Paintball

[noelydeeznutz]

So I am going to Skirmish D-day this year with a large sized group (around 50-60 players) from 13 or so different states.

We recently stumbled upon a related player to one of our own, who decided to start his own team... the team name? Zyklon-B...

Im not Jewish, so it doesnt offend me THERE... but it is offending, and I ask the community here...

when is it crossing the line?

[WilD]

Wow, pretty obscure. I think of myself as pretty knowledgeable but I had to look that up to figure out what you were talking about.

On general principle, I don't think it is crossing a line to name your team after a poison, even if it was used durring the holocaust. However I do think its a terrible name and in very poor taste. But hey, if he wants to possibly look like an anti-semitic douchebag to some people, thats his business.

Why was that name chosen? Did he pick it becuase it was used to exterminate Jews, or just because he liked the sound of "Zyklon"? If for the former, his paintball team name is the least of his problems.

[Mayvik]

Being a veteran of the intarwebz where flagrant douchebaggery runs rampant, I'm pretty desensitized, but I can see how that might bug some people (especially if they had relatives who were in the camps). I'd bet at least half the people at D-Day don't even get the reference though.

As with all things offensive, a lot depends on intent. Do you know why they picked that particular name? Are they RP'ing a camp garrison? Are they just hate-mongering to get a rise out of people? Are they just ignorant and think it's funny? Are they hate-mongering because they're hate-mongers? Do they even get the reference themselves?

[sdawg]

That team name is a bad idea, especially if a member of the non-paintball press finds out and decides to sensationalize it.

[Groucho]

It is amazing on how many people do not know what that means. I had a friend who had an screen name of zyclon for gaming and would say only 1 out of 150 people knew what it meant

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by WilD

Why was that name chosen? Did he pick it becuase it was used to exterminate Jews, or just because he liked the sound of "Zyklon"? .

That was my thought. Was this team formed specifically to play at D-Day? I'd be willing to bet a little thought went into this name and their first game, though I could be wrong... Either way its in extremely poor taste, I wouldn't play with them.

FWIW I knew exactly what zyklon b was. Lots of folks won't even get it, but that doesn't make it any better.

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by Chappy

FWIW I knew exactly what zyklon b was. Lots of folks won't even get it, but that doesn't make it any better.

No it does not make it better. Was not condoning the name just staing a fact that most people do not know the meaning.

[Chappy]

Originally Posted by Groucho

No it does not make it better. Was not condoning the name just staing a fact that most people do not know the meaning.

No doubt, wasn't actually commenting on your post in particular, just commenting on one aspect that's been mentioned.

I suppose one could make the argument that it could be worse that most people don't know what it means. The team could actually get some noteriety, or even there name in print. Then all it take is someone to point it out and suddenly all paintballers are paramilitary neo-nazi whackos again...
As sdawg mentioned, not good if the non-paintball press sensationalizes it.

[Harbinger[TG]]

Originally Posted by noelydeeznutz

So I am going to Skirmish D-day this year with a large sized group (around 50-60 players) from 13 or so different states.

We recently stumbled upon a related player to one of our own, who decided to start his own team... the team name? Zyklon-B...

Im not Jewish, so it doesnt offend me THERE... but it is offending, and I ask the community here...

when is it crossing the line?

You do realize Skirmish is all about dress up for WWII? While I must say it could offend some snow flakes it does not surprise me. This is a game that is almost more about dressing like nazis than it is paintball.

If the media didn't cover the vast safety issues last year, I doubt they will cover this.

[foldadoom]

is it poor taste? well yes, is it offensive? well that just depends on each person, would it be any more offensive if they called them selves Krups or Shimzer, Napalm or even Coke or BP they all hade their parts to play in helping the war effort on both sides.