On TV tonight!

Yes, let’s enjoy the coffee. Though to be honest, your stereotype was inaccurate – you forgot ‘organic’ and ‘fair trade’! 😉

I want to clarify that saying that something worries me does NOT mean that I think that there is something wrong with it, that others shouldn’t do it etc etc. I was curious as to whether my worry was justified or not, and the conversation above has convinced me that

1. Pro-paintballers seem to have their act together and don’t see paintball as a killing-fantasy game but as a sport

2. Sport is good cos it makes you less fat

3. The thought of crazed bucks night-type paintball games definitely does worry me, but most bucks night activities are a bit of a worry so that ain’t saying much!

The issue of differences between rules in different states is a very common, and very frustrating problem that seems to crop up all over the place (think of water….) and it seems paintball is not exempt from these silly problems. What a pain.

Enjoy your sport, and who knows, maybe I’ll come try it some time… maybe…

I am sure that a paintball behaves a lot differently to a bullet when fired.

Last time I played – I was hiding behind a barricade – on my belly with the tip of my gun and head hanging out – I saw guy across the paddock try and do teh same thing without seeing me – popped off 2 rounds – they flew across the field – hit the ground – bounced up and nailed my opponent right between the eyes – thunk thunk in quick succession – so yeah training with paintball guns and real guns – cant even compare – its like practising archery for the olympics with a nerf bow and arrow. ouch!!

Kieran, I went to a corporate day out a few years ago, lots and lots of fun. Better than a video game.

Question though, why don’t they do something about how the balls hurt so much? We had civvies, a thick jumper and overalls on top, and I still had a set of dot bruises stretching across my back. I also copped one on the end of the finger that made me use the sort of language as though I was in the Navy and repelling Iranian boarders in the Gulf.

I’d give it a go again if they did something about the balls. [no masculinity jokes, thanks!]

Paintball can mean different things to different people.From my perspective as a field operator and professional team sponsor, Paintball is now a mainstream sport that is one of the fastest growing team sports world wide with professional leagues in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific. My intent in the interview was to highlight the disparity in ACT legislation compared to other states; ACT prohibits personal ownership of paintball markers, but in NSW it is legal. If you legally own one in NSW, you can’t bring it into the ACT. ACT also considers markers as ‘prohibited weapons’ yet a 12 yo can own a rifle, shotgun or compound bow and keep it at home!!! Go figure. As for the comments “while I respect the right of all to pretend to kill each other… it worries me!! Should I be worried??” I think you should come down and chat to some of the Pros that hang out at my fields. They train (sprints/laps) etc for 2 hours at least once a week, practice team drills at least once a week in Canberra as well as travelling interstate to train. They rehearse, they plan, they develop strategies, they practise team tactics and work on individual and team skills. Then, at a tournament they have around 1 minute in each game to implement that plan. There is probably 10 hrs training for each minute of shooting at someone!!! Paintball at the elite level is more like chess than cowboys and indians. Woodsball/bushball is a bit more informal but the guys that really get into that are very serious. They assign team roles (sniper etc), make ‘cant see me suits’ and also develop tactics etc to suit the field or scenario they are playing. Also, when you consider a high end marker and a full kit costs $5k it is more than a casual hobby for some. Apart from those, I have other customers that use paintball as corporate leadership and teamwork training. I have others that use it as staff appreciation. Then again, there are social groups such as bucks parties; if you asked a ‘buck’ after a paintball Bucks party his opinion, he may agree with you…

Kieran

in my normal freakish way last time i played I managed to cop one up the mask.. hilarious.. bruised my chin and the bottom of my cheek.

Only played paintball a couple of times, but it was mad fun. Hurts like hell a couple of times, but well worth it for being able to sting the mates. Nothing a few beers afterwards and a laugh didn’t fix though!

sorry bourke, double-shot of espresso full cream dairy cappucino it is.

Long post ——- just tired of the PC namby pamby thought police social do-gooder kill joys (woops, there’s that word) who see things wrong with everything. Kids have played cowboys and indians or shoot em up games since time immemorial – more violence in cartoons these days but lets not go there either.

By and large most people are responsible and the laws covering firearms that paintball markers fall under are pretty strict. In the controlled environment of paintball facilities generally it’s very tightly controlled and if you read the rules for competitive events, there’s pretty heavy down-time for those playing the game who use excessive force, behave in an inappropriate manner etc. You probably know that.

A major point being made in the broadcast was the need for some comparable controls across borders – most states allow home storage in approved containers and licence conditions for markers – but not the ACT and yet of you live in Queanbeyan you can. Parity is what is needed. No one wants the uncontrolled use you see on utube in the USA from the idiots for example, but common sense would be nice (not often common where cross border issues arise.

Re sniper – woodsball, scenario etc – refer comments above about playing games – doesn’t mean people go out and act it out in real life – I don’t want to own a real gun – I know what they can do, but I would like to be able to own and store my own marker without moving interstate.

It’s a game – and what is a game to some is pointless, violent, or meaningless use of time to others, examples are legion!

Let’s move on and enjoy the coffee. 🙂

Glad to hear you think of it in those terms Maelinar.

I get what you’re saying, and I think it’s good that the language has changed to reflect a less violent perception of the game.

Fact remains though that the markers bear a definite resemblance to guns. And a friend of mine in the US plays the position of ‘sniper’….

well given that it is physical activity as opposed to sitting in an armchair fiddling with knobs (hehe).. i would say is better than gaming (well I think it is funner anyway).

And on the point of being worried about people killing each other.. you should be more worried about the kind of people that do it than the game itself.. if someone is predisposed to violent behaviour playing a video game or playing paintball is not really going to make a difference. And if you are concerned about the training aspect it provides I think shooting a paintball gun is in a complete different ball park to shooting a gun. I haven’t shot a gun in years but I am sure that a paintball behaves a lot differently to a bullet when fired.

Actually, you don’t pretend to kill each other.

The game is simply a modified version of the game ‘tag’ that every child plays without ever having been taught the game.

In the game ‘tag’, somebody catches you and ‘tags’ you, then you are out – to varying degrees of options for further play.

In the game paintball, somebody uses a paint marker to ‘tag’ you, then you are out – to varying degrees of options for further play.

At least the last time I played professionally, there is an industry ban on production of red colour paint, to avoid any misrepresentation with blood, and at least where I played, using the term ‘killed’ or ‘dead’ was pretty much laughed at and replaced with the word ‘tagged’ as a more appropriate word to use.

There is no laying down dead, dying or wounded in this game, no hollywood inspired slaughters, so in respect to pretending to kill each other, I say well it’s your loss you think that way. I’m just playing tag.

Prefer double-shot of espresso full cream dairy cappucino myself…

Cast me as a double de-caf low fat soy latte drinking tree-hugger and I shall cast you as a violent murdering psychopath who plays out their fantasies through paint-ball… which I doubt you are, so kindly refrain.

To be clear, I do NOT think of paint-ball players in these terms (friends with some who are lovely people)… just asking a question to see what anyone else thought about this.

How about a double half caf decaf with a twist of lemon (a’la LA Story)

double de-caf low fat soy latte and tree hugging anyone?

That’s the exact thing that worries me.

Errr, while I respect the right of all to pretend to kill each other… it worries me!! Should I be worried??

You Tube anyone? I missed it

You can Own a Paint ball Marker in Australia, there are just varying degrees, in NSW you can get a license and take it home, In the ACT it needs to stay at the field

Saw it (not by design). Sigh! Discount stores in the US have a fine range of paintball guns but I figured that they were probably banned here (since they don’t like my slingshot).

I thought the topic referred to Desperately Keeping Sheila.

‘ken missed it. Fook!!

Saw it, t’was cool

great – the actual link on riotact is http://the-riotact.com/?p=4689