A couple questions for a paper.

[Ociffer Action]

I'm writing a paper for my Anthropology class and I need to ask a few questions about airsoft. I would appreciate it if any of you would answer them.

1. Why do you play airsoft?

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?

4. How did you get into airsoft?

5. How competitive are you?

6. How often do you attend games?

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month.

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?
(A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers, or dictated purely by logic, chance, necessity, etc.)

Any other comments or thoughts on airsoft would be great. Thanks for answering.

[Bushmaster]

1: For fun

2: A good time with friends, it's a great physical exercise, and it's very good stress relief.

3: The challenge of surviving

4: Through a friend with crappy Wal-Mart guns

5: Very, I want to get out there, and kill you as quickly and easily as possible

6: Try to play once a month, but it doesn't always happen

7: $50-$200

8: Not really, as it is not performed on a regular basis(every day, every week, etc....)

[Doublewolf]

1. Why do you play airsoft?

It is fun, I get to know more people, and it helps you learn skills that you can learn few other places.

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?

It gives me something to do, I make friends, and it allows me to be a member of a team.

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?

The camaraderie is probably my favorite part of this sport.

4. How did you get into airsoft?

My friend told me about it, and I immediately decided that I wanted to play. It took a while to convince my dad to allow me to play, and to take me to the games, but I eventually did, and I played my first game with the SCAA guys in Rincon. Soon enough, Henry told me about the AOSC, and I attended my first large game, Operation 24.

5. How competitive are you?

I like to win, and I am a competitive person, but I play mostly for fun, and would never cheat to win, or play unfairly. Our game is a game of honor, and anybody that is so competitive that they would bend the rules or cheat is missing the point.

6. How often do you attend games?

I live far away, so I do not attend often, although I do plan on making more games this year. Last year I went to one, and I have gone to one so far this year.

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month?

On average, about $10, although I usually spend large amounts and then go for a period without buying anything. A better question might be, "How much do you spend per year?" That would be about $1000 for last year, although I will not be spending quite as much this year seeing as I already have most of the needed equipment.[/color]

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?

No, it is played for the purpose of having fun, not to be symbolic, so it would not fit your definition.

[Bushmaster]

The red! It burns!

Seriously, the red really is hard and painful to read.

[Arbee]

1:  I play AirSoft because, well, it's a great way to get out of the house and meet new people.

2:  I've made some great friends, both on and off the field, and it also gets me out of the house, socializing and all that.

3:  Shooting people, of course. XD

4:  A couple of kids in the neighborhood used to play under the powerlines... and one day I convinced my parents to let me buy a gun and join them.

5:  Not very.  I play for the fun of it, and I've got a very casual approach.  Winning is nice, but not necessary, in my opinion.

6:  Again, not very... I don't generally have enough money to play more than every once in awhile.

7:  Not very much.  See Answer 6.

8:  Nope.

[Vesper]

1. Why do you play airsoft?
I love shooting guns, I love getting out and doing stuff, and I also love adrenaline pumps. Airsoft covers all of those areas.

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?
I disolve my stree, and I get a good amount of cardiac exercise through airsoft.

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?
I like using basic tactics. When the tactic gets too complicated, then I get confused.... I also like shooting at people.

4. How did you get into airsoft?
I don't exactly remember how, but I was always interested in guns. Since I was a kid, I played with a lot of airsoft guns, and I found out eventually that a considerable number of big organizations dedicated for airsoft.

5. How competitive are you?
Unless there is something serious worth fighting for, such as money (a lot of money), I'm just out there for fun. I usually am not even bothered to find out which team won/lost at the end of the day.

6. How often do you attend games?
I usually go to one or two game a month.

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month.
Too much. 

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?
Ehh, not really.. I don't take this sport to that level of seriousness.

[SteevoLS]

1. Why do you play airsoft?
Deep down, I like toy guns.

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?
I get to shoot people.

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?
Getting to shoot people.

4. How did you get into airsoft?
I joined the forums and attended a Blue Hole game with borrowed guns.

5. How competitive are you?
If I'm charging down a 300' hallway with a NC buddy while blasting away at some tangos in almost complete darkness, very. Other times, not so much.

6. How often do you attend games?
1-2 times a month.

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month.
Varies, but usually just the cost of field fees, BBs, and gas.

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?
No?

[82dcustomer]

1. Why do you play airsoft?
To have fun with my friends.  I am also very competitive.

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?
Exercise, friends, and lots of fun

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?
Camping and shooting people

4. How did you get into airsoft?
A friend showed me an Airsoft gun he brought back from Japan when he was stationed there.

5. How competitive are you?
Very.

6. How often do you attend games?
Twice a month when possible

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month.
150 hours and about $100-$300

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?
(A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers, or dictated purely by logic, chance, necessity, etc.)
No.

[Mack]

1. Why do you play airsoft?

For fun and stress relief

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?

Stress relief from the daily grind, a workout, comradery and a black hole for my money

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?

A bunch of like minded people getting together and having fun

4. How did you get into airsoft?

It started with plinking the bb gun in the backyard. Then I had a possum and raccoon problem. Everytime they came into the yard I ended up with at least $100 vet bill. Since the trusty Red Rider bb gun wasn't cutting it I looked for alternatives. Then I found fully automatic "bb" guns. Which turned out to be a great distraction tool because my dogs tried catching the bbs instead of chasing the vermin. Then I found the regional forum (Airsoft Pacific) and signed up out of curiosity. Met up with local players and the rest as they say is legend.

5. How competitive are you?

At a regular game I'm not at all competitive. I'm there to have a good time. If it's a team or individual based comp, then I'm very competitive. Train, train, train and train some more.

6. How often do you attend games?

I used to every weekend but as of late it's whenever I can beg, borrow or steal a weekend day off.

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month.

More than I care to admit espcially for how often I get out.

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?

Negative. I'd consider it more of a compulsion.

[Diesel]

1. Why do you play airsoft?
  Being 41, it gives me a chance to spend time with my kids, plus I get to shoot the hell out of people.

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?
  I get to meet new people, have fun, and make a lot of friends and enemies, and get to travel to different states to play.

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?
  Going to games and talking with different people.

4. How did you get into airsoft?
  My son started with the walmart spring pistols and it eventually snowballed from there

5. How competitive are you?
  Depends on the game. Paintsoft--not at all, milsim--somewhat, realmil--very competitive

6. How often do you attend games?
  One to two times a month, sometimes more.

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month.
  I will never tell.

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?
  Not really, just a hobby.

[3rd0ptik]

1. Why do you play airsoft?

It's a Fun and Challenging Sport.

2. What do you feel that you get out of airsoft?

Scars and Broken Guns.

3. What is your favorite part of airsoft?

When you pull off something amazing.

4. How did you get into airsoft?

Was looking for a Paintball Gun back in 1999, saw an AirSoft Gun and thought, hmmm..

5. How competitive are you?

Depends on the Game.

6. How often do you attend games?

0-4 Times a month

7. About how much time and money do you spend on airsoft in the average month.

I usually buy in one whop.. other than that, BBs, field fees.. 100 a month maybe, when active.

8. Would you consider airsoft as a ritual?

Absolutely, I love putting all my gear on, painting my face, and sneaking around my neighbors houses collecting Intel on them. Sometimes I just rather sleep outside in my mosquito net hammock.. Shooting squirrels at 450 fps doesn't kill them, but stuns them enough to finish them off for a good meal. Like most, I play FPS'ers in full gear and yell out " call your hit" to the laggers. And getting ready for a game 2 days in advance is a critical ritual that requires meticulous detail in thought..

[Ociffer Action]

Thanks guys, that should do it.

[Dominum]

1. Why do you play airsoft?
 Being 41,...

LIES!

[Diesel]

LIES!

Ain't no lie. Only other player that comes out regularly that is older than me is Darth
Chukie. He is 46 going on 60. Then Gambler ain't but a few months behind me. We thinking of starting a team for "old" men 

[Foxx]

1. To experience the thrill of warfare without mental/physical repercussions. (PTSD ain't no joke.)

2. A chance to meet new people, spend time outdoors, and have fun with friends.

3. The realism.

4. Used to "play army" back when I was a little kid. I found out about airsoft and never looked back.

5. I'm not competitive. I'm only on the field to have a good fight, whether we win or lose.

6. Maybe 2 or 3 times a month.

7. Anywhere from $20 to $120 a month.

8. I believe I have to agree with 3rd on this one.