Dueling Scar

[lqet]

You can still see "Schmisse" in Germany today, although they are very rare. Here is the former CEO of Allianz with one: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/He...

AFAIK (the article also mentions that), the concept of duelling is still very present (and often a requirement) in German, Austrian and Swiss fraternities, but they now wear protection [0]: https://sensor-magazin.de/app/uploads/2015/09/CorpsHassia_St...

[0] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paukbrille

[waschl]

The protection for this kind of fencing was practically the same during the last hundred years. Depending on the city they are different, the Paukbrille is default everywhere, others like nose or ear protection are treated differently depending on the local rules.

[subpixel]

I spent some time (as a party guest) in a fraternity in Munich where these scars were not uncommon. The coolest part was the room where dueling took place - it was like a pool in the floor but without water, to allow height for swinging blades.

The not cool part was that the organization was arch-conservative and xenophobic. Fun parties though.

[serf]

I have a gash across my hand from cutting myself as a kid on a bare ATX case I was pulling a motherboard out of.

A friend spooked me while I was at work on the motherboard, I quickly recoiled, but my hand caught the razor sharp edge of a stamped steel case.

The scar is still there, and fairly large. I've always called it my geek dueling scar.

I guess the ATX case was the winner?

[Waterluvian]

I have a 9 inch scar down my leg where my then-kitten fell off my lap and used his claw like a cutlass-wielding pirate rappelling down an unfurled sail. Pirate cat won the duel.

[geocrasher]

To this day I avoid the cheapest of the cheap cases, as the edges can be razor sharp. I cut my hands and fingers on them countless times, but have avoided any big scars.

[barrkel]

I got one pulling a molex out of the back of a CD drive while pulling the CD drive forward out of a tower case. The front panel had been removed, and the sharp edges of the stamped steel case were exposed; I got a gash on the back of my hand when the molex came out only with great force.

It's not huge, about 1 cm in length and 2mm at its widest point, but it's pretty much the only scar on my arms.

[lonelappde]

The case is just a skeleton. Is the computer still alive?

[motohagiography]

If you have known rugby players, a north american equivalent today would be cauliflower ear from "the hooligans sport played by gentlemen," or collegiate wrestling, and the less-U brazilian jujitsu. The culture of initiation and rites of passage is rarer today because it shames people who lack whatever virtue the initiation is intended to recognize.

[waschl]

German fraternity guy here. Did such fencing with sharp weapons three times, but was good enough to only receive one small scar. AMA :-)

[throwaway_pdp09]

There's plenty of nerves running around the face and due to the amount of bone, probably necessarily close to the surface. Are there occasions when these get severed leaving the recipient less able to control their facial or jaw muscles?

[rendall]

Are there ever any severely disfiguring facial injuries from such duels, of a kind that frighten children or nauseate passersby? From which even community members cringe?

[AzzieElbab]

Funny, I have scars in my legs and arms from dull training sabre and epiee. Completely accidental of course

[geek_at]

In Austria this scar thing is only a thing amongst far right winged fraternities. Same in Germany?

[tobessebot]

Bierjunge!

[lqet]

Does it hurt?

[9nGQluzmnq3M]

Dueling scars are still a thing in Germany today. Here's an interesting first-person account: https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/69224/how-can-a-t...

[philshem]

cool, thanks.

(that link goes to the question. here's a direct link to the first-person account: https://travel.stackexchange.com/a/69363)

[kaskakokos]

Very interesting, thanks. Documentary about it: https://youtu.be/lUh5exBJXBU

[jpopesculian]

I live in Austria, and it's worth noting that the scars are heavily associated with old fashioned values, conservatives and nationalists and are very rarely seen nowadays

[devchix]

This is amazing in that one would endure pain and disfigurement to advertise social standing, but I guess I speak from a time where there are other ways to display class standing. Dueling fell out of favors in the French aristocracy because ... wait for it ... the lower and middle class started to duel in emulation of the upper class. Although in the US, I read that it declined because it became barely concealed cover for extra-judicial killing.

Now I'm on a train of thought that wonders what the customary analogous marker of status for women would be. That is, they all seem to be external (jewelry, ballgowns, high-status relatives) and not marked on the body.

[ken]

Modern people suffer “pain and disfigurement” in other ways to display their status, high or low. Piercings, tattoos, branding, smoking, drinking, tight shoes, tanning, etc. We still do terrible things to our bodies for style. That never stopped.

[new2628]

> This is amazing in that one would endure pain and disfigurement to advertise social standing, but I guess I speak from a time where there are other ways to display class standing.

Yes, in our times people use tattoos, piercings, etc. Doesn't seem that different.

[Someone]

In China, foot binding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding) was a status symbol (and a lot more cruel than dueling scars)

I thought the Kayan practice of wearing lots of brass coils around the neck also was a status symbol, but Wikipedia doesn’t mention it (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayan_people_(Myanmar) )

Not having a tan (shows you don’t have to work in the fields) also was a status symbol at some time. Then, it became having a tan in early spring (shows you’re well enough of to go on a skiing holiday) or winter (shows you also can go on holiday in autumn).

Nowadays, having a tan year round again can again show lack of status (uses a tanning bed because of lack of funds to go on holiday)

I guess obvious (but not too obvious) use of aesthetic surgery or Botox served as a status symbol at some time, too, but here, too, that signal is confusing nowadays.

[cmenge]

> the lower and middle class started to duel in emulation of the upper class

isn't that a common effect, e.g. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/26/394339284/ho...

> customary analogous marker of status for women would be.

Perhaps speaking numerous languages, playing the Piano, dancing/ballet etc.?

[tuyiown]

This reminds me that as a young boy I romanticized facial scars, and that sentiment was shared by a friend of the same age. I also remind this as a bit of a taboo, and I felt connected with him when we talked about it.

Looks like those feelings did not entirely came from nowhere

[jaclaz]

I am old enough to have played as a child with G.I.Joe action figures, and they (all?) had a scar (on the right cheek) that looked like being "manly".

[domenici2000]

I remember watching a Joe Rogan episode and they mentioned this. Apparently it was a big nazi machismo kind of thing. https://youtu.be/3MZr5J5DOfk?t=550

[nigerian1981]

Reminds me of an episode of Tales of the Unexpected set in a German university https://youtu.be/naiTvr8TICI

[hbarka]

Medieval badge of honor. Today it seems so ridiculous.

[antibland]

> It was important to show one's dueling prowess, but also that one was capable of taking the wound that was inflicted.

The modern day engineering equivalent to this is HackerRank.

[badrabbit]

Was this to impress women or society at large?

[watwut]

Other guys in the peer group?

[jeddaktarkas]

That might explain the origin of why so many fictional Nazis in movies have facial scars.

[chadlavi]

Feel very glad I live in a society where I don't have to mutilate myself for the sake of toxic masculinity.

[amelius]

Just wait until this hits mainstream social media.