markers? you mean the guns

[dr.strangelove]

ROF, you drastically OVERestimate the public (the public, incidentally, being the general public, not just your friends).

They see what the media feeds them, paintball "guns" being used to vandalize property, used to shoot at pedestrians, paintballers portrayed as a bunch of wanna be rambos out in the woods shooting each other (see even as far back as LA Law, Baywatch, King of Queens, Jackass, 8 Mile and dozens of others). The general public is COMPLETELY misinformed about paintball, that's why no one knows about tourney ball, why people think it's one of the most dangerous games around, that it hurts excessively, etc,. Ask almost anyone on the street what they think paintball is, and they will give you nothing but common misconceptions and idiotic accusations. The more we can do to show the public that we are not a bunch of Rambo's out in the woods pelting each other with no masks and leaving grapefruit sized welts, the better. However, like I said before, I don't think that most people who say "marker" do so to "fool" the public, but because it describes our equipment far better than "gun" does.

 

[L J]

hence why we need Tv coverage on big time tv so people can see whats its really like

 

[Gyroscope]

Out of curiousity...

Is Martha Stewart a "warmonger" because she insists on refering to her "hot glue applicator" as a "glue gun"?

What do you call a staple gun?

I would suggest that the misconceptions held by the public relate to what is done with markers/guns when used properly. I believe that most people are able to tell that in 8-mile, those rascally rappers are doing something that is not quite the intended use of a marker/gun. Our image problem is more related to the perception that paintball is played in woods, by people who are not serious sportsmen, just having a lark. You know what? IT IS! We, tournament players, are a small minority of paintball players. Refering to our paint projectors as markers is accurate and an obfuscation. The image problem paintball suffers from is not due to the public thinking that we are killing each other, but that we are simulating killing each other in a realistic setting. Exposure to tournaments, showing people DVDs, etc. will help solve this far more effectively than our equipment by a name that has to be explained to each person we mention paintball to. Thinkl about how you explain the word marker. Can you do it without using the word gun?

 

[JoseDominguez]

Marker...... you use it to mark other players with paint. It shoots paintballs, it fires paintballs. Hmm, kinda hard to use the word gun really.
Are you saying that rec-ball and woodland is less valid than our sport? think about it mate..... where do you think diablo et al make the majority of their profits? it aint at tourneys. No woodland, no paintball. There ya' go.

 

[duffistuta]

We've used the word gun three times on the latest cover...naughty us.

 

[JoseDominguez]

No one was complaining about the word gun. We were just responding to a couple of posters who were against the word "marker" which I feel is appropriate and accurate. Call them what you want, my mate has an Angel which we call the "purple headed goo shooter" because of his peculiar body/barrel colour choice. Read back throught the thread, we were accused of being PC by saying marker, I'm not, it's just what I call the things.
Like I said before, if you don't like the term marker, then don't use it. Have fun taking your "guns" through customs though

 

[Gyroscope]

Originally posted by gyroscope
It looks like a gun, you shoot stuff from it. Is this just pathetic PC posturing?

Marker as a term is jargon. Say gun and they all know which piece of equipment you mean.

I suppose that might be an aggressive way to get your attention. I am interested in determining whether the term "marker" as opposed to "paintball gun" is of great enough value to off-set the disadvantage in making our sport more opaque to potential spectators. I apologize if anyone was offended by my question re: "PC posturing". It was a rhetorical question, and not intended as an accusation.

I am learning how sensitive this issue is, particularly in some parts of Europe. How could you get involved in paintball without seeing that these markers we use resemble guns? If the gun association is so offensive, why did you give paintball a try?

I am not saying, in any way, whether ironic or sincere, that I have harboured fantasies about shooting real people with real guns. The capacity to play while seperating the imaginary from the real is necessary to being mentally healthy. The knowledge that I could, in a safe setting, play warrior, is what got me, as a 16 year old, to play the first time. I do not think that I am alone. That motivation has transformed dramatically over the last few years, for me.

Jose- I recognize the importance of rec-ballers. That is the very point I was making. They constitute the majority of paintballers. As such, they inform the public's notion of paintball. That is part of why people think paintball=war sim. To most rec-ballers I have met, it does. We tournament paintball players are the anomaly.

OK. Now, to continue my inquiry, does anyone see how the proliferation of terminology that is not common in everyday language makes any sport, paintball included, more difficult to understand and appreciate?

I cede that customs agents will experience less visceral reactions to the word "marker". There is one use. I always describe my kit bag as containing Sporting goods for a paintball tournament. Of course the pressure vessels are decanted.

 

[Justin Owen]

Jose...

...awww man I know I'm opening myself up to it here, but gotta say:

>>>>>....that was in Halloween three when Jason beheaded a paintballer he ran into, but at least she was wearing goggles.<<<<<

As a former horror movie fanatic, I am disappointed in the lack of accuracy regarding our screen legends.
First of all, Halloween 3 didn't even have a mask-clad serial killer on the loose. I believe the movie was originally marketed as "Shamrock" but flopped and then was re-released as part of the Halloween franchise, "Season of the Witch" but didn't even feature the TRUE Halloween franchise killer, MICHAEL MYERS, and other than a short clip of the original film in this one, was unrelated in story.
Second of all, Jason is the franchise serial killer for the FRIDAY THE 13th line of movies...not Halloween.
Third of all, yes Jason dispatched with a number of Paintballers on their ill-fated outing in that movie...which was PART SIX, "Jason Lives."
Fourth of all, yes I have no life and I can't believe I remember all of that...but hey, I was addicted to this stuff when I was a kid.

I'm just yankin' with ya', Jose. I knew what you were saying, I'm just making a sarcastic dimwitted attempt at being my own Jackass for a bit. The manners of your arguments are spot-on.



~J~

PS...oh by the way, to inject my own little something into this argument (which I haven't read beyond the third and fourth pages, sorry)...whenever I've written an article I've tried very hard to mention (here I'm going to say it) Paintball GUNS as either "markers" or " 'guns ". Why? I guess because I feel that the anti-Paintball establishment sometimes jumps to the offensive at the smallest things to link our game to paramilitaristic mercenary training and such, and I don't want to be a part of it. 'guns, to me, makes a distinction that those people would have to recognize if they read one of my articles. Markers, too, illustrates that there's a clear distinction in OUR minds, the minds of Paintballers, between these game-necessary tools of ours, and machines constructed solely to kill.

Lotsa love to all...Jose, once again, please forgive me my rant.

 

[JoseDominguez]

Forgive me lack of Halloween knowledge
I am deeply ashamed.

 

[Justin Owen]

LOL

You are forgiven, but just barely.

he-he-he
~J~