Is there a picture available with a description of the fencing apparel?

[saultopaul]

Hello
I know little about fencing but have been taking my 9 year old daughter to lessons here in Wales UK. She has just passed her grade one and is nearly ready for grade 2. I really do enjoy seeing her progress and she asked me if there was a picture of a fencer with lines pointing to the the apparel and sword with name/descriptions of each thing.I guess she probably knows most of this but using pictures can be a great way to reinforce i guess and we could let her other younger sisters and brother see it also.
I am sorry if this is a bit of a daft request because its all obvious or perhaps this site is full of such pictures.I did have a quick look but couldn't see what i am after
thank you
Paul

[Five Rings]

Hello
I know little about fencing but have been taking my 9 year old daughter to lessons here in Wales UK. She has just passed her grade one and is nearly ready for grade 2. I really do enjoy seeing her progress and she asked me if there was a picture of a fencer with lines pointing to the the apparel and sword with name/descriptions of each thing.I guess she probably knows most of this but using pictures can be a great way to reinforce i guess and we could let her other younger sisters and brother see it also.
I am sorry if this is a bit of a daft request because its all obvious or perhaps this site is full of such pictures.I did have a quick look but couldn't see what i am after
thank you
Paul

Since you are in the UK, there is a little book from the "Know the Game" series on fencing (may be out of print, but you can probably borrow one from the library or buy it from a 2nd hand bookshop), which has the type of information you are looking for. Some of the information may be dated (e.g., the older editions may not have electrical sabre information), but generally useful for a parent who has no background on fencing (as I assume you are). Also, try the British Fencing website.

[Lady Quindecim]

How about videotaping her going through it, or have her make posters/flash cards. The best way to learn is to teach. Or something like that.

[saultopaul]

Thank you for your kind advice. Much appreciated. I will follow up, look of rthat book and Raphaelle has warmed to the idea of doing a poster, so great. I have just found a list of all the terms you can think of( i guess!) and printed it off for her. Words i just haven't got the foggiest about, she just knew. It is great to see her so keen. She is a real all rounder and seems to excel in most things( you can tell i'm her dad!) . Indeed the instructor i think finds her quite a natural and the important thing is , she absolutely loves it!
Thanks again Paul
PS Just to change the subject. I haven't done a poll before but i noticed that my poll above says its closed.Well i only 'opened' it a few hours ago.I would like to get a bit of feedback, so if you know what i have done wrong please let me know! Thanks

[Craig]

PS Just to change the subject. I haven't done a poll before but i noticed that my poll above says its closed.Well i only 'opened' it a few hours ago.I would like to get a bit of feedback, so if you know what i have done wrong please let me know! Thanks

The poll had nothing to do with the subject of the thread, which is pretty bad netiquette. Hence, I closed said poll.

Craig

[Foiled in Seattle]

I haven't done a poll before but i noticed that my poll above says its closed.Well i only 'opened' it a few hours ago.I would like to get a bit of feedback, so if you know what i have done wrong please let me know! Thanks

Just out of curiosity, what's the difference between the following poll answers: "No" and "It has made no difference"?

[magic_moose]

Just out of curiosity, what's the difference between the following poll answers: "No" and "It has made no difference"?

For that matter, what is the difference between "It has made no difference" and "I really don't know"?

If you really don't know, I am pretty sure it has made no difference.

[keith]

If you really don't know, I am pretty sure it has made no difference.

Oh I suspect there are many things that we don't know which make substantial differences.

[magic_moose]

Oh I suspect there are many things that we don't know which make substantial differences.

Absolutely. But not when the question is "Has the internet made you spiritually stronger?" Usually one can detect the state of one's own spirituality. If not, does it count?

[Empty Wallet]

I can see paradise by the dash board light.

But it does not seem to be an option in the poll.

[saultopaul]

Hi all
Well i can figure i am on a fencing forum so i should be expecting such ' on guard' or lunging reactions .

The poll had nothing to do with the subject of the thread, which is pretty bad netiquette. Hence, I closed said poll.

Well that really is news to me! I mean there is nothing ever stated that it has to be a poll about the thread itself..sounds made up to me..but brave hearts let us move on..which incidentally after this posting i will do as i need to ..well move on.. Also this thread has taken on the poll as its main subject! Any chance power to the people or maybe you will scrap all of this if it kind of disturbs too much. Come on Craig - where is the adventure - I mean OK its not exactly Zorro and all that , but lets at least be a bit more risque!

what is the difference between "It has made no difference" and "I really don't know"

if you say you really don't know it reflects possible a degree of confusion..sort of where am i in all this
Hopefully if you say
"It has made no difference" we can take it as read -

Just out of curiosity, what's the difference between the following poll answers: "No" and "It has made no difference"?

I accept that there seems to be no difference between them except in my analysis of the two responses , but i do accept that it is tautological.
Hey i wasn't expecting an English exam you know!

OK In summary i want to liken this little touche to rending the curtain..or maybe at least cutting it a bit... my work is mostly based on the internet...but i feel a sense of unease..i guess in Zorro terms, it is the invasion of a country...and i don't see myself as a Zorro -to be honest more like Sgt Garcia without the sword fighting talent!

The reaction of us all, me placing the poll and my response here and your responses does say something, means something. I bid you all goodbye and every blessing to you all Paul

[Empty Wallet]

Craig's advice to you was clear. If you want to start a thread, have a clear heading for it and have your post in line with the heading. So, your original post was in line with the heading and provided an interesting question.

If you want to start a poll, you can do that. However, you start a poll thread with a heading that addresses the poll and your initial post addresses the premise of the poll. You also put the poll thread in the correct forum -- like the watercooler for this one.

List members respond to the polls in different ways. Some will be engaged with the topic and discuss the basic question, others will ignore it and go away, others will flame, and many will critique the options given (and some of these will engage in the discussion of the topic as well).

[Craig]

I mean there is nothing ever stated that it has to be a poll about the thread itself..sounds made up to me

There is no written rule in my User Manual of Not Looking Like an Idiot in Normal Conversation (tm) that responding to "So, what did you think of the Falcon's season" with "Did you know that penguins eat fish?" but I have figured out through the years that staying on topic, or at least providing a visible chain of statements to get from A to X is the more acceptable practice.

To me, the first post and then poll smacked of deception. You are telling readers that this thread is about one subject (pictures of fencing apparel) which would be of interest and then the first thing that the person who clicks on that thread title sees is a question about religion.

If you want a thread on religion, head over to the Water Cooler and start it. Otherwise, you are being deceptive and, I would say, going so far as to lie to the readers. (You are "advertising" a discussion on pictures of fencing gear but then "selling" a poll on religion. We call that a bait and switch.)

Craig

[saultopaul]

Craig
i was just closing my windows for the day as its time for tea here. I didn't expect to return to be honest but as i just saw your kind posting i just had to say you are wrong to suggest i was in any way trying to lie or coerce any one into anything. But what it doe show is something of where you are coming from. And another thing , though i really as a last minute spontaneous idea , included the poll- i really was interested in what folks think - you have been very judgmental actually and i reckon some extremist religions would welcome you with open arms. After all they are very focused on this word religion and obviously you are. You see my poll wasn't about religion, but about spirituality, and i think that is something we are all involved in, whether we like it or not. But this has obviously upset you and really i didn't mean to do that at all.

A final thought as i bow out is i just wonder if fencing can make folks more aggressive and not willing to understand or show a little kindness instead of jumping to conclusions. I just wonder if there is something in the nature of the sport itself.Now self assertiveness is ok as far as it goes- i mean who wants to be a doormat! But does it mean you have to try and crush opposition both on and off the field of play,in my case using your obviously well placed position of power.I am sure you are greatly supported by your appreciative members for all the other fine work you do, but i do hope this will make them think perhaps about why you reacted in such a hostile way.
When i saw my girl fencing it did cross my mind that i don't want her to pick up this out of balance aggression that could be fed by this very sport. I will monitor it and see how it goes.

But to all whom i may have upset i am sorry . Actually I just wanted a picture for my little girl. She's drawing one now so thanks for all the advice.
We are all on a journey and yes i wanted to get some answers myself and obviously i attempted to do this in the wrong place. Peace to one and all...

[Foiled in Seattle]

Paul,

Exactly what were you thinking when you included the poll with your post? That fencers have some special insight into spirituality? That we pray before our bouts? That god is going to give us point control. Or guide our feet during a fleche?

I will admit that I was taken aback at first by the accusatory tone of Craig's post. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed he was likely right. What does your poll have to do with fencing? What does it even have to do with the topic you proposed? And why do you care what we think about spirituality?

Frankly, it's none of your damn business.