"only Rubes wear bandanas" and other myths

[broncofencer]

Originally Posted by cornflower

Seriously, how many people around here wear hats underneath their masks with the bill facing backwards? I once saw a chick do that.

I do at practice but not in tournaments.
I wear the bandana or headband during tournamnets. I find it helps keep the sweat out of my eyes of course so does vasaline on the eyebrows. (trick I learned when i ran track also used by boxers) I also find it helps with my hair and keeps my glasses in place better.
isn't there a penalty for stalling and 2 of the specific example given are girls fixing their hair repetedly and fencers "going to the towel" I don't remember where I read that last paqrt but I remeber reading it.

[oso97]

Originally Posted by broncofencer

isn't there a penalty for stalling and 2 of the specific example given are girls fixing their hair repetedly and fencers "going to the towel" I don't remember where I read that last paqrt but I remeber reading it.

I remember hearing a story once about a female fencer who was having trouble with her hair falling down on her lame. None of the various hair things she had with her were working, so she grabbed some masking tape and taped it up.

Gotta be an urban legend though

[Mr Epee]

Originally Posted by oso97

I remember hearing a story once about a female fencer who was having trouble with her hair falling down on her lame. None of the various hair things she had with her were working, so she grabbed some masking tape and taped it up.

Gotta be an urban legend though

Possibly,

It sounds a little like those stories about a director who got frustrated with a particular fencer's socks falling down constantly, so he made the kid wrap his hairy legs with duct tape.

Not that there's nec anything wrong with UL's when using them to teach (read: scare little kids, like the Brothers Grimm and Jesus did) but as adults we shouldn't pass them off as Gospel.

[tkrivosh]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

There are certain assumptions I make about fencers when it comes to appearance. Some signs I use to determine a low amount of skill is:

~Brand spankin' new FIE whites, plus new FIE mask and a pair of Adidas shoes without any wear marks
~Bandanna (hey, every guy (but not girl) I've fenced who wears them was kinda bad)
~How long it takes them to hook up to the strip
~They type of blade they use (the better people tend to have FIEs)
~type of grip (anything but a visconti or a thick french grip on an epee)
~unfamiliarity with the rules, procedures in a bout, etc.
~and, in general, their level of comfort with their setting.

That's about all I can think of now. No individual indicator is a garuntee, but if they add up, they tend to point in a direction.

Come on, FIE stuff is just practical, especially if you fence 4-5 times per week, 3 hours minimum. All the other stuff breaks way too soon. And yes, sometimes I do buy lots of new equipment for my son (it is him who fences, not me) at the competition, because we all know it is cheaper that way.

[shlepzig]

I personally wear a cycling cap.

Being of the bald pursuasion I do not have a hairline to absorb the large amount of sweat that rolls down my head. Your hair actually picks a up a huge amount of the stuff (and your eyebrows too, don't even try to fence without those).

Bandannas were a pain the tookus for me to keep on my big dome, and the knot in the back interfered with my mask placement.

I tried the baseball hat thing, and the bill gave me trouble. I have seen others that dealt with that well. The answer for me was the classic cycling cab/helmet liner which I had several lying around the house. The caps is close fitting and the bill is small and folds very flat to fit under the head-strap.

I would also hate to get carded for trying to blind my opponent with my shiny head.

As for socks. I also wear colored socks. I had some white fencing socks but they were a pain, didn't fit over my calves and were uncomfortable. I had bought a dozen or so soccer socks for my son which were made to contain shin guards. He quit playing soccer and they fit wonderfully, to make a short-story long, I wear soccer socks now.

People have underestimated me because I don't have my name on the back of my jacket. When I bought it years ago I did not have 10 bucks to spare. I have not yet had to buy a new one, and have not had the time to head to a NAC or such. That first impression rarely lasts for a touch or two I am happy to say.

Every fencer deserves to be taken seriously, whether they are in shiny new FIE whites, or a princess bride quoting fashion victim who has made unfortunate facial hair choices. Good sportsmanship demands it. Poor sportsmanship should not be tolerated silently.

Shlep.

[Mr Epee]

Originally Posted by shlepzig

Every fencer deserves to be taken seriously, whether they are in shiny new FIE whites, or a princess bride quoting fashion victim who has made unfortunate facial hair choices. Good sportsmanship demands it. Poor sportsmanship should not be tolerated silently.

Poor sportsmanship is not limited to arguing calls, screaming obscenities, and tossing equipment around the gym.

Show up and don't know the rules? Poor Sportsmanship

Blabbering about how X's is an ugly fencer (after X beat you)? Poor Sportsmanship

Showing up at a competition dressed like a pirate and screaming, ARGH!, when you get hit? Poor Sportsmanship



Some people work and train very hard in this sport, and most receive little, or often NO reward. If you take an activity seriously, it is very frustrating/annoying, when others clearly don't...

Fencing is a small sport and luckily we are moving away from the days when 2 weeks of fencing, a USFA membership, and the entry fee to an NAC would have you competing against Olympic Athletes/Hopefuls.

This allows most of the Bandanna Dorks to be cut before they trash up the major competitions... but in a theater near you? Caveat Emptor

[Mr Epee]

el chucko -- unrepentant

Reawl -- reformed

BroncoFencer -- reformed*

Cfaustus -- unrepentant

Melihop -- Forced

Swordsen -- Degrading

DPF Hadouken -- reformed

Lefty Monster -- Making Excuses

Sandworm -- Making Excuses

bmc fencer -- Legacy Accesory

Morion -- Slipping towards sin

Purple Fencer -- Possibly reformed

Thinkbackwards -- Has a sister in sin.

*broncofencer -- closet wearer

schlepzig -- converted to some whacky alternative!

----------------------------

I'm not seeing an emergent pattern to contradict the seemingly appropriate stigmatization of bandana dorks... but wear 'em, if it makes ya feel better.

[cfaustus]

Oh, Mr. Epee! You are so funny!

If you put as much time into your fencing as you do to cultivating your hobby as an insult comic, then you must indeed be the best fencer the world has ever seen.

[Be_Like_Water]

Originally Posted by kalivor

I disagree. You're allowed to have colour on your uniform now -- sure, some of the older fencers earned their stripes in the days where you had to wear all-white, but you won't get carded for having coloured socks. Or pants. Or jacket. Or lame. Or mask.

On the other hand, it's easier and cheaper to buy white stuff -- that's the standard colour. And the *way* you fence provides far more individuality than a red lame and mask with green socks and "CLAUS" written across the back of the lame. When you're good, you don't need to look crazy to get people to watch your bouts anymore.

Actually, socks are to be white at national and international competitions. This rule is not eforced very well, though.

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by tkrivosh

Come on, FIE stuff is just practical, especially if you fence 4-5 times per week, 3 hours minimum. All the other stuff breaks way too soon. And yes, sometimes I do buy lots of new equipment for my son (it is him who fences, not me) at the competition, because we all know it is cheaper that way.

Uh-huh, but kids who fit into all the gear properly *last* year aside ... adults generally don't have to replace everything at once. While it's possible that you're facing a very good fencer and recent lottery winner in these situations, for the most part everything brand new = brand new fencer, too.

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by Be_Like_Water

Actually, socks are to be white at national and international competitions. This rule is not eforced very well, though.

Amusing! Blue legs are OK, but blue socks are out!

[Mr Epee]

Originally Posted by cfaustus

Oh, Mr. Epee! You are so funny!

If you put as much time into your fencing as you do to cultivating your hobby as an insult comic, then you must indeed be the best fencer the world has ever seen.

I have not yet defeated Kulcsar's Grandmother... she's crafty like ice is cold.

And for the record, I have personally logged well over 10,000 legimate* training hours over my fencing career.

So I would probably be even funnier, if I hadn't wasted all that time :-)

* This doesn't include just talking about fencing.

[fencerchica]

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

Fencing is a small sport and luckily we are moving away from the days when 2 weeks of fencing, a USFA membership, and the entry fee to an NAC would have you competing against Olympic Athletes/Hopefuls.

This allows most of the Bandanna Dorks to be cut before they trash up the major competitions... but in a theater near you? Caveat Emptor

I think this really is excessively harsh and uncalled for. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, and even at a NAC (Div2 or Div3, it'd have to be) it's not like the so-called "bandanna dork" is really taking any skin off an Olympic hopeful's nose by taking his 0-15 thrashing. What's the point in being petty to the n00bs? Educate by example, distribute shutout beatdowns where needed (shouldn't that be revenge enough?), and move on with your life.

Seriously, anyone who goes into a bout at any competition thinking "Geez, why do I even have to bother fencing this bandanna-wearing loser," is exhibiting a pretty childish mentality and isn't someone I'd ever have any respect for, regardless of rating or bandanna-less status.

[dilznik]

I didn't think we were making fun of n00bs, I thought we were being the fashion police on certain people who dress silly. If Ralf Bissdorf showed up with striped socks with Tigger on them he'd fall WAY down the list of Irrational Ranking Based On Opinion even though he would thrash probably everyone on this board (in foil anyway).
But if I was a n00b, which thanks to the timing changes I basically am, I wouldn't go around drawing attention to myself with sparkling super curly shoelaces. I'd just take my drubbing anonymously and rub my hands together and plan for when I'm good muttering "oh they'll see... they'll seeeeee precioussssss..."

[Mr Epee]

Handing out thrashings is boring and distracting.

It's disruptive to your competition....

Yes, I know, a good fencer should be able to adapt to their environment/situation, blah-blah... but hooking in against a guy/gal who doesn't know which end of the weapon to hold is unnecessary ...

[poor_nizzie]

So, if I were to show up to an NCAA meet wearing one red sock and one white sock (my college colors), I would be perceived as foolish and n00b-esque (my lack of USFA classification aside)?
I don't see anyone giving those PdF kids a hard time for wearing club-color socks...I think it shows club/school spirit and it's a touch of individuality!

[dilznik]

Here it is in black and white: No one wins in silly socks.

Here it is in German: niemand gewinnt mit sau blöde strumpfhosen.

Now you'll just have to fence harder and win to prove me wrong!

[broncofencer]

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

Handing out thrashings is boring and distracting.

It's disruptive to your competition....

Yes, I know, a good fencer should be able to adapt to their environment/situation, blah-blah... but hooking in against a guy/gal who doesn't know which end of the weapon to hold is unnecessary ...

Meanwhile they are thinking jeez why does my money that I actually go to work and earn support a bunch of pompus olympic wannabes who think they are to good to fence me.

[dilznik]

Originally Posted by broncofencer

Meanwhile they are thinking jeez why does my money that I actually go to work and earn support a bunch of pompus olympic wannabes who think they are to good to fence me.

Funny. I was just sitting here thinking "jeez, why does my money that I actually go to work and earn support Rene Roch's private jet trips to places I've never been where he makes irrational decisions that wreck my sport further and further."
But that's another thread...

[broncofencer]

Originally Posted by dilznik

Here it is in black and white: No one wins in silly socks.

Here it is in German: niemand gewinnt mit sau blöde strumpfhosen.

Now you'll just have to fence harder and win to prove me wrong!

Apparently no one wins when their mask smells like a Czech brothel either.