Paintball Journal

I’m going to define “rich kids” right off the bat here, so that there’s no mix up and innocent bystanders aren’t offended too badly. These rich kids that I refer to are those that do not work, and/or do not pay for the majority of their paintballing shenanigans, yet have the most expensive gear that money can buy and enjoy looking flashy in their matching outfit and gun combos.

Typically, they are the least motivated paintballers to get better because they haven’t had to work to get to where they are, don’t know their equipment well, and simply are annoying to be around for someone who puts money towards college and has to scrounge to play on the weekends.

This weekend I saw one kid probably a year or two younger than me decked out in full Dye C7 gear with matching colors that corresponded with his red/black fade DM7. He was a pretty bad player. He shot some paint, but wouldn’t move or expose himself. In fact, there was little at all to be said about his playing style.

My complaint is from the perspective of the sport. He contributes nothing. He can’t give advice to save his life. But who will kids look up to? Me, the guy shooting an Ion dressed in some khakis and a hoodie? My friends, shooting their hodgepodge of paint weaponry, with some of the most ghetto rigged set-ups I’ve ever seen? Or this punk decked out in red?

Every time, it will be the kid in red.

So, what’s the solution to this? Actually, it’s pretty simple. You get better, be friendly, give advice freely, and never brag. Eventually everyone learns to take a second look at kids who are dressed from head to toe in fancy gear. I learned long ago that it was the player on the inside that mattered much more than the player on the outside. By showing the world that it doesn’t take the most expensive gear to win, we make the change for the better.