Ed
New Member
Retired
Posts: 630
|
Post by Ed on Oct 13, 2001 16:20:33 GMT -5
I understand what you are saying, but I think that you are overestimating.
First, if I was playing on private property, I would ask the owner.but we are playing in a rather secluded area on public land; we would only attract trouble if we starting going door to door.
I wouldn't say that not "warning" Hadoken's wifes parents neighbors (that was a mile long) would be "irresponcible airsoft." I would say that irresponcible airsoft would be playing in a manner in which non-players were at risk, or playing in a manner where private property was being damaged. I know from experianced that people don't "freak out" and call the police.
I wish I could warn everybody in the area, but that would not cause any good in our situation.
|
|
|
Post by Smokey on Oct 13, 2001 20:17:04 GMT -5
I would highly recommend notifying the people in the general area. You dont have to say much, just say you'll be playing something like paintball in the forest at a safe distance from everyone who is not involved. Say you're doing it just to make sure no one is alarmed by anything they see and so forth. I HIGHLY recommend that you do this, especially if someone intends on bringing smoke grenades or other things which wouldnt look right coming from a forest. I know it's quite a hassle but in the long run it's better to play it safe. -Smokey
|
|
|
Post by Viking on Oct 13, 2001 21:02:11 GMT -5
Ed, as Hadoken said the skirmish area boarder’s people's back yards. While we will set up rules that keep people out and away from their yards we must stop all possible incidents before they happen. If someone has a problem with it they will tell Hadoken, and we will find another spot.
|
|
|
Post by Locutus on Oct 13, 2001 21:13:15 GMT -5
If you ask the person's who are responsible for land for permission to play there, they may tell you "no". If so, there is a good reason for that, *it's because they don't want you playing there*. As responsible adults, you should not be playing Airsoft in an area where you are not allowed to play. It is as simple as that. Simply notifiying the neigbors is not enough, there is no way you could possibly tell EVERYONE who may see you.
Imagine a hiker is walking though these woods, and he sees one person dressed in full cammo holding an assault rifle. If I was in that situation, I would certainly call the police.
While alerting the neighbors is a good thing to do, it is the least important thing should do. First, you should get persmission from the land owner/manager, so you will not be acting illegally. Secondly, you should notify local police, as Airsoft is illegal in certain townships, and within certain city limits. Also by notifying the police, they will be aware of the situation when someone does call.
Don't make me go get DumboRAT!!! I have nothing else to say, j/k.
|
|
|
Post by Viking on Oct 13, 2001 22:10:34 GMT -5
I do agree with Locutus, and I have a bad feeling that the only place we are going to find we can hold skirmishes legally are rented out paint ball fields... and in that case I doubt any of you would be willing to pay your way. Oh and by the way, I hate dumborat, while he’s prolly the most "thought out source" of airsoft at ASZ I just find him nerve racking annoying, but that’s me ;D
Hadoken, find out who owns the land (if its public who would have authority over it) and see what’s the deal. I have the day off tomorrow, eerr today (damn its 1am, sheesh where did all the time go?) and ill go by the paint ball field and see if they rent out and for how much. Though paintball fields have nothing tactical about them, sigh, speedball built fields suck.
|
|
Ed
New Member
Retired
Posts: 630
|
Post by Ed on Oct 14, 2001 12:29:57 GMT -5
I would first like to say that I think that DumboRat is an opinionated bag of hot air. I have had many debates with him, and I am sorry to say that I have less hair because of them. Don't get me wrong, he has done a lot to promote airsoft, but he does get annoying.
I would like to say that I have played in maybe 10-20 different wooded areas around neighborhoods, both with paintball and airsoft. I don't know how far or close houses are to this area, or how many hikers frequent it, but there is no danger in not telling anyone.
I have played many games that have been interupted by non-players (people on bikes, walking thier dogs, etc). NONE of them have ever called the police. I know only of a few cases where they even cared, telling us (politely) to leave. I agree that people should not bring smoke grenades.
I would like to bring up a point that I think is misunderstood by some of the people on this thread. I think that we should not ask permission from people around the area just because they are close to the field. If somebody is somehow involved with the field, then we should tell them, for example: if there is a person walking through the field, we should tell him that we are playing a game and wait until he is at a safe distance to play, or if a house is so close to the field that it is easy for them to see us.
If we wanted to warn all the potential people that would come into contact with us, it would take forever. "There is no way we can tell everyone." In my opinion if we went door to door and talked to people, they wouldn't care. It's not their property, it's not their problem.
We could sit here and make up a million "what ifs" but what it really comes down to is that there is nothing we can do to stop an "unwarned" person from noticing us.
|
|
|
Post by Smokey on Oct 14, 2001 12:44:15 GMT -5
Ed, You have to have atleast some courtesy in this. Regardless of whether or not you've had problems in the past it is being a very IMmature player to not warn people of potential events. I know that you cant warn everyone, but atleast warn the people in the immediate area or even the police so they dont get calls from each person saying "People dressed in body armor, with assault rifles, blah blah blah". If no one warns anyone then you guys are being very immature and should really think about looking into different activities. Just my 0.02 -Smokey
|
|
Ed
New Member
Retired
Posts: 630
|
Post by Ed on Oct 14, 2001 12:54:38 GMT -5
I know that everyone is concerned. Maybe I should have not said that "we should not tell anyone."
I would like to say that me and my crew have a sophisticated set of rules that we follow strictly. This has allowed us to have played over 50 paintball and airsoft games without having any injuries whatsoever. To say that I am immature is wrong. I follow the rules and I respect the safety and state of mind of everyone in the community where I play.
I just think it is naive to run around telling everyone and their cousin that we are playing airsoft.
But thats just my 2 cents
I know that I am not in charge of this meeting and I will respect any decision that Hadoken makes.
|
|
|
Post by Smokey on Oct 14, 2001 13:01:15 GMT -5
How is it being naive to want to warn others? I respect that you guys have never had any injuries and that you act responsibly on the field. But due to some of the problems that occur with airsoft in different states(stupid people making stupid decisions which end up harming us) I feel that you all would be better off playing it safer than sorry. Especially with the recent events that occured people have become much more jumpy and are just looking out for their safety. I agree with you that it is not my place to dictate how the event is set up, I just think that you guys should be a little more considerate of others. -Smokey
|
|
|
Post by Viking on Oct 14, 2001 13:16:59 GMT -5
Ed, that’s what I meant, to warn the people who’s yards run right up to the field. I am not saying we should go out and warn the entire neighborhood or anything, just the people whose yards are boarded by the field. One suggestion I agree with is notifying the police, it wouldn’t even hurt just to ask a cop you see in a fast food restaurant or in a parking lot. While it May be intimidating, Hadoken, I have asked police officers about where would be okay places to play airsoft. They will be truthful, and best of all with the police’s consent we cant really get in trouble for playing there, unless indeed its not public property. Anyway, Hadoekn, tell the immediate property owners and ask an officer if the location is safe to play if its okay, that should be efficient enough to allow us to play there safely.
|
|
Ed
New Member
Retired
Posts: 630
|
Post by Ed on Oct 14, 2001 13:42:04 GMT -5
Hold on there, cowboy!
I have talked to two police officers about paintball over the last few years. Both of them told me that it is illegal to play anywhere else than a paintball field. The official stance of the police will be the same, and if one cop tells us that this place is safe, another might disagree with him.
I know that you all have ideas, but bystandards will NOT call the police. They will ALWAYS talk to the airgamers first. I think that this is stupid. Frankly, if I saw a person with a gun I would stay clear of them, but in my experiance they either show no fear, or curiousity.
I think that the only concern we should have is of the safety of any bystandard that happends to intrude on the game.
|
|
|
Post by Smokey on Oct 14, 2001 13:49:37 GMT -5
I disagree, I know people (granted, they were in other states) in which the police were aware and even thanked the airsofters for telling them prior to the skirmish. Maybe the cops up here are more stingy but atleast warn the people whose homes are within the area. Granted it's like peeing in the ocean with all the variables that could go wrong, but you'll atleast minimize your chances of getting in trouble by the people who in theory pose the greatest threat of seeing you. Ohh well, lets just leave it up to Hadoken to solve this one.
|
|
Ed
New Member
Retired
Posts: 630
|
Post by Ed on Oct 14, 2001 14:12:00 GMT -5
Yes, lets leave it up to him.
The point of my arguement in the last 30 posts was to show the difference between theory and experiance. You guys can play it the way you want to.
|
|
|
Post by Ballista on Oct 14, 2001 15:56:31 GMT -5
This area of land isn't exactly a prime spot for airsoft, as it is owned by an adjacent middle school. It's perfect for quick skirmishes; a few kids play paintball there; but it's a bit small for six or more people. Hell, I get nervous with just the two of us there. With nowhere else to play, it could be possible, but I'd be more comfortable in a secluded area. I just hate the thought of having to reinstall my M11's orange barrel
|
|
|
Post by Locutus on Oct 14, 2001 15:59:59 GMT -5
Ed, if I drive through a red light 5 times in a row and don't get into an accident, does that mean it's safe to continue doing so? We have informed the local police in EVERY area we have held events in. We have held 13 events in 6 different regions in Ohio in the past 6 months (with each event having 20-30 people attend). So I am certainly speaking from experience and not just theory as you stated.
Saying that bystanders will not call the police as if it were a fact is ridiculous, unless of course you have some supernatural power that I am unaware of that gives you the ability to see into the future, or the ability to devine the entire world's populations thoughts and reactions to particular events.
If a person sees an adult in full cammo with an assault rifle, he has no way of knowing he is an "airgamer".
|
|