Is paintball taken too seriously?

[Redfoot Black]

Ok, i'd like an opinion poll on 'is paintball taken too seriously?'.

I mean, you get your pros who get given stuff for free and sh*t, and you get your wannabees who have pictures of pros on their walls (if manufacturers would ever print posters etc) but it's not like politics or anything.

It's a game.

And it's a game that is followed by a fair few people but not enough to make it considered "popular" like football or snooker or even curling.

So what's the point? why do people fight almost to the death about it being so important in their lives? i can understand it as a hobby, but until it's on mainstream television, why should it be considered any more than dominoes or Pokemon? The masses don't care so why should the minority? It's not like big, BIG money is available in paintball. Planet only made cash because they targeted themselves towards the arrogant few who considered themselves to be cool because of where they shopped (no offense to Planet, I'm currently sporting a t-shirt of yours as i type), but paintball will be one of those 'things'.

One of those 'things' like betamax or MDF. A fad. something that might seem great at the time but ends up fruitless and too expensive. Something your friends remembered but never took part in (and you will remind yourself of how much cash you spunked away while your mates pay for the drink you quaff during the conversation).

Paint is too expensive, as is technology. As a hobby it is fruitless and as a profession there is not enough support.

It's already on it's way down so why bother playing beyond rec-ball level? Are you embarresed? If no, why not?



- I fully expect this thread to disappear within seconds of my posting so please be quick with your replies -

 

[Baca Loco]

Another AOG member speaks

Why would this be deleted? The only reason I can think of is you're intentionally trolling. If so, surprise, let's see what everyone thinks.

 

[Dusty]

show me a sport or hobby where there is not someone who takes it too seriously. i know some serious birdwatchers i can assure you...............

i think there is more of a problem with those who take themselves too seriously. Paintball, it should be remembered, is not compulsory. therefore those who play do so of their own free will. so what if it is expensive?? so is flying a plane but people still do that for fun.

paintball may be a fad for some, but i think if anyone wants to do it, they will and they should. life is for living at the end of the day

 

[Robbo]

The only thing that worries me about the initial post is the following part:-

I mean, you get your pros who get given stuff for free and sh*t, and you get your wannabees who have pictures of pros on their walls (if manufacturers would ever print posters etc) but it's not like politics or anything.

This guy has or thinks people put posters of politicians on their walls?????
Now that's pretty fcuked up if he does.

As for whether people take Paintball too seriously is a bit of a non-event of a question really as the truthful answer is as meaningless as the question.

Some people do, some people don't !!!

I don't think Paintball can be classified as a 'fad' since it has been around for such a long time and the recent growth rate (up until last year) has been phenomenal over its 20 year history in the US.
Europe and the rest of the World are now beginning to show similar growth spurts and so it tends to suggest paintball is in for the long haul.

 

[Liz]

I know people who are seriously (and I mean SERIOUSLY) into dog showing. They go to shows more weekends than not. They travel distances the average UK paintballer (maybe barring the Scottish contingent) would have nightmares about e.g. day trips from Kent to Northumbria - and you can't take 4 dogs into a TravelLodge the way you can cram 5 'ballers into a room so it's leave at 3.00am or something silly. They can spend up to 2-3 hours on each and every dog bathing & grooming it the day before the show. The cheating is rife, and the politics makes paintball look like a kindergarden. And the only money to be made is by selling puppies, there's no prizes at all at the shows (except Crufts Best in Show) and they even have to pay for a rosette if they win.

So no, I don't think paintballers take things too seriously. Just because it's not on mainstream TV so what? There are plenty of passtimes that never get on TV (or very rarely) that are still very popular with participants. Planet aren't the only company in the UK let alone Europe or the World that are making reasonable amounts of money. Yes it's an expensive sport to take part in, but so is horse riding. People earning a living from the sport in the UK alone for way over 20 years suggests it's not just a fad, as does the recent advent of rental sites being set up & run by people who are doing it just for the income rather than any interest in the sport. And I don't see it as being on it's way down either - would be interested in where you got that theory from.

Most people need something to be passionate about in their lives. With some it's their jobs, but not all of us can have jobs that incur that kind of passion. With some it's their local football team, where they can only spectate and maybe get involved in a punch-up. With some it's music - anyone remember stories of the old Mods and Rockers days (or even lived through the redux in the late 70's)?

I can think of many worse things to be passionate about in this day & age!

 

[PaintballBudgie]

To a lot of people, it is a hobby, but its so much more to a great many others. If you want to be the best at anything in life it takes dedication and effort. If you only view the sport as just a hobby how are you going to be anything more than just a punter.

I am old and married with children, my family life does not allow for the level of commitment I would like to put in. If I had my time again and was 16 instead of 36 I would sure as hell be taking it seriously.

I hope that one day, (preferrably before I die), I will see true professional paintballers with the support and backing to be the best in the world.

 

[Tricky]

Whether its taken too seriously is a matter of opinion, Each time we travel to a millenium event it costs us in the region of £800-£1000 per player, not including paint, to play (normally) 8 games of paintball. But at the end of the day we come away chomping at the bit for the next one, because nothing can match the buzz of playing this sport.

 

[Redfoot Black]

Perhaps I was too harsh, cynical or pessimistic in my first post. After re-reading with time to ponder on its words, (and when Robbo replied it reminded me that->), i may have presented the image that i don't consider professional paintballers worth their salt or that they are participating in a sport that has no future. This is not true and I have the utmost respect for these people.

However, ever since i began playing paintball - which seems to me like the dawn of time (and the beginning of a considerable overdraft) - it's always been touted as 'the fastest growing sport' or words to that effect. So much so in fact that it's almost become a slogan in the press when targeted towards newbies or potential customers browsing the homepages of paintball sites.

I agree with Liz when she says that most people need something to be passionate about in their lives and for people to be willing to fork out 800 - 1000 per player then you've got to be pretty passionate about it.

Maybe I'm too impatient. Maybe the sport is still too young to hit the mainstream as hard as everybody would like it to. But it seems to me that a sport that has been 'growing' as quickly, and for as long as is made out, would be bigger than American Football by now.


* FAO Robbo: I have a poster of David Cameron on my wall.

* FAO Robbo: This is, of course, not true

 

[Jasper]

Originally posted by Liz
They go to shows more weekends than not. They travel distances the average UK paintballer (maybe barring the Scottish contingent) would have nightmares about e.g. day trips from Kent to Northumbria - and you can't take 4 dogs into a TravelLodge the way you can cram 5 'ballers into a room so it's leave at 3.00am or something silly.

Im not scottish 6 miles off the border but not scottish

I agree with liz
I wouldnt call it being serious about the sport i would call it passionate. And if you cant be passionate about something in your life then whats the point in living!

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Redfoot Black

* FAO Robbo: I have a poster of David Cameron on my wall.

* FAO Robbo: This is, of course, not true

I used to have a picture of Margaret Thatcher on my wall .... but that was so I had something to aim at when spitting....

Come to think of it, I'd like to spit at Blair too but he's so far up Bush's ass, I fear my spit won't reach him.