Airsoft in the News

[Ducky]

Ya I have heard the whole "GTA isn't the same as Winnipeg" statement many times. I get it, but I only believe it makes so much of a difference; it is not like its an entirely different culture. We watch the same TV and generally do the same types of activities.

I am not sure how you airsofters in ONT do things, but maybe you should take a look at what we have established here in MB.

[Maverick0]

A good number of people I've met who are from Toronto see Winnipeg as a small farming town for some odd reason. Small farming towns don't become major communications and transportation hubs for an entire continent...

I'm also really not sure about the airsoft scene in Ontario, but it may be significantly different than how we operate here. Maybe i'll have to head out to an Ontario game or two and see for myself. Might be interesting to write up a comparison of airsoft here and elsewhere in Canada.

I mean, really, this is airsoft CANADA. We SHOULD all have the same goals as far as portraying airsoft to the public goes.

[Ducky]

LOL Maverick, I am sure they do not think we are a small farming town.

[Maverick0]

I'm dead serious!

Like 7 out of 10 of my friends from Toronto thought that I lived in the boonies or on a farm because I told them I was from winnipeg. Of course, I cleared that up for them

[Firewalker]

Sure, Manitoba, as a whole, has a larger rural community who support the use of firearms, but the "Big City" is home to some of the biggest tree hugging hippie special interest groups I've ever seen. Maybe it's because I'm partially entrenched in this underground culture that I see it, but I hear plenty of hippy propaganda that decries the use of guns all the time.

Just because we don't have as much people doesn't mean the same percentage have objections to violence.

I showed that article to a few of the big time "MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR" hippie folk that I hang around with, and I was shocked to hear positive sentiments toward the hobby. They said, stuff like "If it keeps them from buying the real thing, that's cool with me" which is true for many airsofters.

Just trying to put that out there. Not all perceptions can be assumed negative because of estimated bias.

[Brian McIlmoyle]

That the huge majority of people have no perception of "airsoft" neither good or ill. That condition is preferable over attention that will polarize their perception.

some kid shooting up the playground with one has no bearing on what we do.. as there are lots of laws to look after him. And people are quite willing to stare back at their Cherrios after hearing that the kid got busted and the world is safe again.

following up such a "negative" press story with one that shows the "positive" use of such items only serves to answer the question "oh so that's where this kid got the gun from" Even if that is far from the truth.

There is simply not enough positive press possible to counter the overall negative connotation of deriving fun from simulated murder.

We see what paintball did to "go mainstream" and that "sport" started with exactly the same goals as ours.. Simulated Firearm Combat and it has devolved to Tag at 60 paces dressed as a clown..

There are still lots of people who enjoy the Milsim aspects of "woodsball" but you don't see it on ESPN.

"airsoft" and "paintball" and "lasertag" are all exactly the same sport.. the only difference is the "tagger" used the "Sport" is not in any danger.. and is generaly accepted as a viable passtime.

Saying "Airsoft" is different than "paintball" is like saying Playing tennis with a red ball is a different sport than playing with a green one..

The sport is not in any danger.. it don't need saving...

access to our chossen Tagger is the only issue... and waving them around on TV or bringing public scrutiny to their existance is not condusive to continued access.

This is why in any of the media I have done or will do I am careful to never mention the word "airsoft"

[jaa]

well, guess I might as well call up my old high school VP

Rumor has it there's been an "incident" involving a teacher and a grade nine girl

[Brian McIlmoyle]

Originally Posted by jaa

well, guess I might as well call up my old high school VP

Rumor has it there's been an "incident" involving a teacher and a grade nine girl

well now that IS newsworthy..

[hattrick]

Since vaugn road acc was on lockdown today due to a bb gun incident i'd just scrap the whole idea & find a new topic.

[Danke]

Originally Posted by Firewalker

the "Big City" is home to some of the biggest tree hugging hippie special interest groups I've ever seen.

You need to get out more.


And just so you know this is coming from someone who was born in Winnipeg, spent 30+ living there or in rural areas near Gimli & Brandon. There are people in TO who have never visited a farm, seen a hunter, spoken with someone in the military, etc. To them guns are bad, people that want guns are bad and you'd get a better reception if you whipped out a NAMBLA card and tried to sign them up (no shots at Toronto).

And to wrap up with my Grampa Simpson style annecdote, We used to play laser tag (23-30+ players in fatigues) inside the U of M University Center building spilling out into the connecting tunnel systems and across the road into the admin building without a raised eyebrow on weekends during the school year. I do doubt you could pull that one off now.

[The Saint]

Originally Posted by Brian McIlmoyle

We see what paintball did to "go mainstream" and that "sport" started with exactly the same goals as ours.. Simulated Firearm Combat and it has devolved to Tag at 60 paces dressed as a clown..

Comedic gold.

[twsmith]

I think Canada in general has been way too isolated from the impact of violent crime and warfare in the past few decades. We've only seen it on tv or sent peacekeepers overseas (until Afghanistan of course) and when we did send troops we generally had no idea what they were doing on those missions. I think that has blinded many of us to the fact that some things are worth fighting for and that soldiers and law enforcement serve an important role in any society and are worthy of being role models for our children. Who among us didn't play war, cops and robbers, or cowboys and indians as kids? Why are we now airing 10 dozen different CSI television programs and half a dozen psychic murder investigator type shows? It's getting stupid.... It's ok to want to play CSI and solve murders but it's not ok to want to play SWAT team and prevent them or to pretend to be the soldier bringing democracy and freedom to a nation in strife??? Those soccer mom's should be damn happy that there are people in this world willing to stand up and put their lives on the line to ensure that the children of the future have the same rights and freedoms as their parents. And what's the harm if a few of us choose to emulate our heroes on occasion or offer our services as a safe training alternative for future soldiers / law enforcement officers? Maybe we're just looking too happy while doing so. What if we treated it more like a job or a social responsibility than entertainment? It's our job to help train the troops! Does that make it more socially acceptable?

Oh, I also forgot to mention that I've heard that doctors kill more people than guns do? Not sure if it's an urban myth or not, but malpractice is no laughing matter, although it's always ok to play doctor...

[Shrike]

I've been to Winnipeg (ok I was only 13 and can't remember it) but I was there! And i certainly don't think of it as "in the sticks".

Just fyi There was an innocent man killed yesterday in a gunfight on the streets of T.O. and today the mayor is SCREAMING to Ottawa on the CBC 6pm news for a nationwide handgun ban. Thats the climate around here.

Someone mentioned being proud of the sport and don't hide it. Out of all my lifetime friends and family there was only 2 that understands and plays airsoft. ALL the others either think I'm a bit strange or tolerate it as a bazaar hobby.

What I try to do (and this theory could change the world in other areas if implemented) is, During casual talk about hobbies/sports at work (I work with mostly women in social services...doesn't pay much but always being the only guy in the meetings...well ... a perk of the life....I digress)
in casual conversation I mention I "play a sport kinda like paintball" and take it from there stressing fitness, friendships, teamwork, tactical thinking and fun. 1 person at a time I am introducing this sport to them. It seems to be working, they ask how the big games went afterwards.

[Firewalker]

Originally Posted by Danke

You need to get out more.

You need to spend at least three seconds in an Osborne Village coffee house Because it's obvious you've not done so in recent years.

[Danke]

Like I said I grew up there. The clusters of over-vocal wanabe's who are desperate to seperate themselves from the herd are far cry from the whole cities and towns out at this end of world.