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BRAINSTORM: Knife ambassador to the public?
- Thread starter Comeuppance
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If it is a fact prove it. Let see where you get your "facts" from.
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Sounds like the title of your next book lol
And I'll throw my name in the hat to be the Official Ambassador of Knives.
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Most of the people on this planet do use knives everyday, and as tools, the statistical data for stabbings versus the populations of regions proves this out. Moreover, you don't eat with a weapon and fork, now do you? Do you or have you ever heard someone in the kitchen, breakfast, dining room, restaurant, or job site whatever that may be from ones back yard to the clothing store in the mall ask for a weapon when they needs a knife, no they ask for a knife, as one typically eats with a knife and a fork and uses knife not a weapon in certain scenarios requiring cutting of material. I could go on with this all night as the examples of the knife clearly, plainly and distinctly for recorded time is regarded as a tool. You can still buy knives at the hardware store even the big box and same goes for the kitchen department or specialty high-end foodie/chef/cooking stores. Know what you can't buy at lowes, home depot or the kitchenary.....GUNS which are weapons. Again, I can go on all night with this, so to the trolls on here of which there are without question two (2). Knock if off, stop spouting made up statistics as fact, opinion as fact, etc. Try looking at things through a historic and rational perspective as opposed to continuing either trolling or pushing your knives are weapons agenda. I would wager knives are used over a billion times a day on this planet as we all go about our daily lives and I would also be willing to wager there are no where near a billion knife attacks or stabbings across the globe on a daily basis. I'll make 1 final wager there are very, very few knife attacks, as I recall even 1 stabbing in Europe makes national news here (subway attack in London recently). Stop fearing inanimate objects such as knives, baseball bats, ball peen hammers, pipe wrenches, piano string, curling irons, bowling balls, sledge hammers, sickles, sling blades, 3 foot sections of lead pipe, chain saws, fear mentally unstable evil people. After all it is people who kill other people their method of choice may vary but in the end its people. You can pick up every knife and gun on the fact of the Earth tomorrow and there will be murderous violence before the sun sets, its the people stupid. With that I bid this thread a do.
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Well, I was thinking of the CCL movement, women's suffrage, civil rights, gay marriage and prohibition. I can't think of any flamboyant behavior that affected those changes. They primarily worked when people did simple normal things like use the bus, make speeches, lobby government, argue for fair play. They generally didn't succeed when there was too much personality, violence, stunts, radicalization or other eccentric behavior. Stokely Carmichael all but killed the continuance of the civil rights movement.
Carrying a knife like Kilgar's is either going to be ignored (and not thought much of), or it is going to raise eyebrows. But I don't understand what scenario would cause a tax accountant seeing Kilgar at Chili's to think "Hey, why don't more people carry 6 inch hunting knives for a night out? That looks like a great idea!"
It isn't a great idea. There is no more reason to take a big knife to Chili's as there is to bring a rake. And that flamboyant behavior buys nothing but derision from people who could give a crap about knives or rakes.
Pretend for a moment that this is a Garden Gnome forum. Why would going everywhere with an oversized ceramic gnome make the general public more favorable to owning gnomes? Will they realize they didn't know a big gnome was something they were missing in life? Or will they say "Why'd that nut bring a garden gnome to Chili's?"
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How about killgar may not be able to carry a gun and a fixed blade protects him and his family.
Your opinion a big knife doesn't belong at chili's is ignorant of his potential situation. How a man chooses to safe guard himself and loved one is his own decision.
As usual you inject your twisted opinions as fact
No wonder people don't like you. Keep on with the same old same.
Your opinion a big knife doesn't belong at chili's is ignorant of his potential situation. How a man chooses to safe guard himself and loved one is his own decision.
As usual you inject your twisted opinions as fact
No wonder people don't like you. Keep on with the same old same.
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Or maybe he should use whatever YOU think is best...
6850
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Well, first of all, if you actually think that about those movement you're just plain incorrect, and hold a drastically whitewashed view of history.
Second, carrying a knife at chili's... the horror.
Third, a garden gnome isn't a tool. Your analogy makes no sense.
How about killgar may not be able to carry a gun and a fixed blade protects him and his family.
Your opinion a big knife doesn't belong at chili's is ignorant of his potential situation. How a man chooses to safe guard himself and loved one is his own decision.
As usual you inject your twisted opinions as fact
How the hell can I make a statement about the impact on general public perception of knives without you turning it into something about Kilgar's family?
I didn't say a knife didn't belong in Chili's. I said a knife in Chili's doesn't make more knife fans. Why can't you tell the difference between those?????
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Don't diss the gnome.
[video=youtube;bn47Bwfc7E4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn47Bwfc7E4[/video]
Fact: if 99.99% of Americans did not carry knives ever, there would not be so many American knife companies making knives in America, of which many ARE meant to be carried.
Facts...getting in the way of unfounded opinions for thousands of years.
I think that 99% of knives in the US are owned by members of this forum.
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I still see more than one in a hundred people carrying a knife of some form or other.
It may be small, it may be attached to a keychain or something, but people still carry knives.
Because (gasp!) they're handy for cutting things.
Almost like they were a tool designed to do so.
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Sorry to disappoint, but you are just as correct.
I guess I should define terms. There is Hipster, the personality who knows everything, did it before anyone else, and is annoyed by anyone else liking the thing they like, and hipster as a category of functional fashion as opposed to say, punk (those hair spikes really get in the way some times)
Some stuff just works, so go with it. I only just bought my first pair of doc martens this year, and they are for work, pretty surprising since my green mohawk days are ten years behind me.
Some more thoughts, not really directed any one way, just in response to a few things I've read so far.
Most of the time when someone asks for a knife, and I either accomplish the task for them, or offer them the knife (depends on who, what and when) I often hear a "that's really handy, but why do you carry a knife?" I often explain that its a habit from work, growing up on a farm, all that sort of thing, and most people accept it. Sometimes I get a "I can't believe I don't have something that simple!" and when I'm in a group, on occasion someone will comment that they are surprised I'm the only one with a knife. Generally its one of the ladies, when there are a bunch of type A males around. But its not usually a big deal.
I also carry a first aid kit. Its simple, mostly gloves and enough stuff to handle a single moderate event, but none the less, its with me, almost always, and I carry a few bandaids just for those random occasions. People comment on that when they find out, or if they've seen my bag, I've had people ask. Again, when I offer a bandaid for someone's kid, or because of a small cut or minor injury, they wonder, why don't I have that with me?
Its those small instances where someone might dig a SAK classic with an advertisement on it, and stick it on their key ring for the next time they need tweezers and scissors. Or they might think to add a little first aid kit to the kid care bag.
I've got life experience that tells me that seconds matter. what you have in your hands is what you have to respond with, be it on the side of a rugby field, or bored to tears watching a gas well get flushed. Most people don't experience that. And I'm glad they don't, because no one should have to watch a kid crumple on the field and have to decide while running up if he looked conscious before he hit the turf. Or watch someone slip and wonder if it was the ice, or if the hydrogen sulfide is leaking.
But for many members on this forum they've had to come to the rescue. Even if its just a dinner party with no sharp knives, or a picnic watermelon that needed carving. Its a benefit to those around them. There are members here who's lives have depended literally on their steel, and kids who are just trying to figure out who they are, and if they are a tactical folder guy, or a stockman guy (nothing wrong with either, but having a sob story about you grandpa giving you the knife, so please don't confiscate it, easier sold with a carbon steel stockman)
So when you ask knife guys if someone should carry a knife, the answer is yes, but you have to prove to those others why they need to. Seatbelts are a great idea, not everyone believes in yet, but someday they will either learn it, or die. Same with all sorts of things, its education, and that comes slowly when shared, quickly and painfully when experienced.
To some specifics. If a guy walks into a restaurant wearing a leather riding jacket, matching leather boots, leather sheath, and wrapped handle knife, it could be half the length of his leg, and it fits within the context, whatever that man does, that knife fits. A gutter punk walks in with a sledgehammer on his shoulder, and it doesn't fit. I've seen all manner of dangerous tools around in places you don't expect. But its the user that defines them. Put that sledge in the hands of a guy covered in concrete dust and wearing carharts, and I don't care if he's ordering a double shot mocca frap with extra whip, he can do as he pleases. When I see a knife its not the knife that puts me on edge its the carrier. Is that guy wearing the knife because he does everyday, or is that knife there to intimidate. I've seen both. Which helps? the guy who's just doing what he does. The guy or gal who is just doing, as they do. Not putting up a front, or a "Hey look at my RIGHTS!" I liken it to the real world equivalent of trolling, look for trouble and you shall find it. You can be right, and a troll, those are not exclusive. They do generate more hate for your cause though.
Every encounter is a chance to teach that one person just a little bit. Like Carl does with offering a SAK classic as a gift, or as others have done by being the guy there to save the day, either literally or figuratively. My dad calls his Leatherman the Mcgyver wrench. Just there, ready for whats needed. nothing flash, just a little, "you could have handled this, the only difference is I had a tool to help" and slowly those experiences will push back the curtain. Will it go so far as full freedom? I don't know, as much as people like some things, maybe its better if they are collected and admired not carried. I can't say for sure. What I do know is that change doesn't happen all at once, and laws are a matter of public opinion. Many things are changing because people have generally looked and come to the conclusion that a thing was not as big a deal as it was made out to be. Lawmakers jobs are to make laws, law enforcement's job is to enforce, but at the end of the day both parties are empowered to do that by the People, with a capital Pah. Are there silly outdated laws, boy-howdy there are. But the response should be to help everyone else understand that fear is not the option. Lots of laws changed in the last few years because people stopped fearing what wouldn't come to pass.
Carry a knife and a first aid kit. Let the shooter come, then help mop up after, live in a world where bad things happen but people come to help. No one gets out alive, so you might as well do the best you can. But I feel like fighting for knife rights from a position of self-defense, which is in my opinion, a position of fear, is counter productive. My day job is to deal with fear. Fear only breeds fear, one fear cannot fight against another, they only magnify each other. Only confidence can overcome fear, and confidence can come from understanding that thing that generates the fear. I explain to kids and adults that being 30 feet off the ground should be a little scary, but it is manageable if you work to it. But its natural to be concerned, because the big hard thing (earth) will win if you fall. So be careful, and don't fall. But fear of heights or falling cannot be overcome by a fear of the group, or fear of disappointing a parent, even fear of regret. Fear of danger cannot overcome fear of a weapon. Fear is ultimately not rational, and cannot be used for rational discussion. The cause of fear can be rationalized, and debated, but often the primal will still win. hundreds of thousands of generations of evolution, and fear is one of the earliest emotions, pretty good at keeping things alive. Not so good however at making good choices. Rationalizing the cause of the fear only works once the fear has been managed in some way. Often its the realization that the thing you fear is less than something you've just done, or that a fear is simply natural, removing the fear of fear. Then we get to use the smart part of our brains.
Its not the same road for everyone. I have friends who flinch when I pull out a swiss army knife, even thought they fully trust me, others have left scars, physical and mental that prevent them from responding to a knife without at least some fear. I know others to whom a blade represents fear of an addiction, or of that dark voice telling them which vein to open. Yes there are those who's fear is irrational, but for many more its not. So lets be gentle, teach where we can, voice reason where possible, but remember that without dialog we won't learn why someone doesn't feel the way we do.
Last thought. I've mentioned before that I used to roll a little on the punk side of things. Not a problem most of the time, in fact the first time I cut the mohawk a relative commented, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree does it? I then was shown an old photo of my dad, with a similar do. Fun and games, did corporate and church events. looked after kids, and multi-thousands in audio and lighting equipment. Got to Australia and met a wall of ice. Turns out that while back home the white pride parade prefer bald heads and black nylon jackets, mohawks had a similar vibe to certain ethnic identities here. Folks who knew what real hate looked like, and were not afraid to stand up to it again. A bit of a shock when I'm just having a good time. So you just never know if that ATF that you love so much is only identified with the bad guy from too many movies, or if that bali reminds someone of a time in their life they want well behind them.
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This movie was admittedly way more entertaining than I would have thought. Saw it a couple weeks ago.
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I know tons of "non knife people" who carry and use a knife every single day. Just because we are collectors and that particular niche of the knife buying public is small doesn't mean no one but those here on the forum buy knives. If we were the only ones buying and carrying knives do you really think they would be so readily available? The difference is the majority of knife users and owners buy thiers at Wal-Mart while many of us are more discerning. But to say no one besides this forum buys and carries knives is ludicrous. Its like going on a muscle car forum and saying no one besides them buys and uses cars. And a knife isn't always clipped to a pocket. You have likely passed numerous people carrying knives. You just didn't know.
When you start tossing around percentages you are no longer talking about opinions. You are pretending to present facts. Of which I ask you to show your work.
You REALLY think that under 304,000 members many of which haven't been active in years account for 99% of all knives in the USA? There is no point debating with someone who lets their opinion create the facts for them. What makes you think every person who buys a Kershaw is a member here? And you do realize knives existed before the internet right?
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It comes down to human instinct, knives have been part of human culture for millennia, and while they are mainly used as tools, there's a part of the human brain that perceives knives as a possible threat. While many may see the knife on the belt as nothing more than a cutting tool, another who may feel vulnerable for whatever reason may believe it is a threat. Conduct goes a long way, act normal and most won't even notice the sheath, but appearing as threatening will definitely drive up the fear factor.