In a milsim environement, with milsim minded people working togheter, I take all your fierse Nike and hoodie players and we will "kill" them in no time. Simply because they play alone and as if they where in COD. They might get kills on a paintball field. But on a "natural" field, against a coordoned team, they will perish.

And on the other hand, if it's a game with a dress code, when these goofballs show up in street cloths, they kinda ruin the mood of the game.
That's why they are looked down uppon.

As Drake said, I'm firmly in Group 3. I don't mind all the other groups, as long as they show up at the apropriate games style.
I think there should be a group 4. Wich is more extreme than group 3. Taking airsoft to it's limit as a trainning tool.

the 4th group are not players, Airsft guns do make effective training tools , and more and more professionals are recognizing the benefits of Force on Force training with airsoft guns.

It could be made of players that go unleach their trainning on the "regular" players. (o:

Group 2. I might not have time to play every game out there, but I make it to one game per month (I have a wife and kid). I might not have the best gear, but I did invest in a 2-channel radio, headset, sidearm, and such.

I also had fun making Visio stencils of NATO symbols, and making what-if scenarios for the next game we're going to have. When I finished that, I saw I spent an afternoon planning a game for which I was never told I was the CO for my team. And yet I had fun doing it nevertheless.

I realised, at that point, I might have left group 1 for group 2. I'll never get to group 3 for lack of time.

yeah.. I get what you are saying.. and yes that is true.

There are a number of "quiet professionals" in the game.. more than many people know.

I think the orginal intention of the thread was asking about personal attitudes towards airsoft. While the gear factor or gun factor can certainly attribute a cereal attitude, it does not make it a milestone.

We have seen and known far too many 'collectors' who just hang most of it off the wall, or retailers who simply do not attend games to actually play, or the classic 'for-the-love-of-god' geardo's who keep the economy out of recession with their constant buy and sell activities.

I think depending on life's circumstances, you can flow in and out of all of those groups at any given time.

Very true.. I know quite a lot of very "serious" players that are lucky to get out 3 or 4 times a year..

They would be out every weekend if they could.. but Wife, Kids, Job.. just don't permit it

Group 3.

Airsoft is a part of my life, I even imagine taking my un-born son to airsoft game in the future. I can lose my job, but I CAN'T LOSE AIRSOFT.

Cosplay with toy guns.

I learned a few years ago in a very dark time that all things in life when taken too seriously are detrimental to one's health. Whatever you do, just have fun doing it, it's not worth stressing out over things that you can't control, and when you try, it makes things worse.

Shit happens, deal with it and have fun regardless.

And of course... always look good when you're doing it. :P

+1!!!!! You only get one kick at the can, enjoy life to the fullest!!! As a firm Group 2 person I still like having all my gear match and would like to eventually either join up with or form a team just to have a consistent group of like minded folks I get along with to go out and have a good time at the fields.

You still can be a very serious player yet have a ton of fun doing it. I would not be playing, trainning and buying gear if I did not find it remotly fun.

i would love to be group 3 but lack of money is stopping me my girlfriend is really kool with it she even shot one of my friends with an m203 so if money wasn't a problem group 3 for sure

I liken the game to rock climbing, It's fun, good exercise and you get to socialize to some extent. The best part is that it's dangerous. I just started AS this summer and the gear is cool, expensive and a great sport. I think it's great people have teams and try to stay true to realistic uniforms and guns but I'm of the camp that if all the teams have a identical uniform, I'd buy that uniform and shoot you in the back. Go rebels! Real warfare is not fair nor uniform. We stay alive no matter what we're wearing. Great blog!!!