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This was a nice little commentary I must admit. Touching... I'm about the same age so I do have some similar sentiments. When you're as young as some of us were in our airsofting prime it really is a significant part of life and development. It's kind of like a year at age 10 feels like an eternity while at 50 it's just a 'meh' and keeps getting mehier with age. I also had a hard-on for the military at this age.
Most of my airsofting career was underage. I was somehow passable for 18 at 14 when I started. This was pre-age verification days though and luckily I just turned 18 when that all went into effect. Funny because now at 34 I still get ID'd at the LCBO periodically and I still pass for being 10+ years younger in numerous scenarios. Some people are genuinely blown away when I tell them how old I actually am. No idea how what with all the years of craziness and nothing really special genetically.
Ah I do miss the days when this forum was alive and the place to be. There's never been a site I've visited every day, multiple times a day since; not even the online portals for university. It seemed like it was actually a global go-to for information for a while there in the 00's.
My active days started and ended in the 00's. Last game I ever attended was an all-nighter at new (shittier) Flag Raiders in late summer 2009 I believe. Then I turned 20 and began my liberal hippie university career (okay no, I'm actually apolitical/dead centrist). I had every intent to continue on. I felt the addiction pull me as we all know ie. continuing to buy new guns and gear for a couple years. I just never again did manage to get out to a game. Life angle completely changed. No longer was airsoft a central thing. It became classes, assignments, work, sex, drugs, partying, some travelling, and various other random shit.
When I came back here to have a look after a few years things had changed. Seems social media had also destroyed this community as it did everything throughout the '10s. I liked the tight-knitness of this community when there was only like what, 1000 actually active players nationally? And it was all mostly centered on here. Now with Facebook and all that other bullshit there's just too many people and zero accountability. The 'spirit' is dead. From what I've seen online I don't think I even want to play again. Maybe if a bunch of strictly old-timers (can't believe I said that) arranged an event but that looks unlikely.
Oh and I hope shit head who shall not be named is still enjoying his dangerous offender label (probably scot-free by now knowing our joke of a 'justice' system). At age 14-16 that whole incident was the last thing I expected from a hobby community like this. Attempts were made on and offline but I was never having that shit. I know there are at least a few people out there walking with scars from that though and I truly do wish them well and hope they're doing good.
Anyway, nostalgia is a blessing and a bitch. Some great times in the 00's to remember but they will never happen again because of the way the climate of it all has changed. It's not me though as I have happily not gone the wife, kids, mortgage, etc. way, yet anyway and no plans to anytime soon. Some relationships here and there but fuck that too. Just going to keep playing the fields and ride out this extended youth all the way.
I'll continue to lurk here and there just to remember some of the best and unique times in the '00s. Playing/being in on airsoft was like being a Trailer Park Boys fan then. Then it all got popular...
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