A Plea For Unity and Tempered Comments

[oregonduck]

Gentlemen,

We are a group of people who run around and shoot each other with plastic BB's. The love of airsoft is what unifies all of us, though we come from different age groups, different walks of life and have as many outlooks as we have people.

But we are still a community. We still need each other. After all, most people outside of the hobby don't understand it and think it is very weird, if borderline infantile, to run around in the woods and shoot people on the weekends. Not many people in the general population get it.

That should provide us impetus for unity. Unfortunately, in recent months it seems to me the rancor has only increased. The nastiness factor in some of the postings and comments keeps ratcheting up and honestly, if it continues, and we continue to divide our community over it, well, our community will ultimately fail. We will become a bunch of disparate groups operating independently of each other because nobody can get along. The drama factor is getting out of control.

I would also like to pose this fact: there is no such thing as an airsoft bad a$$. All the bad asses are in uniform using real weapons to kill our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are in the fight of our lives overseas right now. The War on Terror will ultimately cause a global reordering not seen since WWI and WWII. The stakes are extremely high, and I for one am glad that all the badasses are in uniform. We need them. There was a book written years ago called "Enough Good Men" which focused on the early stages of the American Revolution. In every war, we have found enough good men. Now, though, I can only hope that we have. Our futures hang in the balance.

The point I'm making is this: Just because we can shoot people inside a house doesn't mean any of us would be any good at it overseas, or with a SWAT team. We play because it is fun. So the divisive trash talking and ego-airings between individuals and teams seems to be a thin reed to say the least. I guess it is a matter of perspective.

So, I offer a plea of unity. Can we get along and be polite and respectful to one another? I recognize we come from all possible backgrounds and life experiences, but certainly our love of the hobby should be our baseline, right?

Everyone I've met from the community, from Morgan to Ben to Knuckles and Renegade, Matt and Rick and Seagreen, Alex Kada, Chapped, Mack, Ron B., etc. You guys are great people, and I've enjoyed our associations and growing friendships. To me, that's what it is all about. Let's play, have fun, and build friendships. That's the way to build the community and make it thrive.

Off soapbox now.

John

[/b]

[Martin.]

i love you too john

[chapped]

I concur 110%.

Less bullshit, more cowbell!

[Nocte]

Yes.

[oregonduck]

...Ben...you gave our secret sin away.....!

[Knuckles]

Fuc-

Oh wait.



Thanks John. We love you too buddy.

[Junto]

I made it a goal to stop being so harsh on the forums and in dealings with players old and new. It can be frustrating not to step out and flame when you see others doing it... Sometimes just calling people's bullcrap can turn into a crapfest...

Here's too hoping for an end than the 1337er than thou bullcrap.

[Howard]

i know i am new to the forums but i concur as well i made a post saying hi to every one and did not get much of a reply and i started reading all of the post and started to think no one replyed because i dont spell or right well if this is the prob. then so be it. i am trying to do north Cal. what you guys are doing in your state so all the info make it work as well as your guys group would be nice.



Howard Beasley
Game Planner/Team Admin
Redding Airsoft Team
R.A.T. SQUAD

[Rogue Reaper]

Sage words.

[Wzupthen]

Can't we all just get along and lay plastic death down on each other

[Hotcurry]

A-men!

This can be a great place, and it can be a not so great place - I'd love to see it continue to grow in a positive direction as time marches on. Lead by example.

[PanzerFaust]

Stickied, may we all sticky it in the forum of our hearts *sniff*

[cjisadude]

I'm an upcoming airsofter and i appreciate these words!!!

[Shiloh]

I feel a lot better about being a younger airsoft player now. YAY for good feelings.

[Kenji Yasaka]

John,
What you said is true, even now there are instances of drama in our community (Not even going to list them). Drama should only be on TV, and even then it should still be questionable.

Yay for Unity!