Adopt-a-noob-foundation

[sand_man]

I have only been on these forums as a member for about a month. Already I have been helped by many members with my nooby questions. I was kinda thinking that possibly we could have an organization that "adopts" noobs. What would "adoption" be? Well in my mind, it would consist of always being there for the noob, no matter how stupid his question. For the lack of a better term, why not call the person adopting the noob a "parent". The parent would possibly give the noob their old equipment, or tell them where they can get good deals, or how to do home modifications to their gear. The noob might in return send them non-pb related things, or they suddenly have a major surplus of cash, give back to the parent.
Now, how would one get adopted? I admit, when noobs are looking for adoption, some put themselves up simply because they smell the slightest chance of free stuff. However, I believe that some noobies will come on here looking for a paintball father figure, to confide in, and to gain experiences from as a paintballer. On the other hand, potential parents could put themselves up stating that they are looking for a noob. There could be a limitation on the amount of experience that you should have minimum to be a parent, and on the lack of experience of the noobs.

Now, this is just a brainstorm at this point, give me comments and feedback, and we will see how far this idea goes!

[PaintballNewb13]

no way peeps are gonna give away gear...just prolly not gonna happen, interesting idea though...strange and unlikely, but interesting.

[sand_man]

Thanks for the feedback, and most people, no. But you would be surprised. Usually I'm a pretty pessimistic person, but I have seen good in people. I think that they would, at least the ones that would want to adopt a noob.

[PaintballNewb13]

ahh, pessimism, I'm with ya there man "glass is half empty, cracked and I just chipped my tooth on it" :laugh:

[NoelyDeezNutz]

its not a bad idea... but i dont see people giving away gear...

[sand_man]

Heh, that should be sigged paintballnewb....nice

[PaintballNewb13]

if you wanna sig it, fine, but it wasn't my quote, got it out of a "comedy thesaurus" at my grandparents house, that's why I put it in quotes, though I can't remember who said it. :tup:

[Coenen]

I could see this working on an information only type basis. The newbie's adopter can give them information on the game and on how to better themselves at it. We could also help them to become part of the paintball community, teach ettiquette for how to do deals on BST, or find a good deal at an online store etc. etc. Things important to helping the new player really feal accepted in paintball.

I don't think this will really work if all newb/experienced player relationships are supposed to involve the giving of material things.

[Jodo_Kast]

If someone's gonna be giving equipment away, I'd stand up and announce I was a noob. :crazy:

[413sonix]

It would work with info but with gear I don't see it happening. I know I've helped a few people out in this forum as a lot of other PBR'ers have too.

[sand_man]

I see ya'lls point, I did not mean that giving away equipment would happen often, if at all. Just, if someone was already giving it away, the adopted noob would be their first choice. This is just a rough draft if you will, kinda an idea I had, only been thinking a bit about it for about a day or two.

[DirtyBirdy51]

if it were to be knowledge based, i'd adopt a noob to paintball, or to the pbr forums

[iliveforthis99]

Parts of your idea isn't bad but if the noobs started to just ask their "parents" questions then what's the point of having a forum? I've helped out a few noobs via IM and PM's so i have nothing against helping our new players but the the new player forum was created for this purpose of helping the new kids.

[sand_man]

That is about the toughest argument that you can come across. Why I feel why some newbies may want a "parent" is this:
1. Embarrassment: True, you probably don't know these people, but it is still there for some.
2. More personal: Having a dedicated "parent" is a bit more personal then just having random people post on the forums for you. It is a little bit dare I say it? Intimate?:)
3. On the fly help: The parent would be someone you can contact anytime right on the spot. They would have eachothers phone number's, AIM usernames, etc.
4. Guaranteed straight facts: Some people on this forum (hey ya never know) might post inaccurate or biased information because they are a fanboy of a particular company, had one bad experience (ie. a lemon marker) or "knew" someone that had some trouble without them knowing all the facts. Also, the possiblity is always there that people will lie.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback, this post took me forever to write, I got half the skin ripped off my pinky today...

[413sonix]

Uh I wouldn't post a phone number or anything adress related. If you've never known you can find people's locations on Google with a phone number. Not a smart idea. Plus they're integrating a feature allowing you to find cell-phones with that. Man they know where everyone is now eh?

[iliveforthis99]

4. Guaranteed straight facts: Some people on this forum (hey ya never know) might post inaccurate or biased information because they are a fanboy of a particular company, had one bad experience (ie. a lemon marker) or "knew" someone that had some trouble without them knowing all the facts. See that won't fix the problem of getting unbiased info in fact it sends it sky high. If the noob is only asking one person he'll likely get a biased answer even from an experienced player since we all have a bias torwards things. Same noob posts in a forum and he'll get more and different answers. You're going to biased answers either way but w/ more answers comes easier decisions.

[sand_man]

Depends. I would think that the people that would adopt noobs would lose their bias a little bit, since they have played longer, usually trying out different ones, or better yet, owning them. And thanks for not going something like this in arguemnt "Leik 0mG!!!11!! y0u n00ble f0rum5 is t3h pwnzr!11!!

[iliveforthis99]

I don't know about that i've a few members here that are bias and mods at that. No matter what everyone will be biased on one subject or another. Yeah i'm not trying to bash your idea or anything you asked for feedback and i'm giving mine. Glad you're not taking it the wrong way.

[wsp]

I think its a great idea. not sure about the free equiptment though, but the noob could just PM the "parent" with their questions and the "parent" could PM the noob with their reply or something like that :P

[letheledout1392]

well first off what kinda setup u running, and go to your local paintball field/store ad find a real preson who could "adopt" u. my best friend and team mate got me into paintball and took me under his wing, that is what i say u shoudl do

[sand_man]

All feedback noted. Heh, iliveforthis, I have not been on here long, so you wouldn't know that I don't take stuff the wrong way at all. I don't get offended by much:)
Anyway, just to make this clear, I am a noob myself, not the idiot kind, just new at paintball. I know about the phone # thing, and my friend downloaded a program that actually gave peoples phone numbers if you put their name into your friends list.:dodgy: It freaked me out.
Possibly there could be a couple that adopts the noob? Heh, that may make some of the bias go away that may happen.

[paintballer585]

i know i wouldnt give away my gear but i like pie to

[dead head]

I already adopted a noob. no seriously he's a noob that plays at my home field and I help him with tips and tricks to help him with speedball.

he's known here as...

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/dead_head_01/erin.jpg (http://www.pbreview.com/forums/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/dead_head_01/erin.jpg%5B/IMG%5D)
tennisboy34

[sand_man]

Weeeeeel ok I suppose I like pie too. And good for you dead head, real life is definately easier. Me, I can't adopt a noob, I AM a noob :)