It occurred to me when I was
cleaning out my paintball rifle that perhaps the average person might get the wrong idea about the intent
behind my penchant for virtual and non-lethal combat. Some may feel that this extends into an ideology
that accepts and encourages violence and war, though I can assure you it's not necessarily the contrary,
chances are you won't find me on top of a tall building screaming something to the effect of
"You'll never take me alive.", not this month anyways. I've always had a small obsession
with warfare and combat, never contact sports, only the more serious end of human competition. There
are reasons for this inescapable curiosity other than visual gratification.
I've found over the
course of my professional life that it's very hard to find people who approach problems and challenges
in a confident and straightforward manner. Many seem to rather cower and pass responsibility instead of
taking it on. In war and combat there's a different sense of priorities. This may be a result of a general
consensus that in order to survive, your side must win, making your task all the more vital to
self-preservation. Whatever the reasons, decisions made in combat seem to carry more weight and be
made with precision, or at least you'd hope so. I feel that actual competition and combat brings out the
best, and worst in humans; The most powerful to be sure.
Coming back to my combat urges,
be it paintball, target practice or virtual online war, I find these forays into violence and competition
leave me with a sense of confidence and pride (when I don't lose); A sense of self that transfers into
every aspect of my life, allowing me to take on challenges others would shirk due to their seeming
difficulty. An urge to "win one for the gipper" and attempt to achieve my goals through any
means necessary. So if you happen to be driving down the highway and you see a young man in a
window cleaning his rifle, don't shake your head, feel some comfort in knowing that at least there are a
few people out there that you can count on to get the job done and do it with pride.
"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum."
