Can us knife folk be sheeple too?

[WadeF]

We've seen countless threads where we all make comments about sheeple (people that get afraid or make negative comments when we pull out our knives to use them as a tool). However, how many of you have similar reactions when you see someone else pull out a knife? Especially a tactical type folder?

I would say I've sometimes felt uneasy around people that whip out a knife. Maybe it's because I don't know if I can trust them with a knife, or wonder if they are responsible with a knife, etc. Many people like to whip out knives and brandish them, wave them aroudn dangerously, etc.

On the other hand, if I know someone, and know them to be responsible, etc, and I see them pull out a knife in a safe manner and use it in a proper fashion, I have no problems and would probably ask about the knife, etc. So I guess it depends on the person.

So how do you feel when someone pulls out a knife? Especially if you didn't know they had one on them.

 

[thombrogan]

Is not wanting someone to be an imbecile sheepish? I mean, you're probably not irrationally afraid of mako sharks, but you're not going to tie lamb shanks to your back and jump into the water with one to prove you're not a scaredy cat are you?

Some folks just need to learn to compartmentalize. There's a time to have outlandish fun and a time to use knives and rarely should they meet. I like SoCo and tequila either straight up or in margarita mix, but not while driving to work.

 

[not2sharp]

Many people like to whip out knives and brandish them, wave them aroudn dangerously, etc.

That doesn't sound like anyone I would hang out with. For one thing, mishandling tools is a sign of immaturity; whether a car, knife, gun, chainsaw, or screwdriver; I am not going to stick around with someone who does stupid things just to get a rise out of people. Let them earn their Darwin award without me.

n2s

 

[buckg]

Every time I see someone pull out a knife, I feel good. I know I'm in the company of non-sheeple.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Every time I see someone pull out a knife, I feel good. I know I'm in the company of non-sheeple.

Yep, me too. Sometimes we end up talking about knives if I don't already know them

Other times I see they are using some heap of crap $3 knife and I just ignore them.

 

[BuckyKatt]

I'm wary when the guy with slicked-back black hair in the pool hall sets down his keys, cell phone and POS blacktical blade when he gets ready to play.

It's hard for me not to smile when I see an older fellow pull out his little stockman to cut a plastic tie in the Home Depot parking lot.



To me, I guess it depends on the context.

 

[korbiaka]

Every time I see a clip hooked on someones pocket I get excited! I love talking sharps with random folks. But I'll admit when I start blathering about how great my SERE is, and how they should up-grade from their Gerber, they tend to lose interest. Sometimes being a knife snob can be frustrating.

 

[rdelliott]

Depends on the situation. Twitchy little git playing mublety-peg in an elevator with a Dork Ops Ultimate Eviscerator makes me nervous...

 

[Joe Dirt]

.... Twitchy little git playing mublety-peg in an elevator with a Dork Ops Ultimate Eviscerator makes me nervous...

Mind translating that? I have no idea what you are actually saying.

I have no idea what a git is and I dno't know what mublety-peg is either. Also, what's a Dork Ops Ultimate Eviscerator?

 

[beefangusbeef]

I spend about half my day comparing knives with other guys. I'm not offended or intimidated by much, especially a knife, or dare I say it, firearm. I like people getting scared when I pull out some evil uber tactical knife like it's going to grow legs and chase after them.

 

[the_mac]

Mind translating that? I have no idea what you are actually saying.

I have no idea what a git is and I dno't know what mublety-peg is either. Also, what's a Dork Ops Ultimate Eviscerator?

A git is a derisive term for a young and immature boy.
mublety-peg is a "game" where you put your hand on a flat surface, fingers spread, and as quickly as you can, stab in the gaps between them into the flat surface.
And a dork ope Ultimate Eviscerator is a made up knife that's meant to show scorn to the knifemaking company Dark Ops, because they apparantly make knives that cater more to people that want to think of themselves as scary, than people that want to just cut things.

So, re-worded:

Twitchy little idiot kid stabbing at nothing and showing off his knife in an elevator with a flashy piece of trash makes me nervous...

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

A git is a derisive term for a young and immature boy.
mublety-peg is a "game" where you put your hand on a flat surface, fingers spread, and as quickly as you can, stab in the gaps between them into the flat surface.
And a dork ope Ultimate Eviscerator is a made up knife that's meant to show scorn to the knifemaking company Dark Ops, because they apparantly make knives that cater more to people that want to think of themselves as scary, than people that want to just cut things.

So, re-worded:

Twitchy little idiot kid stabbing at nothing and showing off his knife in an elevator with a flashy piece of trash makes me nervous...

Actually you are wrong about mumblety Peg:

SYLLABICATION: mum·ble·ty-peg
PRONUNCIATION: mmbl-t-pg, -bl-pg
VARIANT FORMS: also mum·ble-the-peg (-bl-th-)
NOUN: A game in which players toss a jackknife in various prescribed ways, with the object being to make the blade stick firmly into the ground.
ETYMOLOGY: From the phrase mumble the peg, from the fact that originally the loser had to pull up with the teeth a peg driven into the ground.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

I am not nervous around people using knives or having knives. If they were waving it wildly and/or advancing toward me in a threatening manner, then I would become concerned. But it would be their recklessness or hostility that was the problem, not the mere presence of a knife. The irrational fear of an inanimate object is what defines a “sheeple”.

 

[Monocrom]

I would say I've sometimes felt uneasy around people that whip out a knife. Maybe it's because I don't know if I can trust them with a knife, or wonder if they are responsible with a knife, etc. Many people like to whip out knives and brandish them, wave them aroudn dangerously, etc.

Honestly, Wade; you should feel uneasy around folks who just whip out a knife. :grumpy:

Discretion plays a big part, when it comes to someone who is responsible with a knife. A mature individual will think before taking out his knife, in public. If I'm out-&-about, and need to use my knife, I don't just whip it out on the spot! I'll sometimes walk down a side-street that has no people, or cross the street if the other side has no people. When I take my folder out, I do so very discreetly, use it, then close the blade ASAP.

Another option is to carry a key-chain sized folder. If I need to use a knife in public for something mundane, and a small knife will get the job done, I still act discreetly as I take out my keys. Yet another option is to not even use a traditional knife. Instead of a key-chain knife, get a Leatherman Micra..... Not even the Hard-Core sheeple in NYC will raise a wimper if you whip out a tiny pair of "folding scissors." (Honestly, a Spyderco Jester would be better; but we're talking about discretion).

I've seen a few folks in NYC walking around with knives clipped to their pockets. All of them acted like normal people, so I never got nervous. Hell, one time; I saw a guy on the subway with a 5"-bladed el-cheapo in the side pocket of his back-pack. (I recognized the outline of the bottom of the knife-handle. Yeah, I owned the same model; back when I didn't know better).
He just sat there and minded his own business, so I didn't get worried.......

But if I saw someone on the street whip out a knife, and wave it around like an idiot, I'd feel uneasy too! That's just a normal reaction. Has nothing to do with acting like sheeple.

 

[OwenM]

I'm not afraid of other people, or inanimate objects.
I'm pleasantly surprised when someone else pops out a blade.
Sure there are some irresponsible idiots out there who happen to have knives. I'm a lot more worried about the fact that ALL of the irresponsible idiots have cars.

 

[OwenM]

The irrational fear of an inanimate object is what defines a “sheeple”.

And there you have it.

 

[[digidude]]

If its a cheap 5$ home Depot knife, than I met be a little more careful, if someone pulls out a Sebenza, well then its time to talk blades!

 

[thombrogan]

I'm a lot more worried about the fact that ALL of the irresponsible idiots have cars.

The irony is that folks who shouldn't be trusted with a few thousand pounds of steel are deathly scared of people with a few ounces of the same.

 

[Gringogunsmith]

Man I'm glad I dont live in NYC..
Usually when I see someone fumbling with a knife I'll say: " Ya need to borrow a sharp one ?"

 

[SpyderJon]

NYC? At least there you can have a real knife of usable size and not be a criminal. Try Boston!

I live in the college environment, and so many of these people have been raised without knives that I would be interested if I even saw a CCC. I look at the person, not their tools- after all I've seen what a prisoner can do with rolled up newspaper and a paperclip. I do wince when I see someone using a knife in an irresponsible manner, but not because of the knife itself rather the idiot operating said knife. I know that if they do something truly stupid, its just one more story for people to tell about the "dangers" of knives.