Blade hypocricy

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BenchCo Spydermade

BenchCo Spydermade

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Well I work in a school, and have previously got major flack for my dragonfly. today, I go to wash my coffee cup near the sink in a room where there are constantly students and I see a huge butcher knife out in the open! WTF?

Maybe it is because I am a male, maybe it is because I'm a bit more rough around the edges than some of the teachers, but I really feel that it is unfair and hypocritical that butcher knives can be left out in the open but I look like a murderer because I have a dragonfly .

Do any others around here have such experiences with blade hypocrisy?
 
I also work in a school (I should say have worked and currently looking for work) but I've never seen any knives lying around. I carry but I don't pull too often and maybe it's because I'm disabled or some such thing, not sure, but they aren't threatened... even when I took a Cold Steel Kudu out. :P (I sometimes take pretty cheap knives in case they are taken away for whatever reason. I don't want to make a fuss about it.)
 
It's all about appearance and what people are used to.

People are used to big kitchen knives in the kitchen.

People are not used to funny looking folding knives with a big hole in the blade. Many of them probably have their only associations with modern folding knives formed by the media, where they are displayed in the roles of weapons, not as tools.

Edit: I guess you have a black handled dragonfly? In my experience, black or camouflage handled modern folders are far more likely to be viewed as weapons.
 
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You should photgraph it as evidence !!

Is there anyone out there who knows of a recent attempt to shut down a college fencing team because of the school's silly rules about knives ? I'm seriously interested in finding info !
 
Not a school, but my last job. I carried an Endura and was told that people complained....but being the IT guy, I was exempt. When I started carrying my orange Military....no one complained as I think they saw orange as safety/tool.
 
steff27 said:
It's all about appearance and what people are used to.

People are used to big kitchen knives in the kitchen.

People are not used to funny looking folding knives with a big hole in the blade. Many of them probably have their only associations with modern folding knives formed by the media, where they are displayed in the roles of weapons, not as tools.

Edit: I guess you have a black handled dragonfly? In my experience, black or camouflage handled modern folders are far more likely to be viewed as weapons.
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Nishijin gentleman's model. Super classy, but no less intimidating I guess.
 
I always carry my Boker Gama to use in any situation where a knife is needed but there are people around who would be shocked at the presentation of 4" blade (which I also carry, always). Its tiny and has a Ceramic blade which I mention as a kind of "ice breaker" to a possible knife conversation. As I am a knife collector/enthusiast, I try to pass on the idea of carrying knives (only to receptive individuals) as being smart, safe and practical. On many occasions this leads to "what would you recommend?" etc. My 2 cents.
 
mete said:
You should photgraph it as evidence !!

Is there anyone out there who knows of a recent attempt to shut down a college fencing team because of the school's silly rules about knives ? I'm seriously interested in finding info !
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Almost did but I'm not a paying member so I wouldn't be able to post it. Big butcher knife w a white handle like the ones we used to have at a few restaurants when I was a cook.
 
I certainly find it bizarre that a large butcher knife lying around is okay but a small folder under the owner's control is not. I've seen many TV programs and movies with horrific scenes of violence involving butcher knives, which I'm sure others have seen as well, so it's surprising to me that people are so comfortable with the butcher knife and so bothered by the small folder.
Recently in Calgary,Alberta a mentally disturbed individual murdered five fellow students at a party with a butcher knife.
I own a large number of knives, swords, hawks ,spears etc. which I keep secured but , as a vegetarian, not one single butcher knife. So if someone wants to kill me in my own kitchen using a knife, they'll have to make do with a bread knife.
 
Larry Turko said:
I certainly find it bizarre that a large butcher knife lying around is okay but a small folder under the owner's control is not.
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I've seen that before in various workplaces, and other people I know have had the same experience as well.
Some workplaces at least have weapons guidelines, like how some places have a "No knives over 3 inches in blade length" rule.
At least then you can circumvent silly feelings by following the guideline; in a place like that, the OP's knife would have been just fine.

I've been fortunate to not have that issue affect me.
One time in a lunchroom someone asked why I why using a knife (Umnumzaan).
I said "To cut my steak." :)
The only response they had was "Oh yeah, I guess you are."

Never had any issues with them at all after that. Whatever pocketknife I had was accepted as a tool, to open boxes, cut tape, or cut my food.
(and yes, I always washed the blade before and after eating...I don't want tape residue added as a food flavouring :D)
 
stabman said:
One time in a lunchroom someone asked why I why using a knife (Umnumzaan).
I said "To cut my steak." :)
The only response they had was "Oh yeah, I guess you are."
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Best story ever. I can imagine them looking closely and critically at your plate before coming to the scientific conclusion that you are, in fact, using it to cut steak. ;)

By the way you must have an awesome lunch room if you get steak. I hope it was delicious.
 
RedLynx said:
Best story ever. I can imagine them looking closely and critically at your plate before coming to the scientific conclusion that you are, in fact, using it to cut steak. ;)

By the way you must have an awesome lunch room if you get steak. I hope it was delicious.
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It was delicious. :thumbup:
But I had to bring it myself.

And yes, they did kind of look closer at the plate. :D
 
stabman said:
It was delicious. :thumbup:
But I had to bring it myself.

And yes, they did kind of look closer at the plate. :D
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You shoulda told them that you're cutting your steak... that was actually alive about 24 hours earlier.... ;)
 
It might be a stupid rule, but since they sign the paycheck, they get to make the rules.
 
Welcome to the world of educational and institutional hypocrisy!:cool: I also have worked in schools (science teacher) and have seen some foolish responses to the sight
of any useful tool. As a science instructor, I felt justified in carrying a pocket knife but have heard some pointless and foolish remarks. I have explained that my "deadly weapon" is really a useful, necessary tool; I have not yet run into any serious problem when I keep a low profile and do not brandish or flash my knife - I am sure that you know and follow appropriate behavior. Sadly, many students today try to attract attention and to disrupt class by shouting "he has a knife" - they seem to expect a SWAT team to come and evacuate the building when a pencil needs to be sharpened or a piece of rubber tubing needs to be cut.

I think people reading these forums already know some useful hints: keep a low profile, try to find scissors or other tools to perform the job, use a Swiss Army Knife or small multitool as daily carry, look for a tool with a brightly-colored "rescue" format and be willing to explain calmly why your tool is needed for appropriate tasks. Unfortunately, I see less common sense concerning this matter as I grow older and see more administrators become fearful of making good decisions. :cool:
 
Now anything but a kitchen knife is looked at as a weapon. I wear a full duty belt at work each day with all the crap you can imagine and when I pull out my Camillus Heat to open a box or something, people can't believe I have a KNIFE ! Gun, OC, taxer, cuffs, ammo, etc...all ok.. Goofy ass world
 
Funny, I would've thought you'd expect this kind of stupidity in a school. I mean, these are the people who think banning guns from the campus will stop people from bringing one in like Magneto himself was patrolling the grounds:D.
 
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