Doesn't bother me if a pimply faced youth wears a wizard hat while LARPing any more than the same kid wears a CAB or airborne ribbon or anything else he deems to wear on his COSTUME while airsofting.
Airsofting, like it or not, is just LARPing with airsoft guns instead of swords and bags of beans. No harm in looking the part in your COSTUME.
Now, if someone goes around claiming they earned something when they did not is another story. I've seen airsofters get discounts at places/restaurants before, whom had never been in any service, and that pisses me off.
.02
Agree. Though I have never actually been in the military, or won anything but a homemade patch to an AS game, this is pretty much the way I feel about the situation. Airsoft uses the Military as a basis to draw from, but it is not the military, and any costumes bearing any mark on them shouldn't be taken seriously. If you are wearing your earned military patches, ask yourself why? Do they provide some sort of combat advantage? Do they increase rof? Or are you wearing them because they look cool, and allow you to show off and brag to all the little idiots.
I love it when I hear the "Awww now I cant wear my real patches because someone is wearing fake ones....... :cry: " Really?
This sport is dress up and exercise, as well as a mental getaway for people from there normal lives, If he wants to dress up as a "100th and whatever"st ariman, let him.
Take it as a compliment, he thinks you guys are amazing, and really wishes he/she were one of you.
The people who are playing and dressing up KNOW they are not in the military, and that there patches don't amount to SHIT, other than looking decent. They are just a neat addition to the games realism.
I think one of the better points of this discussion would be WWII reinactors, why dont they get jumped on for wearing 100% accurate to the patch uniform? Because everyone knows its just a game, and people understand that they are not infact a WWII paratrooper, same for civil war reinactors, all the badges they wear were earned by somebody at sometime in history. Just because they are from another time, its ok? No, people realize its a game.
And like it or not, all airsoft is, is the next modern step up to reinactors.
If the real life contractors sudden start claiming jeans and polo shirts, we as airsofters, are in serious trouble.
......end.
"What are you supposed to be?" "Im soap from cod4? see my gear?""HAHAHHA FUKING COD FAGGOT!!HAHAHA"
What are you supposed to be?" "Im a _______ army _________? see my gear?" "OMG HOW DARE YOU WEAR ANYTHING THAT HAS ANY REAL MILITARY APPLICATION, YOU LITTLE FUKING PUKE"
What are you supposed to be?" "Just some guy in jeans/camo with a gun, no military or non military affiliations.""HAHAHA FUKING NOOOOOOB< HAHAHAHA"