Great Written Article on Airsoft

This was written by Locutus on Airsoft Ohio.

In 2008 we saw a large increase in the amount of events and players in
Ohio, and it looks like 2009 will be even bigger. With such a rapidly
growing membership, I feel there is confusion about what is the
expected behavior and basic rules of events that are posted on Airsoft
Ohio. I think it is important to inform new players, and remind the
veterans, what exactly is expected.

First, over the past year I have heard certain behavior being
justified by citing what is common in paintball. While airsoft has some
things in common with paintball, there are just as many differences.
Just as Hockey, Basketball and Soccer are very similar, they each have
their own set of rules and acceptable behavior. Slamming someone as
hard as you can against the wall in Hockey is perfectly acceptable, but
it will get you ejected from the game in Basketball. This doesn't mean
that Basketball players are wimps, it just means that one type of
behavior is acceptable in one sport, but not acceptable in another
similar sport. Airsoft is not paintball, paintball is not airsoft.

That said, I would like the present the following assumptions:

Events posted on Airsoft Ohio are “noncompetitive”. We do not play
for money, winning is not the end all be all. We play airsoft for the
enjoyment of the entire experience, from the storyline to role playing
to props and everything in between. Shooting other players with your
airsoft weapon may or may not be a major part of that experience in
some instances, it is merely one of many possible aspects of the game.

Events posted on Airsoft Ohio are not used as military/LEO
training. What happens at our events are for the fun and enjoyment of
the participants, not as gauge or tool that might have an impact on
life threatening situations in real life. Therefor certain behavior
which might be necessary to proper training, is not appropriate for
airsoft events.

Events posted on Airsoft Ohio are typically open to the general
public, with the purpose of creating an enjoyable atmosphere for the
majority of the participants. There is a line where your behavior can
infringe heavily upon on the enjoyment of other players who are
expecting an experience that encompasses the principles listed above.

Because of these general assumptions, there is certain behavior that is to be expected at events posted on Airsoft Ohio.

• Point blank engagements. Yes, they happen. Anyone
  attending an airsoft event should accept the possibility that they
  might get shot at point blank. With that said, it should only happen as
  the result of an accident. There is a point where repeated “accidents”
  cease to be accidents and become irresponsible behavior. When entering
  a situation where point blank shots might occur, your airsoft weapon
  should be switched to semi auto, and pointed at a downward angle to
  reduce the chances of injuring another player should a point blank
  engagement occur. Intentionally engaging another airsoft player at
  point blank range should never occur. We are out there to have fun, the
  end results of who “won” don't really matter, and in some cases there
  is not even a clear winner, a winner is never even disclosed, or
  everyone forgets who won by the end of the following week. Winners
  don't advance to the next round, losers don't go home, so there is no
  logical reason to subject others to unnecessary risks just so you can
  get the “kill”, as in the end, nothing is gained.
  

• Blind firing. This should never happen. If you
  cannot see where you are shooting, do not pull the trigger. For all you
  know, you are sticking your muzzle in someone's ear. Someone's safety
  should never be a secondary consideration to getting the “kill”.
  

• Aggressive/violent behavior. There are certain
  situations, such as incidents of point blank engagements or blind
  firing, that have the potential to create tension between players. It
  is your responsibility as a player to behave in a mature manner, and
  not show aggression against another player. This not only includes the
  obvious physical contact, but abusive language as well. If you
  experience a problem, the best course of action is to remove yourself
  from the situation immediately and cool down. If you feel action is
  warranted, find a member of the event staff to express your concerns.
  

• Goggles off while in play. Don't do it. This year
  alone I have heard two instances of players removing their goggles on
  the field, and when they were told to put their goggles back on by
  another player, they stated they “signed a waiver”. This is completely
  unacceptable. Not only are you endangering your eyesight, you are
  endangering the sport for all of us. You are exposing other players,
  event hosts and and field owners to a liability they shouldn't be
  exposed to. Many people do not realize that a players health insurance
  company is well within their rights to seek damages from field owners,
  event hosts and even other players.
  

• Calling your hits. Since we use non-marking
  rounds, a player's honor is the foundation of airsoft. Intentionally
  failing to call your own hits entirely defeats the purpose of airsoft
  and harms the experience for everyone, most of all your own. People
  will eventually notice, and your reputation will be tarnished. It is
  also the responsibility of the player to be sufficiently observant to
  know, or suspect, when you have been hit. Getting caught up in the
  “heat of the moment” is not a valid excuse. And when in doubt, call
  out. Respawn is most likely just a short walk, and you can never get
  enough exercise.
  

• Calling out other players hits. As previously
  stated, a players honor is the foundation of our sport. Calling out
  other players during the game for not calling their hits, is to
  question that players honor. We use projectiles that weight less than
  three tenths of a gram, do not be quick to assume that your rounds are
  going where you think they are. They can be deflected by leaves, twigs,
  grass and even the wind. Also keep in mind that hopup allows the BB to
  travel in a relatively straight path, however they drop very quickly at
  the end of their range, literally falling straight to the ground. At
  distance, you do not always have the proper perspective or experience
  to recognize when this is happening. I have also heard players state
  that they are positive a player is not calling their hits because they
  see them flinch, or rapidly take cover. This could be a natural
  reaction to just hearing BBs hit near you, and it not necessarily
  indicative of a player not calling his hits. Finally, even if you are
  positive you are hitting your target, don't assume the receiving player
  is aware of it. Give them the benefit of the doubt. If you feel there
  is a problem with a player not calling his hits, approach that player
  in private and discuss it with them in a non confrontational manner, or
  if you are not comfortable doing that, speak with an event organizer at
  the event. Bringing it up on the forums after the event rarely
  accomplishes anything other than a flamewar.
  

The goal of Airsoft Ohio has always been to promote the
sport of airsoft in Ohio is a safe, responsible manner. This community
is very visible to whomever might want to look, and we emulate war and
violence using realistic weapons and gear. In a pc world we are already
starting from a disadvantage. We have a responsibility to do everything
we can to ensure airsoft is portrayed in a positive light. We can tend
to be conservative and err on the side of caution, but we do so for the
protection of our sport. It is my opinion that Airsoft Ohio should only
be interested in promoting events that conform to these basic
principles.

For these reasons, events posted on Airsoft Ohio may not be for
everybody. There is no such thing as one size fits all. If you are
looking for an event style outside what is outlined here, then you
might want to consider seeking out other players or teams who are
looking for a similar experience and host private events. Most airsoft
fields in Ohio are available for private rental at reasonable cost. It
is your responsibility to recognize that the events posted here might
not be compatible with your playing style, and adapt your playing style
to fit within this framework, or abstain from attending. Trying to
force a playing style into an event where it does not belong only
detracts from the experience for everyone.

This post was directed to the community as a whole, and not at any
particular individuals. I welcome feedback in general or on items I
might have missed.