WHAT KIND OF PERSON PLAYS PAINTBALL?

The Psychological Profile of a Paintballer

In my Criminal Psych Course they taught us how the FBI complete psychological profiles on criminals they haven't even met. In all the cases, they have been ninety percent correct. They developed the system of profiling by interviewing convicted serial killers in order to establish the personality type that commits these types of crimes.

I've done the same thing. Although I didn't know it at the time. (Not with serial killers, silly -- with paintballers.) I feel I can now accurately profile a paintballer as I have literally talked to hundreds of them. So now I feel reasonably sure that my Paintballer Profile is accurate. (Besides, I know just enough of about psychology to be dangerous.)

Let me begin by describing what type of person DOES NOT play paintball. These people include, sociopaths, psychopaths and other pathologically effected individuals. Paintball is not 'real' enough for those who have severe behavioral defects. They go out and enact their fantasies in REAL LIFE, as frightening as that is. Paintball holds no thrill for them. (You have to realize that the rules in paintball are designed specifically so players DO NOT get hurt. This defeats the purpose for those with severe behavioral problems.) Therefore: the Game does not attract that segment of society. Neither does it cause, nor promote, that type of abhorrent behaviour in the rest of normally functioning members of society.

So what is the Paintball Profile? Well, we all realize that paintball is not for everybody. Some people have tried it, had fun, but simply stated, "It's not for me". This is because those particular people did not have the personality type, or the profile, that lent itself well to the Game.

Now, these are generalities and will not fit every individual player. For the most part, I feel that the following points apply to the vast majority.

General

Above all else, this profile is emotionally and mentally stable. They may not have the perfect life, but can handle adversity quite well. They are not devoid of the capacity to be effected by adversity, they are simply the type that will not allow this capacity to cripple them into inaction.

Adaptability

They are adaptable people who can react to any given situation. They may not chose the right way, but they are capable of making a decision. As I have learned in the military, being able to make a decision (even the wrong one) is better than not be able to make one at all.

Aggression

This personality type is made up of aggressive people. Not in the negative manner, but in the positive application of aggression. (It does exist.) They will assert themselves in a manner that will achieve their goal, but not to the point where someone will get hurt. These are the people who are known for 'getting the job done'.

This profile will perform well under stressful situations. The proof of this is simple. Deep within your brain is the most primitive and ancient part of the human body. It controls what we know as the 'fight or flight' response. The really neat thing about this reaction is that it is automatic, and you have no control over it. It is a basic survival mechanism we required before our species developed the capability for abstract reasoning. This primitive core does not understand the difference between fantasy and reality. It will automatically access the 'threat' and reacts to it. You will either stand and fight, or curl up into a little ball. You can condition your responses to situations that the brain perceives as a threat. (However, those who do not have the natural tendency to fight will have to work harder at dealing with the stressor. They can master it, but it will take time and work.)

The Contradiction

This profile also holds a great contradiction. They are fierce individualists who can easily group together and play as a cohesive unit. The miliary accomplishes this, but it takes a vast amount of training to accomplish it (I know, I've been there). This profile does everything they can to make themselves look unique. There is always at least one intentionally styled aspect of their overall appearance that sets them apart from the crowd. This same profile, however, readily becomes an intrinsic part of the team, willing to sacrifice some individual action and thought for the greater good of the group.

Gadgets

Lastly, these people are also 'gadget freaks'. (Just look in a paintball catalogue and even TRY to disagree with me.) They also like 'shiny' things. (Which explains why splash anodizing is so popular.)

Do you fit the profile? I do.

PUBLIC OPINION

Public opinion of our sport is directly proportional to our growth. If the public has a negative opinion, we are doomed. Many areas in North America (and around the world) have laws that restrict the use and ownership of paintguns. There are zoning laws that will prohibit the establishment of fields. Paintguns get thrown into anti-firearms legislation. Why? Because of poor, or incorrect, public opinion.

Now, what can we do about it?

We can portray the sport as a fun and safe hobby. Using the proper goggles and face mask, barrel plugs and safe gas handling practices will keep the injury statistics down. These statistics are important as they are compiled by an independent and respected organization with no ties to our sport. This helps enormously in legitimizing the sport. Every player who is injured because they were unsafe are damaging the sport as a whole. Not to mention themselves and others.

NON-MILITARY

We promote the sport as non-military. Especially in the shadow of the "militia scare" in the United States and racist paramilitary groups around the world. If you are going to wear camouflage, don't wear it to the field, and tell folks that you wear it for concealment reasons, as part of playing the game. We wear camouflage, mostly because it looks cool, but there's nothing wrong with NOT wearing camouflage, either.

There are some military aspects and tactics that apply to paintball. You must realize, however that the job of the military is to destroy and kill the enemy. That is not our objective in paintball.

MILITARY INSIGNIA

Speaking of the military, unless you (or a direct relative) actually served in the particular unit, you shouldn't be wearing insignia of military units. One, it gives the sport that militaristic look we don't want. Two, (and most importantly, in my eyes) men and women trained and fought hard for the right to wear that insignia, many died wearing it. I know a few players who wear the insignia of the unit they served with in Viet Nam or the Gulf War. Others lost a loved one in an armed conflict and wear it to honour them. They wear it as a symbol of pride, or remembrance.

The basic message is: If you haven't earned it, don't wear it. It is more than just a piece of embroidered cloth that looks cool. It shouldn't be taken lightly, or treated as some sort of Christmas decoration for your cammies.

CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE

We can clean up our language. Don't say "kill", "gun", or "shoot". These terms just give people the wrong idea of the sport. Without these words, we can more easily portray the sport as non-violent.

LOOK-ALIKE MARKERS

We can stop using markers that are purposely made to look like real firearms. The marker already has a firearm-like appearance, let's not make it any worse. Make it look like a firearm and it will begin to be thought of as a real firearm. Soon it will be legislated like a firearm. I'm not talking about Second Amendment rights, or that firearms are bad. These two issues just don't apply to our sport, and they should never apply. The sport and firearms have no association, either positively or negatively. So don't right in about your Constitutional Rights to Bear Arms, it doesn't apply here.

I realize they look cool, but only to us. Personally, I try to make mine look like props out of a sci-fi movie.

CAREFUL CHOICE OF TEAM NAMES

We should chose team names that don't make us look like a bunch of paramilitary commandos plotting to overthrow the government. With a little thought, an aggressive -- non-militaristic, non-violent -- name can be thought up. I've personally had it with the macho-militaristic names. They will work against you. If you place well in a tournament, the name 'Eradicators' looks good. If you place last, you look like fools. If you place last with a name like 'Smart as a Carrot' (actual UK team name), no one will bat an eye. If you place first, folks will be that much more astounded. Macho-poser names carry an implied reputation that most teams have a hard time living up to.

INACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF THE GAME BY THE MEDIA

When a TV show or motion picture shows paintball in a bad or unsafe light, don't write the paintball magazines. We already KNOW they did wrong. You should be writing to the producers, the stars and the writers of the entertainment industry. If you don't, they won't know they're doing something wrong. (Contact local fan clubs, use the Internet, if you have access.) Aircraft enthusiasts will write when the wrong aircraft, for the time period, is used. Historians will write when a "historical" movie or TV show is not historically accurate. Christians will complain when their religion is shown in a bad light. Groups will protest when their particular group is being race- or gender-stereotyped.

PAINTBALL VANDALISM

When someone commits vandalism or terrorizes the community with a paintball marker, you should start writing your local newspapers, police departments and prosecuting attorneys. To give you an example: The four morons in the LA paintball drive-bys were given stiff sentences. This happened, in part, because the local paintball community deluged the Los Angeles District Attorney's office with faxes, letters and calls. They didn't defend the actions. On the contrary, players stated their displeasure with the culprits' actions, and many demanded that the maximum sentences be carried out. The LA District Attorney said as much.

IN CONCLUSION

Let me state that I am not a "politically correct" person, by any stretch of the imagination. I am neither a racist, or a para-military commando, either. Like many people I take the middle ground.

You may see many the things I have mentioned as "bending to the will of the masses", and catering to special interest groups. In a way they are. The masses form public opinion and the masses support, and often initiate, government legislation.

I am not talking about radical special interest groups. Special interest groups have already made up their minds about our sport and there's no talking to them. They, however, are a small minority of the general populace. However, they are saying some pretty harsh things about paintball, all of them are not founded on facts, but emotion. They are standing on their soap boxes and spreading lies about our sport.

Their voice is being heard by millions of people who have no opinion of paintball. Their objective is to sway the undecided to their view point.

I am not pandering to the vocal few, I am making an effort to convince the silent majority, the ones who vote and influence political decisions. I'm talking about people YOU have direct influence on; family, friends, neighbours and co-workers. We should all do our part, even in a small way. If you play paintball, you are Paintball's Official Ambassador, start acting like it.

Let's put it this way. If it makes the public's opinion of our sport improve, then it helped our sport. If it doesn't make the public's opinion any worse, it still helped.

These articles are copyrighted by Durty Dan

May I just add, I live by these simple rules, and you should too. Durty Dan knows what he`s talking about, and if you don`t listen, you`re an idiot. As he said above, anything that doesn`t portray the sport in a bad way, is a good thing.

Paintballerdan

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