Wheelchair Paintball

[stongle]

Well, am I the only person a little disturbed by the way in which this thread is progressing.

Whats with the Media Circus for this event???? Hey if wheelchair users wish to play Paintball let them. But why are people suggesting turning into a media fish bowl spectacle to promote our version of paintball. Sounds to me like your creating a spectale for your own gratification, which is not (to me) acceptable.

Now if there are any wheelchair uses here please feel free to comment. I'm sure it's a pain in the 'arris when some do-goober (see what I done there), speaks up for y'all, but I just don't like this whole media circus thing.

Perhaps a better way to proceed would be that people who have wheelchair user friends discuss it amoungst themselves, explain the concepts of play and see if there is any interest before we start saying "gun mount" etc. We know what limits we can be pushed to play the game, but I doubt 99.999% of you can guess what these guys know of how far they can push it (probably a lot further than we imagine). I mean maybe only a small minority are interested in shooting their mates. Not as though the able bodied (sic) are queing up to play paintball is it.

I'm not against "Wheelchair Paintball" at all, just the media hype, I mean I play 99% of my Paintball away form the media spotlight, why should it be different for these guys.

Flambe away lads

 

[JoseDominguez]

publicity would be good for the sport and would ensure that it was done properly and cheaply for the participants. Simple as that...........and most of the sponsors are businesses, not charitities..........how much are you going to provide for free? if this is done without any media attention?
I'll sponsor a full team..... how about you?
Publicity is good and it could introduce another sport to wheelchair users across the country.

 

[stongle]

I respectfully disagree, I'd be more than happy to help anybody out, but don't think this event should be in a goldfish bowl. I think that it should be tried first and if successful, sure include the series in whichever tournament series, but at least allow the players in this tournament able bodied or not a chance to play before being paraded as a media event. Would you like your first time with a marker to be on display?

I actually agree with "introduce another sport to wheelchair users across the country.", but not as a one off spectacle to increase public awareness of pball in general. You know if you integrate "wheelchair paintball" into pball in general whether rec / touney / whatever, without going to the media and saying "Hey paintballers are really right on dudes, they even have wheelchair ball......", everybody gets treated as equals ( well except for rec ballers but thats a whole other arguement)

Your offer of kit loan is a step forward, but whats the need of publicity?

Pball could and should be a sport for all no discrimination either positive or negative.

My 2p

 

[TOOLE]

All that i meant by attracting media attention etc. is that the event could be done (essentially) for free.This means that the people who want to play 'wheelchair paintball' could give it a try for free, i mean i wouldn't be getting any self gratification out of this, other than getting some others into the sport, which i always find satisfying. The reason for the media is because it would make it FREE. if someone was to let me play a paintball tourney for free, then i would jump at the chance, this just lets the players take advantage of their situation!

 

[JoseDominguez]

without the media attention why would the industry help out?
Also, I think it's the players involved that should be expressing an opinion, negative or otherwise as to whether the media attention is a good thing. I think they are quite capable of looking after themselves. You are making asumptions about how the players will feel, and your view that they wouldn't want to be in the spotlight hints to an underlying pre-concieved idea.
It wouldn't be in a goldfish bowl, it would just get some publicity.......like the PA cup, nothing bad, nothing negative, it would simply be a cool thing to be involved in.
So unless you can provide team kit and cheap paint, plus a venue and ultimate air-ball field, let the publicity happen we need it or this won't get of the ground.

 

[JoseDominguez]

bump.........lets keep talking this could happen.