Certainly with the latest news to have hit the airwaves over the last couple of days…all is not well in the paintball world, much and all as The Catshack would like it to be. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world we live in and this worldwide recession is damaging to everyone and anyone trying to make a living in the business world.
Plainly put it is just so important for all of us in the paintball community to 
support those paintball industries that in turn support us and the game we all love. While some products and such may not be something that you personally care for…it is a matter of preference. Based on some of the responses to the press release issued to media by the paintball company “Smart Parts”, there are many who do appreciate all the products and innovations that Smart Parts has introduced us to over the years. According to some of my sources Smart Parts has used some of their profits to support tournaments and other worthwhile endeavors in a very significant way.
The Catshack touched base with Bad Revrend to discuss some of the issues and address some concerns as it pertains to the rumor mills. Armed with a few ideas, Bad Revrend and company intend to make a difference and step up to help paintball and those companies in need. The idea of asking wholesalers to perhaps consider cutting the wholesale cost by a small percentage could stimulate sales for companies like Smart Parts is one such innovative idea. Stay tuned for more developments as they happen. In the meantime a short video interview with Bad Revrend outlines this article and includes some additional thoughts and ideas…enjoy!
6 Responses to “Rumors hurt”
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“Plainly put it is just so important for all of us in the paintball community to support those paintball industries that in turn support us and the game we all love. While some products and such may not be something that you personally care for…it is a matter of preference.”
So what exactly are you trying to suggest?, that if we don’t like a product or company we should keep our mouths closed and opinions to our selves for the sake of paintball????? How does that help innovation in the industry or promote growth?
The Truth of it is, no one has any money and paintball is taking a back seat to rent and food and car payments and all the other mandatory monthly big ticket expenses. Do I feel bad for the guy in the factory who gets laid off? sure, is it my fault cause I wrote something bad on the net about his company? no way. The real factor is the economy not free speech.
And what’s with Bad Revrend (nice smart parts hat by the way, is he sponsored by them?, you should disclose that sort of thing)?, your dropping his name a bunch lately. Is he going to start a “Moral Maggy” column here on the shack? “The Internet is a dangerous place” (taken from the video interview). Free speech is dangerous?, really???? Well who put you in charge of free speech? I don’t need morality dictated to me by this guy.
It’s not that I don’t feel for Smart Parts. One of our Sponsors has been taking a beating online with peoples opinions for the last year now. I personally actively post on forums on my sponsor’s behalf to try and clear the air about the company and it’s products using the facts at my disposal against the posters opinions and statements, but that being said I would never suggest that the public doesn’t have a right to they’re opinions or to publicly express them. And as the old PR saying go’s “all news that gets your name out there is good news”.
Sorry 143rd SOG I think you missed the point of the article. We’re talking about rumors and less than factual comments being made on the internet. To clarify, no, Bad Revrend is not sponsored by Smart Parts, nor are we endorsing their products. If anything we are addressing the dangers of the internet and how it can quickly and easily damage a companies reputation. Yes I would like very much to see Smart Parts survive the pains they are experiencing (nope I am not sponsored by Smart Parts either) As you have so aptly put it….I to am exercising my right to free speech. I sincerely hope companies such as Smart Parts continue on as many others would agree simply because they have put so much into the game. As a matter of preference I am alluding to how it is so much better to have the choices of gear or markers as opposed to any one company having a stranglehold on the market in its entirety.
Thank you for clarifying whether or not Bad Revrend is being sponsored by Smart Parts. Not that I asked but thank you also for clarifying whether you yourself are being sponsored or paid in some form for the good pr piece, I had certainly considered the possibility and am glad to hear your not on the dole for this article. That aside I think you missed the main points of my comment which is (1) that you cannot restrict speech with out affecting all free speech (2) the paintball industry is losing money more because of the terrible global economy than the Internet rumor mill.
“We’re talking about rumors and less than factual comments being made on the Internet.” No your talking about free speech Tom and since your talking about free speech on the net your also talking about net neutrality by default, who decides what rumors and comments are OK or factual?, you?, your government?, my government?, someone elses government?, companies and corporations? How about you trust readers to inform themselves, they might surprise you.
English poet and political writer John Milton once argued that if the facts are laid bare, truth will defeat falsehood in open competition, but this cannot be left for a single individual to determine. According to Milton, it is up to each individual to uncover their own truth; no one is wise enough to act as a censor for all individuals.
As an American my right to freedom of speech is guaranteed by my countries Bill of Rights and Constitution but the right to freedom of speech is also recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognizes the right to freedom of speech as “the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression”. Furthermore freedom of speech is recognized in European, and African regional human rights law.
You are correct in that you are expressing your free speech by writing your article and further writing a comment in response to my comment but you are also operating a form of media or press (as we down here sometimes call it) so your also exercising freedom of the press and since your medium of press includes a comment section here I am excising my free speech by expressing my self about your article and now your comment.
I don’t see how you think you were alluding to any one company having a strangle hold on the market by talking about how we as a community are Internet gossip mongers who’s comments affect business profits and put people out of work. I challenge you to highlight a single sentence in your article that expresses your assertion that “As a matter of preference I am alluding to how it is so much better to have the choices of gear or markers as opposed to any one company having a stranglehold on the market in its entirety.” or makes any reference to monopoly’s or antitrust laws. While I do agree with your statement and am opposed to any company having a strangle hold on anything I assert you have in no way expressed it till now in your latest comment.
Thanks for giving us such a perfect example of how the internet can be dangerous. No matter how Tomcat replies he will be analyzed and criticized for his comments. Tom has done a wonderful job at reporting factual news. Keep it up soldier, Don’t let the few drag you down. It’s issues such as internet savvy users like Carl that stain most sites. Sorry Carl “Freedom of Speech”
I completely disagree. I cannot endorse the idea of slamming others, posting incorrect data, internet flaming or floating rumors all in an effort to get exposure for a website and all under the “Freedom of Speech” banner or under the numerous Human Rights laws. Pretty standard rules are in place on numerous Paintball forums that also cover these basics and do not allow for it. The Catshack Reports is dedicated…and I know I have stated this clearly before…to what I like to call the Triple P rule of publishing. Triple P meaning the “Positive Promotion of Paintball”. Simply put stories or comments that do not meet this criteria are subject to …at least as far as The Catshack Reports is concerned…my right as Editor & Chief to remove or simply not publish it.
Also for the record…Bad Revrend and for that matter myself have dedicated hundreds of hours in furtherance of paintball without any remuneration.
I fully support Bad Revrend not only as a caliber paintball player and a friend…but as an individual who has grown up in paintball, lives, eats, breathes and loves the game and goes over and above to consider and implement ideas designed to preserve the game for everyone. I challenge anyone to step up and tell the Catshack what you have done for paintball in comparison…and I am willing to wager it would amount to a fraction of what Bad Revrend has accomplished here in Canada. Is it ok to disrespect him on the internet under Freedom of Speech rules….not on my boards!
The great debate…While I do not argue everyone’s right to Freedom of Speech….what can’t be argued is Bad Revrend’s comment that the internet is “a dangerous place”. This could very well be a case in point where a user posts up his comments or opinions and it is read by another user who then interprets what is stated differently or perhaps what was originally stated is meant differently but the original author lacks the ability to express it in the best possible way via the written language. Internet flaming, posting negative rumors or the “haters” as it is termed are not welcome to post on The Catshack Reports.
The root of the article was intended to point out such things as mentioned above regarding the misuse of the internet and to perhaps find some means of helping paintball by supporting those industries currently faltering under tough economic times. I stand by the original report and applaud people like Bad Revrend who through networking might help in some small way.
As editor of this site, I have set forth a few ground rules pertaining to what I personally wish to see appear on The Catshack Reports. Users can either appreciate the content found here or look elsewhere on the internet. Nevertheless I stand by the positive promotion of paintball…I love this game to much to publish the negatives.