What's Dorky?

[Phincer]

Why does everyone have a hate-on for people (I assume men only) who wear bandanas to keep the hair/sweat out of their eyes?

In the land of Fencing Dorkdom I've seen the following:

1. Hair dyes of colors not found on the human body.
2. Elastic so old on knickers that it looks like ruffles.
3. Knickers so tight...well, just too tight.
4. Terry cloth headbands a la 1985.
5. Scarves used as bandanas, complete with trailing ties.

Comments? Stories? Anything to add to the list?

[erooMynohtnA]

#6 Bandanas of any type

[Mo]

#7. Doing Footwork with a cig hanging out of one's mouth.

#8. Wearing a medal all day and the next day and the next day unless you are the mom of the medalist. (JK)

9. Walking around talking on a cell phone very loudly while the person you are ripping apart is right behind you.

10. Harassing other people's kids and telling them what to do at a meet.

11. Telling other parents what events their children should be fencing when you are not a coach and don't play one on TV.

12. Introducing your kid to another parent as the "2007 National Y 10 Champion" of for that matter, any kind of champion.

13. Lying about other kids in your club. (or another club)

14. Giving birth in a venue.

15. Repeatedly claiming how bad screaming is when no one cares.

16. Getting drunk in a bar when a plane is late when the kids you are supposed to be watching are alone in the airport.

That's enough for now.
The Momster

[pinkelephant]

17 Staying in your kit when you've been knocked out, so that other people will think you haven't been knocked out.

[Fencing Mom]

18. A license plate on your car that says, "Curses, foiled again!" or "I'd rather be fencing."

[Phincer]

Giving birth in a venue.

Oh. Do. Tell.

[Durando]

Numbers two and four are totally cool. I'm tempted to add wrist bands as well.

[lefty_monster]

19. Mediocre coaches who are called "maestro" by their minions.

[parrythis]

Why does everyone have a hate-on for people (I assume men only) who wear bandanas to keep the hair/sweat out of their eyes?

Comments?

To answer your question, some people favor "fashion" over "functionality".

Wearing bandannas is unfashionable and associated with being a "newbie". Unfortunately, such nay-sayers fail to grasp the fact that bandannas/sweatbands soak up lots of sweat. Doing so also keeps masks from soaking up the sweat and smelling funky and requiring frequent washing. Wearing a bandanna/sweatband also means that you don't have to flip your mask up between points to wipe the sweat away.

Make your own choice. Decide if "fashion" or "functionality" is more important to you then go with what works for you.

[EdGardner]

I am too old to care if people think I look stupid

[Phincer]

To answer your question, some people favor "fashion" over "functionality".

Wearing bandannas is unfashionable and associated with being a "newbie". Unfortunately, such nay-sayers fail to grasp the fact that bandannas/sweatbands soak up lots of sweat. Doing so also keeps masks from soaking up the sweat and smelling funky and requiring frequent washing. Wearing a bandanna/sweatband also means that you don't have to flip your mask up between points to wipe the sweat away.

Make your own choice. Decide if "fashion" or "functionality" is more important to you then go with what works for you.

Thank you. As the mom of a bandana wearer for functionality (heavy sweating guy w/ long hair), I couldn't see why wearing something that served a purpose was the object of such ridicule. And they do soak up the sweat! My kid goes through two or three a tournament. And he doesn't give a rat's beehind what anyone thinks about his attire. But I would stop him if the elastic went out on his knickers and it looked like a ruffle.

[Goldgar]

I am too old to care if people think I look stupid

I'm too old to be able to do anything about it.

[Mo]

Thank you. As the mom of a bandana wearer for functionality (heavy sweating guy w/ long hair), I couldn't see why wearing something that served a purpose was the object of such ridicule. And they do soak up the sweat! My kid goes through two or three a tournament. And he doesn't give a rat's beehind what anyone thinks about his attire. But I would stop him if the elastic went out on his knickers and it looked like a ruffle.

Bandanas can be a life saver. In college, my room mate gave me a hair cut. I wore a bandana for six months.
When I skiied a lot, I wore a bandana under my hat because wool gives me a rash.
Bandanas are not that bad, or bad at all.
Ruffly knickers are funny LOL
Calling someone "Maestro" who isn't is just silly. If they took the program, usually it is like a degree here, a master of sport and passed, then maybe.
It is always pretentious I think.
I would call them "Astro."
the Momster

[journalmom]

Thank you. As the mom of a bandana wearer for functionality (heavy sweating guy w/ long hair), I couldn't see why wearing something that served a purpose was the object of such ridicule. And they do soak up the sweat! My kid goes through two or three a tournament. And he doesn't give a rat's beehind what anyone thinks about his attire. But I would stop him if the elastic went out on his knickers and it looked like a ruffle.

I think bandana over long hair looked coooooool In fact, so what if bandana exudes "newbie". Let them think he's new. That's a good thing, isn't it? My son said, he's going to wear his regular sneakers one day and fool the others ....clunkier the better. Just for the fun of it.

[fencing freakster]

my son wants a pink lame.....

The Freakster......

[lefty_monster]

my son wants a pink lame.....

The Freakster......

You need to be supportive and tell him that you'll still love him.

[HDG]

19. Mediocre coaches who are called "maestro" by their minions.

Maestro and mediocre coach are not mutually exclusive categories.

[journalmom]

my son wants a pink lame.....

The Freakster......

I know a kid who wears a pink mask.

[Cry_Me_A_River]

3. Knickers so tight...well, just too tight.

I got the wrong size and now I must deal with the consequences...and so should everyone else.

[Fencing Mom]

Yes, bandanas are functionality over fashion. If a kid is happy wearing one because it soaks up the sweat, more power to him or her. However, I understand why most fencers won’t wear one, and why they think those that do are dorks.

Compare fencing with the other sports in the US that are popular with young and high school-age kids – soccer, basketball, baseball/softball, and almighty football. Fencing is not exactly high on the sports glamour or admiration list. Sure, baseball players wear knickers, but they also get to wear neat pinstripes and baseball hats. Fencers wear lamés that look like metallic dentist bibs and visor-masks that make them look like they’re ready to weld ( sorry, saberists). It’s difficult enough for fencers when their athlete friends see those getups, but add a bandana, too? And by the way, why do you never see a quarterback wear a bandana under his helmet to soak up sweat?

So fencers learn very early in their career that if they want encouragement, respect, and camaraderie, they must turn to other fencers. And who is the most respected of the fencers? The national team. National team members don’t wear bandanas. Mo may have worn one when she skied, but I don’t think her daughter wears one

So, wearing a bandana or sweatband or whatever to soak up the sweat is fine. But also being a worried-about-what-my-peers-think kid or young adult is fine also. And while I’m on the subject of what I think is acceptable (I know, no one asked) SCREAMING or NOT SCREAMING on the strip is fine too. Jeez! When did fencing get so intolerant?

My 2 cents.