Debunk my Parents' Stereotypes! (tactics related)

[Shazbot]

Ok... hello everyone :)

My parents (close-minded liberals) think that all paintball is is an emulation of war. The markers are made to be guns, etc. My dad said just tonight that paintball must use real military tactics and strategy. Well, lets prove him wrong here. Please post the ways that paintball (specifically strategy & tactics) differs from real war.

Thanks!

P.S. - Try to be somewhat polite with your answers, I will be showing my parents this thread (and they are close-minded liberals, remember? :) )

[green_goblin]

its just like dodgeball Mr. and Mrs. Shazbot.. have you heard of speedball - paintball is not all just scenario games..

by - the - by.. do you play tribes??

[Shazbot]

thanks for the quick reply

and yes, i play tribes :)

[Lord Delta]

I haven't had the honor to serve my country, but I'm pretty sure that soldiers don't use large beachball type objects to protect themselves. Speedball is nothing like war. Neither is recball. Did the North Koreans invade South Korea to capture the coveted South Korean flag, then want to take it back to the north and hang it up? well maybe as a sign of conquest, but it was not why they went to war. War is not paintball, and paintball is not war. People wear camo because it makes them harder to see when they play rec style. Speedball players wear bright jerseys, and have bright markers to match. Yes they are called MARKERS. Read about the history of paintball, and how it was started and you will see it is very much not war. Check www.warpig.com to find the history of paintball.

Don't make judgements without understanding the whole issue. You wouldn't want your son to do that, you would want him to be fair and reasonable, right? If this is something he enjoys (paintball) the least you can do is spend the 5 minutes it takes to read how paintball was created, maybe even go watch him play. Or better yet, try playing with him, you may find you enjoy it. Would you enjoy it if it was war? No, just another argument that paintball is not war.

Hope that helped, if you don't think it does ask a mod, or me to remove it. I don't want to detract from your argument in any way.

[SgtRauksauff]

Sure, strategies and tactics are used. The best one: don't get marked.

In scenario games, just like if you were in a blackpowder club re-enacting a famous battle, you'd probably use military-type strategies and tactics They actually work for other things besides war, like business, and sometimes, social interaction as well. But speedball is essentially like basketball. But instead of the players dribbling the ball, the ball is at one spot, and you have to bring it back to your basket, while stopping other players from getting there, by putting a paint-splat on them.

I've only played paintball about 3-4 times a year, for 6 years, during the summer in a couple of the woods fields in my area of Wisconsin. So far, it seems very close to football or basketball, or volleyball, or any other sport. Communication between teammates, athleticism, and working together are all part of all of these sports.

Paintball reinforces social skills (paintball is still a fledgeling sport, so those of us who do play, enjoy meeting others with the same interests.) I'm sure if we really wanted to, we could all have joined some military branch, and be 'playing' real war right now.

Note, I am not just some Wisconsin redneck hillbilly who likes going out and shooting things. I am a 28 year old IT Systems Administrator for 7 newspapers. In other words, a big computer geek. So, all sorts of walks of life can enjoy the sport of paintball.

Lord Delta made some very good points. Go watch some paintball tournaments, and go play with your son. Give it a chance.

It can be said that the game of chess also uses military tactics and strategies. But usually chess is recommended for young people to play. Why? Because it develops problem solving skills, and logical deductive reasoning, and measuring consequences.

That's My $0.02 worth. :cool:

[AK47]

Ive never seen or heard this in war, you run up to a tree to bunker someone.

[green_kat]

to alleiviate all suspicion.

go to www.durtydan.com (http://www.durtydan.com/ddcom/menu.html)

this site has everything to convince you paintball is not only safe and a sound practice but a benificial addition to a child's mental growth, encouraging teamwork and logical thinking.

also the purpose of the sport is to give people a thrill, much like hockey or basketball when you are doing something insane you do it for the thrill (or in some cases the money)

Good Luck.

Remember this guy is a Canadian

[green_kat]

also this site has a comprehensive page on why paintball is not like war.

enjoy.
:) Why Paintball Is Not Like War (http://www.durtydan.com/ddpis/1pbwar.html)

This stuff convinced the CEO of the Ontario March Of Dimes (Like Easter Seals) She is my mom and she has seen a lot of disfigured people and took a lot of convincing. But i did convince her about the merits and safety of paintball.

also the site has a page about parents and paintball.

Parents And Paintball (http://www.durtydan.com/ddpis/1parents.html)
Good luck young grasshopper

[The Raider Man!]

I would like to post a website up here, but they are under construction:|... So I'll just have to tell you what it says. If your parents think it is not safe, the site had a chart on reported injuries in the year 2000, of different sports, including paintball. The sports were bowling, basketball, football, soccer, and golf. In all of those sports paintball had less reported injuries than any of those sports:eyes:. Yes, even more than golf:confused: :laugh:

[PartsMart]

Recball in a very large woods course is very much like warfare

[Compton]

I play only to satisfy my need for war. I like war, it shows others who's best at the cost of innocent lives being ruined. But in paintball other's lives don't get ruined.

If paintball isn't like war or battle, what is it like? Is it some type of sport where you shoot projectiles out of guns at other people to eliminate ( or simulate a kill) and defeat the opposition? Well hell! That's battle if I've ever seen it!

Paintball simulates battles and war. Except you don't have as much collateral damage. Too bad huh?;)

[Lord Delta]

Originally posted by PartsMart
Recball in a very large woods course is very much like warfare

Unfortunately all sports, paintball included, have members who are "a few paintballs short of a full hopper"

I play almost only woods ball, and it is not very much like warfare. Sure you're trying to not be seen by the other team, but you do that in hide an seek. Is hide and seek going to be banned now? That is the major difference between speedball and woodsball. In the woods you can hide from the opponent.

[wwhooper]

My dad was like your paarents until I convinced him to watch a few speedball games. He lightened up on his " Why do you like to simulate killing?" crusade. A couple of weeks ago I got him to go with me to watch The National Indoor Open and now that he has talked to so many nice paintball players, and watched organized tournaments, and seen such good sportsmanship, he dosen't really have anything to say about my playing paintball except my rising paint usage ;)

[TripleZero]

First off, I am definitely a paintball player(why else would I be posting to this board). Second, I am a father too. I have been playing off and on for about 7 years now. One thing assured, when my son is old enough to understand the game and the safety that is involved, he will be playing if he so chooses. Though that is a few years down the road(he's only 2).
I will tell you this, the sport of paintball brings out allot of good qualities and ideals for young and old players alike. Not only does paintball bring together people from all walks of life, but it promotes social interaction, teamwork, competitiveness, and most of all friendships. This pertains to woodsball, speedball, rec players, and tourney players alike.
Sure every now and then their is something on the news or in the paper about someone using paintball markers to vandalize, harass people, etc. These incidents are not a common as they may seem. The media likes to play up negative actions like this, with most of it being hype more than anything.
As was stated in an earlier post, paintball is far safer than most other sports. With something like that, why shouldn't I let my son play if he wants to. I can tell you one thing, I have been hurt more playing basketball and football in high school, and have yet to have an injury playing paintball(welts and bruises don't count).
All I can really say is follow what most have said here, gather the info, and show your parents that this sport is nothing like they think it is. You might be surprised how far a little information may go.

[weefek]

I can tell you it's different without even getting into specifics. The local army guys came down to the local paintball field, thinking they would do awsome because "well they're in the army and they are good at that kind of stuff." It was like 20 of them vs. a small team of ppl that were there that day (me included). we absolutely smoked them. They sucked worse than normal newbies.

They would hold their guns out infront of them, and they'd do rolls and stuff like in Max Payne, which are totally useless, and just get themselves out in two seconds doing utterly stupid "moves" to try and look cool. All they succeeded in doing was looking like idiots.

[PartsMart]

speedball is different than woodsball....I guarantee if you put some army guys in the woods against some newbs itd be over in 10 seconds. I was playing with a guy who fought in desert storm and it was his first time he played paintball......he totally kicked azz. It wasnt exactly his skills with a gun, he just knows how to move....

[133+ Player]

tactics in the military is sorrta like pro football. The real thing when everyone is watching. While paintball is in comparison college football. You can be a lot more outgoing and even if you loose there is no major consiquence. Therefore you have a lot more casual moves.

Just exsplain that to them.

[sprayboy14]

first of all paintball is just a long range form of tag or capture the flag.it is to me anyway.

and paintball markers(make sure to emphasise(spelling?) that) are not a substitute for guns.what paintball does is support comradery,teamwork,provides somewhat of a workout,and overall usually boosts self-confidence.

i have never thought of paintball as a substitute for war though because if it were that it would be full of idiots that only think about violence,unlike all of the people i have played with.most people play paintball because of the adrenaline rush it gives you.
sorry if i sounded like an a** i wasnt trying to,
chris

[Super 3]

This brings to mind an article I read in some paintball publication about a small town pastor who played paintpall on saturdays and generally used his playing experiences in his sermons. Now granted this isn't tactic related but I seriously doubt a pastor would participate and use paintball as a positive teaching example if it emulated warfare.

[ST.Rage]

Hey just cuz your a liberal does not mean you are not going to play Paintball, Most of my guys are Liberals, they also work in a Tattoo shop. I guess maybe you could call us Liberals who are not afraid to stick for ourselves or our beliefs. There are certainly warlike qualities that go with Paintball, but there are a lot of good lessons that come out of it. #1 being: learning how to work as a team. There is a reason that Corporations send employees to paintball fields to increase team work and competitiveness. I wish all the worlds problems could be solved through paintball. No more senseless dying, Anyone who wants to flame me for being a bleeding heart liberal go ahead but the fact is war is not a pleasant affair. Anywhoo off of my soapbox.

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