.
Guilty Baca. God I wish I could get to the field more, family changes.
I'll grant you that novice has become meaningless in our sport but I think you'd have to agree that many local and national organizations / clubs in other sports are pretty religious about age and capability ranking. Are there exceptions? Of course.
I love all parts of paintball, from scenario to big to tournament, organizing and reffing. I balance that with dissecting the game from a distance. I don't think we do enough of that to advance the sport. Like an analysis missing the basic principles. Like quantum physics without Newton et al. In '88, I got hosed by a Tippmann SMG, in '89 I was taught the deadman's walk, and I've been a student ever since.
Now you're going to have half the people who read this think, "Dude, I'd blow him away within thirty seconds of game on", and they'd probably be right (maybe), but then they'd have totally missed the debate happening here. Why can't we advance? X-Ball? Juries out. NPPL? No comment. Salm? Hmm.
Lots of people airing paintball's dirty laundry (me included), lots of people taking care of pocket books ... how many are putting their money where their mouth is and promoting a positive image? How many of those are doing so honestly, honestly admitting the sports' shortcomings, and then showing how to advance?
Not many.
Larry
Guilty Baca. God I wish I could get to the field more, family changes.
I'll grant you that novice has become meaningless in our sport but I think you'd have to agree that many local and national organizations / clubs in other sports are pretty religious about age and capability ranking. Are there exceptions? Of course.
I love all parts of paintball, from scenario to big to tournament, organizing and reffing. I balance that with dissecting the game from a distance. I don't think we do enough of that to advance the sport. Like an analysis missing the basic principles. Like quantum physics without Newton et al. In '88, I got hosed by a Tippmann SMG, in '89 I was taught the deadman's walk, and I've been a student ever since.
Now you're going to have half the people who read this think, "Dude, I'd blow him away within thirty seconds of game on", and they'd probably be right (maybe), but then they'd have totally missed the debate happening here. Why can't we advance? X-Ball? Juries out. NPPL? No comment. Salm? Hmm.
Lots of people airing paintball's dirty laundry (me included), lots of people taking care of pocket books ... how many are putting their money where their mouth is and promoting a positive image? How many of those are doing so honestly, honestly admitting the sports' shortcomings, and then showing how to advance?
Not many.
Larry
Exploding koi? Yikes.
I don't honestly see how can suggest pball isn't advancing. The last five years have made huge strides. It isn't orderly. It isn't pretty (with a few exceptions). It isn't on some timetable or at the behest of some master plan, despite the best efforts of certain individuals, or even the way I'd do it if I controlled the pball universe but so what?
I'm frequently as loud and obnoxious as the next guy in harping on the things I think aren't in pball's best interest or need changing. But I'm also very upbeat about how it will all turn out, in part, because there are lots of other voices and actors out there contributing to the process in untold ways. Most aren't well known nor will they ever be, most don't have significant influence, many don't do anything besides conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. Others have particular areas of interest so that those in different realms with different interests never know word one--doesn't mean they aren't doing what they can or that things aren't progressing. It's just kinda messy, that's all.
In the meantime, Larry, lighten up and have some fun.
Probably agree with you in general most of the time but tend to disagree on this one--
I don't honestly see how can suggest pball isn't advancing. The last five years have made huge strides. It isn't orderly. It isn't pretty (with a few exceptions). It isn't on some timetable or at the behest of some master plan, despite the best efforts of certain individuals
, or even the way I'd do it if I controlled the pball universe but so what?I'm frequently as loud and obnoxious as the next guy in harping on the things I think aren't in pball's best interest or need changing. But I'm also very upbeat about how it will all turn out, in part, because there are lots of other voices and actors out there contributing to the process in untold ways. Most aren't well known nor will they ever be, most don't have significant influence, many don't do anything besides conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. Others have particular areas of interest so that those in different realms with different interests never know word one--doesn't mean they aren't doing what they can or that things aren't progressing. It's just kinda messy, that's all.
In the meantime, Larry, lighten up and have some fun.
Re: Exploding koi? Yikes.
Aren't you making the assumption that you know what my.... ermm I mean some 'unknown individuals' hypothetical master plan actually is?
Paintball is progressing, make no mistake about that and it is in spite of certain people and not because of them that we find ourselves on the brink of mainstream acceptance, leastwise if the uptake of TV is anything to go by.
Nah, we are going the right way and it is the way of the tournament scene with all the adrenaline, all the drama, all the bad behaviour and so on coz I tell ya this much, if paintball hadn't been dragged outa the woods and away from cammo-land and wannabee Rambos, we would never have stood a dog's chance of going anywhere.
Paintball is now a sport and recognised as such and not some militaristic indulgence.
As Paul (Baca) rightfully says, it's going forward and it's messy but it is progressing.
And how the hell X-ball and NPPL can be lumped in with Salm's antics as yardsticks of progression is beyond me and says more about where it's coming from than the subjects themselves.
Ya know, I give up sometimes with some of these self- proclaimed sophisticates of our sport who haven't one ounce of idea as to what's significant.
The false premise is this, they know they can write intelligently and then go on to make the mistake that they believe whatever they write is intelligent.
This sport has a few of these characters that's for sure, the trick for the rest of ya, is to know who's who
Robbo
Nah, we are going the right way and it is the way of the tournament scene with all the adrenaline, all the drama, all the bad behaviour and so on coz I tell ya this much, if paintball hadn't been dragged outa the woods and away from cammo-land and wannabee Rambos, we would never have stood a dog's chance of going anywhere.
Paintball is now a sport and recognised as such and not some militaristic indulgence.
As Paul (Baca) rightfully says, it's going forward and it's messy but it is progressing.
And how the hell X-ball and NPPL can be lumped in with Salm's antics as yardsticks of progression is beyond me and says more about where it's coming from than the subjects themselves.
Ya know, I give up sometimes with some of these self- proclaimed sophisticates of our sport who haven't one ounce of idea as to what's significant.
The false premise is this, they know they can write intelligently and then go on to make the mistake that they believe whatever they write is intelligent.
This sport has a few of these characters that's for sure, the trick for the rest of ya, is to know who's who
Robbo
Originally posted by Robbo
Paintball is progressing, make no mistake about that and it is in spite of certain people and not because of them that we find ourselves on the brink of mainstream acceptance, leastwise if the uptake of TV is anything to go by.
Nah, we are going the right way and it is the way of the tournament scene with all the adrenaline, all the drama, all the bad behaviour and so on coz I tell ya this much, if paintball hadn't been dragged outa the woods and away from cammo-land and wannabee Rambos, we would never have stood a dog's chance of going anywhere.
Paintball is now a sport and recognised as such and not some militaristic indulgence.
As Paul (Baca) rightfully says, it's going forward and it's messy but it is progressing.
And how the hell X-ball and NPPL can be lumped in with Salm's antics as yardsticks of progression is beyond me and says more about where it's coming from than the subjects themselves.
Ya know, I give up sometimes with some of these self- proclaimed sophisticates of our sport who haven't one ounce of idea as to what's significant.
The false premise is this, they know they can write intelligently and then go on to make the mistake that they believe whatever they write is intelligent.
This sport has a few of these characters that's for sure, the trick for the rest of ya, is to know who's who
Robbo
oi, are you having a pop?