New Times on American Airsoft

[Lakonian]

"Magsz" is a senior member on the PTW forums..... weird.

[RICKBO]

This is very true.
The "dangerous" and "bad" bring more attention than the "safe" and "good" in the world of media.

That being said, I liked the article, it described what people feel in an airsoft skirm as opposed to "go out an' shoot 'em up" ex-military leading kids around to take situations in quickly and act. Airsoft is a sport that teaches a lot of responsibility. A paintballer can do as she/he likes on the field, bring their gun around in public(though they shouldn't) and doesn't need to put a lot of money down to have decent playing gear. whereas airsofters need to think out strategies, work together, call own hits, and play specific roles; and that's just on the field.



I'm also glad we have so much free space here in Canada.
Sure the states can get their guns cheaper and easier, but we've got the places and space to play.

[LoricTheMad]

I read through all 7 pages of the article. Whoever summed it up by saying "thier dumb and dangerous" clearly didn't read the article. It mentions the dangers of brandishing them in public and talks about younglings getting into them as potentially (duh) a bad thing, but it was well written.

[Cassius]

I'm that one that summed it up like that and did read through the 7 pages as well.

Next time you're assuming things about me please PM me first instead of trying to make me look like an idiot.

The article is written in a sarcastic way putting emphasis on violence, children , guns and danger. As if these airsofters are pretenders and their little game has caused death and violence as well as leading children into becoming war machines. These very common patterns are seen in the game industry; soccer moms unite and let's prevent our children from playing video games because they will make our kids violent. Same pattern only applied to airsoft.

[Skladfin]

more people die from walking than playing airsoft....

[Lakonian]

I got an idea.... let's ban lattes......

Also, that article was soo sarcastic, I almost punched a shitzu.

[808]

Originally Posted by kos

Also, that article was soo sarcastic, I almost punched a shitzu.

Indeed.

Like I wrote on the site - I didn't think it was a bad article. It was unbiased, and (what I believe to be) the way many non-airsofters view what we do.

So, if any of you really think it's that stupid - you may want to think carefully the next time a discussion comes up about "ZOMG! We have to go public before ze Germans come and take our gun zaway!"

Not that any of you sound like that - but you get the point.


Oh, and I just finished watching Snatch.

[kalnaren]

The problem with journalism is that it's no longer about being informative -it's about making the paper/news station money. More lovely results of unregulated capitalism. The US has ruled it isn't even illegal for a news station to make shit up and report it. I'm sure everyone has heard the "if it bleeds, it leads" motto.

[Capt.erHead]

I also read all 7 pages and thought this article captured the sport extremely well.

The way the game is played: honour, mercy rules, tactical scenarios were shown and explained. The different personalities that play it: The elitists, the kiddies, the responsibles and the plain and simple dicks. All of the issues that make this sport what it is were also covered: Problems with children getting airsoft guns and the accessibility of cheap airsofts to facilitate that, law enforcement and the public's fear of the sport, airsofter's distrust of them and how they want to keep it 'hidden' from their eyes, real life consequences when a child gets his hands on an airsoft and brandishes it in a foolhardy or suicidal manner ( I know how we don't like to actually talk about 'consequence' on this board.)

Take a look at our forums they are chock full of children asking newb questions, guys dressing up and playing GI Joe and exchanging battle stories about getting shot in the crotch or having teeth knocked out.

From reading this article it is obvious to me that not only is this journalist not stupid he's an actual airsofter.

He presented this sport for how it is. I'm sorry if it doesn't coincide with the squeeky clean image you want to present to the world but if you haven't noticed we're grown men (mostly) who dress up as soldiers and shoot each other with bb guns while playing war. That's clearly what the article shows and includes ALL the drama that comes with that.

[Dusti69]

it sounded to me like they were bashing it and actually trying to make it and us sound stupid.
like were a bunch of delusional losers, geeks and nerds and the whole idea of skirmishes to be utter pathetic ridiculousness

— frighten a big segment of the general population.

now you know what i gotta put up with down here. nobody gets it, not even if you fully explain it to them. they just think youre immature and playing with toys. to me theyre not toys theyre working replicas. would you give your 12 year old a ptw? i would think no

and god fucking forbid you have an ak. thats the "terrorist" gun

airsoft guns whether theyre full metal and wood beasts like we have or walmart crapsoft it doesnt matter. people become terrified of you down here for having.... fake guns. like yea be scared for your life... of my fake gun
to that i have to say. bitch youre dumb

[Jester200SX]

While I agree that the article was well written it did seem extremely sarcastic to me. Down here in the states I think we should have more strict laws about who can buy airsoft guns and where. What really bothers me is that almost everyone I know, my family included thinks it's a stupid hobby. People are only afraid of it because they don't understand it. I do it because I enjoy it, gives me a chance to get outside and spend time with friends.

What really bothers me though is when someone comes to my house and is more bothered and afraid of my airsoft guns than my sword collection.

[sarcasm]Obviously swords aren't anywhere near as dangerous as airsoft.[/sarcasm]

[bodydropper]

right on the spot! skladfin

[Cheesevillage]

Originally Posted by Jester200SX

... enjoy it give me a chance to get outside and spend time with friends....

If your family can't understand a man's need for things which go boom and they can't understand a man's need for the outdoors and nor can they understand ones need to socialize then surely there are greater problems present.

[Dusti69]

Originally Posted by Cheesevillage

If your family can't understand a man's need for things which go boom and they can't understand a man's need for the outdoors and nor can they understand ones need to socialize then surely there are greater problems present.

+3 well said. and that goes for everyone, not just family

[n1ch0]

Originally Posted by Chingyul

Has to be New Zealand since airsoft is illegal in Australia.

actually i believe QLD started a campaign to legalised airsoft and they started to get some leniency there.. But the limits on them are horrendous, they have to get to periodical competitions/ipsc kinda to ensure they are allowed to own 1. and even then they only allowed semi, no gbb pistols, spring rifles with less than 10ammo/mag and shot guns....

They used to have a forum somewhere.. but cant googled it anymore.. its airsoft-australia.com cmiiw ..

but at least they starting to have some fun ^.^