Airsoft Players, Egos, and Rank

[Cougar]

Growing up in the Military my entire life, I've been in direct contact with this idea of Rank. I've noticed, in airsoft, Rank is just a thing to tag before your name.

Maybe, it's just in my area, but I think this obsession with Rank is nothing but a big old ego-trip.

Basically what I've seen is, "If you have a higher rank, you have the right to treat people like crap". Along with that, I've noticed that people who are older think they have more rights to a team than younger players.

I just don't understand it. Leaders turn on leaders and sit around and analyze eachother. They attack eachother and throw eachother to the wolves just to get this role of dominance. They push and push until someone backs down and does something that, in reality, they shouldn't do just to make another person happy. This idea of trying to create a top dog of some sort is, in my opinion, stupid. In the Military, that's not how it works and last time I checked, airsoft is military simulation. If you want to simulate military situations, team members need to respect eachother and drop the egotistical acts that a lot of people practically live in. All it does is frustrate the other people that you call teammates and, hopefully, friends.

I don't think Rank is what airsoft should be about! It's like whoever gets the most kills deserves the highest rank and that's rediculous. You should earn your rank by maintaining your responsibility, being loyal and civil to your team mates, and by doing what is best for the team, NOT just yourself.

I don't think egos should play a role either. Confidence is good, but acting like a freaking caveman isn't. If it was, everyone wouldn't use guns! They'd be too busy clubbing their superiors over the head to gain dominance. Egos don't serve any purpose but getting in the way during a battle or game. If you're so busy yelling at eachother saying, "My idea is better!", "No, my idea is better!", or various other bulls***, how are you supposed to be a team and win, for god sakes.

SERIOUSLY, Rank is more than who salutes whom. Rank is a badge of leadership and responsibility. If teams want to work out, they need to realize this and stop kicking eachother in the nuts (stomach for women). Rank shouldn't effect how you treat people and you shouldn't just get promoted because you want to. Rank should be earned, you should be proud of it, and you should represent it in a positive manner - not like a child in a school yard, picking on the people around you to make yourself feel better.

Stop making fun of eachother and saying how much everyone sucks. If your teammates need to improve, help them - don't kick them while they're already down. Teams need to pull together and actually act like a freaking family, because, in the field, it'd be nice to know that your whole team has your back.

My message to people who play airsoft this way, grow the hell up. Stop fighting for a title that, IN THE REAL WORLD, doesn't get you crap. It's stupid and you look stupid when you act this way.

Okay, I'm done ranting.

[Adam Buckingham]

True it is and the topic at that time was the ribbons...airsoft will never sadly be rid of liars and dishonest people. Also lol noone wears their "ribbons" in the field rank yes ribbons no i think it would be amusing to see that hapen out there.

[Zømbié Øf WÅR]

At 1st when I started playing Airsoft I was content on making rank carry as much weight as possible, but now that I've matured a lot more I see it more as a "Figure Head" status. The Officers on a team should respect and take care of the men no matter what the rank is. It took me some time to understand that concept, but now its easy. You get a lot more done if the guys you work with can come to you & express ideas without worrying if their rank is low. I don't even see rank anymore. Everyone has their own weight to pull on any team. Ranks are for those who constantly look for more responsibility on the team.

[Ron Sprinkel]

First want to say I am new to airsocom as well as airsoft.
Secondly I would like to Thank Cougar for posting this topic. Has alot of meaning and there are alot of ideas and someone I think can learn something here concerning ranks.

Coming from 6 years of Army background personnally, my father and uncle in the Navy for 20+ years I have witnessed a good bit of military and have a great deal of knowledge about the Military.

My son in law just got me involved in Airsoft last weekend and as any sim, there needs to be structure. I also strongly feel the arrogance and the "I am higher ranked then you.." ego BS shouldn't be in play. I also feel very strongly that a lower ranked personnel can have ideas and suggestions that would carry alot of weight that the higher ranking personnel didn't realize and should be taken into consideration without all the ego BS. All comes down to strategically thinking and coming out alive. I can remember the first day of my basic training our Drill Instructor telling us a couple of things.

1) I have an open door policy - if my door is open, you, your comments, suggestions, questions or concerns and BS are always welcome. I may not use your comments or suggestions as we are the United States Army and we have our guidelines, but that doesn't mean I won't listen to them.

2) I am your Drill Instructor, I am your Sargeant. I earned my ranks and I have earned my position as well as duties. I am here to see that you do the same as we are all in this together, we are all here for one reason and I will make you a strong US Army Soldier. If you have a bad attitude that I feel doesn't fit in I will break you and your attitude. You will do as told to do not because I am a prick, but because I am your leader, I am your Trainer and I am your Team Mate and I maybe the guy who saves your butt or in return you may save mine in times of war.

Those 2 things stuck with me ever since and I will never forget them. He was a very fair DI, he was very cool with us. And he upheld his first rule about the open door policy and I think ALL Higher ranking personnel in the Airsoft, paintball or any other sim related games should have the same policy in effect.

I asked my son in law since we had discussed forming a team and going against other teams if he wanted to have a structured ranking team and we both agreed to do so and we both feel the same way about the higher ranking personnel losing their "I am higher ranked then you" egos with the yelling and screaming and mistreating the lower ranked personnel or for that matter any other personnel. This is a Game, we are here to have fun doing what we enjoy doing and we don't need the attitudes. We will not tolerate such egos, nor will we tolerate any yelling, screaming and mistreating any member, whether high ranks or low ranks.

As Zombie of War stated "Ranks are for those who constantly look for more responsibility on the team". I feel that is true and I strongly feel if one can carry out the responsibility properly without the ego trips then by all means they should carry the rank as such.

Sorry about my long rant, alittle on the tired side ;)

[Deiss]

If people are using their rank to indulge their own pathetic egos then they probably shouldn't have it. Just because someone does really well in the field doesn't mean they would be a good leader. The good leaders are the people who are able to motivate their teammates without putting them down. A good leader will always listen to the ideas of his/her teammates. A good leader will lead by example. You show respect in order to get respect. I personally would much rather play with someone who respects everyone out in the field rather than someone who is barking orders and acting like a prick.