Negative Story About Paintball [Archive]

blake_sw

06-24-2001, 08:09 PM

I sent in my opinion. I absolutely hate it when people put down paintball as a barbaric and war-like game.
"As a paintball player for five years now, I am offended by your article. Not only is it inaccurate, alot of the crap is false. The whole time I've played paintball I have NEVER had the urge to hurt someone. You're leaning towards the idea that "paintball will make youth more violent." I've been playing since I was 10 and am now 15. To some paintball is like war-fare. For actual paintball teams it's absolutely the opposite. We (paintball players) are working our asses off to shed positive light on the sport, but when ignorant reporters like yourself contstantly criticize what we love, even though you don't understand it, you just make everything worse. Before you judge the sport...play it for yourself. You'll see the emphasis on team-work and respect for others. Safety is the number one issue in paintball. All fields supply proper face masks and protection. Paintball is BY FAR one of the safest sports today. Stop putting down the sport I love, play it for yourself."

ctx

06-24-2001, 08:28 PM

whaaaa whaaaaaa whaaaaaaaaa what a moron i bet shes a fat soccer mom that drinks tea with a bunch of old hags complaining about stuff they cant do i wrote a long letter to that pittiful ignorant fool whaaaaaa whaaaaaa whaaaaaaaa whaaaaaaa whaaaaaaaaa whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ctx

06-24-2001, 08:35 PM

well said blake but my post was by far more worse on the issure that paintball is a war simulation i scolded her on what she had said i said if paintball is war riding horses is animal abuse(which is definately not)

slikna99

06-24-2001, 08:48 PM

that article bites i would take on any of them with my team

Tower3003

06-24-2001, 08:58 PM

I responded. Those *******s got a peice of my mind. I suggest every one else does the same.

Plasma69

06-24-2001, 09:08 PM

check this.

"You are one ignorant and pathetic editor my friend. That article has made me quite angry and disgusted beyond belief. You always have to blame your ignorance, incompetence and stupidity on something that may seem the most remotely appropriate to you and that will also provoque others.The only thing that produce violence in kids is the incompetence of raising your own children not only that your lack of education. I live here in Canada and the only that remotely create violence is your violent "all american" hero movies with 3-10 guns at one time. We have created a club here in Calgary called EKO (extreme kids only) and it has been a great success, both of my children have been attending this club for many years now and i have that they are more responsible than most average kids who do not have a proper hobby besides drinking and smoking pot. Your weak Justice system and sentencing also create more violence in your country as you believe that slapping a serial rapist's wrist is good enough punishments. Shall i produce evidence to what i am saying? I didn't think so. What is your crime rate in your city? perhaps 1 or 2 murders a day? maybe more? or how many crimes are committed in a day in your city? Mine your ask? well living in Calgary Alberta, in the year 2000 we probably have had less than 20 homocides. And don't you think using 27 acres of land for a hobby is better than 27 acres of filth, prostitutes and pimps that could actually endanger your children? I didn't think that you have thought of that during the printing of your article. Again more ignorance. I have much more to say and critize about your own incompetence in life and failures as well, but I am most certain that many who read this article and that enjoy the sport of Paintballing just like I do will also respond in disagreement and angryness towards your article. In any case, I do wish for you to contact me as I will link this article to everyone here in canada and parts of the states and make sure that you will not write another article such as this.

Yves Chanthachith
Nexen Inc.

FSU Paintball

06-24-2001, 10:04 PM

This article made me REALLY mad. I submitted an opinion.

However, if you want to submit an opinion, STOP AND READ WHAT I HAVE TO SAY!
First off, don't go off in a huge tirade, throw expletives around, or insult the authors, or anyone involved in this story. That will make matters worse. Also, you probably won't even get your opinion on the page; an editor has to approve your letters before they publish them.

I wrote a letter that plainly stated that I believed they were mistaken, and I supported my argument without insulting anyone. This is the only way we can make any progress against people like this. Here's what I submitted:

I have been playing paintball for years. In fact, I am one of the people in charge of the Florida State University paintball club.

It's articles like these that give paintball a bad name. If you want to trash-talk the sport we play (notice it's a sport, not a war simulation), at least provide some substantial evidence to back up your opinion. When was the last time you saw a study come out that said that the sport of paintball promotes violence? I've NEVER seen or heard of any study linking this sport to violent behavior, and I've been paying close attention to the paintball scene for several years.

If you want to see how closely a paintball game creates a war-like environment, take a look at a speedball game sometime. Speedball is the most popular form of paintball today. They have world cup tournaments, and an official NPPL (National Paintball Players League) tournament circuit with sponsored teams. It's just like the PGA tour.

Take a look at the games. The players wear colorful jerseys that show which team they're on. Sponsors provide their equipment and markers, which don't even resemble real-world weapons. Have you ever heard of anyone playing "Capture the Flag" in Vietnam?

If you watch the game, you'll realize that it's nothing like a real war scene. We don't even have guns, they are officially "markers."

I have a good idea. Why don't the adult residents of Killingworth who are worried about paintball go out and try the sport for themselves? I can guarantee that they will agree that it isn't promoting violence. It's just good clean fun.

Saying that paintball creates violence is like saying that baseball creates a third arm to grow out of your forehead. There's no evidence to support either one. Unless you can back up your argument, don't proclaim it to the masses.

MINDofSIN

06-24-2001, 11:46 PM

Let's all send the Clinton Recorder an e-mail each every day until they post something from our point of view.

FSU, you see to have the best letter, how about we all send it with the words "Paintball players feel that the readers need to see both sides of paintball. Please put this on your site."

Subject line: Paintball Article

Is that okay with everyone and FSU, can I use your letter?

[Edited by MINDofSIN on 06-25-2001 at 03:48 AM]

Lord Delta

06-24-2001, 11:51 PM

I agree with what everyone is saying. I can't begin to describe how pissed I get when reporters (A$$ Hole$) publish cr@p like this. Too often media type people will sensationalize some event to gain more attention. I hate it also when these same idiots try and blame something, ie. Paintball, and make it the reason that something terrible happens, violent kids. I really liked what FSU said. These idiots have no facts just generalizations. How do these people get in these positions????? I just took a basic college level english class where we wrote papers the whole quarter. The teacher continually stressed "Be precise, back up what you say, NO GENERALIZATIONS" so again I ask, how do these idiots write such stupid articles without having at least one fact in it. These morons just play up the fact that many people today don't take responsibility for their actions. They just look for someone to blame !!!!! because there is no way in he11 it was their fault. Writing about this just makes me more pissed because it is so difficult to stomach these ignorant people, especially when there is so little I can do to change them. Hopefully my ravings made sense

DIRTY HARRY

06-25-2001, 05:18 AM

Subj: paintball editorial
Date: 6/25/01 9:07:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Jjpunchparty
To: clintonrecorder@ctcentral.com

To whom it may concern,
After reading your article on paintball I felt compelled to offer my opinion on the matter. First of all, as you say in your editorial "Advocates of paintball spend almost as much effort defending it as they do playing it." Of course we do when people like you print ill advised, misinformed opinions on the subject. The first thing they teach you in Journalism 101 is do your research, you clearly did not. Nowhere in your article did you mention ever being at a paintball park. Nowhere in your article did you mention ever talking to anyone who has played paintball. The only information you seem to have comes from one particular web site. Is that how informed opinions are made now? By stuff we read on the net? It disturbs me that someone who is involved in one of the last bastions of free press would be so irresponsible with his power.
Paintball has grown in leaps and bounds since I first started playing almost fifteen years ago. It's kept kids off drugs, kept them in shape and I'll even bet it's kept them out of trouble. I freely admit that our sport is not for everyone but before forming their opinion on that, I would hope that they would come see for themselves what we do. Talk to the players, the refs, the owners, even to the parents of the kids who play. Do something other than pontificate from your soap box on matters you have little or no information on.
Thank you,
Harry McCaul,
Paintball player

Snyper731

06-25-2001, 07:46 AM

Did you know that none of our opinions were posted? When i went to the link it said "be the first to post your opinion" so the editor of that opinion section just threw out our opinions.

elTwitcho

06-25-2001, 07:56 AM

I didnt copy and paste mine, bu I essentially said this.

If paintballing simulates war because both involve shooting, then what does tag simulate? Chasing someone down and raping them? Both involve running after someone. What about the distinction between playing catch and throwing a hand grenade? You cannot compare one activity to another and say they "simulate one another" just based on a few small similarities, and to do so is ignorant and small minded. I also posted a link to warpigs coverage of one of the NPPL events and asked to point out where the "warlike aspects" were in that event

DIRTY HARRY

06-25-2001, 07:57 AM

I got an email back saying my letter to the editor will be printed. It instructed me to call a number to prove authorship. I called up and spoke to woman who asked my name and the town I lived in. As soon as she heard I wasn't from Connecticut she said, "Well, thanks for calling." I also didn't use the letter to the editors page, I emailed the paper directly in their Contact Us box.

iipaintballer

06-25-2001, 09:50 AM

This is what I posted:

Dear ClintonRecorder,

I would like to post a rebuttal to your editorial, "Paintball emulates warfare."

I am a paintball player. I have played the Sport of Paintball for more than 10 years. I would like to say that Paintball is not my life, but a hobby and my favorite pastime. Paintball is an activity where I can spend a day with my friends playing a sport I enjoy. Some people may enjoy basketball or soccer. I, on the other hand, enjoy Paintball.

The perspective you are presenting is, “Paintball is a violent sport and it promotes violence in children." I do not agree.

Paintball is just like any other team sport. It promotes teamwork, athleticism, and social responsibility. Why is paintball not a violent sport? First, Paintball is one of the safest recreational sports. Basketball and Golf rank higher in emergency room injuries than paintball. Next, paintball is an honor bound sport. If you are marked by a paintball, you are required to call yourself out. Finally, this sport is enjoyed not only by teens and young adults, but all ages. Paintball gives the opportunity for adults to interact and socialize with a younger generation. Very few sports give the opportunity for all generations to participate at the same time and play at their highest ability. Paintball is a family sport. Paintball is played by church groups, at birthday parties, and is the fastest growing extreme sport.

I believe in order to criticize an individual, community, or sport you need to be aware of the details of the idea or concept you are criticizing. If you have never played the Sport of Paintball, I recommend trying it out before condemning it as the corrupter of youth.

Tower3003

06-25-2001, 09:59 AM

I posted a shorter note, but It's polite, but to the point. I was wondering how you can read the opinions on that site, I can't seem to find out how. Maybe they can't get them up yet, theres so many after all. Like I said before, I reccomend that everyone responds to this. Just don't be to rude or make threats: That would just be proving them right.

DasBaldDog

06-25-2001, 10:16 AM

I posted a short but witty, intellectual and scathing letter that probably will not make it to the opinion page.

Anyone notice that out of like 2000 fields across the US and Canada, they choose one in a town called "Killing-worth"? We have a field in "Severedhead, TN" I wonder why they didn't use that one.

Leper

06-25-2001, 11:45 AM

How's it that Paintball guns are considered "gun like", whereas AirSoft guns aren't even mentioned once. These things are replicas for crying out loud! Modern markers don't look like guns, especially with a hopper on.

Not meaning to put down AirSoft (tho in a paintball forum I hope most people see what I mean), but why is it that paintball has a much more prominent place in the media's view?

On the subject of that article, if they consider quoting a single website the way to write a fair article then they are worse journalists than I thought. That's a really biased and unresearched article. I'm jsut glad it's not in a newspaper or something really large scale.

What sortof audience is that article for anyway?

Thor the Mighty

06-25-2001, 12:24 PM

oh dear! i am pissed as hell! i wrote them, and i cusses about 20 times, stating that they are full of crap and their website friggin sucks ***! hahaahahahha! i hate them

FSU Paintball

06-25-2001, 10:13 PM

This is what I really want to say, so please pay attention:

DO NOT say that you are not from Conneticut when you send in an opinion to this newspaper. The only way to be heard is to make them believe that you are a native.

Oh my god, I don't think it was possible, but I'm even MORE pissed off at the Clinton Recorder than I was before.

Apparently, they're not going to publish my letter even on their web site, simply because I am not a Conneticut resident. To assume that just because I don't live 5 miles away means that my opinion is not valid is the height of ignorance. I think that anyone who read my letter agrees with me - I voiced a valid, well-constructed, non-insulting opinion that deserves to be published. My letter was much better constructed and supported than the article itself. I cannot believe the ignorance of the people who run this publication. My high school newspaper had better morals than this.

I wish there were some place I could report them to. Does anybody know if such an agency exists?

jfoust

06-25-2001, 10:28 PM

i gave em my opinion and basically said that paintball is a legitimate sport that promotes sportsmanship not war, and the attack on camo clothed players was a joke because camo is only used to hide, not to promote war. and that to attack paintball like that wasnt right because they mosst likely have no understanding of how its played or have ever met any of the friendly people that played

jfoust

06-25-2001, 10:30 PM

when was this forum originally posted because i dont think that they will post any of our letters supporting paintball

Tower3003

06-25-2001, 11:55 PM

None of our opinions are being put up. What a weak attempt at trying to protect the author's article. I bet those who agree with the article have their opnions posted. Just keep writing. Let them know were serious, us paintballer's have worked to hard on the sports image to just let them bash us like this.

Tower3003

06-26-2001, 12:47 AM

I wrote the site an E-mail. I'll let you know what they said when they respond. (if they respond)I also wrote a better opinion and posted it, but who knows what they did with it. I'll keep you guys informed.

DijonMustard

06-26-2001, 07:59 AM

good god people are ignorant. people are so quick to point fingers at anything that might account for other's violent actions. have you ever heard a news broadcast about a guy that went on a killing rampage, then later on a story is done about him on 48 hours talking about his childhood. they say how that phsycologists believe that the man's homocidal actions are rooted from playing cowboys and indians and cops and robbers as a kid. have you ever heard someone say that? no, of course not. people have only recently pointed fingers at a violent media and other things which they think promotes violence such as paintball. could it be a higher percentage of irresponsible parents who don't know how to raise their own children? no, couldn't be. must be that damn matrix movie. for years kids have played with toy guns and weapons. i mean even back during the colonial days of america they had wooden replicas of guns and swords. this was never an issue until recently. i say it is that there is a higher percentage of irresponsible parents in this day and age than there ever was. but our media refuses to admit that. so many parents these days expect TV to raise their kids yet they blame it when their kid blows up his school.

FSU Paintball

06-26-2001, 09:13 PM

I wrote in to them again, and voiced my disapproval on how they are handling the valid comments that some of us have sent in. They are ignoring us simply because we don't live in Connecticut. Here's what I wrote:

Hello, I am one of the people who wrote in opposing your article on paintball in Killingworth.

I have just learned that my opinion is not going to be published simply because I am not a native of Connecticut. To imply that my opinion does not matter simply because I do not live within 5 miles of you is insulting and is the epitome of ignorance. Just because I don't live next door doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm talking about. I probably know more about the sport of paintball than any of those parents in Killingworth, and anyone on your staff. You have not only put out an editorial that is completely unsupported, but you have also managed to completely muffle the naysayers. My high school newspaper had better morals than what I have seen displayed in this periodical. I am shocked by your double-standard of fighting for free press while censoring others.

In the event that you decide to display some of the opinions sent in by your readers, I have included my original letter below. You may feel free to edit out any reference to where I live if you need to.

Sincerely,
Matt Muller
FSU Paintball Club

Mad Ogre

06-27-2001, 08:12 AM

I have seen some very good responses here. I am proud of you guys!
Now - let me give the other guys a few pointers for responding to these kind of articles:
1. Keep your cool. Don't get worked up and use insulting, foul, or profane language. Limit your use of "!".
2. Use pure logic and not emotion. Anti's use nothing but emotion... beat them with facts, logic, and clear headed thinking.
3. Provide some resources to verify your facts. Emotion can't be verified but facts can. Use that to bolster your arguement.
4. Take the higher road. Most of you guys are young pups... learn to talk like adults, type like adults, and to act like adults. If you want to be taken seriously you have to be serious. Dont sink to mudslinging, insults or anything that puts you in a bad light - if you do - you only fuel the other side as showing yourself to be a young emotional hooligan that shouldnt be listened to.
Antis can get away with it... thats just the way it is. You can try calling them on that in a debate. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesnt. Depends on who is listening.

Kudos!

DasBaldDog

06-27-2001, 08:22 AM

I wonder........someone post something that can be construed as negative. 10 bucks says they put THAT on there

toadman7b22

06-27-2001, 09:43 AM

so wut happens when we get in war time? all these kids are not gonnna want violence and were not gonna have military

Tower3003

06-27-2001, 10:59 AM

They responded, and said that the site isn't an open internet fourm, so they're picky on what they put up there. They said they will put mine up, but I have to call this number first...? Anyway, I guess your gonna have you whine our way to the opnion board like me.

FSU Paintball

06-27-2001, 10:13 PM

Could you post the number? I'd like to call, and try to convince them to put my letter up. Please include an area code.

davidb

06-28-2001, 11:14 AM

I wrote them a long, very well thought out, noninsulting-as-you-possibly-can-be-to-someone-so-blatantly-ignorant letter. And I forgot to copy it before I sent it. Dang. Oh well, among the many many things in the letter were (not in these exact words, but general idea)

To say that paintmarkers are simulated firearms is like saying that a go-cart is a simulated tank. My marker has is roughly twenty inches long, sleek, with a bright purple and chrome body. Mistaking a paintmarker, particularly with a foot-long air tank and a big paintball holding blimp sticking out the back and top, for a firearm, would be akin to mistaking your son's Big Wheel for your Lincoln.
On the subject of players wearing camouflage - you imply that this must mean that they are trying to be soldiers is silly. For one thing, most camouflaged clothing is very practical. It has lots of pockets, and is baggy enough to reduce the chance of a paintball breaking on you (if you had done any actual research, you would know why this is a good thing). Furthermore, the participants are playing a game that involves hiding and trying to make sure that the opponent does not see you, often in the woods. What would you wear?

Of course my actual letter sounded better than that, and covered many more areas, but I don't have to impress you guys, you know how great I am. :eek:
Seriously though, when you write these letters, make sure that your grammar is perfect, your points are made clearly, and that you DON'T GET MAD!!! (<-- perfect example of what not to do). Don't use swear words, and for the love of God, don't make threats. You want to come across as an intelligent, educated person, not an angry kid that might do something, oh, say, violent!

Good luck FSU. (thinking to self) Paintball club eh??? Note to self: Get an application to FSU....

jaredu

06-28-2001, 11:42 AM

That story is crap! They're making us paintballers sound like killers. I sent an opinion.

Incube

06-28-2001, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by FireViper
Hey guys check this crap out:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1634&dept_id=84659&newsid=1931923&PAG=461&rfi=9
if you post your opinion to them try to be mature and calm flamming them won't help.
That is stupid! must take over Russia.......... dam paintball!!! j/k its just i came this artical was probley done up by some tight *** conformist UPC

iipaintballer

06-28-2001, 12:21 PM

Check out the follow up story....

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=1994949&BRD=1634&PAG=461&dept_id=8416&rfi=6

Tower3003

06-28-2001, 02:08 PM

they arn't putting up our opinions...it dosn't seem to fair does it? They arn't telling both sides of the story, and qite frankly, they've got no argument. Maybe if people would hear us out they'd understand how stupid this article is. STUPID STUPID STUPID.

FSU Paintball

06-28-2001, 04:41 PM

I feel really sorry for this Scott Potter guy. He got in the middle of this whole ordeal when he tried to build a paintball field. Townspeople protested against him, and they came down on him very hard. He had lost his batte before he even got to voice his side of the story. I can't believe the last quote in this story.

"We live in a violent society," Kuhn said, "and we shouldn't have to worry about that sort of thing when we are in our homes."

AAAAAAHHHHHH damn you ignorant fools that screw everything up for the sensible people in this society!!! Man, this makes my blood boil.

Tower3003

06-28-2001, 05:24 PM

My bloods beyond boiling! It's starting to evaporate! The authors just don't have a single clue as to what they're talking about when they write something like that. And STILL no opinions. I'm gonna send another E-mail. Keep arguing with this, its hurting paintballs image.

FireViper

06-28-2001, 05:44 PM

This crap makes me want to puke I have a right mind to move to CT and start a Paintball field near that town(close enough to piss em off but far enough for it to be legal)

burntbythesun

06-28-2001, 09:08 PM

so many people refuse to acknowledge the size of our sport.what an A$$

Imus

06-28-2001, 09:36 PM

Come on guys, keep sending them e-mails and call them protesting the censoring of our valid opinions.

Can someone post up the number to call this place?

I told the webmaster something to this effect on the story

This is absurd and a blatant showcase of ignorance. yada yada yada...lots of good paintball facts. Bring some respectability back to your site and take this story down.

SEPHIROTH_086

06-29-2001, 11:32 AM

The reporters there are little pus_sys they dont wanna accept the truth that paintballling is safe just because they cant aford a damn gun they have nothing better to do than say paintballing makes kids violent and they are so stupid for not posting our replys they are idiots that person is a low life motha sucka that has nothing better to do then say sruff is bad just cuz her kid is in a gang or some sh_it they are g_ay and I dont care what they say cuz we know the truth they can go ahead and say wutever they want they can go ahead and tell the whole world that paintballing makes kids violent but I dont care as long as I know the truth thats all that matters to me!!!!!

[Edited by SEPHIROTH_086 on 06-29-2001 at 03:42 PM]

SEPHIROTH_086

06-29-2001, 11:45 AM

One more thing since they arent going to post our opinions(talk about freedom of speech) what you should do is e-mail the dude its under the place where it says be the first to give your opinion, e-mail the dude instead and then he will have to read it not the damn administrator.

DraXsuS

06-29-2001, 11:49 AM

I ve got an idea, somebody try to put something positive to see if they are gonna put it,

Lemonjello

06-29-2001, 01:47 PM

oh, by the way, i put up an opinion today, and it still said "be the first to submit an opinion" THOSE *******S!

Havok

06-30-2001, 01:00 PM

This is in regards the the paintball article titled Paintball Emulates Warfare. First of all, in your article your main goal was to point out voilence and how to keep or protect our children from it. Paintball is a sport in which people do fire little balls of paint at each other. Because of that, you are telling me that we are teaching our kids to be violent and how to fire a gun? That is a joke. When your kids fill a water gun and start spraying each other, they are learning how to fire a gun and to be violent? I have yet to see one person write an arcticle about kids and how they should stop selling water guns cause it promotes voilences and warfare. To ba frank there is no difference between water or paint. It is very obvious that the author of this article has never played or even researched what he or she spoke about. Paintball does promote teamwork, honesty and leadership. What he has seen is a couple people in camo fatigues playing, then choose to ignore the fact that all it is a sport. This is an escape goat, violence is everywhere, and he/she feels like he/she has to be a hero by picking on paintballing for 2 reasons 1. He/she has never played, and has absolutly no clue about the sport and its principles 2. cause he/she can and feel like he/she made a difference. Only problem is the fact that is a sport, and many other sports have voilence, boxing, hockey etc and we don't stop our kids from playing them do we? Let me ask you a question, do you let your kids watch hockey, or baseball? Is there not fights in hockey? Do players not charge the mound? If paintballing is unhealthy, I suggest that you look into having your local hockey teams and baseball teams terminated aswell. Everyone is trying to blame movies, video games, etc in connection to youth voilence, I am not going to say that it doesn't play a factor, but I will say that as parents of the children you play a bigger factor. If you let the child know violence is bad, show them right from wrong, we wouldn't have as big a problem.

Tower3003

06-30-2001, 06:31 PM

We'll be heard. Check the site July 3rd.

Tower3003

06-30-2001, 06:32 PM

Check the site July 3rd.

FireViper

06-30-2001, 06:36 PM

It would be great to see some representation of what we think. will they be putting it under the first story or the 2nd?

PaintballDude

06-30-2001, 07:10 PM

This is what I wrote. Tiny bit long.

I think paintball is to build up leadership, teamwork, and confidence. It is also a HOBBY and a SPORT that allow for people to meet new people and make new friends. It does not promote violence because at the end of every battle, plays might shake hand or tell each other "job well done" just like in other sports. Paintball is actually safer than bowling! If paintball promoted violence, why would strong Christians play paintball. They even have their own paintball organization just for Christians! If the Killingworth parents who live near the proposed paintball "combat zone" knew the truth about paintball they would not have these negative feelings toward the sport. Paintball has nothing to do with war, it is just a game of tag, where when the person is marked by the paintball shot out of a paintball MARKER(not gun), they are out. I think this was a very negative article and the Clinton Recorder should either take off this article or put up a new one, talking about the positives of paintball.

[Edited by PaintballDude on 06-30-2001 at 11:34 PM]

PaintballDude

06-30-2001, 07:31 PM

You know what... For those paintball players that live near this Killingsworth should go protest themselves saying that paintball is a great sport and protest the positives of paintball.

All the people not from Connecticut just call them up and lie, saying you are.

[Edited by PaintballDude on 06-30-2001 at 11:56 PM]

fader1572

06-30-2001, 10:09 PM

I admit, that in the Canadian army and from what i've read, other military agencies, soldiers and enlisted members do use paintballs for training exercises (the Infantry here in Calgary allegidly do it ALOT), but the way they do it is completly differant than the way the game is actually played.

In anycase, sports like hockey, soccer, football, and boxing are more encouraging of violence than paintball. It's obvious, in those sports, you PHYSICALLY STOP YOU'RE OPPONENT, OFTEN THROUGH VIOLENT MEANS. In paintball, if you crack someone over the head with the tank on your gun, tackle them, bodycheck them, or punch them in the face, you're not only likely to get booted and banned from the arena, you're also likely to get charged and sued.

It's obvious that the author of that article is ignorant:

First off, I take offense to that author comparing paintball to the military, since I am in the military, and I know, the military is NOTHING like paintball, even in terms of warfare. The military style warfare, as it's portrayed in Hollywood hits, such as "Saving Private Ryan" "Apocalypse Now" "Thin Red Line" and other such movies, portray war as being like Quake, wherby hundreds of things die a second and the army guys are only there to shoot things. While paintball mildly resembles that, not much else does.
Second, I take offense as a paintball player that the author would have the audacity to even compare the two.

I can conclude by saying this; whoever wrote that article is nothing but a facist reactionary idealist who thinks the world should be pu$$ified to the extent that everyone smile and dance like teletubbies. However, annoying as those people may be, I would think it would be ideal for all of us not to prove them right by ******dly displaying violent, brutish behaviour, but civial, thought out conduct.

Damn, I'm tired...

ry_goody

06-30-2001, 11:47 PM

Lol, either that guy is slow or something. But I didn't see any "reader feedback" in the reader feedback section. Probably because he reviews them before he posts them. He must be afraid of being wrong since he hasn't posted any reader feedback.

Richy_C

07-01-2001, 08:58 AM

I posted pics of jerseys, splashed angels and micromags, and i wrote like a 3 page essay the could be put in a few simple words, go and play before you ***** about it

Tower3003

07-01-2001, 09:41 AM

Everyone is complaining about our opinions not being posted. That should stop around July 3rd - July 4th. I've talked to the Clinton Recorder, and was able to get mine up, and heard that three other opinions will be posted as well. On the 3rd of July, but I expect them to be late, so possibly the 4th.

iipaintballer

07-02-2001, 07:53 AM

Im gonna send them this article that someone posted on another thread...

http://www.msnbc.com/local/wpmi/m43798.asp?cp1=1

injury reports from 1998

Mothra

07-02-2001, 08:19 AM

INFO ON CLINTON RECORDER

Main email address: clintonrecorder@ctcentral.com

16-D West Main Street
P.O. Box 914
Clinton, CT 06413

PHONE: (860) 669-5727
FAX: (860) 664-4531

I think we should send replys directly to that address...

Plasma69

07-03-2001, 06:47 AM

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1634&dept_id=8421&newsid=2022409&PAG=461&rfi=9

ooooooo nice opinion!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee better than mine thats for sure. lets keep this thread up too.

peace.

Plasma69

07-03-2001, 06:48 AM

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1634&dept_id=8421&newsid=2022409&PAG=461&rfi=9

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1634&dept_id=8421&newsid=2022415&PAG=461&rfi=9

ooooooo nice opinion!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee better than mine thats for sure. lets keep this thread up too.

peace.

Plasma69

07-03-2001, 06:48 AM

sowy for double post.....

PaintballDude

07-03-2001, 07:16 AM

They only posted up two opinions. They should have posted up all of our opinions (except the rude ones) because then we would have a more stronger argument.

FireViper

07-03-2001, 03:30 PM

IT's a start but I still think they should apologize to paintballers I mean MSNBC even says it's safe.

[Edited by FireViper on 07-04-2001 at 03:04 AM]

sniper1rfa

07-03-2001, 05:49 PM

this is my second post. the first one i lost my temper and flamed, but i apologized.

I posted a comment earlier concerning the article on paint ball in, what a name, killingworth. I am sorry for my profanity and will try not to repeat it. It just irritates me that some who know so little will open there mouths wide. But i believe i made my point clear. Your article was completely ungrounded. In the article, you mentioned markers being "simulated weapons." my marker, the SFL autococker, is bright yellow and orange, with lettering and designs milled into the designs. on one of the forums on pbreview.com, we have been dicussing your article. I have found that many of the things said are very true. i will tell you that the only similarity between my marker and, say, a 9mm, is the trigger and gaurd (the trigger is chrome and the gaurd is also anodized bright orange.) One of my friends said "mistaking a marker for a firearm is akin to mistaking your sons big wheel for your lincoln." I agree. Since when were m-16's yellow and orange? And you say that it does not teach responsibility. Try going out and buying a 800 dollar marker and play with it for 5 days without cleaning it. You will notice that it does not seem to be operating by the end of the 5th day. Doing that is along the lines of running a 40,000 dollar audi for 2 years without getting it checked. Maybe it runs out of oil. Maybe the transmission needs new fluid. it doesn't matter, the engine is already broken beyond repair. Time to get a new one. When it comes to camoflauge, I believe i stated it well in my earlier post. when i was young i used camoflauge in cops and robber. And i am sure you did too (or thought it would be a good idea.) We wear camoflauge because it is camoflauge, not because it makes us look army'ish. it hides us so we do not get tagged. and also, you never once mentioned speedball. Speedball is played in open fields, somtimes shaped like carrot soup (sup' air fields.) Most tournaments (sounding civilized, eh?) are played on these fields. the teams have bright, colorful jerseys and have sponsers from international companies (coke, anyone?.) why dont you go back and do some research, or maybe go find something else to blame, such as rugby. Actually, research rugby anyway. i am sure you will find a lot more to nag about, though it still wont be much.
Andrew Browning, 5 year player in the sport of paintball.

Spectre

07-03-2001, 08:08 PM

Paintball has given me the urge to track down the writer and commit violent acts.

Spectre

07-03-2001, 08:09 PM

Paintball has given me the urge to track down the writer and commit violent acts.

Paintball is Great>!

Letchworth40

07-03-2001, 10:56 PM

I sent an email to scott walker about his MSNBC artical. i think everyone should so they know how big the paintball community really is.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEND EMAILS THANKING THAT GUY

Scott Walker
I would like to thank you for writing the only unbiased artical about paintball. Thanks for trying to understand the sport other than putting it down without knowing anything about it. I just wanted you to know the artical you have written has helped out alot in the paintball community. Thanks again. and i never knew it was safer than bowling!
Brian Letchworth
Roanoke Rapids,NC

paintballer56

07-04-2001, 11:19 AM

those damn *******s

Thor the Mighty

07-04-2001, 11:29 AM

i sent the guy one too! great story

PBSouLjAh

07-04-2001, 12:57 PM

this is wat i wrote them

to whom it may concern,
i am a paintballer, playing for several years. right now i am still a teenager, and in no way am i "violent." i am actually a youth group leader in my local Church, and a counselor to many students in my youth group. In no way have I seen the negative effects of paintball in ANY lives. When neighborhood violence or vandalism occurs, via a paintball marker, the person causing this is not a paintball player. a paintball player is someone who responsibly enjoys the sport of paintball, and respects all safety and precautionary rules. A paintball player who owns a gun uses it only for the sole purpose as a element in the game. Fields everywhere take extreme measures to protect the safety and health of the people playing there. They use "barrel plugs" that keep a paintball from accidentally discharging for the the first few shots. the ALWAYS make sure masks are always in use, unless in a awknowledged, safe area. Everytime a player, newbie or professional, by accident or purpose, takes of his goggles, my fields require them to sit out one game. As i have observed paintball over the years, this IS true of the sport: It does not promote violence, BUT promotes self responsibility, team work, social skills, physical and mental health, and social roles. Many players including myself work very hard to enjoy this sport, as i work a full time job as well as a part time job to save enough to go paintballing as much as possible. Please consider researching actual facts, and playing this sport before criticising it and making assumptions. thank you.

Paintball player,
John Calloway

i also thought it was funny that eltwitch said "does that mean tag is simulates running after a child and raping them" and also....i think like if camo emulates war, then bugs emulate war too

Thor the Mighty

07-04-2001, 01:03 PM

dude, i just cussed them out! they deserve it

FSU Paintball

07-05-2001, 09:52 AM

Dammit, Thor, it's not like you're gonna help our case by insulting them. Think about it. They write this article, and then are flooded by letters from paintball players consisting of profanities and vulgar insults thrown at them. They're not going to think, "Maybe we were wrong," when they read your letter. They're gonna think "Geez, these guys are a bunch of gun-toting country hicks who shouldn't be allowed on the street! We were right all along, and here's the proof!"

You are NOT helping us with that.

DIRTY HARRY

07-05-2001, 10:07 AM

So finally I am a published author. Not my best work but I was pretty sure, like everyone else, that it wouldn't see the light of day. Hope it was kind of what you all wanted to say. Sorry it was me who had to say it.

Spectre

07-05-2001, 03:06 PM

i liked the way you changed
"You are NOT helping us with that!
to
"You are NOT helping us with that kind of cr@p"

NJ

PAINTBALL IS GREAT!!!
MUSH COOLER THEN "GOLF"

BRYCEBOY18

07-15-2001, 12:47 AM

Damn whats up with the world now, everyone is trying to ban something these days. These kind of people need a target to pick on just so they can get thier name in the local paper and maybe get some small time fame. I say if you want that join GREEN PEACE.

Don't f@#* with paintballers, you'll lose.

SIGSays

07-15-2001, 01:48 PM

yo pbsouljah, that's a real good way of saying it

optimusprime888

07-15-2001, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by theflash
Most of these "lobbyists" are new-age hippies who spend more time trying to take away freedoms than raising their own children. The same type of people who spat on their own countrymen who served their country in the Vietnam War. These people expect Television to raise their children, and in the meantime blame society for their own inequitys.

Sickening... These people need a life. Really.

You took the words out of my mouth.

This is all part of the continued feminization of the american male. Show any signs of aggression in a sport, and its going to be labeled "bad for society". Liberals are killing free expression and individual rights in America.
Guns don't kill people, people kill people and Political Correctness is neither political or correct.

And how the hell is paintball similar to war? You don't come back into the next battle after tagged by a bullet, you can't wipe off a bullet, a bullet isn't stopped by several millimeters of plastic, bullets aren't made in a variety of lead and jacket colors and bullets don't leave a welt that will fade in a few days. Paintball players aren't pschyologically scarred from what the see in paintball matches, don't lose limbs from paintball markers and grenades, don't PERMANENTLY lose friends "marked" in battle, and never die during a paintball battle. War isn't staged on weekends behind inflatable bunkers a short car ride away from home, and is NEVER FUN FOR THOSE INVOLVED.

Fast Finger

07-15-2001, 02:23 PM

Here's what they say. " My son will not listen to me at all, he thinks he has power in my house. D A M N that paintball"

fear my impulse

07-15-2001, 08:51 PM

this is long..i posted some of other ppls posts that i thought had good points..if you see it in there, thanks! here goes:

hey! i wonder why you haven't posted any opinions yet! haha..i bet your a lazy lobbyists that just wants something to gripe about in this 'violent' world. yea. right. that's probaly all you ever see anyway. the bad points. no good at all. wake up.
so, wearing camouflage dictates violence? your stereotyping, my friend. we spend almost as much effort defending our sport as we do playing it because of people like you. you know how mad that makes me and others? i showed my friend this article and he was furious. you spend more time trying to take away freedoms than raising your own children. you know what makes man violent? growing up around violent parents. being made fun of at school. revenge. hate. seeking glory. seeking a sense of belonging, where you can find violence. what about hollywood? don't you think violent movies do too? why aren't you griping at the directors, producers, cast, whatever, that they are dictating violence? what about violent video games?give us a break.
what about law enforcement? they use paintball to train, so howcome you didn't mention them? swat teams play, and so on. heck, even some military personell play, i bet they would say that in a way it does, but mainly it dosen't dictate warfare. tournaments deduct points from teams that have bad sportsmanship. playing on after being hit. wiping off a hit. foul language. multiple modes of fire. all that and more can earn you points deducted. using spools, and plastic bags full of air isn't warfare. you don't shoot to kill people behind plastic, balloon-like bunkers. you don't have multicolored lead bullets that contain paint. it's a gel-capped capsule containing oil based paint. as i said before, most fields and industries banned red paint, as it does emulate blood.
why waste our time in a pretend combat zone? who calls paintball fields combat zones? you might as well be calling boxing arenas combat zones. we play on paintball fields and certainly not combat zones. we don't yell out "i'm gonna kill you!" or "you deserve to die" on the field. no way. that's not right. out of all the towns, you choose a town called killingworth. killing worth. there's a paintball field in severedhead, tn. but killingworth..hmm..sounds pretty strange. parents raising their kids away from violence, would mean that he probaly wouldn't be able to go to the movies friday night, wouldn't be able to use the internet, and the list goes on. there is too much violence in this world. you putting paintball down isn't going to help. nor will make things worse. play for yourself. you'll see the number 1 priority in paintball is safety.
this is such an unreasearched article. you are biased on one particular site. that's horid. my school newspaper does better. oh, and the fact that we aren't residents of conneticut dosen't mean we don't have an invalid article.
also, what about that company airsoft? you didn't mention that once.
have you ever heard a news broadcast about a guy that went on a killing rampage, then later on a story is done about him on 48 hours talking about his childhood. they say how that phsycologists believe that the man's homocidal actions are rooted from playing cowboys and indians and cops and robbers as a kid. have you ever heard someone say that? no, of course not. people have only recently pointed fingers at a violent media and other things which they think promotes violence such as paintball. could it be a higher percentage of irresponsible parents who don't know how to raise their own children? no, couldn't be. must be that damn matrix movie. for years kids have played with toy guns and weapons. i mean even back during the colonial days of america they had wooden replicas of guns and swords. this was never an issue until recently. i say it is that there is a higher percentage of irresponsible parents in this day and age than there ever was. but our media refuses to admit that. so many parents these days expect TV to raise their kids yet they blame it when their kid blows up his school.
thanks for reading this letter. if it offended you any, well, you offended many other people, so it was well deserved. again, thanks for reading this long letter.

sincerely,
kyle stacy

[Edited by fear my impulse on 07-16-2001 at 02:53 PM]