NOTICE to the Community

Spokesman or no spokesman, the time is not right to try to sell our side of the story. Anything we say can and will be used in a court of public opinion.

Saying "No Comment" may look like you're hiding something, but it's better than saying "We use these Airsoft guns as a useful tool in force-on-force training" and having it turned around into a voice over that says "They use these tools and train civilians to shoot and kill people more efficiently and effectively, and they call it fun".

I cannot tell you what to do. I can simply ask.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Brian McIlmoyle

They will get their story.. it is what they are paid to do.
and push come to shove it is better to have some control over that story than none.

Control over their story is a complete illusion Brian. You have no control over what they will do with your words, none. The only time I advocate any kind of public front is what we do when people meet us when we play and how we conduct ourselves on public fields. As Morb says 'the time is not right' and I will stress that even further and say the time is absolutely WRONG. As someone pointed out earlier, I would not want to be the one misquoted and demonized thus demonizing airsoft and putting everyone's sport here at risk.

We're just coming off a contencious election where firearm policy was front and center, you've got city mayors with as much if not more influence than an MPP, misquoting legislation, using incorrect terminology and calling for bans on things that have been banned for over 70 years. Emotions are high and politicians are looking for a scapegoat - put your head up over that berm right now and it will get shot off no matter how you word it or present yourself.

They are not interested in our story. They are not interested in supporting our right to use these imitation firearms to play our sport. Our sport scares the shit out of them. Tactical operations is not an accepted sport - and the left-wing barely accepts that target shooting is a sport, let alone the simulation of a kill team entry into close quarters eliminating a terrorist opfor. No matter the fact that what we are doing is completely legal, the optics of it will work against us on TV at this time.

If this was the Globe and Mail doing a paper article with no pictures and it was an airsoft piece, that might be different. The only reason City-TV wants pictures of airsoft guns is because its sensational. Look at those evil and dangerous looking things. Showing them your publically joinable club killhouse and they will go absolutely apeshit.

I'd let airsoft get more momentum in the US first. It has begun. I get Shotgun News each month, a real steel publication, and they are featuring Airsoft as the next up and coming sport - so penetration is beginning to happen. But the US has a strong gun culture and gun lobby to support that transition. Canada's anti-gun lobby is much stronger than in the US and would use this as yet more evidence of an out-of-control fringe group in society that needs to have these toys taken from them.

We don't need Airsoft mixed up in the replica and illegal handgun debate in Toronto. If we tie our pony to that wagon, public opinion will be against us and we will most certainly lose.

Another day, another time, I am not going to war on enemy chosen ground. And certainly not with a news organization with a record of pro-liberal, anti-gun sensationalism.

[steve_187]

Argh my head...

[ATREYU]

Originally Posted by Brian McIlmoyle

A statment of No Comment is translated as "more to the story" by any journalist.

It is situations like this where information is being "hunted" that someone intelligent should step up to speak to the media.

They will get their story.. it is what they are paid to do.

and push come to shove it is better to have some control over that story than none.

If the community all close the blast doors and skuttle back to dark corners.. it is just a matter of time before someone shines a light in there.
What they don't need to find is some goob polishing his glock in his underware.

Granted.. in most cases journalists write the story then start looking for "facts" and there is difficulty in presenting this activity in a light that would make it wholesome to the casual observer, but it is not impossible to do so.

Situations like this where a united front and a set media policy, and a designated spokesperson for the community would be helpful to cast this "sport" in a light that is positive.

Mods - My opinion only.

Brian - in a way you already have been a spokeman for the community. You have a public place to play which is housed in the same area where "soccer moms" bring thier children to do martial arts. You are also quite quick to label our equipment as something which has not been properly defined yet by anybody. As I said earlier, we can't even agree amongst ourselves, nevermind the lawmakers, or law enforcement. Whether you have good intentions or not, your flagrant posting of the law and your insistance that our equipment is "replica's" is only going to fuel the opinions of those who are no doubt reading these boards looking for just such ammunition. You, for all I know are seeing airsoft as a business opportunity (IMO), and don't have a love for the game in such a way as the rest of us do, so as was said, you are not a spokesman for me either, and since you can't differentiate individuals when giving your opinion, please say nothing on behalf of the community. Let the community decide who, if anyone, should be a spokesperson. End rant.

[SockMonkey]

Im of the opinion that we as a community should have a spokesperson who is articulate and "stand up member of the community". If we look like we have somthing to hide, it really makes us look shady. For us old folks remember when paintball was for "terrorist training" and such? I do, now its played in Skydome with spectators. Is the general public ready for airsoft to be played(even if we wanted) in the skydome?? no I dont think so. The media looks to twist stories as much as they can for thier own inrests this is true. I would make a tape of any conversation had with a media person and dick slap them with a libal (SP?) suit if they twist it. This is me tho and im of the mind we should all be unified one way or the other. All it takes is for one 13 year old nub who gets shit on for not reading the FAQ to talk to the media and give them a "story".

Chris AKA SockMonkey

[DeathSniper]

Just send me to talk with CityTV...sheesh. I'll tell them how I used my aimbot and wallhacks to eradicate the area of evil Terrorists n00bs.

[remington410]

well put lol

[Scarecrow]

While I don't entirely agree with the spokesman idea (how do you decide who that is? we can barely agree to FPS rules on a field) I don't think Brian was necessarily saying 'he' should be the spokesman, I think he was discussing the concept.

I've thought on and off about this problem for a while and come to no conclusion.

The parallels between paintball and airsoft are there but there are significant differences too. The paintball industry and manufacturers had a lot to do with pushing its acceptance by downplaying military simulation and realistic guns - precisely things that make airsoft appealing. There are many other differences as well, but I'm too tired to repeat them in this thread for the nth time...

[steve_187]

ok how hard is it to just say: ' its the same as paintball...we play it on paintball fields'.. end of coment. i dont know, just throwing it out there...

Edit: i know i know, its not PAINTBALL, its better, blah blah.... Im just saying, people know about paintball, so they can kind of understand it better. whenever someone askes me what the hell airsoft is, i say,'its the same as paintball, only you dont need to waist money on paintballs, or gas, and you dont get as dirty'... And after that, just dont make any further comments...keep it simple stupid...

[DuffMan]

Anyone consider that these reporters are reading this thread as we post?

[Cyrus]

Originally Posted by Berkut

I bet they will visit TTAC3 soon - google "airsoft" "Canada" and you will end up here, search Toronto and you will end up with "Splatters" and "TTAC3"... there is full schedule of events, locations and people...

I think this could be a problem...There are game listings from most provinces on here.
What would be the best course of action if "they" did show up to a game?



Cyrus

[666]

Originally Posted by Duff_Man_in_CADPATs

Anyone consider that these reporters are reading this thread as we post?

I hate to think this way but they probably have most of the info copied by now... Like other people here already said, type airsoft and Canada in google and ASC will be the first page to pop up.
It happened before, sun printed bunch of quotes in their artice from russian forum where I used to post few years ago.

[v82slo]

Originally Posted by Cyrus

What would be the best course of action if "they" did show up to a game?

Cyrus

I was wondering the same thing.

Also wondering if the game listing section should go private and only verified ASC'ers gain access? Of course it's a catch 22, you need to be verified to check out the section but need to know where games are to get verified (it may also be advisable to have verification meets posted elsewhere).

[666]

Originally Posted by v82slo

I was wondering the same thing.

Also wondering if the game listing section should go private and only verified ASC'ers gain access? Of course it's a catch 22, you need to be verified to check out the section but need to know where games are to get verified (it may also be advisable to have verification meets posted elsewhere).

They don't really have to show up to a game. We got pictures, videos and so on posted here. Enough info can be gathered from online sources.

[Dracheous]

Nothing you say in these Forums can go on the record as this is the internet... You could say the World was flat still online...


However... I do agree with the spokesman idea... personally I think Airsoft is gonna do the same route Paintball did... be tucked away for some time before BLAME... we'll have speed-soft... ((snicker))... we just gotta learn from the mistakes of paintball... IE. the underage... slack refs... and so on and keep that out... because if we are PITA Soldier Wannabe's as I've heard from some in the Paintball racket ((retailers and such)) then we need to keep that professional group influence... but yeah... everyone going on the record to any reporter is the dumbest idea you can do... I don't know if it was on this forum or on ASO... but someone posted this link to a news report out in England about the growing "sport" there.. and they show all the guys running around and portraying the idea behind the game... I'm not saying we should do this... but I want to ask... what if we did something like that.. made a video that is clean... well scripted... shows the public what we are... and... yeah... nevermind... public... enemy number one...