Is the Joe Schmoe profile really necessary?

[wee-man]

Manning

Originally posted by Simon Malone
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There is no real rec scene in the UK, so they don't have anyone to interview

have to disagree with you here i marshall on a site where you see the same faces a lot of the time and no they are not marshalls

 

[rob_evanson]

Whao, what do you say to a post like that, nice one AJermstad. I think you summed the whole lot up in one small, ah-hem, will medium sized post. Dude that must have taken ages to type.

 

[Robin Hood]

Cheers Rob

I very much agree with Diggie though too. I'm very good friends with some ex-US Air Force pilots and my Grandfather was a fighter pilot on Aircraft carriers for the US Navy. And do find it utterly disrespectful when you do have those 'certain few' rec-ball players that take it that step too far, showing off all sorts of badges and medals that they really don't have any idea what real war victims had to go through to earn. If they're that really into that kind of thing and love the idea being in the army or special force - they should just join!! I can assure that most of them wouldn't last a week though!

A friend of mine, Jimmy, is one of the best friends a guy could ever have. He recently he handed down to me his old BDU's, I couldn't think of a greater honour for me. Now I wear them with pride whenever I put them on, and as a mark of respect for all those whose who have ever served our country well throughout their lives - and the people who still do today.

Yet I don't go rambo'ing' out onto the paintball field with them on pretending to be someone I'm not, and I save my scenario game badges for another set of BDU's, where they deserve to be.

 

[styles mugger]

I have 2 agree with pretty much everything said u there Ajermstad.
Your posts are seemin 2 get bigger all the time,now they almost take a page up!they do have/get 2 a gud point though so keep um up.

 

[Robin Hood]

Originally posted by styles mugger
I have 2 agree with pretty much everything said u there Ajermstad.
Your posts are seemin 2 get bigger all the time,now they almost take a page up!they do have/get 2 a gud point though so keep um up.

Cheers mate! I appreciate the input and do feel strongly about alot of the topics on the forums here. It's great having a place where anybody can voice their own opinion

 

[Buddha 3]

Well, love them or hate them, they're not going to go away.
We're talking about not wanting them to be the face that represents paintball. How arrogant is that?
Sure, their warlike appearance may cause feelings of unease in a lot of people, but on the other hand these guys are the vast majority of paintball players. Way more than that 50% mentioned! (90% is more like it).
Yes I'm a tourney player, and yes touney ball should be prsented to the world as least military like as can be, if we are going to be recognised as a sport. But the camo clad guys are by far the biggest market out there, and therefore are the true face of paintball, whether we like it or not. And as such we can not deny them their spot light. You have to understand that recball and tourney ball are two very seperate things, and are very hard to compare.
I agree that wearing medals you haven't earned is disrespectfull, but if someone wants to get all camoed up in the weekend, and sneak around the forests, than we have to respect that. Just because it's not our thing doesn't mean other people 'shouldn't be allowed to do it. There is plenty of room in this world for both forms of paintball to exist side by side.
Almost everybody starts out in camo gear, and only some of them make the step to tourney ball. Other people would rather do some 'role playing'. It is their way of escaping the rigours of every day life. Some people wanted to be in the military, but for whatever reason never got in. If they can live their dream in this way, let them.
I've played alongside recballers for a very long time, and we always tried to convince them to try out the Sup'Air with us. Often they would just try it once, but they would rather spend their time (and money) in the woods. So who are we to say that they are wrong? After all, there's more of them!.
Ajermstad, you are in one way right in saying that we don't want the camo boys to represent paintball, but in another major way you are so wrong. It is exactly this camo style Rambo image that draws the VAST majority of people to the paintball fields for the first time.......


Later ya'll!

 

[Robin Hood]

Of course you're right in many ways there, I mentioned some similar points in my post in that These people shouldn't be thought of a problem that should be eradicated (from a magazine) just because they don't play tourney and enjoy the more testosterone driven aspect of PB, these people should be thought of as core part of PB that contributes greatly towards the growth and strength of the sport and you're right in saying that the camo clad guys are by far the biggest market out there

Some people wanted to be in the military, but for whatever reason never got in. If they can live their dream in this way, let them. I have to say I didn't think about this and of course I'm fully supportive of these kinda people.

I mentioned about who's to stop them from enjoying themselves on the paintball field and escaping from their identity in their everyday lives for a couple of hours - to blow off some steam and have a good time playing PB, pretending they're Starship Troopers!! I'm all for that! I love do(ing) some 'role playing' and escaping the rigours of every day life myself and have a blast doing it!

I think that it's fantastic that anybody can enjoy all paintball in all of it's different elements for the fact that it can be presented in so many different ways - whether that be WWII scenario games or some fast paced, clean cut tourney games. I'm sorry If I came accross arrogant in my argument, and I don't think for one minute that either end of the paintball spectrum should be discriminated against for the type of game they play or image they portray (unless of course there's some extremist terrorist group practicing with PB guns somewhere!! ).

Of course let people live out there fantasies (maybe dreams would be a better word ) and have a great time playing - remember - I'm all for the schmoe to keep on playing and get the respect and recognition that they deserve . - There is however, always going to be that fine line between the war veteran wannabe's and the weekend escaper who just enjoys the role-playing and scenario aspect of the game.

L8R people!

 

[MidgetFista]

/me hands AJermstad a glass of water...

you look like you need it

Neil

 

[Manning26]

I'm skipping back a bit here. Wee-man, the top of your post indicates that you're talking to me, but then you copied something Mr. Malone posted, I'm confused.

I'm also confused as to how there could be no rec. scene over there, this can't be true, can it?

 

[Darkwerks]

UK recball scene (or lack thereof)

It certainly seems to be the case. Apart from a few sites that offer "own gun days", the North vs. South Big game, and Steve Bull & the UKPSF's South Park game, thats pretty much it for recreational play over here.
The game is much more expensive here, there are considerably fewer sites and stores. And there is much more of a derogatory attitude from the tourny players.