would calling airsoft battles "wars"' degrade people's view of airsoft?

someone said this before (i don't remember who) and i was wondering what people thought about it.

Yeah, I kind of think it's to pretentious. It's a fun hobby and all, but you can't take it too seriously.

Yep I agree, I think it was Durkee. Also it makes absolutely no sense. Wars go on for a period of months or years, even if you airsofted for a period of months or years with a similar plot line I would only consider it to be a Campaign. Plus its more of a noobish way to say game or event or even OP(operation). To put it into perspective from a parents mind, if you say "wars" than they think that you think you are fighting in a "war". In their minds they think that this will lead to some form of violence, whether it be school shootings or just "gang" style activities.

IMO Games, OP's and events describe what happens perfectly! So why say "wars" or "battles"?

sticks

well, ive always used "war" 'cause that's what everybody else said. it didnt really cross my mind to be that specific.

BullettheBlueSkky wrote:

someone said this before (i don't remember who) and i was wondering what people thought about it.

THAT would be me...

The reason for my objection to the word's use is:
By definition, airsoft has nothing to do with war. Here are the definitions of the word "war"' (courtesey of Dictionary.com)

1. a conflict carried on by force of arms, as between nations or between parties within a nation; warfare, as by land, sea, or air.
   
   a state or period of armed hostility or active military operations: The two nations were at war with each other.
   
   a contest carried on by force of arms, as in a series of battles or campaigns: the War of 1812.
   
   active hostility or contention; conflict
   
   aggressive business conflict, as through severe price cutting in the same industry or any other means of undermining competitors: a fare war among airlines; a trade war between nations.

Do any of those sound like airsoft as a hobby? Nope.

So my reasons for opposition are:
1. It is just grammatically not the right word for what we do.
2. If the public views it as "war", objection will be more evident.

I agree.

Using terms like war, death, kill, die...ect are not appropriate in terms with airsoft when used where the general public can be confused by it. It gives airsoft a bad name. When in public just be sure to use "Hit" "tagged" "scrimage" ...ect

i second (or would it be quadruple) that opinion. to me, calling it a 'war' just doesn't sound right. think of it this way: when you walk up to your parent and say 'oh, yeah, i was just in a war.' what do you think the word 'war' puts into their head? death, blood, gore, and violence. now go up to your parent and say, 'yeah, i was just in an airsoft game.' they will hear 'game', classify that as safe, and move on their merry way.

I have said it more than once here,

How you present the Hobby/Sport, is how it will be understood.

I believe that most members here do realize that calling a Game or Event a `` WAR ´´, `` OP ´´, `` Invasion ´´ and so on, gives the wrong impression about the Game.

In AS, there are no WARS, there are no KILLS, WOUNDED, MIA, POW´s and so on.

How we talk or describe what we do on the Playing Field ( not Battlefield ), amongst ourselves in one thing, how we explain or describe the Hobby to the Lay person is another.

It happens to be one of my pet peeves, but until players start to change their way of describing the Hobby/Sport to people outside of the community, AS will never be taken a serous activity.

Hey Dave !!!, man did you miss a good WAR last weekend !!! Jimmy, Johnny, Jack and me, went on to the Battlefield loaded for BEAR !!! Jimmy´s M249 was just murderous, he was tearing the Enemy Apart, you should have seen it, Jack´s MP5 was so Evil he sent a good 6 of the ´lil buggers bleeding to the Wounded collection point, Johnny´s M203 was shredding the defenses, we were able to walk in like there was nobody there, then I jumped into the trenches and Killed everything that Moved, we were unstoppable !!!!

Now think about the Lay person that is listening to you describe you last Game, only a couple of thoughts are going to be going through their head,

1, I want to play !! ( Best case, but not likely )
2, These People are sick !!
3, What a bunch of children !!!


Yes AS is a Military Simulation or Role Playing Hobby, but to describe it like it is the real thing, just goes to demonstrate the immaturity level of so many Players out there.

IMHO

I agree don't call t war...but a while ago on dead rag radio they interviewed a guy from some event out of US (can't remember were) and wow the way dude described sounded intense. Somewhere between episode 9-12 believe.