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.

[Kainen Utt (Aka, Maddawg)]

Amen!
I had a person on my team that recently quit. He thought that our rank system was too organized. I' on the other hand, disagree, and am glad he quit. He was attacking me and my officers, saying he could do a much better job. He was all about who got the most kills. He was obsessed with playing a certain team. I have very good reasons not to play them. The team does not agree with our code of conduct (A3), and therefore we would not play them. I;m ranting a bit on my own and i should stop. Thanks for bringing this up!


Tactical Assassins Airsoft
Kainen Utt (Aka, Maddawg)

[Cougar]

I'm glad some people actually agree. I was kind of nervous about putting this up, but it feels better now that it's off my chest.

I've witnessed, unfortunately, in my team, that we have one dictator and it is just a bad situation. Our team has four divisions, in four different places, and with four different leaders, but there is one person who thinks that just because he was the founding father, he can control everything from thousands of miles away. I just don't understand that. If you're not around, you shouldn't have any say in a team that you're barely a part of and shouldn't think you can dictate all four teams. It's just an ego thing that comes with him thinking he has rights to everyone and everything. This isn't the only example either. I've seen it in other teams too and frankly it's dissapointing.

[project echelon airsoft]

Cougar, you continue to make a valid point. I think I know the team you are talking about. But, I will not mention their name because it is not needed.

Folks, I am prior military. I agree with the topic starter about some players massive egos. We should be out having fun...not prima donnaing gear,and bossing people around because we can due to rank.If you want to know the truth, a great way to lose players is poor examples set from poor leaders.

[Clayton Shruga]

yeah i agree

[Capt.Firedog]

Very well put Cougar,but airsoft being a mil-sim sport leadership and rank come with the game,The true problem is that not many want to be leaders they want to be General or Captains hence the ego thing. True leaders treat their men well and respect them. And that respect is returned in the field. Its my opinion that if you call yourself a leader but your men dont respect you this makes you a dictator. And you should rethink your position on the team. Maybe a fireteam leader. (Like a Sargent) Put that aggression to good use. A leader is willing to listen to his team and respects their knowledge of the situation. No one person controls every aspect of a mission it takes a team ,trust and 6mm bbs.I think leaders should be choosen by the team and rank by number of men that you lead Heck I only have captain on my page because the Lt.bars are not correct and lead a large team.and allways looking for someone with better skills than I how else will we be the best.We play a game of honor their is no honor in a dictatorship just a ruler People play with honor and have fun

[Cougar]

I know that it comes with the game, but I think that there are good examples of leadership and bad ones. I think if you're going to be a leader, you should be like a father to your subordinates and you shouldn't kick dirt in their faces every ten seconds. I also understand that rank is a must, but I think it shouldn't just be given out. You should earn by doing everything you possibly can for your team.

[Rattlebone]

I completely agree, When our group of guys get together we don't have rank. If the goal is to work together in a coordinated effort to achieve the objective rank really has no place in my humble opinion.
Natrually leaders will be leaders and any good leader is a good follower, I mean that any good leader respects those who he or she is leading and considers other team members ideas to obtain the objective. Respect is earned then commanded, not demanded.

[Cougar]

"Naturally, leaders will be leaders and any good leader is a good follower."

THANK YOU! I couldn't agree more. If a team is going to do well, everyone needs to know when to step up and when to step down, because, unfortunately, NO ONE is perfect and doesn't know everything. Also, they shouldn't need to be told to step down.

We have a couple hot-heads on our team that get anxious and just want to play, but even they know when to step down and just listen.

"Respect is earned then commanded, not demanded."

Again, couldn't agree with you more.

[Adam Buckingham]

Our team has a similar problem but its because of a lack of respect which honestly i saw coming if they dont care you cant command them and if they dont respect you in the first place you wont be able to command them also on a side note if ANY of my guys repeat the offense we talked about please bring it to my attention as i told torque im here to grow the sport and not hinder it through sexist or any "ist" comments.

[Cougar]

I'll be sure to do so if anything occurs again. At the time, I was just so mad that I didn't want to talk to anyone. Then, at SMAT field, something was said to one of my teammates (and consequently one of my best friends) that just made my blood boil to the point where something needed to be said. So, I wrote the Women in Airsoft: Welcomed or Tolerated discussion and thus, problem solved. Torque told me about that and I agree, let's advance airsoft, not give it bad name. "ist" comments = suck. Lol. :D

[Arthur "Lex" Lowther]

Impressive Cougar. very impressive. You've hit the Nail on the head with this one and I agree 110%. -Featured-

[Reaper; The Left Hand of Death]

I couldn't agree more. This happened to me a lot. So I just demoted myself to end the drama so I could play the game lol.