I went to my field and played this morning for a few hours - I was treated with a great deal of respect and never overshot, as soon as I was hit the other team called the hits and allowed me to exit the bunker cleanly. I was constantly offered a hand up when I was the last person eliminated and was kneeling in a bunker. And these were full out tournament players practicing.
Now.. the backstory. I have a partially collapsed lung, bruised ribs, a bruised spleen, a sprained ankle, and a severe case of road rash. They all stem from an accident involving a tractor, a haywagon, and a pretty hot chick last night. When I went to play this morning (and the ER doctor said I could though with a severe warning to stop if I felt I should) I was wearing my hospital ID band because I had to go in this afternoon again for a series of more x-rays to evaluate if my lung had stabilized or not.
People on the field seemed to regret shooting me, and when I was bunkered it was with a single, well placed shot, once there were two balls. Now, the fact of the matter is, it was my choice to be on the field, with the advanced players. I could have played in whatever groups I wanted today and everyone would have been ok with it. If I choose to be out there, then what happens out there is my fault - and being shot on road rash HURTS btw. I was given adequate time to catch my breath and move from my bunker, I was often given a hand up. Now the people I play with are normally nice, but the level of sportmanship of everyone involved today was far above and beyond anything normal. This was practice the week before a tournament, teams that I know that do not normally play there, but were here for practice, were as nice and considerate of me as the people there, as my own team.
My point is - these people I play with, exemplify the game. There sportsmanship on the field rose to levels one could hardly imagine. And these are tournament players, often questioned by others. Its often asked on these boards if I trust the people on the other end of the game - if they are like these people, I do. I saw a side of the tournament paintball crowd that most people would say did not exist. I did martial arts for several years, and never thought I would see that level of sportsmanship again. I did, today, from tournament players.
We call people on the "wrongs" they commit in paintbal, I thought it important to acknowledge the "rights" as well.
Now.. the backstory. I have a partially collapsed lung, bruised ribs, a bruised spleen, a sprained ankle, and a severe case of road rash. They all stem from an accident involving a tractor, a haywagon, and a pretty hot chick last night. When I went to play this morning (and the ER doctor said I could though with a severe warning to stop if I felt I should) I was wearing my hospital ID band because I had to go in this afternoon again for a series of more x-rays to evaluate if my lung had stabilized or not.
People on the field seemed to regret shooting me, and when I was bunkered it was with a single, well placed shot, once there were two balls. Now, the fact of the matter is, it was my choice to be on the field, with the advanced players. I could have played in whatever groups I wanted today and everyone would have been ok with it. If I choose to be out there, then what happens out there is my fault - and being shot on road rash HURTS btw. I was given adequate time to catch my breath and move from my bunker, I was often given a hand up. Now the people I play with are normally nice, but the level of sportmanship of everyone involved today was far above and beyond anything normal. This was practice the week before a tournament, teams that I know that do not normally play there, but were here for practice, were as nice and considerate of me as the people there, as my own team.
My point is - these people I play with, exemplify the game. There sportsmanship on the field rose to levels one could hardly imagine. And these are tournament players, often questioned by others. Its often asked on these boards if I trust the people on the other end of the game - if they are like these people, I do. I saw a side of the tournament paintball crowd that most people would say did not exist. I did martial arts for several years, and never thought I would see that level of sportsmanship again. I did, today, from tournament players.
We call people on the "wrongs" they commit in paintbal, I thought it important to acknowledge the "rights" as well.
I...AM...NOT...WORTHY 
First the break in, now phsical injury... Ain't life fun? 
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