Stealing Stuff

[mrbiggs]

This isn't public, so be honest, do you steal fencing stuff?

[mackillian]

Nope. I put money and time into my gear and couldn't imagine taking anyone else's. I have a guilt complex worse that a catholic jew.

[LUDICROUS]

Originally Posted by mackillian

Nope. I put money and time into my gear and couldn't imagine taking anyone else's. I have a guilt complex worse that a catholic jew.

HAHAHAH! First "i sweat like a prostitute in a church", now this!

But I agree, I'd never nick fencing gear. Someone stealing mine would face deliberately broken blade attack

Especially in New Zealand, european fencing gear (what most people have) is NOT cheap. 230$ or so for my allstar foil lame, it'll be another 20$ or so to have my name on the back! Besides, most fencers I know are decent people. Maybe a little arrogant or stuck up, but they wouldn't think of stealing...

[ThatReallyHurt]

I've got a very fair complexion, so when I'm embarassed or mad, it really shows... I can imagine how much I'd be glowing if I tried to steal something - someone would see through it right away.

This has so far put a few kinks into my plan of taking over the world...

[Purple Fencer]

I have a foil body cord someone left at my table to fix during a high school tourney this year. I've put the word out, but no one's called me or come to the table to claim it. My policy...I put the word out...no takers, it's mine.

[ThatReallyHurt]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

I have a foil body cord someone left at my table to fix during a high school tourney this year. I've put the word out, but no one's called me or come to the table to claim it. My policy...I put the word out...no takers, it's mine.

That's certainly fair - you made the effort to return it to its rightful owner.

[noodle]

i've taken stuff inadvertantly before.
for example, i think i've picked up people's body cords if they were lying around next to my cords. right now i've only ever purchased two epee body cords, but i have 3. i used to have 4 but someone also yoinked one of mine. i have no clue where or when i picked up the extras and they were unmarked.

i wouldn't do it on purpose, though, thats crappy. someone walked up to one of my friends' rollbag, zipped it up and rolled away with it with all of her gear and her purse and stuff. that kind of stuff sucks.

[Avanti]

I don’t like it when someone walks away with something that belongs to me, so that’s why I would never steal.

[AndrastVitesse]

I would never steal someone's equipment. Fencing equipment is pretty expenive and I would hate it if any one stole mine.

borrowing, on the other hand........

[MyrddinsPrecint]

so, a piece of my equipment was stolen. i needed it to fence. a friend of mine had an extra, that was slightly broken. i asked if i could borrow it, i was allowed. i fixed it, used it, and i haven't returned it yet. that was almost a year ago. said friend doesn't actually need it, couldn't get much money for it, and hasn't ever asked for it back.

that's the closest i've gotten. i would return it if the person asked.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Absolutely not!

Knowing that we all put a lot of money into our sport, as equipment doesn't run cheap, I would never steal from someone.

That said, if someone stole from me I'd get medieval on them...

[Pauli]

Ok, I'm an honest person, even hate lying......although sometimes you won't get around it - but then it's justified.
I'd even return totally full wallets I found in a train or on the street. Just because I know what it means to loose your wallet and get it back with all in it. Fine feeling. Shows that some people still respect the "yours" and "mine" in this world which has anyhow already gotten too much "ours".

[Alain]

No way, I'd never steal in general. Especially fencing stuff - I've been at competitions and handed in lost weapons, bodywires, wallets... the way I look at it is that if you're decent enough to hand in someone's belongings, then it gives them hope of there being good people out there; one day, one of those people might hand in the stuff you lose yourself.

One piece of advice, though, is to name all your kit. My weapons and bodywires are all engraved - inside the guard - so they're easier to identify.

[Gav]

What? What a daft question. Why would we the fencing public want to steal from our brethren - much less admit to it? I know of one person who has. shall we say, a justified reputation... but they are not allowed to join any club I know.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I needed a contact spring at nationals.... I couldnt find the owner, I stole one, and left a $1 and a note of apology.

[CvilleFencer]

I must have handed in close to a $1000 dollars of equipment to the bout committee over the years, even before I started doing armoring and became a division officer. If I ever found out someone in my division was theiving fencing gear I would make damn sure EVERYONE in mine and surround divisions new of it, and every time I say him come into a venue I would call out something to effect of "Lock down your Kit, X is in the venue and he is a thief". One of the great things about being a really big guy is that I can get away with stuff like that. Seriously, if you know someone is a thief in your divisions, not think, not they may have accidently picked up something once, but they actively steal gear then make sure everyone you know is aware of it. In a small and close community like fencing, at least on a divisional scale, shunning and public shaming can be very effective!

[acaba]

I clicked "Whenever I can" because I then re-sell the stolen equipment to support my $200/day crack habbit. Like the crack MrBiggs is on that made him start this thread.

[esskreemr]

Wonder how much you can get for fencing off fencing gear.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by TrollyMcTroll

Whenever people have gear, I tend to steal it. It's very good for the equipment industry, as these people have to go on and buy more equipment. I'm servicing the market.

Ladies & Gentlemen....I give you the person with the most honest screen name on this board!!

We're too small a community to steal from each other...

[Insipiens]

ridiculous thread.

of course not.

That said, some people seem to - see this page from the BFA's stylish website:

http://www.britishfencing.com/theft.html