Is paintball a sport? What makes it a sport?

[TheRo0sTer]

Originally posted by Hotpoint
I have a dream that one day millions of people will watch as the UK Paintball team win Gold and the Union Jack is hoisted overhead at the 2016 Olympiad

Like you said it is a dream. But then again you never know the UK teams may just become the teams to beat by then. With all the different Sanctions fighting US ball may become REC ball only. NOT!!!

 

[Hotpoint]

Originally posted by Robbo
Well I will start with 8 Million Americans, how's that grab ya ?
Now just because (and I ain't having a dig at ya) your remit of paintball experience tends toward the domestic scene doesn't mean to say I was solely referring to the situation over here.
Paintball is recognised by a huge number of people as a sport but if you want to define that recognition in terms of officialdom, then so be it, that's your game, not mine.

I'll admit my views on what is and isn't a sport are coloured by both my UKPSF role and my background in political activities, but whether we like it or not until you get the rubber-stamp of government approval you aren't really a sport in the way way as Football or Cricket... or even Kabbadi!

But as you say each to their own opinions

Originally posted by Robbo

PS I wasn't including you in my less than subtle dig......but be aware, the list ain't finished and you are eligible for the 'reserve' list

I'm not even definately on the reserve list? I must try to act more intellectually superior and officious in future

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Hotpoint
I'll admit my views on what is and isn't a sport are coloured by both my UKPSF role and my background in political activities, but whether we like it or not until you get the rubber-stamp of government approval you aren't really a sport in the way way as Football or Cricket... or even Kabbadi!
But as you say each to their own opinions
I'm not even definately on the reserve list? I must try to act more intellectually superior and officious in future

John, let's indulge ourselves for one minute in a little Einsteinian pastime, 'Thought experiments'.
Just suppose, Paintball takes off next year in the US like Chuck proposes, that is, stadium based events culminating at the Orange Bowl with the Maurice Gibb promotion and so on.
Paintball then takes hold in a big way and these big events become the norm with literally thousands more players across the States embracing the new ideals of tournament paintball.
TV inevitably becomes more involved and so on...

Now, do you think for one second, it is any the less a sport just because some dick behind a desk somewhere ain't flicked his pen of acceptance across some stoopid ass line ?

That thought experiment gave us the true nature of any sport and it lies within the heart of the people who play and watch it and not because of any official recognition.
Participants, TV, and money rule the day, not governmental officialdom.
Nah, paintball will thrive as a sport regardless of the paper-pushers anywhere.
Robbo

 

[Robbo]

You

Originally posted by duffistuta
were going to call me back an hour ago, but I can see you're busy...

OOOpss, stalling till 3.00pm, might have good news, might not, if I do then the wait was worth it
Petey

 

[Hotpoint]

Originally posted by Robbo
John, let's indulge ourselves for one minute in a little Einsteinian pastime, 'Thought experiments'.

Okay if you're going to do Einstein it's my turn to do Socrates and play Devils Advocate a little

Whilst the Paintballing community, and indeed TV stations at some point, may think we're a Sport the fact is that a large percentage of people do not

Given the fact we do meet the dictionary definition of a Sport a person who arguing we are not could therefore cite the idea that "you're not a Sport because 'proper sports' like Football are recognised by the government"

It's not whether we are a Sport it's whether we can prove we're a sport!

 

[stongle]

err theology arguements? how about:

"I think therefore I am".

Descartes.

Rather than p*ssing around, if we all think it is a sport sod the rest of em. What's to prove? Do sk8boarders sit around going:

"yo dude, do you think we're like you know way to rad to be a sport mannn?"

Plenty rips in that. We don't need to be Govt regulated if we can regulate ourselves. OK granted it is difficult but not impossible. As more money comes in, better self-regulation will follow.

Look for govt / civil service approval too much and next thing you have is quota's for Lesbian Afghanistan refugees, and one-legged horizontally challenged care in the community patients.

 

[duffistuta]

Meanwhile, back in the real world

If you're having the 'Paintball is a sport, no it isn't, yes it is' argument in the pub, and then you whip out your trump card, official recognition from the sports council, do you really think that'll make a blind bit of difference to the guy your arguing with?

Darts and golf can prove that they are sports, but I'll still argue until the last breath leaves my body that they're not...

 

[Robbo]

Originally posted by Hotpoint
Okay if you're going to do Einstein it's my turn to do Socrates and play Devils Advocate a little

Whilst the Paintballing community, and indeed TV stations at some point, may think we're a Sport the fact is that a large percentage of people do not

Given the fact we do meet the dictionary definition of a Sport a person who arguing we are not could therefore cite the idea that "you're not a Sport because 'proper sports' like Football are recognised by the government"

It's not whether we are a Sport it's whether we can prove we're a sport!

Oh My God, I'm just playing an Einsteinian game and you wanna be both Socrates and the devil in order to rebut me !!

As for whether or not a large percentage of the populous regard us a sport has more to do with their ignorance than paintball's true classification.
Every sport has to undergo its own evolution and ours is at a point where perhaps the government does not recognise it as a sport but that in itself doesn’t lend any weight to an argument denying our sporting description.

Nah, that has more to do with timing, if in fact you are still taking any notice of some idiot who may point you into the direction of a sport needing a governmental seal of approval.
My God, if we had to deny the existence of everything that wasn’t government approved, we wouldn't have come out the bleedin dark ages.
Nah, we don't have to prove anything in this case, if we wanna say we are a sport and we believe we meet the criterion, criterion that we feel is appropriate, then bollocks to the rest of em is what I say !
Robbo

 

[Hotpoint]

Meanwhile, back in the real world

Originally posted by duffistuta
If you're having the 'Paintball is a sport, no it isn't, yes it is' argument in the pub, and then you whip out your trump card, official recognition from the sports council, do you really think that'll make a blind bit of difference to the guy your arguing with?

No but when I try and get the definition of Paintball changed in the Oxford English Dictionary from "Wargame" to "Sport" it might help

And yes I really am trying to do this!

 

[duffistuta]

I'm trying to

get Alan Shearer defined as a ****er - bet I get it done first.