Loch Lomond Highland Games October 6th, 2006

[Alan H]

Glad everybody was having fun, and I don't want to blow things out of proportion.

I'll give you my perspective:
1. I started training with swords at a military academy in Edinburgh when I was six years old. So I've been raised with that kind of playing with blades is very similar to pointing guns: you just don't do it. Poop happens: here at the London Club, years ago, we had an incident requiring surgery around the eye. The blade had gone into the eye cavity, the rubber tip saved the eye but the corner of the eye socket was cut. A very frightening moment for the two experienced fencers.

2. Preparing seminars for women's self-defense, delivering them and the work I do now, all make me aware that both pictures involved "threat", specifically to women. That's typical, it doesn't make the guy a bad person. It's just something that's not noticed until pointed out. Something to think about. Of course, it may be the case that the "threat" was posed with men and no picture was taken, or it wasn't posted. But that would be unusual.


In all this, please don't take offense. It's an area I've chosen to try and stay sensitive to.

If everybody was having fun, and the women felt that they were in a "safe place", then, fine, it's really none of my business. And, I'm more than happy to leave it there.

I've just learned to double-check that "safe place" concept.

Respect, peace.

It was a "safe place", and I'm the last person in the world to actually threaten anybody, that goes three times over for women in general..... and even much less so, the F-H.C.A.G, whom I consider a most wonderful friend, and ditto for Victoria. It's all in good fun and rampant silliness

Panache mentioned using caution shortly after the picture that you're seeing was taken, which I took to heart and made sure that the tip was elsewhere after that.

I want to make sure that everybody groks that there's no intent to hurt, intimidate or threaten anybody in any of those pictures...none, zip, zero and I believe that the women involved were just fine with it. If they weren't, and told me so then I'd drop the whole thing in a millisecond and apologise all over myself.

On another note, I just looked at the tape of the "athletics". It's blank...nothing, nada, zip. ...Black screen.... I am not happy at all, not at ALL, as I messed with that blasted camera all bleedin' day long.

[CactusJack]

Those were some great pictures thanks for sharing I felt like I was there with you all..