Paintball

[Kermit]

Today was the first time I've played in about a year. The last time I played paintball was the weekend after Living Legends 4 until today.

And today I was reminded why.

I ran up the field during a woodsball game and saw this. A kid, around 10 or 11 years old, was hiding behind a bunker made of plywood that was probably 3 and a half feet tall. A more seasoned player with a fast gun got an angle on him and just started mowing his bunker down. At least 30 rounds smeared the side of his bunker in a matter of seconds and scared the kid half to death. He called himself out and when he went to walk off he got lit up because the guy would not stop shooting at him. The kid was probably shot ten times after this. I ran up to him, yelled "STOP SHOOTING." and when he didn't stop I just physically covered the kid and escorted him off the field. The kid looked mortified. He said "I want to leave". I don't think I'd ever been more upset at a paintball field before.

I am still appalled at what happened. I've been thinking about that kid all day. What a great way to get turned off to paintball. I still have a bitter taste in my mouth over that.

Josh

[Falcon16]

I totally agree Josh. I had a moment similar to yours and what made it worse was the fact the player beating up the newbie was himself a ref at the field we were at, he just happened to be off the clock so he jumped in with our group. He shot a female player in our group who had never played in the hand when she had it peeking out of a bunker ok fair enough happens. What really pissed me off was in the very next game he does a run through INSIDE there 10 foot surrender rule and shoots her in the top of the head. I was damn near livid. I not only tore him a new one in the staging area but I switched up from my pump and borrowed the other refs axe and literally hunted the guy down during a full field elimination game. Came up behind him and put half a hopper into his back as a lesson. Suffice to say he got all pissy with me. I just told him look it you say you're a tournament player well don't whine when you get lit up then, secondly I hunted you down BECAUSE you acted like a douchebag to players in my group.

Funny thing is not only did that field close up shortly after but whenever I run into that particular kid he steers clear of me because he knows I want put up with his BS attitude.

TL;DR had to teach a kid a lesson after he picked on new players and I agree with Josh our sport will never go anywhere as long as it's populated with jerks like these.

[Chappy]

I have never seen an incident like this, and I play an above average amount of ball. Rec, walkon, and scenarios, and I've never seen it. It obviously happens, as you're not the first by a long shot to mention it. But it doesn't always happen. Must be a different scene there. Florida seems to have a pretty bad culture for paintball ...

[Frizzle Fry]

Me and another member witnessed something like this last summer. A guy in his mid 50s was screaming at younger renters, and ended up bunkering one of them and lighting him up from about 5 feet away...

The refs gave us permission to light him up.

[thumper]

Originally Posted by Kermit

.. He called himself out and when he went to walk off he got lit up because the guy would not stop shooting at him. The kid was probably shot ten times after this...
Josh

IMO: the police should have been called and the shooter jailed. The game needs a precedence.

[thesauce]

Originally Posted by thumper

IMO: the police should have been called and the shooter jailed. The game needs a precedence.

you want a cop instead of a ref on the field?

honestly i see more of the opposite, i dont even like playing with renters because it seems THEY are the ones overshooting most the time. i got overshot 3 times yesterday walking off the field with my hands up. they were also more of a problem with them not walking off the field.

i put 10 shots in a kids chest yesterday, with at least 2 seconds between each shot, he didnt want to leave the field, so i kept getting him. after the match he was whining about how many times i shot him.

and i dont care what the story was, if a girl steps on the field she is the same target. nothing gives you the right to dump half a hopper on them, thats a good way to start a fight. not an arguement, a popyouintheeyesocket fight.

i always hear the same story, ive never witnessed it, and i cant help but feel there is exaggeration.

"i was playing and some 40 year old guy in camo ran up on a 3 year old that was playing and shot him 900 times, i watched him reload, and he was laughing, and the kid cried. i confronted him afterwards and he told me to shut up, so next time we were on the field together i...."

most experienced players over the age of 20 with an iq over 75 get the idea of the game. i heard a table of 'agglets' as you guys call them, saying 'i dont care if i get hit, im out to hurt people today'. ive never once met an adult whose intention during the game was to harm children, not one. not even off the field.

sounds more like the people around you are the problem and not the game. you might wanna play somewhere that they dont put horse spunk in the water.

[thumper]

Originally Posted by thesauce

you want a cop instead of a ref on the field?..

absolutely. IMO its rare you can find a ref that has the stones to toss a player for overshooting or otherwise dangerous conduct.

Now you have a player or two arrested for reckless endangerment and aggravated assault etc.. maybe some civil action against the owner and maybe just maybe the game can get rid of the problem children.

[HyperU2]

One shot is no more dangerous than one thousand. Overshooting isn't criminal, sorry.

[thumper]

Originally Posted by HyperU2

Overshooting isn't criminal, sorry.

So at what point do you think its wrong?

[ScottyBeans]

Originally Posted by thumper

So at what point do you think its wrong?

No one will disagree that overshooting sucks and is wrong. But it's definitely not a criminal offense while you're out on a paintball field. i.e a cop can't do anything about it.

Dick move? Yes. Criminal offense? Nope.