abuse of fencers

[epeemancer]

this started as a secondary topic in another string and did really well. As fencers, what abuse do you suffer (mostly becuse you are to honerable to take out your sword and wack the guy over the head with it) btw, this applyes specially to the high-school setting because high-schoolers tend to be brainless morons that don't know a shoe from a foil I'm sure there are some great stories out there

[epeetaph]

how many examples would you like?

You have the time the evil jocks steal away your sword and you try and get it back and they say things like "ewww, what are you gonna do now?" and they are continually poking you with it. (while you are trying to keep a calm exterior...inside you imagine them in a fencing bout...cowering on the piste...screaming, "Please, please...I'm sorry, I'm sorry...I didn't know!"

Or, you have the time people look at your jacket with a fencing patch on it, and start to laugh, then ask, "Why on earth do you have a fencing patch on your jacket? That is like the dumbest, gayest thing I have ever seen!" (reminds me of another thread, eh? Gay meaning..."I wish I could do that".)

And after many times of both...you start to feel sorry for them, after all it's they who are missing out. Ah, the joys of a sport where killing people was the reason it was invented.

[Moonitic]

It's sad that people have to be that way. We didn't have fencing as a sport in my high school, & they would probably have treated me the same as you guys have been treated if I did have the opportunity. Fencing takes more brains than any sport out there, & people who bully you are obviously insecure about themselves.

I will say that sometimes we adults get it too. Those who know me are very supportive. Even people who just meet me. But there are those select few who hit a few branches on their fall down the family tree. Those people are easily ignored (in fact, laughed at)...but they have no business touching you OR your equipment. Try putting itching powder in their jock straps or something.

Remember: you're a fencer. Think like one. Outsmart the punks!

[MikeHarm]

In the long run if you have bully problems I think taking martial arts lessons would work a lot better. Once you develop a certain level of skill at fighting you'll find the situations where you'd need to fight dissapear after perhaps making an example or two out of some of them. If the aforementioned bullies still consider you weak they will probably give you a good pounding if you try the itching powder trick.

Mike

[FencerInUS]

You know, that itching powder thing is probably the cruelest thing someone can do. I mean it's worse than capitol punnishment. It's cruel and unusual

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F.I.US.
Parry, THEN riposte
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[Fleche]

Maybe we should have gangs of fencers who go around and scare all the jocks by looking intimidating with their swords . . . Sabreurs or epeeists would do the job nicely . . . show them that we can be tough without seeming like absolute idiots, as they manage to do . . . I still think it is rather stupid to be taunting people who have swords . . you never know, one day theya re going to crack and then watch out!

[epeemancer]

who said anything about LOOKING intimidating. (just kidding) I know what you mean about taunting ppl with swords it seems kind of wierd to me too, but hey you have to remember who were talking about here. these are ppl with IQ's in the single digits.

[epeetaph]

I think you give them too much credit there, epeemancer!

[Rapier9mm]

well i go to high school.
and here the prodominat sport is rugby - and they think they are so tough, usually they mock us, thinking its a pussy sport, but when tthey realise we aren't wearing armour, and you shouw them a stab wound and a couple of slice marks on your neck they tend tyo change their mind....

[HilandDoug]

Tell'em it hurts. That'll get their respect.

[Sunflash]

The only people who used to make fun of me was one of the hapkedo students who I used to go to school with. THat is until he said that I could bout him me with foil and him barehanded with a mask. My combination of fencing and martial arts made quick work by simply giving him about a hundred small bruises most in the foil target area scored my simple disengages so fast he couldn't recover and go in for a point(Hapkedo points sparing rules plus the addition of on target foil rules)and do to the halt and seperation after a point it became quit apperant why swords were so popular.

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Sunflash
Relizing more and more why living in the middle of no where sucks!

[Moonitic]

Itching powder in jock strap: JOKE

Just remember gang, if someone has to make fun of you for doing something, it means they're insecure. People secure in themselves don't need to be bullies.

[introspective]

I'm sorry, I really cannot believe that you are really and truly undergoing serious difficulties because of fencing. Maybe ask your gym teacher if he wouldnt mind hosting a fencing demonstration to educate your class.
The second part of this is: I don't understand what the difficulty is in wearing white slacks, that's really all they are: white slacks, no-one should have a problem with it, they wear white slacks in BASEBALL, they wear white slacks in FOOTBALL - can anyone add to this?

[This message has been edited by introspective (edited 01-05-2001).]

[RC]

Hey Moon, itching powder is nothing. I know one girl who solved a sexual harrassment problem with a come hither look, a kiss on the cheek, and a bottle of Absorbine Junior down the pants. OUCH! Where's the shower!

[RF]

Epeetaph,

just take your weapon back and walk away. They're obviously idiots, and when they immitate you they probably look really stupid. Just point out at some appropriate time that you are probably way better at fencing then they are at football or whatever they play. When I was in Highschool (not all that long ago) people used to make fun of us every once in a while, but they usually just looked really stupid. We'd just laugh at them and walk away. Granted, we weren't considered to be nerds, dorks or any of the above by the "jocks," but that was because they had to realize we were as much of a real sport as they were. Winning more than them tends to force that kind of recognition.

[Moonitic]

RC, that's my kind of girl!

[John]

Arrggggg!! I really wanted to stay out of this... In HS and college some of my good friends were "jocks." Although I wouldn't classify myself as a "jock," I did spend a lot of time around them. The one thing to realize is, it's not the sport/hobbies that "triggers" the heckling...it's all in how you carry yourself. If you don't comb you hair, don't wash your clothes, dress goofy or try to call attention to yourself/ or your hobbies (wear a large I love AD&D shirt), YES jocks will pick on you. Not that I agree with it, but it's a fact of being a teenager. And fwiw it's not always about being insecure, sometimes the person being picked on IS being a "dork" and kids just say "ha...you look stupid" (rather than adults who snicker as they walk away) The bottom line is, if you are confident in yourself, if you can laugh with them and realize they are only having fun (don't take it all so personal), then things are going to go much smoother. Also realize that sometimes, not all the time, that harmless bantering is really somebody saying, "I am curious about fencing, but don't know how to say it/ or am afraid to admit it with all my buddies around"

Also be aware...what we do looks goofy to the outsider. We are in all whites, waving a what looks like a "wet-noodle" of a blade with off-hand tip up like a sad version of "I'm a little tea pot". I think a little harmless bantering is to be expected.

[tsalyards]

The main reason fencers receive so much grief is that many of them are weeny-little gamer geeks unfit for anything athletic. No jock has ever grabbed my blade from me, they know better.

Be strong folks. This is a contact sport.

-Tad

[Mengarath the Dragon]

No offence John, love ya like a brother, but there speaks the experience of one who was never habitually ridiculed in high school. I agree that sometimes dorks are dorks and occasionally seem to go out of their way to prove it, but that doesn't mean they want or deserve riducule. Everyone should be treated with at least politeness even if on the inside you are wondering "What were they thinking? Plaid pants and a polka dot polo shirt?" However, I also know that no matter the circumstances that one loud mouthed, insecure group (usually the jocks or the popular kids) will FIND a reason because of the NEED to boost there own self esteem and proove themselves to their peers. You can turn the tables. I should know I did it. I went into HS as a weird, nerdy, skinny idiot. I came out a smart, mature, unique woman that nobody wanted to mess with. RC example is a good one. Ridicule can be overcome with maturity, or the illusion of it. The minute I answered "Sure, lover, you bring the rope and I'll bring the hot sauce." to the boy who always tauted me about my lack of boyfriends by asking "Hey, baby, my place tonight, right?" HE became the object of the laughter due to the color in his cheeks. :-) But think hard if you decide to play this game. There are a few rules.

Never provoke, only retatiate and only when in the provocation is worthy of retaliotion.
Never show anger, hurt, fear, or confusion (unless obviously feigned) no matter what you really feel.
Never believe in their taunts.
Never let yourself stoop to their level (don't ridicule others).
And never keep those emotions, the anger and pain you feel but don't show, bottled up. Find a way to release them, through exercise, a sympathetic ear, or writing them down, whatever. Don't let them fester and eat you up.
And never hate them. They are not worthy of your hate. It is far too strong an emotion to waste on someone who deserves your sympathy, understanding, and compassion instead.

Besides, it's only highschool. They'll grow out of it eventually and so will you. I think it is mostly a hormonal thing anyway.

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Mengarath the Dragon

Life is to short to be ordinary.

[Moonitic]

I wasn't a fencer in high school. But I was one of those "unpopular" people. Drama nerd, here. Flag twirler. I didn't bring attention to myself. I just did "my thing." I looked like the normal teenager, not a fashion model, not a "geek"...no one special. But there were times when some morons decided they needed to perk up their sagging egos.

Flash forward 10 years. I'll be going to my high school reunion this year. In fact, I'm one of the hostesses. They're going to see someone VERY different from the quiet, skinny girl they used to go to high school with. Fencing has helped in so many ways. While other women my age will moan about not losing their pregnancy weight, my exercising will have shown that not only have I lost it, I've gained muscle as well. I'm healthier now than ever. I'm strong. Physically, mentally, emotionally. And I'M the popular one now. People learn I'm a fencer & they're impressed, not amused. High school is only a few years compared to the rest of your life. Don't let the weenies bother you. They'll be the ones impressed with you at YOUR reunion!

Sorry, just had to do some musing. 10 years...whew!