Another Adjestive to Describe "Knife."

Totally Judy

Totally Judy

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I'm not sure if I am posting in the correct forum, but this is the one I am comfortable in.

I attended a "Train-the-Trainer" course for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) this past weekend. We had a "Teach-Back" assignment so that we could demonstrate our skills or lack of in presentation of the assigned topic. My topic was to present on the CERT Kit - which is the assigned backpack with the helmet, goggles, safety vest, and gloves - those were provided. The rest of the recommended supplies are for the members to purchase on their own. One of those items was listed as "utility knife."

I have several knives in my CERT kit - a leatherman, neck knife, spyderco ladybug on a lanyard, and a Gerber with a pocket clip that is the easiest to access as I cliped it to one of the cords attached to a zipper pull. The specific Gerber is described in this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...irbairn-Combat-Folder?p=10058780#post10058780

As I reviewed the items in my kit, I grabbed the Gerber and using the thumb stud, opened the blade. I basically stated that one could use the knife for various purposes: to cut duct tape for splinting, making splits from misc. items, assist in freeing trapped victims in light SAR, and assorted other uses. Pretty basic stuff.

One of the evaluations stated, "Find another adjective to describe knife."

For the purposes of my presentation, a knfe is a knife, regardless of Manufacturer or type. I am not going to change in any future training calling a knife a knife. That is what it is. Duh.

Why would someone feel it necessary to recommend that I find another adjective to describe a knife? Isn't a knife a noun? Isn't that what a knife is called? It's a KNIFE.

Maybe this was just a sheeple?

Confused.... sort of. :confused:

Thanks,

TJ
 
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You won't win that individual battle. If having to do another presentation just call it a "safety" knife. Thats what it is , if you have your knife, don't you feel safe(er)....its a safety knife..... having two or three along will even increase that feeling of safety.

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Technically, they were not asking you to find a substitute word for "knife" but to describe it more fully or clearly. An adjective modifies a noun, doesn't replace it. Without knowing the context, off the top of my head all I could think of was "useful" or "helpful". Also "powerful". Once you get a sense of what they mean, a thesaurus is a terrific tool.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I will take them and should I have to train on this module, I will be more "safe" when described and referring to the knife.

I have found that those of us when taking the basic training course where we have been supplied the basic "kit" (backpage, helmet, vest, goggles, gloves), arrive at the 2nd day of training with a more outfitted kit, and the inclusion of mutli-knives, and other fancy SAR and survival tools are plentiful. No one is "scared" of any sharp things, but are usually more in awe, and say, "Hey, where can I get one of those?"

Every person in this Train-the-Trainer course was required to have completed the Basic CERT course. And I guess that is part of what confused me. The value of a "safety tool" (knife) should have been discussed in the basic course.

All of that being said, many of the attendees during my presentation came up to me aftewards and mentioned how impressed they were when I pulled out my Gerber and used the thumb stud to open the knife!!

Thanks again for your suggestions and thoughts.

Judy
 
ASBOB said:
Technically, they were not asking you to find a substitute word for "knife" but to describe it more fully or clearly. An adjective modifies a noun, doesn't replace it. Without knowing the context, off the top of my head all I could think of was "useful" or "helpful". Also "powerful". Once you get a sense of what they mean, a thesaurus is a terrific tool.
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That's how I view the feedback. My impression is, they might've been looking for clarification of 'utility knife'. In the strictest sense, many might interpret that to mean a box-cutter(ish) tool, with replaceable blades. If viewed as such, one might've been surprised or dismayed to see the Gerber with thumbstud described as a utility knife. To someone else, almost any knife could be considered to have 'utility' (it is a tool, after all).

I think if I'd received the same feedback, I would've given it back with a note asking for clarification as to what specifically isn't clear to them about the meaning of 'knife', in the context of that discussion.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
That's how I view the feedback. My impression is, they might've been looking for clarification of 'utility knife'. In the strictest sense, many might interpret that to mean a box-cutter(ish) tool, with replaceable blades. If viewed as such, one might've been surprised or dismayed to see the Gerber with thumbstud described as a utility knife. To someone else, almost any knife could be considered to have 'utility' (it is a tool, after all).

I think if I'd received the same feedback, I would've given it back with a note asking for clarification as to what specifically isn't clear to them about the meaning of 'knife', in the context of that discussion.
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I had not thought of having a box-cutter as my utility knife. Thanks for that. And it also hadn't occurred to me that someone would be taken aback with the Gerber. It's not a huge knife. It seems perfect for what I might need in an emergency traige or light SAR situation. I wouldn't want to be fumbling to get my box knife, etc.

All evaluations were anonymous, so there was no way to ask for clarification. Each of the presenters were given the evaluations forms immediately following our presentation and right before the next presentation started, so there really wasn't time to read them until later. I didn't even read mine until this morning. We had verbal feedback/evaluation immediately following each presentation from the class participants. Nothing was mentioned during the verbal evaluation about the knife so that I could ask for clarification - which would have been helpful not just for that one person, but for everyone in the room who may have had similar concerns about the "Big" knife!

Thanks.
 
stabman said:
Seat belt cutter.
Safety tool.
Emergency rescue tool.
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Good descriptions! Maybe next time I might take out my Leatherman Juice instead, which is small and PURPLE, which is much less threatenng in appearance. After all, it opens up in the plier position.
 
Totally Judy said:
Good descriptions! Maybe next time I might take out my Leatherman Juice instead, which is small and PURPLE, which is much less threatenng in appearance. After all, it opens up in the plier position.
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Thanks.:)

The Leatherman is a great idea. Many people don't even view them as knives.
And it does seem that different colours make a huge difference.
 
This question sort of reminds me of something I saw a while back. I had gone to a local Lowe's store to pick up a piece of red oak to make a strop block. After I'd found the piece I needed, I continued to browse a bit in the store, looking at tools & such. One of the store employees approached and asked if he could help me find something. He noticed the wood I was carrying, and asked if I was 'making a project' (I happened to be looking at jigsaws at that moment). I told him I was making a strop block to indulge my 'knife hobby'. Immediately, his eyes lit up and he began digging in his pockets. He produced at least 4 or 5 pocketknives, some traditional and some more modern, and told me he also collected knives. One of the 'knives' he produced from his Lowe's vest pocket was a little red-handled utility/box-cutter knife. He told me it's the only one he was technically 'allowed to use' in the store. The thing even came with rounded corners on the replacable blades, presumably to reduce the chances of employees hurting themselves with it. Clearly, the store's management had a very specific and very limited view of what a 'knife' should be, at least as used in that setting.

Based on that encounter and the discussion I had with the employee, I was left with no doubt as to how 'surprised' some people might be to see anything other than a 'safety knife' (or whatever that thing was called) employed as a utilitarian tool. ;)
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
This question sort of reminds me of something I saw a while back. I had gone to a local Lowe's store to pick up a piece of red oak to make a strop block. After I'd found the piece I needed, I continued to browse a bit in the store, looking at tools & such. One of the store employees approached and asked if he could help me find something. He noticed the wood I was carrying, and asked if I was 'making a project' (I happened to be looking a jigsaws at that moment). I told him I was making a strop block to indulge my 'knife hobby'. Immediately, his eyes lit up and he began digging in his pockets. He produced at least 4 or 5 pocketknives, some traditional and some more modern, and told me he also collected knives. One of the 'knives' he produced from his Lowe's vest pocket was a little red-handled utility/box-cutter knife. He told me it's the only one he was technically 'allowed to use' in the store. The thing even came with rounded corners on the the replacable blades, presumably to reduce the chances of employees hurting themselves with it. Clearly, the store's management had a very specific and very limited view of what a 'knife' should be, at least as used in that setting.

Based on that encounter and the discussion I had with the employee, I was left with no doubt as to how 'surprised' some people might be to see anything other than a 'safety knife' (or whatever that thing was called) employed as a utilitarian tool. ;)
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Excellent point and example, and one I shall consider if I have to train on this particular module again. Rounded corners on a box cutter? Well... safety is number one.
 
Totally Judy said:
Excellent point and example, and one I shall consider if I have to train on this particular module again. Rounded corners on a box cutter? Well... safety is number one.
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Another 'feature' of that sad little 'tool' was, the blade was spring-loaded to automatically retract into the handle after use. This meant the user had to slide the blade forward using a knurled thumb-slider on the tool, and hold it in position while cutting. As soon as the slider is released the blade retracts. Somebody really was trying to 'idiot-proof' that thing. No idea if they were successful.
 
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Mitchell Knives said:
Because they are a communist?
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I don't think everyone who doesn't like knives is a Communist ....
Misinformed, confused and ill prepared...maybe.


Totally Judy said:
I'm not sure if I am posting in the correct forum, but this is the one I am comfortable in.
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Although this is not a traditional knife thread I'm going to leave it for now, since Judy is comfortable here. :)
 
Peregrin said:
Although this is not a traditional knife thread I'm going to leave it for now, since Judy is comfortable here. :)
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Oh, boy. Perhaps you're not familiar with Judy's antics once she's "comfortable"? :confused:

:eek:

:)

(Thanks for letting this one stand.)

~ P.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Another 'feature' of that sad little 'tool' was, the blade was spring-loaded to automatically retract into the handle after use. This meant the user had to slide the blade forward using a knurled thumb-slider on the tool, and hold it in position while cutting. As soon as the slider is released the blade retracts. Somebody really was trying to 'idiot-proof' that thing. No idea if they were successful.
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I don't think it would be comfortable to use, if I had to maintain constant pressure to keep the blade deployed.

I think "utility knife" is a good term to use around people. I'd say something like "It's good to have several utility knives available, but you can call them cutting implements if there's any people around that are afraid of tools."
 
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As a side note, you may suggest an alternative for those not comfortable using a knife...Example: medic or dive shears...
They will cut webbing,clothes,wire, etc...and are inexpensive enough to discard if "contaminated"
 
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