Paintball...fading

[Blue Baller]

Most of you don't know me unless you're older members mainly because I stopped posting so much. For those that do, you know I was a hardcore tourney player. I used to play for a college team, more specifically, UW-Whitewater. The college league was actually tough to hang in, and I was proud to have a spot as a starting front man for the A team. Things were going well until I took a break for the winter season. Now, with all my thoughts collected and memories of paintball fading into my unconcious, I have realized some disturbing things.

Mainly, I played to keep my reputation as a higher level tourney player up. I wanted to ensure that my teammates didn't think I was slipping. I wanted the other palyers from opposing teams to know that I was a force to be reckoned with on the field. I wanted the kids at my home field back home to idolize me; I was even asked for autographs at one point. It felt good to be looked up to. It was at this point that I realize that paintball was no longer the way it used to be for me; I played simply to excell past levels others could never hope to reach. I kept spending money on upgrades and flashier gear simply because I wanted the glory for the day. I wanted the other guy in the deadbox to make me look better on the field.

It got so bad that I justified cheating. Cheating is absolutely wrong. Some may argue that it is where the sport is going. That may be true. Organizations and teams followed simply because they collectively supported the idea of cheating. These are some of the better teams in the Nation. But is it fun? I used to visualize before the break where I would be going, and the best way to avoid being laned. Before I left the sport, it was just me wondering the best way I could get the wipe before the ref could notice me. Is that fun? Absolutely not. All it did was force me to take the wholesomeness right out of the game. You are no longer having fun if you are faking your way through the sport.

I understand what it means to have paintball "fade." It's not about fun past a certain point if you so let it be; it's all about relaxing and not worrying so much. Take it from me, paintballers- whether you are a seasoned veteran or just starting out, try to remember why paintball was so fun in the beginning. Try to hold on to that, even if your skill is swelling. If you don't, you may be in my shoes. Yes, I know the tourney boys are going to boo me for ragging on cheating. So be it. It's not justified and not fun. I don't care if it's where the sport is going. It was one of the defining elements that ruined this game for me.

tl;dr- I'm totally buying a phantom.

[xtremesnipr223]

Stock class = more honest play?

I don't follow.

[bruc3]

i tihnk he means it funner and more modest?

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[Downfall08]

I kind of agree with you. I've never really expeirienced cheating in a hardcore tourny so I'm sure I don't know what its like. I definitely find it a little strange that everybody seems to justify cheating these days as "Oh its just like a foul in basketball" I think thats totally absurd. Cheating in paintball(such as wiping) would go along with somehow adding points illegally to the score board (crappy analogy but you get what I'm saying) Now I do admit I've never played in a national tournament. I don't know what they're like but still, cheating is cheating.

[Blue Baller]

Stock class = more honest play?

I don't follow.
Just going back to the roots. Maybe some old rec balling and pump action face melting will give me back what I'm looking for.

[hybrid-sniper]

I know what you mean, i used to push myself hard to give it all just to try for some sort of future in paintball, i had tourney players talking about how to watch out for me...etc It felt cool, but then i don't know, things just sort of disbanded for me, i couldn't get to the field as much, the team was never really together so i more or less quit 'balling for about 7 months, then got a sponsor offer and jumped on that and played some tournies but everyone was too serious about well everything it seems and i didn't have fun anymore, constant cheating accusations, *****ing about refs, cheating guns...etc
So now im going to play a couple tournies this year stictly to enjoy and ruin the wins for other teams. A phantom is also in my future, should be mega fun.

[Woods Sniper]

:tup: on the phantom.

And cheating happens. If you do it occasionally, I see no problem with it... but when it becomes a constant obsession, it's definitely time to take a step back and think about what you're becoming. I think that you're doing the right thing.

I hope you find your equilibrium, my friend. :tupagain:

[can'tthink of1]

I remember you! The dude with the eyebrow ring right? I agree with you thou. Paintball is about fun, and making it into something so serious where morals go down the hole is no fun whatsoever. I hope you have fun with the phantom. :)

[Tabris17]

And cheating happens. If you do it occasionally, I see no problem with it...:

I think that's the kind of attitude that most people adopt and then they keep doing it and doing it until it's just habit. I was reading in PGi about one player, I can't remember who it was or the team, but it was questioned if he was hit because a ref called him out on it but he said it was bunker rub. And he then demonstrated what he did by rubbing himself against the bunker in front of the ref, a move some people found very odd and questionable and wondered if he did it to mask the hit on his arm.
I was tempted to wipe once during rec play, I got nicked by a ball and it left a small mark on the cuff of my jersey and I looked at it for a moment and jsut kind of bit my lip and raised my marker. The thought to wipe that small coin sized mark crossed my mind but it was rec play and I was afraid if I did it then I would do it again. Heck, I didn't even like ramping because I think it's a way to cheat.
But I do my best to stay strong about it and keep to my standards even though others decide to cheat. And it's a shame some of our heros on the pro-teams cheat by wiping or using cheater mods on their markers. I think it's even worse when the younger players look up to them and think they can do the same thing. I mean, what would happen if Ollie Lang was suddenly caught using cheater boards and wiping? I would certainly hope he wouldn't since he is considered the best player alive right now and alot of people look up to him.
Michael Jordan never cheated and had a clean record and people still look up to him because he was a great player and a great person. Unlike many of this baseball 'stars' who are becoming to numerous to name at this point in time who are juicing up. I just wish that the pro-teams would stop cheating and start playing straight, then maybe it would fall down onto the lesser leagues. But it will be a long time before that happens I think.

[the other one]

I was at your point a while ago....

I even sold my matrix, and ordered a carter buzzard, because i wanted a change, while still being able to have a quality marker.

.... but then I found out college was a lot more expensive than i thought, and I've been without a marker for 6 straight months.... so i've been reffing and renting, and it's brought back a bit of the "fun" i used to have in paintball. I mean.... renting a tippmann pro/carbine isn't exactly the agg thing to do, but it was really fun to be considered a "renter", and to play with dads and their kids, and go easy on them... and just have fun.



*oh, and I remember your screen name.*

[senghing27]

this sounds more like burnout.
:tup: on getting the phantom....
now vote psycho_warden for CCI mod

[Blue Baller]

Burnout? Nah. I'd like nothing more than to enjoy the game again.

To expand on cheating:
It's a fine line to walk. You have to watch where you step. It starts off as little, but then if you start to play honestly, your teammates will think you're slipping. Cheating eventually becomes a normal thing for you. I mean, you want to keep that starting spot. You want to stay on the better team. You want to show everyone you CANNOT be eliminated. Eventually, you realize you're not even playing paintball. It's you versus the refs now, not you versus the other teams.

In other words, if you don't mind he occasional wipe, make sure it stays that way. It's so simple to have hapen to you what happened to me.

[Erlosung]

One-time cheaters or every-time cheaters... same difference.

I hope you find what you're looking for Blue.

[Bboy Young]

Hey Clam, remember me?

I've also taken a long break from paintball as well (about a year and a half) and I've just gotten back into it. What happened to the days when we were both happy with our 'mags and thought old school trix's were the hotness?

Drop me a PM sometime and let's catchup.

And keeping on subject, the decline of our sport as more and more emphasis is being placed on higher BPS, more competition and hence more cheating is very unfortunate indeed. I have also been away from the sport for about a year (since I'm at college as well), and I recently tried to get back into it by buying an Eclipse Ego and playing a few local events with my old team. After playing my first tournament in a little over a year, I immediately remembered what drove me away from paintball in the first place. I think the best way to get a fresh look at paintball is to start over, and go back to your roots. For me, this means playing mech again (Slider framed autococker ftw).

[PBfreak01]

I'd love to paintball every weekend, but I lack the money for the 'balls, the money for gas, and the money for a car, most importantly. As it is, I've been out of the sport a little bit less than a year (since right before last summer, to be precise). Normally it's a semi-seasonal affair for me, once in the spring, a few times in the summer (maybe) and that's it. Though I am thinking about making the switch to a SC phantom so I don't drain my wallet when I play.

[clown_13_2001]

I think that's the kind of attitude that most people adopt and then they keep doing it and doing it until it's just habit. I was reading in PGi about one player, I can't remember who it was or the team, but it was questioned if he was hit because a ref called him out on it but he said it was bunker rub. And he then demonstrated what he did by rubbing himself against the bunker in front of the ref, a move some people found very odd and questionable and wondered if he did it to mask the hit on his arm.
I was tempted to wipe once during rec play, I got nicked by a ball and it left a small mark on the cuff of my jersey and I looked at it for a moment and jsut kind of bit my lip and raised my marker. The thought to wipe that small coin sized mark crossed my mind but it was rec play and I was afraid if I did it then I would do it again. Heck, I didn't even like ramping because I think it's a way to cheat.
But I do my best to stay strong about it and keep to my standards even though others decide to cheat. And it's a shame some of our heros on the pro-teams cheat by wiping or using cheater mods on their markers. I think it's even worse when the younger players look up to them and think they can do the same thing. I mean, what would happen if Ollie Lang was suddenly caught using cheater boards and wiping? I would certainly hope he wouldn't since he is considered the best player alive right now and alot of people look up to him.
Michael Jordan never cheated and had a clean record and people still look up to him because he was a great player and a great person. Unlike many of this baseball 'stars' who are becoming to numerous to name at this point in time who are juicing up. I just wish that the pro-teams would stop cheating and start playing straight, then maybe it would fall down onto the lesser leagues. But it will be a long time before that happens I think.


Actually, michael jordan DID take an extra step periodically when going for a dunk. ;)

[4THDEGREE]

Michael Jordan never cheated???? Did you ever actually watch him play? The man was a master of pushing off whoever was guarding him. He was given quite a bit of leeway from the referees in the later years of his career.

[senghing27]

Michael Jordan never cheated???? Did you ever actually watch him play? The man was a master of pushing off whoever was guarding him. He was given quite a bit of leeway from the referees in the later years of his career.
it's true too, i saw him admit it on 60 minute.:o