[Ansteorra] painting fencing masks

[Bree Flowers]

> Purist here.  To me the painted fencing mask is the rapier combat equivalent
> of the pink stuffed animal crest on a spun-dome, bar-grill starter helmet
> (attached with the prerequisite bunjee cord).

This totally.

I understand the need for modern fencing masks, but it seems to me
like painting them will just encourage people to wear them longer,
rather than replacing them with something better. And like someone
else said, it draws attention to it. It's like people who spend lots
of time/money coming up with ways to hide/cover/paint dome tents when
there are plenty of affordable canvas options out there. Use the dome
while you have to, but accept it for what it is and replace it when
you can. I haven't seen a lot of dome-modification here (thankfully)
but I did see a bunch of it in other places I have lived, and it just
drew more attention to the modernity of the item in question.

When you *need* something for medical reasons (wheelchairs, glasses,
shoes with orthotics, and I'm sure there are plenty of other examples)
I totally believe in whatever modifications you want to try to make.
Not that you should feel obligated, I'm just saying it makes sense to
do what feels right for you. But when there are period options I don't
see any justification for modifying modern things, especially if it
doesn't get them to look any closer to being "right".

~Eve