Trash Talk During Competition

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Within reason, if the guys know each other, I don't have a problem with it. If they are doing that to people they don't know, I do.
I have never been at a match where something like this was way over the top. I have been to lots of matches where friends messed with each other a little bit: again, not way over the top.

I was once at a small club match in November and the winner won a turkey. At the end of the match there was a three way tie, so as a tie breaker, we had to make an off-hand shot at a steel plate at 370 yards. So one guy missed, and the other guy and myself hit it. So now we have a second shoot-off. The other guy hits it. So now it's up to me. Just as I was ready to fire, both the other guy and his wife yelled and I missed. It kind of annoyed me. I wasn't super upset because I didn't really care about winning the turkey but I thought it was childish at best. If I had known it was going to happen, I would have told them to take the turkey if it means that much to them. Which I am pretty sure it meant nothing to them: they just wanted to win by whatever means nessessary.
 
"When Peter talks about Paul, you learn more about Peter than you do about Paul."
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Sure, but in this case we're talking about sports style "trash talk," it sounds like. Common in some sports, it is a tactic used deliberately to throw off the other guy and mess with his head so he doesn't perform up to his potential.

In basketball, for example, it's common. In golf it would be most unwelcome.

In IDPA it's simply against the rules.



Now, to be completely clear: A little back-and-forth "trash talking" among friends in the squad during the lulls between shooters can be perfectly fine and just part of the fun. I have pals who are close enough personally that we kid around and mess with each other between stages, while pasting targets, etc. There's nothing wrong with that at all and things would have to be pretty extreme before an SO would need to take action to stop that. (Like, for example, if he's being interrupted during reading of the stage description, or shooters are making noise while he's talking to the shooter on the line.)

However, the OP specifically said "during shooting" and "shouting disparaging comments at the shooters" which I take to mean that a) this is going on WHILE someone is shooting, and b) this isn't welcome banter among close friends.
 
Besides being juvenile, yelling at a shooter can be a safety problem for the RO or safety personnel. If an emergency cease fire is called the shooter may not hear the command because of the cat calling.
 
Unfortunately there are those raised in a sports environment who think that trash talk is just part of a lifestyle and who bring it into areas where it's not welcome.

I believe that if we tried to post trash talking verbatim in this thread it would be closed immediately. If that doesn't represent a standard of High Road conduct then what does?
 
Agree with all the others; if it is good natured between friends, and not happening when one of them is on the line, fine. Anything else is not acceptable, and can and should be addressed with one warning given.

If nothing else, it is a safety issue when the shooter needs to be concentrating on communicating with the RO.

Beyond that, there are sports were it is accepted as part of the culture (most team physical sports), and those where it is not (golf, bowling, etc). Shooting sports are far more closely aligned with the latter.
 
Not good form. It's against the rules for one thing. Also, not that I expect anything to happen, but I just wouldn't talk smack to someone I know for fact has a loaded firearm, especially if we weren't friends
 
Opening Post: "... During shooting competition these two members shout disparaging comments at the shooters. ... Has anyone experienced this at shooting events?"

Terse answer:

No.

Teal Deer version:

I have never experienced this in black powder cartridge, modern military, vintage military, .22 silhouette, muzzle loading, or skeet events I have participated in. Most matches only the Range Officer is allowed to speak with few exceptions (you must report if you are not ready to fire, or have had a stoppage due to malfunction, or spotted deer or turkey crossing the target area -- that sorta thing). Distraction is contrary to good safety practices. Between events everyone is courteous and offer help, pointers and advice to each other.
 
I've never seen it ... but I wouldn't be surprised if the smack-talking makes its way into the shooting sports, the way things are going. It's sad if it's happening, since the camaraderie, courtesy and respect among competitive shooters is something I've always appreciated. But, I've noticed golf crowds getting unrulier over the years, too.

Talking smack during a pick-up basketball game down in the schoolyard or the Y isn't even close to the environment where the players are using loaded firearms and have to maintain their focus ...
 
Be surprised if anybody could actually hear hecklers while shooting. However, it's not the job of club officers to control the manners of spectators. It's the RO/RSO's job. Yelling at shooters could cause a safety issue. Anybody doing that on my range would be told to stifle themselves forthwith though. Shooting is not a children's game.
 
I have told people to pipe down before a shooter starts if it is un reasonably loud before.
I am not an RO, but I don't appreciate people being inconsiderate.

Trash talk during a shooter's stage would be stopped ASAP at my club and people would be getting a stern talking to by the match director, other shooters, me, whoever comes first.

A second offense would likely be somekind of penalty for unsportsman like conduct.

after that, they are likely going to get booted.

Feel free to speak up. I highly suspect that you are not the only one bothered by this behavior.
If they give you trash, invite the match director to the conversation.

Keep it polite and professional. First guy to lose his cool, loses.
 
I have seen friendly jabs at matches, received and given them to good friends.

If someone is shooting no one is shouting anything except "stop" if there is a safety issue the RO has not already addressed. Every other command is up to the RO.

IDPA has it laid out pretty clear, in the code of conduct.
"
I.) I will refrain from any action that distracts shooters, safety officers, and other competitors during the match.

L.) I will not communicate with others in a threatening, harassing, or abusive manner.

O.) If I have a question or an issue, my first contact is with the CSO at the match, then the MD, then the AC, then IDPA HQ.
P.) I understand that violations of these responsibilities and Code of Conduct will result in my being penalized by the MD within the full range of penalties up to and including disqualification from a match, and may result in the revocation of my IDPA membership."

http://tc-idpa.org/idpa-shooter-responsibilities-and-code-of-conduct/
 
Guy B. Meredith said:
I like to point out to anti gunners the high level of sportsmanship in the shooting sports. In my opinion anything other than the highest standards of sportsmanship is unacceptable.
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Ditto. I always mention how polite and helpfull the shooting community is. The OP didn't mention the age of the shooters but I've noticed some of the new crop that are Rambos on the video games aren't the safest with a real gun. I've heard more stories of dangerous/rude shooters in the last 10 years than I ever heard in the previous 35.
 
Thank you all for your responses. I didn't think it was unreasonable for me to be upset with the behavior of these two shooters. I'll give you a little more information.

The club members are mostly 65 years old and above. These two loud and obnoxious shooters are about 35. Everyone just tolerates their antics. A few have stopped shooting because they got tired of it.

Last Saturday the situation worsened. There are now other new and younger shooters joining in shouting. It was really bad. Finally, the SO stepped up and asked everyone to quiet down. The atmosphere improved after that. But these new shooters are changing the dynamics of the club.

A few of us are considering forming a new club for seniors only.
 
RioShooter said:
Thank you all for your responses. I didn't think it was unreasonable for me to be upset with the behavior of these two shooters. I'll give you a little more information.

The club members are mostly 65 years old and above. These two loud and obnoxious shooters are about 35. Everyone just tolerates their antics. A few have stopped shooting because they got tired of it.

Last Saturday the situation worsened. There are now other new and younger shooters joining in shouting. It was really bad. Finally, the SO stepped up and asked everyone to quiet down. The atmosphere improved after that. But these new shooters are changing the dynamics of the club.

A few of us are considering forming a new club for seniors only.
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Wow
It seems to me getting control of things would be easier than starting a new club. Can you get leadership together to meet and address this? If so, get them to send out the rules and make sure this won't be tolerated and violators will be asked to stop, then will be ejected.

If not, good luck with your new club.
 
I forgot to mention one other important factor in this situation; one of the "thirtysomethings" is friends with the range owner. He is aware of the problem and doesn't consider it serious enough to eject the shooters. We are a small club, and we need his range more than he needs us. If we cross him , we could lose our shooting venue.
 
I've shot sporting clays, trap, skeet, etc. and have experienced both. I prefer the no comment or a "nice shot" comment now and then and dislike the so-called "good natured ribbing". That said, there is a difference between good natured ribbing and giving someone a hard time. The latter is just low-class and shouldn't be tolerated. I have a long time friend who does a lot of good natured ribbing; "joking around" he calls it. Which was his response when I told him "enough already". He is not a shooting companion which is one place I would never tolerate it. However, I generally think we should all just chill and not get worked up over trivial crap. Loud mouthed guys usually weed themselves out over time.
 
I cannot imagine getting actually upset with one of my buddies for doing a little trash talking during a match.

Equally:

I cannot imagine trash talking a stranger who makes his/her disenjoyment of such trash talking evident.

Sounds like these clowns learned their human relations skills over a video game server.
 
Trash talk before and during someone's course of fire is not very sportsman-like. Yelling up "Who called the plumber?" when they are picking up brass is perfectly acceptable. Say no to crack kids!

Mike
 
RioShooter said:
A few of us are considering forming a new club for seniors only.
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Please don't. As a young guy, I'm always disappointed to find that all the old sane guys have retreated behind a No Youngsters sign and left me with the juvenile delinquents. Improve your situation instead of abandoning it.
 
One other thought: Are/were the "old guys" friendly to new shooters? I have found that it's not that hard to cultivate a friendly, happy atmosphere at matches if the established crowd and people running the match are affirmatively welcoming to new shooters. OTH, if the "regular crowd" is kind of closed off and gruff, you can expect new shooters to pick up on that... and perhaps try to create their own sub-culture, perhaps divorced from, or antagonistic to, the primary culture of the match.

Not saying that's what happened here, just raising it as a possibility. I run a weekly USPSA match, and I'm very, very proud of the culture that we have. We're known as a friendly club where new shooters (of all different backgrounds) get embraced and feel comfortable. That's not universal. It's not hard, but it does take a little effort.
 
ATLDave said:
One other thought: Are/were the "old guys" friendly to new shooters? I have found that it's not that hard to cultivate a friendly, happy atmosphere at matches if the established crowd and people running the match are affirmatively welcoming to new shooters. OTH, if the "regular crowd" is kind of closed off and gruff, you can expect new shooters to pick up on that... and perhaps try to create their own sub-culture, perhaps divorced from, or antagonistic to, the primary culture of the match.
Not saying that's what happened here, just raising it as a possibility. I run a weekly USPSA match, and I'm very, very proud of the culture that we have. We're known as a friendly club where new shooters (of all different backgrounds) get embraced and feel comfortable. That's not universal. It's not hard, but it does take a little effort.
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Our club has a very welcoming culture. We go out of our way to help new shooters. We know IDPA can be somewhat intimidating; we do what we can to keep new shooters from quitting. Our one shortcoming is being too tolerant of obnoxious behavior.
 
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