The Pansy Sport

[Rin]

It's really bogus how I'll be talking, as in personally, with some friends about fencing and people come up and give their totally unasked-for opinions.

For example:

"But it's so pansy, why would you want to do something like that?"

"Football's way harder. All you do in fencing is swing a sword around."

*grr!* It always pisses me off so bad, and I want to make them understand how freaking hard it really is, but I never know what to say.

[Purple Fencer]

It's really bogus how I'll be talking, as in personally, with some friends about fencing and people come up and give their totally unasked-for opinions.

For example:

"But it's so pansy, why would you want to do something like that?"

"Football's way harder. All you do in fencing is swing a sword around."

*grr!* It always pisses me off so bad, and I want to make them understand how freaking hard it really is, but I never know what to say.

Simple....gear 'em up and have them go at it with you...then utterly clean their clocks.

We in the world of marching band/drum corps get the same thing all the time: "All you do out there is walk around."

Uhh yeah....YOU try doing a complicated drill in multiple directions -- often not being able to see where you're going -- pushing air through a horn or carring a 30lb drum around, and see how easy it is....

[erooMynohtnA]

Ballet, knitting, and racewalking are all very difficult, but they all have the connotation of being pansy activities.

I've never tried, for instance, curling, but no one's going to convince me it's hard just by telling me.

The only way you're going to prove it's tough is with two masks and two sabers.

[Got_Fenced_In]

I had the same argument with my cousin's ex-boyfriend, haha. He would always crack jokes about my fencing. Talk about how, 'oh, it's a wussy sport compared to hockey' and things. But did he play any sports? No. Had he ever set foot on a strip? No. He didn't have a CLUE, and yet for some reason it still bugged me..

I was so glad when she dumped him

But anyway, point is, like everyone else has said already, the only way to conivince to non-believers is to either shunnn them, or, MAKE THEM TRY IT AND ROYALLY WHUP THEIR BUTTS.

[samh]

Any athlete knows that any sport played with high intensity at a high level is tough. To be honest I've heard comments like that for years and honestly you have to laugh it off. I mean fencing is a weird sport, some fencers can quit training seriously for ages and come back and still be great - its got a mental component so people can do well at it who would not have a chance at football or basketball. To top it all off you have the stereotypes in movies and basically, our sport is about as cool as a guy with his pants tucked into his socks.

[Got_Fenced_In]

and basically, our sport is about as cool as a guy with his pants tucked into his socks.

That almost made me die laughing.

But you're right on laughing it off. What do they know, after all? Nothing. They see fencing on tv, not the real thing.

[lefty_monster]

I've never faced a situation like this, but this is probably how a conversation with me would go:

"Fencing? That's a candy-ass sport!"
"I'm fencing and you're sitting there! Who's the candy-ass in this equation?"



I use the same technique to argue with my coach. "Fine! You do it!" But it never works. I always get "You're young, I'm old- shut up and do it!"

[tchwojko]

but I never know what to say.

What other sports can you go to an open event, pay your entry fee, and have a chance at seeing how you fare against an Olympian, or at least the top few in the country?

What other sports have been in every modern Olympics?

What other sports do you get to repeatedly hit someone with a stick and get rewarded for it?

If none of that convinces them, get a stick and start poking them with it. Good disengage practice while you're there.

[irishfolker]

It may be my age (53), but the usual reaction I get is, "Fencing? That's pretty cool!" There are a few people at work that want to come watch me fence a tournament sometime. They all seem to realize that it's a very strenuous sport.

[RkfdFencer]

What other sports do you get to repeatedly hit someone with a stick and get rewarded for it?

A metal stick, no less.

Let's also remember to mention the number of football and basketball players that pat each other on the butt. Very macho behavior. I guess they are reassuring each other that there are no candy asses present?!?

[HDG]

Them: Some inane insult
Me: "You ever try fencing?"
Them: "No."
Me: "Then shut the f#*@ up."

[DangerMouse]

our sport is about as cool as a guy with his pants tucked into his socks.

Wait a minute... the pants are supposed to go outside the socks? Why didn't anyone tell me!

[I_luv_saber]

It may be my age (53), but the usual reaction I get is, "Fencing? That's pretty cool!" There are a few people at work that want to come watch me fence a tournament sometime. They all seem to realize that it's a very strenuous sport.

This is generally the reaction I get as well. Or at least someone thinking the uniqueness is neat. I have only ever once had a comment to the "pansiness" of fencing. You just gotta laugh it off, or make a similar joking comment. Likely the ones who said so were just doing it in good fun, and will be thoroughly encouraged when seeing it bothers you...

[RebelFencer]

Eh, let's be honest with ourselves. Fencing is a difficult sport, but it does not really demand a high level of physical toughness. At least nowhere near the level of Wrestling, Boxing, Football, Soccer, Rugby, MMA, etc.

Because the impact level is so low, it's easy to see how people wouldn't understand the difficulty of it. Just like we probably don't see the fine technical nuances in any of the above mentioned sports unless we have participated in them, we can't expect them to see ours without having experienced it. No, my main pet peeve is when some crappy fencer who doesn't even compete outside of a tournament a year tries and tells me that the only reason I hit him was because I'm faster. **** those people.

[telkanuru]

I always liked the shirt I had for x-country:

"My sport is your sport's punishment."



How about for fencing:

"My sport prepares me for maximum security prision" or something...

[RebelFencer]

I always liked the shirt I had for x-country:

"My sport is your sport's punishment."



How about for fencing:

"My sport prepares me for maximum security prision" or something...

I've always liked the idea for a woman's shirt that says "Physical Chest" on the front of it.

[Scaramouche2007]

Just tell 'em that fencing developed from needing to kill your oppponent or be killed - football developed from kicking a pigs bladder into a ditch! The only casualty was the pig!

[BALKANBOY]

Carry your sword with you and if they bother you,just poke them forcefully in the eye.

[AdamH]

Adopt the appropriate programme of much drinking and hell-raising with restrained politeness.

Occasionally, shout a lot.

Remember, you only need to kill one person to get a reputation.

[rcmatthews]

Eh, let's be honest with ourselves. Fencing is a difficult sport, but it does not really demand a high level of physical toughness. At least nowhere near the level of Wrestling, Boxing, Football, Soccer, Rugby, MMA, etc.

Because the impact level is so low, it's easy to see how people wouldn't understand the difficulty of it. Just like we probably don't see the fine technical nuances in any of the above mentioned sports unless we have participated in them, we can't expect them to see ours without having experienced it. No, my main pet peeve is when some crappy fencer who doesn't even compete outside of a tournament a year tries and tells me that the only reason I hit him was because I'm faster. **** those people.

Although, the toughness of the competition doesn't necessarily equate to the toughness of the sport. For instance, when i threw shotput, the competitions were not exactly strenuous, more of a high pressure situation. But I workes harder practicing and lifting weights than I ever did playing football.

And now, my legs are much more muscular from fencing than they were from track.