Calling People Sheeple

[James Y]

It's also easy for knife people to pre-judge others based on appearance, lifestyle, etc., to be 'sheeple'. If you treat others with consideration, avoid being militant about carrying a knife, and don't make a big deal out of it when you use one for actual chores, you might be surprised who will accept your carrying a knife, even if they themselves don't.

In my workplace, my co-workers are 80% female and definitely "liberal"-leaning, but ALL of them know and are fine with me carrying knives. No one has ever made a big deal out of it, not even my bosses. Because I've never made a big deal out of it. I've carried anything up to Spyderco Military and Police models, and no one bats an eye. Because I only bring them out when needed and don't make a big production out of it. A couple times early on, some people noticed, but when they saw what I was using my knife for, no more was said. One of the guys even bought himself an S30V Kershaw Blur that he carries and uses at work as well.

You can either be a positive ambassador for those why carry and use knives, or you can be militant about it and create (or confirm) any negative beliefs someone might harbor about people who carry knives.

Jim

 

[SCWillson]

Since knife enthusiasts are a tiny portion of the populace, it seems prudent to avoid disparaging those who are not. Those people vote too.

 

[SALTY]

Aversion to or fear of knives does not necessarily make one a Sheeple ... but these traits seem to be common manifestations of those who are already - independent of their views on knives.

 

[W. Anderson]

I find it easiest to simply use whatever knife you've got in the manner you need to. If someone doesn't like it, big whoop.

I don't like that some people stare at their phone while walking around a crowded location. I manage to keep this fact to myself while in public. If they can't do the same, I'd imagine a "Mind your own business" would do the trick.

That said, I've never had someone respond strangely to my use of a knife. I imagine it comes to the demeanor of the user more than anything.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Knives are mostly tools but perhaps sometimes weapons.

Fear of weapons is a sign of sexual immaturity. Sigmund Freud

BAAAAAH

Everything is a weapon if used correctly, just watch any Jackie Chan movie and see the stuff he turns into weapons, even Jason Statham in his early career after his stint as a model turned some interesting things into weapons in Transporter 1 and 2.

Before anyone says anything, yes I know the difference between movies and real life. I also grew up as a street rat in central Jersey and know that anything from a sock filled with rocks to a phone book can make very effective weapons so yes I do know what works and don't, my weapon of choice is a 50s Chevy 4 door sedan, not only will it protect you from small arms but it'll smash through most average building materials used today fairly effectively.

Remember the one true and best weapon everyone has available is that grey squishy mass between your ears and just behind the eyes. Any reasonably intelligent person can use it offensively or defensively how effective of a weapon is up to the individual. The Old Man was a freedom fighter in Hungary and in '56 came out here to the US to raise a family and live a better life. He used to tell me all kinds of advice in regards to fighting and things that constituted a weapon. Being he came from a culture where they weren't allowed any offensive or defensive weapons and were strictly watched and under constant indoctrination, he learned like people in all the repressed cultures did, he learned to improvise which made him adapt most ordinary items into weapons. You learn to use complacency as camouflage, by blending in, becoming a sheeple you can fly under the radar and operate with relative anonymity. So keep in mind that among the so called "sheeple" there will be people who operate contrary to the normal belief but because they get lumped with the rest of people who follow the majority and they get overlooked by the people judging and lumping them together with the "sheeple", they're the ones who will get you when you least suspect it.

It's not sheeple who are dangerous, it's the people who label them and think they can identify/single them out from a crowd. The OP must feel superior enough to be able to pick out who are the "sheeple" over everyone else. That's pretty confident, you must be an excellent judge of character too. Do me a favor, when they start choosing up sides, put me in whatever group your not in, Because the side you pick is gonna seriously come out on the short end of the stick.

 

[Jack_Burton]

IMO, the term 'sheeple' should be reserved for people that are ignorant of issues and events a whole lot more important than the knife I have in my pocket or on my belt. Let's just call them willfully ignorant.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

I suppose "sheeple" is as good a term as any, although you're probably not helping anything by calling them that.

People who gasp at a pocket knife are the same people who don't blink an eye when using a 10" blade in the kitchen. Go figure.

Fearing tools, especially knives, doesn't make much sense. They're inanimate. Fear behavior instead.

If someone pulls out a knife to open a cardboard box and this causes anxiety for those nearby, they really are "sheeple". There isn't much you can do to help them with their particular mental disorder.

 

[Yonose]

I heard somewhere that Kung Fu became the deadly art it once was during a particularly repressive dynasty where "weapons" as such were banned. Common farm implements and even fists, elbows and feet were incorporated into fighting styles which could disarm and disable better armed opponents. Since a certain group of monks were declared enemies of the state they learned to blend into society, as well as to distance themselves from it; the ones who survived became masters of subterfuge, eventually evolving into the faction we know today as the "triad." Every repressive regime has its thorn, or scapegoat. Undereducated or uninformed peasants or "sheeple" may well believe the dominant narrative, i.e. "History" but the fact is that Power and Corruption are like peanut butter and jelly. Can a knife be used to snatch a rifle by a well trained practitioner? Will the loudest protesters be rounded up and shot first? Surviving does require patience, forbearance, as well as ruthlessness.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

People who gasp at a pocket knife are the same people who don't blink an eye when using a 10" blade in the kitchen. Go figure.

Keep in mind most people's exposure to folding knives comes from Grand Theft Auto and other violent video games or from the movies and tv. What really amazes me is that the show Forged in Fire is really popular with folks who would be considered "sheeple", why is that? I have non knife people who come up to me and wanna talk about the last show they saw. They are interested in the history and the way blades are made. I betcha if they started doin' folders on the show people would look at them with less disdain.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

I don't think people who have a "fright" reaction to the use of a knife are sheeple. I think they have just been raised in an environment where no one in their family carried or used knives in any context beyond kitchen duty.

This is just a gross generalization, but I think way over 75% of the people under the age of 40 have no real "use knowledge" of what knives are really used for beyond kitchen duty and assaulting people.

At one end of the "knife exposure" spectrum, I grew up being taught the proper usage of knives starting around 4 years old. The fewest knives I have ever owned was "1" at age 6. By 7, I was up to 4 knives. From age 10 (1964) to 1991, I never had less than 2 folders on me. Since 1992, except when prohibited by law or employers, I never go anywhere without a minimum of 4 knives - 2 FBs and 2 folders.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are MILLIONS of folks under the age of 40 who have never owned a knife beyond a set of kitchen knives.

I'm not 100% sure (because I never asked) but I don't think my youngest nephew, who is now 33, or my youngest nephew-in-law, who is now 40, ever owned a non-kitchen knife until I gave them each one at Christmas 3 years ago. I just always assumed that their fathers taught them knife usage and safety because that's the way I was raised. Turned out I was wrong on that score. Their fathers were "big city boys" who were not even Boy Scouts.

 

[sabre cat]

I consider the term "sheeple" more of a term describing a persons behavior and attitude about life in general than an insult. Including politics. Most of the people that I personally would brand as sheeple have a, how was it put by another member?

...."It is more of a go-along-to-get-along attitude, when it gets to the extent that one is willing to give up their individual identity for the sake of conformity."

But, it can, and normally will go deeper than that. Many surrender their rights, freedoms, and to an extent, their free agency for a sense of safety and security. Sometimes it is just mental but, it can cross over to physical surrender depending upon lifestyle, local and/or country laws. Just look at world history over the last hundred years.

Safety and security. Sounds nice doesn't it? The problem is this, I've noticed that most of them refuse to ensure their own safety and security by action on their part but, prefer that it is provided by local laws or an other outside sources, such as the ruling government. The bottom line is that their safety and security is paid for by stripping rights from non-sheeple. In other words, people like us. Knife and gun owners.

To make matters worse, most sheeple are not willing to allow any changes in their own lifestyle to help with their own safety. Change in the lifestyle of others is OK. Change the law of the land if you have too but, heaven forbid if the poor little sheeple is inconvenienced.

I won't even touch the subject of wolves in sheeple clothing except to comment that I firmly believe they exist. If it says Baa but has sharp teeth, beware!

I find it interesting that insulting terms used by sheeple to describe knife/gun owners happen far more often and cause more damage than you and I comparing people to sheep. They are filed away in the mind of John Q. Public, to be used against us at election time. Yet, their comments publicly appear to be ignored, even in our own ranks. Yet, sheeple supporters everywhere whine and continue to make the term "sheeple" an ongoing issue. That, my friends, I find insulting.

Gee, I did not expect this to go in that direction. Sorry about the rant. As you can guess I don't really have any use for sheeple. To me they are, in some ways, more annoying than the wolves.

Like I said the term sheeple is not an insult in my book. Comparing people to sheep can be considered a compliment in some circles. If you consider it an insult, tough. It builds character.

 

[mbkryan]

@scott123 PM me if you would still

I don't think an irrational fear and "don't like knives" is the same thing. I'm not a psychiatrist, but I thought that the intensity determined the immediacy of treatment/significance of the disorder on the impact to ones life rather than the presence of the disorder or not. Therefore someone with an irrational fear of heights could still have a phobia even if they could live a normal life or not affect their safety or the safety of others.

If I am incorrect in assuming that the existence of the disorder is not necessarily dependent on the severity (such that it is only a disorder if it is a threat to safety), I will yield to your argument.

I don't think an irrational fear and "don't like knives" is the same thing. I'm not a psychiatrist, but I thought that the intensity determined the immediacy of treatment/significance of the disorder on the impact to ones life rather than the presence of the disorder or not. Therefore someone with an irrational fear of heights could still have a phobia even if they could live a normal life or not affect their safety or the safety of others.

If I am incorrect in assuming that the existence of the disorder is not necessarily dependent on the severity (such that it is only a disorder if it is a threat to safety), I will yield to your argument.

We are definitely off topic here I wouldn't mind continuing this conversation, but we should do it elsewhere. I'll respond briefly, though. The existence of the disorder is dependent on the impact and not so much the severity. For example: If you pull out a barlow knife to cut a string and someone has a real panic attack at the sight of that knife, then they may or may not have a phobia. It will not be considered a phobia unless it has a significant negative impact on their daily life. The key piece is the impact on daily functioning. One panic attack does not qualify for a phobia or panic disorder, but daily panic attacks or daily avoidance that impacts life might count. If the individual's life dream is to work at a knife shop (wouldn't that be awesome!), then they may seek help and be diagnosed with a phobia because the fear and avoidance is impacting life goals.

 

[sabre cat]

@scott123.... If the individual's life dream is to work at a knife shop (wouldn't that be awesome!)....

Off Topic. Nope, not awesome. I worked in a gun shop for a couple of years. My hobby became my job. It was work. Not fun.

 

[Lapedog]

Maybe we are the ones who are really the sheeple.

Part of the conspiracy put forward by iluminati space lizards is to make us think THEY are the sheeple. That way we never notice it was actually us all along.

 

[Megalobyte]

It seems to me that likening people to sheep must mean that like sheep, groups (herds) of people are easily controlled and manipulated (herded) by fear (emotion) for the benefit of the herder (the one in control (govt or a political party).

Sheep can be controlled and herded by fear. (Dogs/shepherds). This is possible because sheep don't seem to have the capacity to critically think about their situation. For example, that they outnumber and could overpower. So they instead allow themselves to be controlled/led, through fear (emotion) to wherever the herder wishes. It implies weakness and a lack of intelligence.

When applied to people, it's obviously a derogatory label, as you're saying the person isn't capable of critical thinking, and is easily duped and led by various groups with agendas. It certainly doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with guns, knives or weapons, though of course it can be those things too.

But it's always relative and depends on one's point of view. Liberals can certainly view conservatives who treat Fox News as gospel as sheep-like, just as conservatives can say the same about liberals who watch CNN. There are liberals who aren't stupid, contrary to what some might think.

I may disagree with the liberal/progressive ideology but it's never productive to call someone names because you disagree with their beliefs. I can think and argue I'm on the right side, without stooping to name calling.

Also here in FL, people don't seem to bat an eye if they see someone carrying or using a knife. Heck, half of us carry handguns, so the weird reactions people may have to knives in public is very state specific. I could walk down my street with an AR, and likely not suffer any consequences. Try that in NJ or CA, very different.

 

[baldtaco-II]

I love the tradition of being satirical of people with shoddy thoughts. I think it is fantastic in every way from classics lie Swift through to the more contemporary Charlie Hebdo stuff. I think it is part of a mechanism for change and serves a function no different from our WWII propaganda posters depicting Germans as the Hun menace. Yeah, it's not fare, yeah it's not all of them, but people don't tend to name the sheep they intend to eat later for a very good reason.

Over the majority of my life the Catholic church became a massive target for comedians across the board. All jokes driving public consensus to the general conclusion that the pope is the king of the peados. I gather there has supposed to have been a great deal of reform in that group now. Likewise the public bashing of just about every BBC children's entertainer from the 70s. A great slew of the fell after the Jimmy Savile, and the pisstaking disparaging remarks seem to be at the fore of public consciousness now with just about any children's entertainer from the 70s. Good, It's probably quite hard to be a nonce there now.

This stuff works as memes that either spontaneously emerge or are shaped by people aware enough to know they can be shaped. And I'm damn sure the anti knife / gun groups are doing their very best to portray you in a very unflattering light. I seriously doubt if they were doing a poster of any of us it would be anything different from depicting a nameless unthinking knife possessor. A sheep that they intend to eat later. Why, because those methods work. We too should be creating a climate of ridicule.

Shame that sheeple jokes are harder to think up than Rolph Harris jokes.

 

[tueller]

Yes they are snowflake sheeple. They fall for all the ignorant, media, fear driven hype and don't use common sense.

My example of this is when a sherson said they were uncomfortable with me using my esee 3 to cut open a birthday present box as they cut the birthday cake with a 7 inch kitchen knife.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I have this theory that some of the stories being told here about "irrational fear of knives" are simply masquerades fabricated out of insecurity.

 

[GotSteel]

I've been a part of some socio political movements and I've tried to wake the sleeping up but you know what? They like to be comfortable in their beds.. sound asleep whether or not their security is real or imagined; they do not want to wake up.. berating them is an exercise in futility, and shouting about sheeple and more often than not lumping in individuals who don't actually belong in that category is obnoxious at least.

 

[ArchVV]

A little introspection goes a long way in life, people. Wow...