CPX anti-camera campaign

This would be humorous if it weren't sort of pathetic.

Those of you who watch the FPS series know about the CPX stuff I've filmed. If not, it's on google video AND youtube. There are three videos out there that I filmed at CPX. One from the Oregon Scientific camera, one from my good cam, and one of the sign out in the front of the premises.



It's this sign footage that I think really made them angry. See, I still feel that it's a form of entrapment to tell people their bags are subject to search AFTER they've entered the park. It's like posting a speed limit sign facing away from oncoming traffic. I would normally have minimal problem with the policy except that there is no "choice" in the matter, and the circumstances as to why it even exists.

See, you walk into a rock concert. Before you do so, there's a sign that says "All patrons are subject to search". Ok, I haven't entered yet, and I can now decide if I want to subject myself to a possible search. If I don't want to be subject to it, I am free to not go in the door. I can choose to go in based on posted policy. HOWEVER, if that post is inaccessible and is basically sprung up on you at the last moment, I consider this entrapment. I was given no choice but to accept the policy as given to me. One visit to CPX I was physically intimidated into showing my bags contents or I would be "held and arrested", as told to be by a man dressed in a security uniform.

Software designers used to do this type of thing. There was a notice on software that said "By opening the box you agree to the terms and licenses. Terms and licenses are included inside the box." So you couldn't agree to the terms without opening the box and reading them, thereby agreeing to the terms you didn't have a chance to read until you opened the box.

I know why the sign is there, and the reason for the policy. Theft. A few years ago the local joke was "I'm going to Challenge Park, want me to steal a tank for you?" In 2004 at two separate scenario games, guns were stolen out of the main base under the referee's nose. It's common theory that the referees were the ones who did the stealing, as they were the only ones at the bases for the whole time. Apparently rental tanks, rental guns and goggles routinely went missing. The staff blamed it on the players, and the crackdown came on the player's shoulders, and not really on the staff's shoulders.

Keep in mind that in 2003, the referees went on strike. CPX kicked Forrest Brown out, the refs went on strike, and all the refs and people involved were fired and banned from the premises. So staff probelms are nothing new at this field. Granted, that was when Brass Eagle had the reigns, so I'll move on.

When I saw the search sign was still up I filmed it, and placed it on you tube with minimal commentary. It's been looked at 500+ times now. The last time I went to CPX the staff was very snotty at me, and I pretty much knew why. I mean I didn't exactly hide the video, and my 7.1 video didn't flinch when it came to how their field was run. I didn't include the footage of the kid who lifted his goggles on "Jungle of Doom" because that footage, honestly, sucked.

But a good buddy of mine asked me if I wanted to go to CPX this weekend. So I look on the website to see if there's a deal. And they have "new rules" posted in their airsoft section. I'm curious, I click. And rule #5 jumped out at me.

Taken from http://www.cpxsports.com/cpx_content/forms/airsoft.pdf

5. No personal cameras or video recording equipment will be allowed on the fields during play. There are no exceptions. Any violation will result in immediate and permanent removal from the park. No refunds will be issued.

Well hello there. I get a very distinct feeling that I single-handedly affected policy at CPX with a video camera, some basic editing software and a you-tube account. Granted, these are the "airsoft" rules. And granted, they have the rules for paintball posted but a lot of them are for their staff and not for the players. (Really, is the phrase "An argument is a challenge to your authority" a good thing to have posted on your website?) But that's kind of a new rule on me! NO personal cameras on the field of play? None?

Now here's the fun part of all this. The filming I do is not-for-profit. I don't make any money on the FPS series. I'm doing it to share the experience with the world. And it's unfiltered. WYSIWYG is the rule of my filming. If I suck, I admit it. If I don't I show it. The "real" paintball world isn't as nice as people want to sell you on. I have nothing to gain by showing what's going on in the paintball world.

Now CPX has just stated that they will not be allowing airsofters to film their own games. I can only imagine that this rule will also apply to paintball players as well, but seeing as it's not posted on the website it may be another "SURPRISE!" rule at CPX. I get a feeling that they instituted this rule because they saw my video work, and decided they don't want anyone else coming in and showing what happens there.

However, this produces a huge problem. If I'm not mistaken, people will bring "1-time use cameras" to the field. You stuff one in your pocket, you go play. Congrats, you've been PERMANENTLY banned from the field if a ref finds it in your pocket. If not, then the rule has no teeth and the selective enforcement of the rules smacks of lawsuits over discrimination.

Not to mention that there are SEVERAL videos on youtube from other airsofters / paintball players taken in this year showing games played. This is, for all intents and purposes, FREE ADVERTISING! So why slam that door? What are you so afraid of being shown? Is it simply media you don't control that scares you? OR are you afraid that players will pick up on the kinds of players and staff you get there and just not want to show up?

Now I also wonder if these rules are publicly posted anywhere on the premises? Not having been there in a while, I don't know. Then again, their sign about having bags searched is only readable on your way out or if you turn around once you enter, so why not post the rules of play on the exit of the field too? I also wonder if they make their rules available on request?

There's one other possibility to rule #5, and that's basic down to basic greed. CPX has a professional crew of photographers, and they charge you for prints of their digital photos. So it could really be that they won't let you take photos of yourself playing, but they'll be MORE than happy to charge you for photos of you playing.

Either way, I did some looking around. Hollywood sports have no such policy posted. Nor any other paintball field that I could see. So it makes me wonder, what is CPX afraid of? Granted when they got bought them out and ousted all the old staff they became more of a corporate entity. They then got mega-sponsorships with Tippmann, PMI and V-force. So now they have money they can lose on bad press.

When you look at their media page, the press they've gotten is VERY controlled. People like me or other players are wildcards. If a referee mouths off at a player again, and that player happens to be videotaping the incident, it can be a corporate disaster as they try to spin-doctor it to the other companies who put money into the CPX pocket. If indeed that's what's going on.

So thats another possibility, they could just want to have total control of their image. I know of several companies who pay internet users to deluge sites with "positive spin" about a product. And in paintball, in some cases, sponsorship deals include a clause that the members of a team may not say anything negative against the sponsor company. So it could be that the CPX corporates just want to have total control of what people think of them.

News flash, even DISNEY can't do that. If you screw people, they will say something. And if you tell people they can't film their games, believe me they'll find a way to do so without your knowledge. My camera is fairly obvious compared to what I could use. Given a few thousand dollars, I could get a camera rig undetectable by 99% of the referees in the world. And once it hits the net, you can't stop it.

Just to think. All of this over one sign. Now if they posted another sign like it on the ENTRANCE, instead of the "no outside food and drinks" sign, this all could have been a non-issue. Now I'm fair. I'm willing to give CPX a chance to respond. My blog is publicly accessible and anyone can reply to it. I invite CPX to have their spin doctors write up a reply and post it on this blog space. I promise you it will not be deleted, edited nor altered in any way by myself.

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