From: barich@bach.udel.edu (Dewey H Barich)
Subject: Re: The EVIL of Paintball....
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 17:38:05 GMT

In article <36740002@hpmwmat.sr.hp.com> mikep@hpmwtd.sr.hp.com (Mike Powell) writes:
>	Has anyone here spent any time or been confronted with the
>	issue of paintball promotng violence?

No, I haven't.

>	I'm not making an accusation here....  I really love the
>	idea of paintball...  it's just that many people _REALLY_
>	hate the idea, and see it as a promotion of violence.

Those people have never played the game, nor been involved in REAL
combat.  While I've never been in REAL combat, I cannot believe that the
best paintball players in the world would hold up to trained soldiers in
REAL combat.  At least, not solely on their paintball skills.

>	FACT:  Paintball incorporates the use of a gun for the sole
>	purpose of targeting and hitting another human being (as part
>	of the larger objective of the game).  The game simply does
>	not work without this element.

But, in the NFL, linemen are incorporated for the sole purpose of
getting hit, bruised, tackled, etc. in an attempt to (depending on the
side) get to or protect the quarterback.  What about boxing?  I'd prefer
a paintball gun (with mandatory safety equipment -goggles, etc.) to
boxing any day.  Less pain, fewer injuries.

>	It's easy to see what might be bad about this situation....

Absolutely!  But, I have never seen a paintball player who took the
safety precautions for granted welcome by many (if any) other players.
There are those who think that people more interested in safety than
playing are wimps, etc., but I don't see them playing very often, as
they can't find players willing to go play with them.

>	Is there a good side to it?

Sure!  First of all, it's fun to those who play.  Like in any team
sport (and yes, paintball is a sport.  If the WWF, American Gladiators,
golf and bowling all count, so does paintball.), you have leadership,
teamwork, and a sense of "belonging" involved.  Also, I have not seen
another sports related activity where males and females are treated
equally. 

>	Is the game "bad" because of this?  Does it encourage or
>	provoke anti-social behavior *IN _ANY_WAY*?

Not from what I've seen.  And, I would be willing to guess that any
anti-social behavior that does come out of it is due to the individual
involved, not the sport.  That individual, then, would have found their
anti-social outlet somewhere else if paintball had not been part of
their lives.  The same goes for the controversy of role playing games. 

>	Does it teach bad habits? (ie: it's ok to point a gun at
>	another person...)

No, because it is VERY clearly specified that the paintball gun and a
real gun are VERY different.  At least, it is in my area.  Also,
whenever we see anyone with a gun pointed at anythin but the sky or the
ground, we correct the holder.

>	What if your local board of supervisors was against letting
>	someone open a paintball facility.... and cited some of the
>	above reasons for not granting a licence to do business....

I don't want to answer this myself, but I'll try.  First, I would say
what I've said above, and see what they had to say.  I would also make
it VERY clear that safety is number one.  Anyone that does not take the
safety seriously would not be welcomed.  I've never seen the numbers,
but I have read somewhere (I think on this newsgroup, or in APG
magazine) that it is statistically safer to play paintball than golf.
Can anyone verify this or provide the numbers? 

>	What would you say to them to _persuade_ them to see things
>	differently?  (As opposed to criticizing them).

Well, for one, try it :-)  Or, at least come observe a game.  Assuming
that they were concerned for the potential injuries, set up demos of the
safety gear being hit, and let them see how safe things are, when
properly used.
>	-Mike-
>

Dewey