Is there such a thing as gettong TOO organized?

[Mooncruiser]

Ancient paintball history lesson number #4..

In the old days, BPC (Before Play Stations), Paintball was regarded by most as a "game". Guys and Ladies went to a field, paid the entrance fee, and shot it out 45 minutes at a time in loose confederations of teams picked for the moment as One Side OR The Other.

Then the implied need created 5-man squads who played with a bit more precision, although the teams were usually fellows who played together often and/or did 12oz. Arm Repetitions at the local bar after the game..

At this point, paintball was still a game.

Then, along came a pretty lady lawyer...

Her name is Jessica. She was an exceptional player, who saw a need to bring the game into a "accepted" SPORT.

And lo, a "Federation" was created, the IPPA. Next came dues, then ranking, then rules. -Some were good for all, like getting fields to require chrono limits for the guns. Then fields were "Sanctioned" and when any players chose to play outside the sanctioned venues, like in the desert or woods free in a pickup game, they played, OUTLAW.  :shock:

The insurance companies saw that this was good the new SPORT being safer and under some kind of control.. So the age limit was lowered from 18 to something like, say breathing-on-it's-own fetus.

Now, today, we see what that game became.

Point of discussion; If airsoft went from the loose thing it is now, to a ~National~ controlled ridgid format, what do you think the future of this would be?

Chip

[Doc Hollywood]

How would it be a national "controlled" rigid format? Its a SIMULATION, and for some who are really into MilSim or want to recreate something fo what was actually GOOD about being in the military, there are groups who are more military in their approach.

Money drove paintball into what it is, and it appears that "woodball" or outlaw PB is alive and well. But the PB professional teams who make bank and dont have day jobs have no desire for a MilSim experience, nor would they make it in a military action.

[busta_cap]

1. airsoft is not a sport its a hobby

2. yes it can be too organized.

3. you guys overthink it way too much

4. go to games, shoot people , go home.

[War savage]

I have had that same thought cross my mind a million times. My thoughts are, judging by the feedback that I read on the forums."Airsofters" (if you so call us) are trying not to have this "sport" or "game" turn into something like paintball. It's hard to stop a sport or game from turning into something other than what it originally derived from. "Rules and regulations" are what need to be in place for things to not get out of hand. It's up to us to abide by these so called rules and regulations and limit the flexability when needed.

Unfortunately, if Airsoft grows and gets more popular. It will definitely change and may follow the same footsteps as paintball. If you want the public to except the sport of Airsoft it will have to conform to what the public wants. It may be good, it may be bad. One thing I can say for sure is, we are at a point where we can promote it as a positive sport or game. It's up to us to set the foreground for the future.

$0.02

[Doc Hollywood]

Busta - SOME people want more than that.

[andyhinds]

Safety needs to be orgainzed, can never be too safe!! (Nobody will argue that one).

Sometimes people get too caught up in the scenarios, keep'm simple, keep the game going, learn from past experiences.  Everybody here should try organizing a game, or step up and offer assistance to those who organize a game, take the weight off the people who try and organize events.  

Don't bash those that orgainze  events, instead off some advice, and your services for the next OP.

[andyhinds]

4. go to games, shoot people , go home.

+1.

[Reaver]

I don't know that it would ever me THAT organized.  Airsoft is quite the different sport to paintball.  Airsoft requires a level of honor and sportsmanship that paintball doesn't have.  Paintball is more like football these days... partly because everyone can tell when you've been tackled.  

  I do agree with Andy that organized rules and safety is a huge plus.  But with the milsim community that airsoft has, I highly doubt you'll ever see it go the same route as paintball.

[Mooncruiser]

Busta nailed it as I see things.

Keep it a hobby. There's no reason to "ensure" that it grows or anything of the sort. As long as people want to play, they'll play.

I see no reason to help it grow. I will do my part to play safe and honorable.
Chip

[Legs]

I said it five years ago...  Airsoft WILL go the way of paintball.  It is unavoidable for many reasons.  The only question is how long it will take.

You must organzie and be prepared, but as for "over organizing" just keep sharpening a knife...

Keep it ours for as long as possible, folks.  Game or sport or hobby, it can be taken away overnight, and many, many people are foaming at the mouth to see it happen.

Be honest and stay frosty.  The rest is pure luck.

[Doc Hollywood]

well, I would gladly take it to court if the legislature ever oversteps, and hopefully they wont. In any event I have no further comments on the general topic of organizing and/or USAC on this forum.

[War savage]

I said it five years ago...  Airsoft WILL go the way of paintball.  It is unavoidable for many reasons.  The only question is how long it will take.

You must organzie and be prepared, but as for "over organizing" just keep sharpening a knife...

Keep it ours for as long as possible, folks.  Game or sport or hobby, it can be taken away overnight, and many, many people are foaming at the mouth to see it happen.

Be honest and stay frosty.  The rest is pure luck.

Very interesting response from some.

But I agree with Legs. If the hobby, game or sport continues to grow. It is unavoidable to have legislative influence. Especially if big companies try to capitalize on it.

I for one would like to see Airsoft grow to a positive Hobby. I'm not trying to fool anyone by saying I don't want to see it grow, I help it grow. At the same time promote fun, safe environments. It's the people that say they will just let it go and do their own thing. That's almost as bad as not voting and being pissed off about your current President. Like Legs said, "just keep sharpening a knife and keep it ours as long as possible".

Just remember whats happening in Chandler. Negativity is like cancer, it's hard to beat.

[Legs]

Doc, I'm not knocking you or your desire to take a different route.  I actually contacted your group about five years ago about getting something like that going out here, but when we really started to build AA we put our energies into it and the idea of joining up with another pre-established group (which was just a thought I had at the time anyway) was left behind.  

What I meant by the above is that we are in an acitivity which involves weapons (the legislature basically sees it that way) and that puts us dead in the crosshairs.  Chandler is not the beginning and won't be the end.  Because of the realism, airsoft is under hard scrutiny and it's very probable that in order to "save" the activity, we'll be pressed into legislated gaming, with set rules across the board, insurance companies involved, etc...just like paintball.  That's only one of the reasons I am positive airsoft will go the paintball route, but there are others.  Another major issue in airsoft is that so many minors are involved.  Like it or not, sheep do not like anything that puts "minors" and "guns" in the same arena.  It is because I wanted to preserve airsoft that I pressed so hard way back when for the 18+ rule in AA and I believe in it firmly today.  You do not suddenly become mature upon turning 18, but you do suddenly become legally responsible for all of your own actions, and sheep see that as an acceptable barrier for now.

Don't take the comments here as a lack of interest in seeing things grow.  Your group will not likely ever increase the odds of attracting the wrong kind of attention.  It just doesn't seem to grab the interest of the average  player either.  If you sharpen a kinfe too much, you eat away at the blade, but there's still room for a better edge in AZ, I think.  Good luck to you.

[Lasivian]

I think it's going to become a sport as time goes by.

It's kind of inevitable as more people get interested.

[azsarge]

I think it's going to become a sport as time goes by.

It's kind of inevitable as more people get interested.

You've been to one game, dude.

Coming from someone like Kyle (Legs), I'd listen to what the guys who have been around awhile have to say.

NOT the old paintballers.

NOT the ex-military guys.

NOT the kids who post but never show up to a game.

If you want to know the readl deal, listen to guys like Airsofter1, Raith, Kurn, Ganef, Raven1, and you'll be ok.