Paintball

[Pyrate Jim]

Is television above the rules?

The situation: local field has local media doing coverage. I show up and end up lending a hand reffing while the filming is going on.
During the episode, the interviewer wants to shoot at a plexiglass shield in front of the camera while giving his little speech.
The cameraman is masked, as is the ref helping him and both are behind the shield.

But not the idiot holding the gun.

I was almost in an argument with this guy over the rules of paintball, but I don’t work for this field and don’t want to jeopardize their chance at media exposure. I backed down before threatening to duct-tape a mask to his pointed little head, but blew any hope of a personal interview after that.

Does the excuse “it’s for the camera” justify violating the most basic of safety rules? This is not for some jackass style programming, this is the local news on the Fox Network.
(OK, maybe the difference ain’t so great under the circumstances)
Was I wrong to make a scene? Or am I overreacting?

[drg]

Fox? Overreacting.

[ComradeBenedict]

Notice how the lady isn't wearing a mask during any part of the video, including a game when both she and others have loaded guns. WHY they actually do that, I cannot fathom. Yes, they put a disclaimer, but why put have to contradict yourself and put a disclaimer in the first place?

[Party]

Definitely overrating in the case of the OP.

[sdawg]

No, the guy with gun should have a mask on. End of discussion.

[Pyrate Jim]

Originally Posted by killedcookie

Notice how the lady isn't wearing a mask during any part of the video, including a game when both she and others have loaded guns. WHY they actually do that, I cannot fathom. Yes, they put a disclaimer, but why put have to contradict yourself and put a disclaimer in the first place?

In that vid, I saw her with loaded paint at 4:30 or so, aiming at a wall but nowhere else.
The other games she and everyone else were shooting, but somehow left not a single mark on any building or bunker.
They did that with us as well, playing games with no paint to prevent injury to the film crew who did not have appropriate coverage (could not wear a mask and run the camera at the same time)
I can deal with that. No paint is no risk.

But I was acting as a ref, and to a Referee safety is paramount. There are rules that should have no exception. This man (and the woman in the vid) seem to think that these rules do not apply when the camera is rolling.
I think this is hypocrasy, and should not be tolerated by responsible players.

I repeat, am I overreacting?

[Party]

What exactly is so unsafe in what they did according to you?

[ComradeBenedict]

Originally Posted by Pyrate Jim

In that vid, I saw her with loaded paint at 4:30 or so, aiming at a wall but nowhere else.
The other games she and everyone else were shooting, but somehow left not a single mark on any building or bunker.
They did that with us as well, playing games with no paint to prevent injury to the film crew who did not have appropriate coverage (could not wear a mask and run the camera at the same time)
I can deal with that. No paint is no risk.

But I was acting as a ref, and to a Referee safety is paramount. There are rules that should have no exception. This man (and the woman in the vid) seem to think that these rules do not apply when the camera is rolling.
I think this is hypocrasy, and should not be tolerated by responsible players.

I repeat, am I overreacting?

Seems to me that since something can always happen(hell, the gun could blow up or something), the extra minute or so to put on a mask is tiny deal compared to the increased amount of safety. Some people will see it differently though.

[LanceR]

Originally Posted by Party

What exactly is so unsafe in what they did according to you?

Ricochets?

[drg]

You can ask, and if they don't do it, you don't threaten them. You can refuse to be involved or look to have their right to film there revoked.