Is your weapon, "tactical" or "tacticool"...

Just to break up some of the usual "stuff" we see online, I want to discuss today the term "TactiCOOL"

From the "Urban Dictionary":

Tacticool 

Derived from the word "Tactical".
1. Descriptive word for equipment or clothing that does not have any tactical purpose; but looks cool.
2. A person who is a city dweller; but wishes to look like an warrior or as if they are/were in the armed forces.
3. Appearance that mimics military or martial arts.

Hummer H2 is a very tacticool SUV.

         When it comes to airsoft guns, I often hear that an accessory is for "Real Steel" so that makes it sooooo much better to have on your replica, in many cases that is true. If it was built to withstand the heat and recoil of a real firearm than buy reason it will likely last better on your replica. Sometimes you use those same accessorizes for both real steel shooting and airsoft so then it makes sense to purchase the best you can get. I have a high magnification sniper scope that I often have used in airsoft games as it does the job for me but its zoom reaches FAR beyond what my rifle reaches so if I had purchased it ONLY for airsoft it would be ridiculous. While we all start with the same basic guns, most of us upgrade them internally to increase range, ROF and dependability, and that's a given.    

       So I don't see tactiCOOL so much as the gun, but the ACCESSORIES attached to it. Most of the replicas in their basic external form serve the purpose for which they are designed. We do all tend to "customize" our guns to serve our individual tastes or play styles. 

So where do you draw that line?

We have all seen it or done it ourselves, Flashlights mounted when we never play at night, Lasers that we have not once used other than to drive our cat or dog crazy, Paint jobs that will only blend in the Willy Wonka chocolate factory, the list goes on and on. 

If an accessory solves a legitimate problem or makes a gun easier to use then I think it is tactiCAL. 

       However, when the accessory just makes the gun more "scary" or is more for "looks" then I think you are bordering on or crossing the line of tactiCOOL (these are things that add weight and bulk, but no real use for them).

I think the dividing line is your motivation.

Functionality versus that special tingly feeling. And a good rule of thumb is: If you find yourself posing in the mirror with it, or worse yet posing in front of a mirror and posting the pictures of you doing so on Facebook, it's probably tactiCOOL and you should stop.

 

Padre' out...