politics and airsoft *Mod Warning post 1*

joe stodge

does anyone know of any politicians for or against airsoft running in this election?? i don't want this to turn into "who to vote for thread" or i'd like to know.

*Mod edit*

Lads with the amount of reported posts/Sarky comments coming out of this thread.

Please keep it clean and if you cannot play nice with a good debate the thread will get a lock from the mod team.

We dont want to do that as there will be the holy uproar of being heavy handed.

The mod team

Airsoft Reloded

Whos gives a fuc* man, theres not one of them that is honest and will stick by what they said. We can't be banned now (well we can but we won't be) so f*ck them.

Shiva

joe stodge wrote: »

does anyone know of any politicians for or against airsoft running in this election?? i don't want this to turn into "who to vote for thread" or i'd like to know.

I'd say the vast majority of them wouldnt even know what it was.

bullets

Had not got a clue who this bloke was when he arrived on the site (a good while back! not this year)
Think he is friendly with some of the guys that run LAC




And their Posters can be put to good use after the elections:

swiftblade

You would base your vote on if they were for/against airsoft. I think we have bigger stuff to worry about as a country......

The tripe i have heard the local politicans spew is ridiculous. Don't believe a word they say.

I also doubt any of them would even know or care what airsoft is. But i guarantee if you told them what it is the would promise you the sun, moon and stars.

joe stodge

swiftblade wrote: »

You would base your vote on if they were for/against airsoft. I think we have bigger stuff to worry about as a country......

The tripe i have heard the local politicans spew is ridiculous. Don't believe a word they say.

I also doubt any of them would even know or care what airsoft is. But i guarantee if you told them what it is the would promise you the sun, moon and stars.

i would not in any right mind cast my vote on what politician who is for/against airsoft. i'm unempolyed with a mortgage so i've a few things to be worried abour before airsoft. as i said i didn't want this turning into a who to vote for thread, i'd just like to know.

defenderdude

Valid question and interesting thread.

It's a fact that some TD's and even ex-ministers (I'm not getting into naming names here on boards) are 100% dead against us. They associate airsoft with real guns and if they had their way - would ban the whole thing. FACT.

There are however, other PR's and TD's who have at least engaged in dialogue with both retailers, site owners, association representatives and general airsoft players and have at least been educated and would approach airsoft with an open mind.

The vast majority, it is true to say (just like the general public), have never even heard of airsoft and dont know a thing about it.

I wouldnt tar them all with the same brush - just the same as we dont want our public representatives thinking we are all gun freakin head the balls. (well not all of us anyway):p

NakedDex

There's some lad running in Louth called Adams who I'm told isn't against them. Never heard of him myself. Must be a first-timer.

Officer Giggles

NakedDex wrote: »

There's some lad running in Louth called Adams who I'm told isn't against them. Never heard of him myself. Must be a first-timer.

i heard he's having awful problems with his chronograph though, keep clocking in over the 1J:D

TNTQ

NakedDex wrote: »

There's some lad running in Louth called Adams who I'm told isn't against them. Never heard of him myself. Must be a first-timer.

Heard he might be looking for a new supplier as well now that Ghaddafi is on his way out :pac:

sci-ops

Interesting thread....considering Airsoft in Ireland is loaded with Politics.

andy_g

Lads keep it on track and Keep it civil please.

whydave

Lads ,
Main thing to do is get out and vote !spend the next few hours looking at the parties and then vote !you can never complain if don't vote !
David

thermo

whydave wrote: »

Lads ,
Main thing to do is get out and vote !spend the next few hours looking at the parties and then vote !you can never complain if don't vote !
David

I voted LAST Friday.........

I wouldn't base my vote on empty promises of airsoft support.

NakedDex

He's right. Personally, I'm basing my vote on the empty promises of filled potholes.

swiftblade

Im basing my vote on who has the most posters up.......

se conman

I am basing my vote on who has the balls to come to my door , so far nobody gets my vote.

horgan_p

I'm robbing this from Ozcam 'cause I think it sums it up for me :

"Remember to vote tomorrow. Remember who got us into this mess. Remember where all our money has gone. Remember why we have no jobs."


Airsoft comes afterwards for me.

No job = no money = no airsoft.

andy_g

Think after the statement above Ozcam should run for taoisach or however you spell it :P

Airsoft Reloded

whydave wrote: »

Lads ,
Main thing to do is get out and vote !spend the next few hours looking at the parties and then vote !you can never complain if don't vote !
David

On the contrary if you vote them in and they f*ck it up (which they will) then YOU can't complain but I can because I took no part in the farce.

Remember Neice, Lisbon and the bailout. We never really had a choice on any of those really important issues so whats the point, this isn't an ignorant stupid response either. I was involved in politics for years and all I ever saw was a self serving practice that is completely counter productive to the wealth and well being of the country and its people.

No worries though, I'm sure they'll do right by airsoft :pac:

Shiva

Airsoft Reloded wrote: »

Remember Neice, Lisbon and the bailout. We never really had a choice on any of those really important issues so whats the point, this isn't an ignorant stupid response either. I was involved in politics for years and all I ever saw was a self serving practice that is completely counter productive to the wealth and well being of the country and its people.

Fundamentally, democracy cannot and does not work. It relies on two things - for those who are elected to be selfless and public-spirited, and for those who elect them to public office to care enough to monitor their progress, demand results and punish the elected officials when those results are detrimental to society.

Human nature being what it is, neither of those two things can happen with enough consistency for democracy to work.

People will seek to be elected to further their own ends, and the electorate will be content to allow their corruption and self-interest to go unpunished as long as it doesn't have a direct and immediate effect on themselves - the long term effects on society are ignored by the masses. Which is why we are where we are today.

And, errrr........airsoft rocks, to stay on topic. Barely.

kieranfitz

I was cleaning my 1911 when the local ff candidate called and one of my m4s when the shinner (spits) called

sliabh

kieranfitz wrote: »

I was cleaning my 1911 when the local ff candidate called and one of my m4s when the shinner (spits) called

Did you stand at the door holding said toys and with a thick hick accent, spit on the ground and tell them to "git off ma property"?

Airsoft Reloded

Shiva wrote: »

Fundamentally, democracy cannot and does not work. It relies on two things - for those who are elected to be selfless and public-spirited, and for those who elect them to public office to care enough to monitor their progress, demand results and punish the elected officials when those results are detrimental to society.

Human nature being what it is, neither of those two things can happen with enough consistency for democracy to work.

People will seek to be elected to further their own ends, and the electorate will be content to allow their corruption and self-interest to go unpunished as long as it doesn't have a direct and immediate effect on themselves - the long term effects on society are ignored by the masses. Which is why we are where we are today.

And, errrr........airsoft rocks, to stay on topic. Barely.

Pretty well put Tony, I'd never waste my energy voting again because of those and other reasons. Besides what you said you also have the corruption in Brussels which we have no reall control over and they (along with the banks) have complete control over us at this stage.

Airsoft does indeed rock though and that is all that matters to us, as long as they don't ban airsoft they can have everything else!

MagicIRL

I have my first vote this year and so far the grand total of 0 politicians have even spoken to me.

The post arrives with leaflets for both my parents, but never any for me. Just goes to show really...

TheDoc

MagicIRL wrote: »

I have my first vote this year and so far the grand total of 0 politicians have even spoken to me.

The post arrives with leaflets for both my parents, but never any for me. Just goes to show really...

I've had two knock on the door asking for my parents and told them that I was the one needing convincing, not my parents.

But are you not on facebook or twitter, cause thats how all the politicians get the word out to the kids these days!

MagicIRL

Hah, I'm on facebook but thats it. I'm not going out of my way to suit them. They can come to me.

In saying that, only one politician called to my door in Dublin South (well, his son called) and it was my mum that told him I needed convincing. He did not do a very good job.

TheDoc

MagicIRL wrote: »

Hah, I'm on facebook but thats it. I'm not going out of my way to suit them. They can come to me.

In saying that, only one politician called to my door in Dublin South (well, his son called) and it was my mum that told him I needed convincing. He did not do a very good job.

FF Darraigh O'Brien knocked on my door aswell and was happy to tlak to me and was pretty nice bloke. Done alot in the Swords area, real work, real job creation etc.

He was a major player in getting the company I work for now setup here in Swords, along with stupid amounts of **** hes done. Granted he doesn't do himself favours for driving around in fancy cars, but ****it, he gets **** done.

More so then the labour and FG candidates around here, always ****ing on about rubbish no one cares about.

MagicIRL

The comedian? Holy crap we're saved! Roll on the Vicar Street after party!

I have no idea who to vote for. I watched the TV debates, found each leader to be hopeless and an insult to their party by how they acted. I hate the bias on television, were only certain parties took part, independants get ignored, that type of thing.

Still stumped, I'll probally end up going Independant myself- Seems that each party is as bad as the next.

Lesser of evil I suppose.

ricka

Airsoft Reloded wrote: »

Pretty well put Tony, I'd never waste my energy voting again because of those and other reasons. Besides what you said you also have the corruption in Brussels which we have no reall control over and they (along with the banks) have complete control over us at this stage.

Airsoft does indeed rock though and that is all that matters to us, as long as they don't ban airsoft they can have everything else!

Voted in the boards election poll Brian?

sliabh

MagicIRL wrote: »

Still stumped, I'll probally end up going Independant myself- Seems that each party is as bad as the next.

Lesser of evil I suppose.

At the risk of getting to serious here, but you have to ask yourself, would the country be in the sh1t it is in today if we had more Jackie Healy Rae's and Michael Lowry's running things over the last 10 years?

Shiva

sliabh wrote: »

At the risk of getting to serious here, but you have to ask yourself, would the country be in the sh1t it is in today if we had more Jackie Healy Rae's and Michael Lowry's running things over the last 10 years?

The Michael Lowry who had a home extension costing 385,000 Irish Pounds paid for by Ben Dunne ?

Yeah....pretty sure we would

Seriously though....and its something I've said to our local FG candidate, (who's actually one of the most decent politicians I've ever known or heard of), Independent candidates either dont form an alliance with a party, and so have very little say in what goes on at a national level, or get involved in a coalition government, and end up voting along party lines in order to stay in government or get localised concessions. And yeah, local concessions are great if you live in that locality, but they very often have zero effect on the good of the society at a national level.

It goes back to my earlier post.... people, being human, fall prey to petty vices and self interest, and the good of society is relegated.

And I'm starting to sound like a tree-hugging hippy pinko

swiftblade

My worse nightmare has come true!
Politics in the airsoft forum! :eek:

Run for your lives! :pac:

Airsoft Reloded

ricka wrote: »

Voted in the boards election poll Brian?

LOL

True but a boards poll doesn't decide who mis-runs the country

Airsoft Reloded

Shiva wrote: »

The Michael Lowry who had a home extension costing 385,000 Irish Pounds paid for by Ben Dunne ?

Yeah....pretty sure we would

Seriously though....and its something I've said to our local FG candidate, (who's actually one of the most decent politicians I've ever known or heard of), Independent candidates either dont form an alliance with a party, and so have very little say in what goes on at a national level, or get involved in a coalition government, and end up voting along party lines in order to stay in government or get localised concessions. And yeah, local concessions are great if you live in that locality, but they very often have zero effect on the good of the society at a national level.

It goes back to my earlier post.... people, being human, fall prey to petty vices and self interest, and the good of society is relegated.

And I'm starting to sound like a tree-hugging hippy pinko

You sound more like a well learned citizen dude, your spot on. "Democracy" (or the illusion of it) doesn't work in a society of such diverse needs and demands. Add to that the fact that we are relying on "career" politicians to do the right thing for us and not just do whats best for them.

TheDoc

swiftblade wrote: »

My worse nightmare has come true!
Politics in the airsoft forum! :eek:

Run for your lives! :pac:

Shoulda started running years ago then, cause the national politics are on the level of gangs of care bears fighting over the right to a red heart, compared to the airsoft politics.

swiftblade

TheDoc wrote: »

Shoulda started running years ago then, cause the national politics are on the level of gangs of care bears fighting over the right to a red heart, compared to the airsoft politics.

Meh, I just don't listen to any of it. Have given up.

Which reminds me.....I need to go vote :P

sliabh

Airsoft Reloded wrote: »

You sound more like a well learned citizen dude, your spot on. "Democracy" (or the illusion of it) doesn't work in a society of such diverse needs and demands. Add to that the fact that we are relying on "career" politicians to do the right thing for us and not just do whats best for them.

And the alternative is?

"democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried" - Winston Churchill

TheDoc

sliabh wrote: »

And the alternative is?

"democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried" - Winston Churchill

I hear Enda Kenny wants to privatise government

Airsoft Reloded

sliabh wrote: »

And the alternative is?

"democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried" - Winston Churchill

There have been many alternatives given, anything from the green book to a resourced based economy. I'm not claiming to have a better idea I'm simply pointing out the flaws in this one.

Now what we are looking for is dependant on what is adversely effecting us, the vast majority of the worlds problems are related to the unchecked global free market system, the form of government doesn't really do anything to change that as we see the effects in all different types of government from dictatorships, communist/socialist, social democratic countries to the free market democratic countries themselves.

Not to mention the fact that we all keep calling it a democracy, when you vote no to something and it is presented again but this time with threats of complete socio economic and political meltdown if you say no you've left democracy behind (Its the fear of the people not the will of the people as someone said in some film before ) so whats the point in voting for a group of people who almost have the exact same policies as the guys that came before?

Fine Gael said they will renagotiate the bailout, we shouldn't give them the bailout and that sorts a huge amount of our economical problems out (if not nearly all of them).

We should quit the € and go back to the good ould punt, no nation should give away control of its interest rates/money system for any reason, we should bring our agricultural exports back to what they were before the EU made us lower them and we should kick the spanish out of our fisheries. Refuse to pay the bailout (as its not our debt anyway) and work from there I think.

Noone that is running for office has even inched towards solving any of the main issues and so whats the point of voting for them?

A bit long winded I know

horgan_p

I really , really hope you're trolling.


Anyway , back on topic , does anyone know how our prospective Ministers for Justice feel about Airsoft in Particular and / or shooting sports in general ??


The usual shinner jokes need not be posted.

andy_g

Lads with the amount of reported posts/Sarky comments coming out of this thread.

Please keep it clean and if you cannot play nice with a good debate the thread will get a lock from the mod team.

We dont want to do that as there will be the holy uproar of being heavy handed.

The mod team

sliabh

horgan_p wrote: »

Anyway , back on topic , does anyone know how our prospective Ministers for Justice feel about Airsoft in Particular and / or shooting sports in general ??

In all likelihood they won't care about it. A status quo was established under the last government and as there are no significant pressure groups calling for change (one way or the other) they will leave things be regardless of who will sit in the minister's seat.

Of course if something upsets the status quo then all bets are off. You can see that in places like Germany where legal change in shooting and related sports is being driven by hysteria/panic after high profile incidents rather than the usual slow plodding process of making laws by advisors and committees.

After the good work done by the IAA to regularise airsoft's position in Ireland, it is safe from politicians for the moment. What keeps me awake at night instead is worrying about irresponsible numpties doing stupid things with AEGs and bringing the wrong sort of attention to the sport*. Everyone (IAA member or not) has a duty to keep an eye out for this sort of thing if you want airsoft to stay legit.


* And that is quite apart from a total loon going postal with a RS somewhere in the country.

Airsoft Reloded

horgan_p wrote: »

I really , really hope you're trolling.

Why?

ricka

Just read a profile of Enda Kenny and it says he's an avid fan and reader of military history.I've met many skirmishers in this business and I would say a large proportion share his interest.
I know this doesn't mean a great deal, but it may indicate he doesn't suffer from the usual negative attitudes that most do!
Get him to the IAA tent at Salute!!!:D:D

Hivemind187

ricka wrote: »

Just read a profile of Enda Kenny and it says he's an avid fan and reader of military history.I've met many skirmishers in this business and I would say a large proportion share his interest.
I know this doesn't mean a great deal, but it may indicate he doesn't suffer from the usual negative attitudes that most do!
Get him to the IAA tent at Salute!!!:D:D

Fine Gael are well aware of the airsoft issue after the IAA approached them with a information package for politicians way back when. Their then shadow-minister for sport was very receptive and open minded about the issue.

Shiva

Hivemind187 wrote: »

Fine Gael are well aware of the airsoft issue after the IAA approached them with a information package for politicians way back when. Their then shadow-minister for sport was very receptive and open minded about the issue.

Charlie Flanagan was also very receptive, and if I remember correctly, he was their shadow minister for justice. Did he get elected again ?

ricka

Shiva wrote: »

Charlie Flanagan was also very receptive, and if I remember correctly, he was their shadow minister for justice. Did he get elected again ?

Yeah, think he topped the poll in my constituency-Laois Offaly.
Jesus this is all looking too good! next we'll have Eamonn Gilmore goes to Redbarn Sundays:D

TNTQ

ricka wrote: »

Eamonn Gilmore goes to Redbarn Sundays:D

Charlie dies and goes to heaven