IF Lexan masks WILL save Fencing's Olympic status should... Please read post before!

[cfaustus]

Did you read my post before you voted NO?!!
For the purpose of this poll I am asking you to among other things:

Please assume that:
- Lexan masks are safe (they have been passed by the FIE and medical commission but I don't want to get into an argument about their safety)
- There is a real danger that Fencing will be kicked out of the Olympics if we don't adopt Lexan masks.

What is the point in raising both the safety issue (which I have asked you to forget) and wether or not the see through masks will help (when I asked you to assume that they would)!!!!!! and then voting no on the basis of facors that I have asked you to ignore

Could the people that chose to vote on this PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure that they have read and UNDERSTAND what I am asking before they vote.

Pretty please

By the assumptions you are trying to lead us to an answer. This is precisely the same as what the FIE and IOC are trying to do in forcing us to implement them. They assume that clear masks will increase the appeal of the sport and as such are forcing us to join them in this leap of faith. I happen to agree with JEC that better refereeing is more important for the appeal of our sport.

Even assuming everything that you wish us to assume (including that staying in the Olympics is a good thing), do I think that pandering to the whims of the IOC and the networks at the sake of ridiculous changes to the sport is worth it? No. I would rather fencing be removed from the Olympics than to see it so corrupted. Safety and aesthetics asside, to me it is a matter of principle. When you say that the masks will "save" fencing, what do you mean? Is saving its place in the Olympics worth degrading the sport itself... I fail to see how this is true 'salvation'.

The trouble is, the more the IOC tries to popularize things, the more they lower the actual value of the Olympics. I think they did this when they allowed pro athletes. I think they are doing this as the consider adding 'sports' like golf... GOLF!?! Why not Lawn Darts? or Bocce Ball? Or maybe table Fussball next? After a few more decades of this I would not be surprised to see Ultimate Wrestling make viable a bid to be in the Olympics. When popularity is the end goal, the Olympics ceases to be a paradigmatic example of human endeavor, and becomes simply bread and circuses. At that point, one has to ask whether one even wants to be associated with something so ludicrous.

What will 'save' fencing? Making it afordable. Making it accessible. Marketing it as something every mom and dad wants their kid to be in. Think of ballet. Think of music classes. One does not need to be come a virtuoso in these to benefit from learning and practicing them. This is why so many of us in our youth probably had to have piano lessons or dance lessons or some such. Fencing is one of those arts which at one time was considered 'good for you'. If we can resurrect this attitude on a grass roots level, get people truly involved an understanding the benefits and beauty of fencing, then we might have a chance at 'saving' fencing.

[Morion]

Based on all of the initial assumptions I would have to vote yes since it would really not affect the vast majority of the worlds fencers.

In response to most of the debate I read in the last couple of pages I would be inclined to agree with something that Inq said. I think that the IOC is going to drop Fencing no matter what. There is no telling what politics are causing them to be so covert about it but I'm sure they want to make room for "sports" with broader appeal such as topless womens team beach vollyball. Whatever else may be involved you can be sure the root cause is money.