Editorials
The (PB)Nation at Large
By Raz Richards
Dec 25, 2006, 08:51

As I sat there, with only a half bottle of Woodbridge Marlot
left, I realized I'd probably be dining this way for the
majority of my paintball life. Pizza and wine mixed with
illicit times and partying. It was all a stream of obscure
devices that linked themselves together under a strange yet
beautiful label: paintball. The night had been a blast, and
all that knew me would ask if I still played, what I planned
on doing and if I had made any substantial gains financially
in the sport. I was entranced in a party atmosphere for the
majority of the night. It went without saying that paintball
wasn't about the money, but was almost always the focus of
conversation. No, it wasn't about money, however there
would be no paintball without it, and I was now stuck at a
friends house, blastered (blasted/plastered) out of my mind
with thoughts of victory, planning, sponsorships and glory.
I was down and out and using the winter season as a partial
excuse to myself, feeling that it was alright that I was
still saving money and climbing my way out of debt in an
effort to enjoy the game once again.

Gracefully, almost like the waddling of a duck, I came from
the bedroom, the blue light of the tv and soothing sounds of
the Doors helped me focus my way to the computer. My friend
Anthony was surfing the almighty tyrant known as PbNation.
He spoke clearly without humor saying "PbNation: It takes
your life away." A slight pause to the genius of this
comment followed, along with roaring laughter at the honesty
and sincerity for which many players and late night visitors
were the subject of. Yes, this website could very well take
away one's life.

I stumbled back into the bedroom, sat down on the leather
chair in the corner and pondered to myself what went wrong.
In the many years I've been a member, and longer than
most, the only reasonable explanation that exists is the
member base. For a time, the vast percentage of PbN members
were paintball players in the midst of their playing days.
Since that time, a majority of these highly intelligent and
mind expanding posters have either stopped posting or have
given up the sport altogether. What we're left with is a
base of non-players steering a paintball focused site. What
does this really mean? Well frankly, PbNation isn't really
a nation of paintball players now is it?

I don't have a problem with the fact that non-players
post. However, the fact that the ones who don't play only
seem to make the site seem negative to fellow players seems
wrong. I mean, what is the point of having a specialty site
when the only members that post want to bring down the
sport? It seems wrong to me, but I doubt there is anything
major I can really accomplish other than writing a peaceful
protest to bring the subject to light.

And while this in itself is all post worthy, the boozing,
partying, that girl who flashed me and finally calling in to
tell my parents I killed a hooker in place of coming home
later than 3 a.m., I'm sure no one would believe it
without pictures, right? Pics or shens is the worst thing to
happen to the news section. I wish that the kids on the net
knew how much "news" actually occurred off of the
internet. It seems that within their own little PBN world,
they forgot about the real one, and the paintball that
existed is only justified if it exists on the nation. Is
this wrong? I think so. If it hasn't been copy written,
pressed released or taken a picture of and speculated on,
than it must not exist. In this line of reasoning, paintball
has also suffered, because not only has PbN changed the
world, it has indeed changed paintball, and in my opinion,
in one of the worst ways possible.

Players no longer have faith, not only in the news section,
but in paintball. Everything must be justified three fold,
otherwise, it doesn't exist. I believe this loss of faith
from members concerning players, companies and the leagues
may be the down fall in coming years. With that level of
disbelief, what progress can be made to improve the sport?
Where will the dreamers lie, with innovative ideas, only to
be shot down by losers still living with their parents
posting on the internet? It looks grim folks, real grim and
the only solution is to cure the common member. And let me
tell you, that will probably never happen.