thegirlsclub

Jesmond · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:12 am Post subject: Smile. You have great aggression.

I think there should be a special level of hell reserved for men who tell women to smile.

Right next door should be a nice hot spot for men who compliment female fighters on their aggression.

Rolling Eyes

Isabella E · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:14 am Post subject:

I get the 'you should smile more' crap all the time. Want to see me smile, say something funny/nice/witty/etc. A lack of constant smiley face does not mean someone is unhappy you goobers. >_<
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Natasha Maria · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:20 am Post subject:

Gee... I got told by more than one person that they like my closed face helmet since now they can't see me smiling. (I am usually smiling while fighting, regardless of anyone else's advice).

I like to react the the "nice aggression" comment by playing a longer range for a bit. This is awesome if the person in question isn't a great fighter and I can hang out and then make it seem like they can't do anything effective but I can hit them at will. The fact that those who give this kind of advice are sometimes too obtuse to catch the amusing fact that I can play a range game as well as an 'aggression' game just makes it funnier to me.

Hakon · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:13 am Post subject:

I have seen guys with a painted on smile vaugely visable through their bar grill ... I would guess to shut up people like that.

H

Jesmond · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:46 pm Post subject:

there is no need for this post, except I want to see what my new signature looks like Smile

Jess
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Isabella E · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject:

Nice.

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It's not the most powerful animal that survives. It's the most efficient. -Georges St-Pierre
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Tibbie Croser · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject:

What's the context of the compliment on aggression? What makes it improper? Are they being obviously condescending?

I'm curious because in my personal context, as a timid and relatively new fencer, senior fencers keep telling me to be more aggressive. So if one of them complimented me on improving my aggression, I'd be pleased.

Arngrim · New Club Member Joined: 13 Sep 2008 Posts: 44 : Items

I'm curious about the aggression part as well. Admittedly I've had to downplay mine a bit in order to get defence/mobility/agression in balance to improve overall. But it's a descriptive word for a fighters style.

True, I guess you don't get "You need to be more countershooty" that often, but in my world it's just a part of a fighters stye.

Asking women to smile more should only rate a long deadpan look IMO.

Cunian · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:03 pm Post subject:

I think the thing is they typically complement you on your aggression when you are attacking a lot but being ineffective. But it's a useful intermediate stage on the way to attacking a lot effectively. So it's not really horribly condescending, but it certainly feels like it is when you are giving your all and and not even managing to kick their ass a little bit.

freiman the minstrel · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject:

Jess,

If you can find space in your dance card, I would be very pleased to dance with you this year on the pick up field at Pennsic.

f
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Ladysid · New Club Member Joined: 18 Jul 2011 Posts: 18 : Items

Not a complete thread necro,

But one thing I noticed, I'm to tense when I'm fighting right now, to many things going through my skull, trying to remeber all the different things I've told over the years.

If I'm smiling, one you amused me, two i'm more relaxed, or three I'm thinkin evil thoughts and am gonna pound you into the ground.

I also hate comments on my agression. Being wary or sizing up my opponent does NOT make passive. It means I'm juding the situation before i pounce.

Sid

IsabelNugent · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:10 pm Post subject:

/thread derailment.

There's a piece of combat martial arts in the style we do called DEM, the disharmonic emotion method, and you will also find a lot of Chinese styles focus on your mood during fighting to control the flow of energy and lower the possibility of injury.

I think its tougher for us as mother hen protectors to find amusement in fighting, even when psychotic happy is usually the most powerful mood but even if you can only reach a calm or compassionate place, or even an angry mood it is much better than fear or helpless frustration.

I've been trying to work on a set of memories or certain triggers to catch my mood and shift it, mostly thinking of songs that get me amped up or memories that make me giggle or make me feel disconnected and calm. It's a bit hard to deliberately meditate for a few moments and change your mood on purpose but it's definitely something worth practicing, it may be what they are trying to convey when they say to smile.

/end thread derailment

/stickynote
Then again, if an SCA fighter starts talking about chi and energy and power of the mind I might start giggling for sheer hilarity of it too.. hmm fighting in armor is so different Sad

I feel like a tango dancer at a swing dance, soo out of place.
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Wu Yun · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:41 am Post subject:

I don't get comments about my aggression, so I'm afraid I can't relate. Most of the people I fight know that I've been fighting for long enough that aggression is not an issue.

helene · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject: Having fun?

IsabelNugent · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: Having fun?