RE: [CFML] [admin] decline of *discussion about* fencing

Folks,

As these discussions continue to get more abstract, I'm seeing more and
more generalizations about groups of fencers. These generalizations tend to
be along the lines of: "[sport / classical] fencers tend to [do / say /
think] so-and-so."

These sweeping statements are misleading at best, and completely wrong at
worst. Unless you've done a scientific study of a particular class of
fencers, there really is no way to make such a generalization. Even with
the relatively small number of classical fencers in the world, I would take
with a grain of salt anybody who has claimed to have been in touch with
more than a small fraction, much less "most."

What's more, to qualify such statements with "in my opinion or experience"
does little to bolster them, since even the most experienced and
knowledgeable fencers, instructors and masters on this list have not met
the majority of fencers out there.

You do yourself a grave disservice when you base your opinion of a group of
fencers on what a handful of people on this (or any other) mailing list
write, or what is published in the USFA's magazine, or Fencer's Quarterly
Magazine (or any other publication for that matter), or what you hear when
traveling to other salles, tournaments, or other events. To disseminate
that opinion is to be misleading and divisive.

All this is a long way of saying that I'd rather see fewer generalizations
about sport or classical fencers, which only tend to incite backlash from
groups of disenfranchised fencers who find themselves unfairly characterized.


--
Kim Moser, List Administrator
Classical Fencing Mailing List
web: http://www.kmoser.com/cflist.htm
email: classicalfencing-owner@yahoogroups.com


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