Dueling Scar
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
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...
However, what sounds pleasing from the point of view of the student fraternities is different on the bottom line. "Despite the new admissions we have a minus of about 200 members per year", says CV managing director Weiskorn. This is due to the fact that the vast majority of members are older academics, some of whom die every year. This development is in line with the long-term trend that can be observed overall among the student fraternities: "According to information from the cross-corporate mergers CDA and CDK, the number of fraternity members declined significantly between 1997 and 2009," says political scientist Kurth. "This downward spiral is accompanied by a massive loss of importance." Less than one percent of all students are now organized in corporations.
It's worth mentioning that most fraternities don't duel. Dueling fraternities are the reactionary minority of a conservative minority.
[1] https://web.archive.org/web/20141129111313/http://www.wdr.de...
As someone that knows quite a few people from dueling fraternities (recent graduates), I don't think that's a fair generalization (even though that's the common trope). There has been a lot of organizational changes in the last two decades around one of the biggest associations for dueling fraternities (DB), where a lot of fraternities that didn't align with their reactionary views left and founded associations of their own. As a result of that, DB is now half of its initial size. And there are probably also a few that didn't leave where the younger generation has more progressive views, but they weren't able to convince the old inactive members (which are the bulk) to leave.
So yeah, they are generally of a conservative political mindset, but I would say that the strong political tendencies portrayed in media and hearsay only apply to maybe ~1/3 or less of dueling fraternities.
I personally don't share the values of fraternities, and would never join one, but I've also come to see that they can be a good station for young adolescents leaving their parents homes for the first time, if done right, and would also love to see them open up to more diverse groups of people.
In the last years, community structures for teenagers/adolescents (e.g. sport clubs, scouts) are becoming less and less popular, and I'd hate for that trend to continue, as I personally wouldn't be the same without them, had they not existed. I'd rather see them reform than be shunned out of existence.
Unfortunately growing quite fashionable in the greater society.
It's true that some fraternities (more specifically, groups with common fencing rules called a Waffenring) have also moved to a "Hochcomment", i.e. a set of rules where hitting the cheek is banned entirely.
Catholic ones now prohibit self harm through Mensur.
Some now protect the face completely while fencing, and others dont make it obligatory for the scar to be apparent anymore.
And contrary to the Wikipedia article, I would say its an upper middle class thing rather than an upper class thung, even if some Burschenschaften have very high connections.
The not cool part was that the organization was arch-conservative and xenophobic. Fun parties though.
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?
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.
(that link goes to the question. here's a direct link to the first-person account: https://travel.stackexchange.com/a/69363)
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.
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.?
Yes, in our times people use tattoos, piercings, etc. Doesn't seem that different.
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.
Looks like those feelings did not entirely came from nowhere
The modern day engineering equivalent to this is HackerRank.