stupid questions asked by non-fencers

[D'Artag-NOT]

"Picket or chicken wire?"

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that one, I could buy custom-tailored FIE gear.

[parrythis]

(derogatorily) "Is it true what they say about fencers?"
Me: (sternly) "That they always make their point?"

(after finding out about electric weapons) "Do you get a shock when your opponent hits you?" (Like something out of The Avengers)
Me: No.

[Asprin]

Originally Posted by qatet

Awww, my youth students ask me that all the time. I find it endearing. I tell them it's the bodies from my last youth class.

I was just asked be the night security whether there was a body in the bag and my friend said "there's two, all dismembered!"

[SSMSabreMN]

Yeah I've gotten the usual "Do you use real swords?!" "Do you actually stab people?"

My personal favorite- "Have you ever killed anyone?"

or... "So you actually think playing with sticks is a real sport?"

and then my uncle was planning on calling me up one of these days and having a conversation something like this-
Him: So I hear you're doing fencing now?
Me: Yep... I am
Him: Great, I'm going to need a nice split rail fence for the backyard at the new house for this summer...
Me: *hangs up*

My family just loves making fun of the whole fencing thing... ahh well.

[engarde5990]

i HATE when people say i "play" fencing. i play a sport yes. but i FENCE. it is a verb.
you cant soccer, but you damn well can fence.

[MessiahFencing]

Common questions:

why are you moving back and forth right now?

is a foil made of foil?...

What's with the white clothes, can we wear black ( emo kids on team )

Why dont we wear chainmail ( why dont we use real swords then )

Why does my groin hurt?

Why do you hold your [off] hand like that?

Wow, are you gay? ( what's with fencing and people thinkings its gay? )

so when does the fun begin....?

why do you poke men like that? why is the groin a target? Is this a joke...?

[the maple epee]

"How many people have you fought?"

[ParryRiposte]

When people ask (daily) if anyone gets killed, I regale them with stories of horrific fencing accidents (like the one at nationals last year). Then I brag that I've killed a few people. Oddly enough, most of them actually believe me.

[engarde5990]

what happened at nationals last year?

[PeterGustafsson]

Originally Posted by MessiahFencing

Wow, are you gay? ( what's with fencing and people thinkings its gay? )

Ask them if they would send their sisters your way.
Anyway, I don´t understand this gay angle. I have never heard such a connection being made by Swedish non-fencers.

Originally Posted by MessiahFencing

why is the groin a target?

Considering that it is a target in two, but not the 3rd weapon, I do not think that this qualifies as a stupid question.


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!

Originally Posted by SSMSabreMN

"So you actually think playing with sticks is a real sport?"

Point out that American football players play with a ball that does not even look like a ball, that is spherical.

Originally Posted by SSMSabreMN

and then my uncle was planning on calling me up one of these days and having a conversation something like this-
Him: So I hear you're doing fencing now?
Me: Yep... I am
Him: Great, I'm going to need a nice split rail fence for the backyard at the new house for this summer...
Me: *hangs up*

My family just loves making fun of the whole fencing thing... ahh well.

You do not have to put up with this kind of stuff. Does said uncle finance your studies, or is there any other special reason for why you have to be in his good graces? If not, a formal severance of blood ties might be in order.


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[fancy for fencing]

(Someone who saw fencing on TV and discovered the cables
"When you are fencing, are you tied up there or do you run free?"
- Everytime we fence too savage the cables pull us back....

[SSMSabreMN]

Originally Posted by PeterGustafsson

You do not have to put up with this kind of stuff. Does said uncle finance your studies, or is there any other special reason for why you have to be in his good graces? If not, a formal severance of blood ties might be in order.

Oh... Its just my family thinking they're funny. I make jokes right along with them. I dont have to be in his good graces... its just us goofing off. My family is exceptionally close, especially when we consider how large of a family we are. I guess we're pretty lucky for that. (Oh and these types of things usually come about after a family gathering around some holiday or random day they decide is a good one to get together and drink... that'd be the irish in us... heh)

Now severance of blood ties with my younger siblings... theres an idea...

[Asprin]

Originally Posted by fancy for fencing

(Someone who saw fencing on TV and discovered the cables
"When you are fencing, are you tied up there or do you run free?"
- Everytime we fence too savage the cables pull us back....

They are to keep the sabreurs under control!!



A friend asked "why is your arm covered in yellowing bruises?"
Me "I was attempting to fence foil, wouldn't have got them if I had been fencing sabre..."

[Aussie_Fencer]

hey you wear tights, are you gay?

Hey, doesnt it hurt if they get you in the eye?

Could I start fencing with my Lord of the rings Nazgul sword?

can't you die doing that?

I didn't know that you made fences.

HIM: "How does that mesh stop a greatsword"?
ME: "It doesn't, you just have to watch out, one actually chopped the tip of my finger off once"!
HIM: "REALLY"?
ME: "God your thick".
HIM: "I am not fat"!
ME: "That just further proves my point"?

[WonderWoman]

I was once asked "Do you feel like Zorro?"

[santa_claus]

well, fencing in your countries is more popular than in mine, that's for sure, so I don't know wether yo are going to believe this:

''Can you fight on horse as well?''

Still can't believe I heard this...

[Skyla_Mar]

"How many people have you killed?" (LOL!)
"How many people have you fought?"
"There's [i]more[i] than one sword???"
"Do you get bruises?"
"When you get jabbed by an electric sword, do you get shocked?"
"Are all fencers geeks?"
"Is fencing a sport?"

And of course all the "I play fencing" comments....

And this from a foilist who had been fencing a few months --
"Ooooooh... So the mask isn't a target?"

[wahrman]

A cab driver in Edinburgh asked me if I had rifles in my bag.


Actually, I often DO get shocked when fencing foil. Once my glove has soaked
through with sweat.

But only when I hit off target. It's pretty good at training me to land on target.

Originally Posted by pokey

"Electric foil? Do you get a shock if you get hit?" *pause* "Well, it should! That'd be cool!"

"So the jacket is white so that you can see the blood easier right?"

[Smyles]

Originally Posted by Skyla_Mar

"Do you get bruises?"

Don't think I would have classed that as a stupid question. Some people bruise, some don't...