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| Courtesy Fox35 |
Far be it for me to interfere with how people bring up their children, but it seems a shame.
It's a shame that some parents see no problem in spending hundreds of Pounds on buying their offspring gaming consoles together with games that are designed for adults (rated 18+) and then let them play those games for hours on end, until they emerge from their bedroom looking pale and withdrawn, like vampires in search of a snack.
When you consider that there is a growing child obesity problem in many countries, it seems a shame that parents won't allow their children to play a healthy, harmless sport.
In European countries where real firearms are generally speaking, carefully controlled, is playing Airsoft really liable to turn your child into a blood crazed killer ?
Having played some battle simulation games like Battlefield and Call of Duty, it occurs to me that Airsoft, with its 6mm plastic BB projectiles and gentlemanly rules is far more civilised than many sports. The only blood I see on an Airsoft field is the occasional clipping from a BB when a player fails to cover their exposed skin sufficiently. Actually, I've seen more blood on a Rugby field after a match.
So, what do parents really object to ?
I suspect that they see the Realistic Imitation Firearms (R.I.F) that are used and the detailed cosmetic appearance worries them. Perhaps they fail to understand that these are electric toys which have a muzzle velocity only about half as powerful as an air rifle and that the hobby is strictly controlled by safety rules ?
Perhaps they don't realise that running around chasing your fellow players and shouting all afternoon, powered by Adrenaline, is actually quite good for you. Certainly better than slouching in an armchair all day gripping a game controller and exercising just your finger and thumb in a virtual on-line death match with another child doing the same thing in another country.
Perhaps they don't realise that talking face to face with a wide range of other players of all ages and learning to be socially adept whilst being taught sportsmanship and strategy is also quite beneficial for a developing young person ?
Apparently, some parents object to having to run their children to these events as they have busy lives. Some cannot afford the £20-30 that it costs for a days entertainment. Certainly in the UK where I live (and where my Airsoft experience is limited to), there is usually an Airsoft site within 10 miles or so. It rarely involves a long drive to get to the local site. £20-30 is a lot of money if you don't have it, but it's not bad for an entertainment medium that keeps little Johnny or Jane occupied for eight hours and ensures they will probably sleep soundly when they get home. You can buy them their own two tone Airsoft weapon for less than half of a PS4 console and the cost difference will probably allow them to finance quite a few skirmishes at an Airsoft site.
Of course, in the real world, many Airsoft playing children want to play Airsoft on Sunday and war simulation computer games for the rest of the week to hone their reflexive skills.
I wonder what these children who complain about their parents not playing ball, would say if they got this ultimatum from their elders:
Airsoft or a Gaming Console - you can't have both ?
Perhaps the Airsoft industry in the UK should make more of a concerted effort to highlight the benefits to young people of playing outdoor games like Airsoft. Perhaps we need some role models playing - sports personalities or a pop star or two ?
When I was a child, we played "war" regularly in the local park. We ran around holding imaginary tommy guns and making noises like sheep on artificial stimulants to mimic the sound of staccato gunfire. Our friends would fall and roll around, dying dramatically, aping the old black and white war films we saw on the TV. Passers-by ignored us for what we were - innocent children playing a simplified and sanitised game of goodies and baddies. War without politics. Mind you, playing outside without adult supervision to protect us against the nasties of the world, was the norm at that time.
These days, perhaps Airsoft is one of the few opportunities that allows modern children to enjoy that kind of freedom in play ??
