BandanaDan

Like most hobbies it can be hit and miss, pun intended. Being outdoors, getting some exercise and letting off some steam sometimes safely are all good things. But it is what you make of it really in regards to the social side. Site staff can be a good laugh and help to introduce good players to each other. Otherwise between games, just walk round and ask to have a look at someone’s gun or plate carrier. You will soon find out the chatty and friendly people from the sullen loaners. Let’s not forget though that we can all have a bad week at home or guns playing up etc. so don’t write people off after one interaction. I have made one of the best friends since my school days, which was 25 years ago through Airsoft. Friendships are very important for mental health and actually physical health according to recent studies too. As there seems to be a men’s mental health crisis, I think Airsoft and other shoulder to shoulder hobbies are perfect to help men talk to each other. Being lonely is an epidemic that is spreading hand in hand with social media craze. So use forums and such but also have face to face chats with as many people as you can.

I am not sure if anyone has bought it up already in here, as I am a new member. But my local site Red1 in Chislehurst SE London has recently closed due to some new council planning issues. It is however not the end for Red1, they have found an exits site not too far away at Ultimate Wargames. So hopefully anyone on here looking to play and have some banter with Jason, Howard, Rob and Johnathan (the usual suspects). They are all still operating nearby but now in a site about 8-10x larger than Chislehurst! They will still run their games every fortnight on Sundays only as before. New address: 33 School Lane, Horton Kirby, DA4 9DQ