Where Politics And Video Games Collide

A final thought:

Airsoft and video games share a lot of common ground. Both are very misunderstood and misrepresented by those not familiar with them. Both have lawmakers salivating at the chances to do away with them "for the sake of the children". Both have had the actions of nutjobs and idiots misrepresented as typical of the community. Both have been accused of being "violence trainers". Most importantly in both, the only thing hurt or damaged at the end of a match is the losing teams ego.

Interestingly enough, when we have Halo parties, most of the airsoft team is also in attendance. That's no coincidence. Airsoft, like FPS games, has all the copetetive elements that a real war would have, but none of he violenece. That's why people like games, because real violence isn't fun.

The irony of it is that some people on this site, sympathetic to the plight of the game industry under attack from media and government, buy into the propoganda that airsoft is a dangerous and violent sport. It's sole purpose is to allow you to fight without any real violence or threat of injury.

The biggest difference between them is that gaming has millions of people backing them, and due to that following, has some protection from government. Airsoft does not have that kind of following, making it a much easier target (and has been under much heavier assault than video games, since laws banning airsoft generally pass and aren't struck down).

I realize there is not a purposeful effort to attack the sport, but the context in which it is being used here is harmful and negative, as if airsoft guns are something that should be looked upon more scornfully than gaming.

They are both great hobbies that allow participants a great experience of an ultra-competitive, yet safe, environment. Both feature that main thing that draws a distinct line between reality and game, respawn.