Correct response for common question.

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underaged!

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I don't know if this is the right place to post this.

Can someone help me out, I forgot what the correct responce is for "why do you carry knives for?", "why such a big knife", etc.?

Holiday parties comming up, and I'll probably get asked this a few times.
 
Well...how about, "Why DON"T you carry?"
"It comes in handy."
"It's my right, who cares?"

If they call it a weapon, make sure you correct them and call it a tool. As a general rule, I would stay away from saying,c "for self-defence."

Good luck.
 
Moving to Blade Discussion Forum.
 
"Why do you carry that? What are you going to kill?"
I carry a knife because it is a versatile and useful tool that has been with mankind since the dawn of concious thought. It evolved from the tooth and claw through the sharp flake of stone to the high-tech tool you see before you today. Don't you have one?
"Don't you have one?" is less challenging and opens an avenue of dialog causing them to actually question their 'reasons'. Chances are a lot of non-carriers have their dad's or grandma's knife at home in a junk drawer or jewelry box. I like to use the big 2 bladed Case given to me by my ex-wife's now deceased dad. The simple pleasure of using the knife he used almost daily (Guernsey, Arkansas) keeps the ol' coot's memory alive.
 
"What are you going to kill?"

"Boxes, letters, string, CD wrappers, and mountain lions."



"You could kill someone with that!"

"Stupidity, ignorance kills more people than knives do."



"Why do you carry a weapon?"

"I think of it as a tool. You think of it as a weapon. It's probably a good thing I have the knife and you don't."



"Why do you carry a lethal weapon?"

"Because the ladies love it. Oh, you mean my knife?":D



"Isn't that illegal?"

"No, you can buy them at the mall."



"Knives are weapons."

"Hundereds of people are killed daily because of cars. I've killed nobody with my knife. I don't drive either."



"Why do you carry such a big knife?"

"Because a machette won't fit in my pocket."



"Wow, you're good with that thing (balisong). Are you a knifefighter or something?"

"Being able to twirl a balisong doesn't make me good at knifefighting any more than putting on pajamas and a black belt makes me a karate champion." (except that I, in comparison to many, am pretty lousy with a bali).


and finally

"Why do you spend so much on knives?"

"Why do you spend so much on Levis, Abercrombie and Fitch, Guess, and Nike?"
 
"Why do you carry that knife?"

"Because you don't carry one, and at least one of us needs to be a competent, prepared adult."

Or, alternately:

"You don't you carry one? Are you incompetent or something?"

Or perhaps just a long stare or even better totally ignore the question. Just because someone asks you a personal question doesn't mean that they are owed an answer.
 
oooh.. I like this thread.
Got this off another forum.

"Are you expecting trouble?"
"If I were, I would be carrying a machete."

Well, actually its edited, supposed to be "If I were, I would be carrying a shotgun."
 
"Because I'll be the first person you come to when you need one."
"Because the last time I really needed one, no one had one for me to borrow."
"There are just some things you can't cut with keys/letter opener/screwdrivers."
 
I have never gotten the "who are you going to kill" question at work. Just the usual "woah!" and "isn't that illegal?". To which my favorite replies are <silent shrug> and "no".
 
I usually just stare at them, with that "Are you absolutely braindead??" look, and say "What??" They usually ask again, thinking I misheard them, and I do it again, and then they feel dopey and leave. .
 
"It's the handiest tool I own." If they want more of an explanation I might say "I've used a knife to cut tape and packing straps, break down boxes, trim radiator hose and fuel line, cut apples and Bocca burgers, sharpen pencils, open blister packs, to cut thread and ivy for dreamcatchers, to cut leather for medicine pouches..." You probably wont get halfway through the list of things you have used a knife for before they say "Okay".

Frank
 
I always like to tell these sheep that fists and feet kill more people every year than either guns or knives. Then ask them if these items should also be outlawed or regulated.
 
OK- I can't find the James Mattis quote that says that (paraphrased) that he carries a pen even though there is no an immediate writing assignment, wears(wore) a watch even if there is not an immediate appointment to keep and carries(ed) a knife because he is not an ape-
Old timers- help me out here- find the quote- James' words were "just right" for this.

I've gotten the "weapon" question several times- my response is similar- "To me it's a tool- to you, it's a weapon- perhaps we should all be afraid of *you*" (works well in workplace situations where a dunderhead is trying to make you look bad- however- certain women may respond badly to this)
 
Because it's useful to cut things with ? I use mine to open packages and letters, cut tape and food and don't get it out unless i'm planning to use it so the answer to such a question is pretty obvious. Don't use your knife in a lame attempt to impress females or something equally silly and nobody will ask you stupid questions :D
 
Ive been asked that question more times than I can remember. Unfortunately (being a minister) I tend to get even more questions, although when I lived down south, there were never any questions, except maybe once, twice?

My answer usually, and as gracefully as possible is:

Ive been carrying a pocket knife since I was 4 years old. I use it for whittling, cutting strings, peeeling an apple, cutting leather, skinning game, camping, fishing, etc. etc. etc. ...and I also use it to help people like you who do not carry one.... :)
 
Rugger said:
OK- I can't find the James Mattis quote that says that (paraphrased) that he carries a pen even though there is no an immediate writing assignment, wears(wore) a watch even if there is not an immediate appointment to keep and carries(ed) a knife because he is not an ape-
Old timers- help me out here- find the quote- James' words were "just right" for this.
Click to expand...
"I wear a wristwatch whether or not I have an appointment to keep, and I carry a pen and/or pencil because I am a literate person whether or not I have a specific writing task ahead of me, and I carry a knife because I am a human and not an ape." - James K. Mattis z”l
 
Usually, I just shrug and say, "I use it for everyday chores."

Here's some more of the James Mattis quote about why he carries a knife:
My good reason to carry a knife is that God gave me rather weak teeth and rudimentary claws in an evolutionary trade-off. The hairy-armed person who figured out how to put an edge on a suitable rock made it possible for us to be recognizably human in the first place. I wear a wristwatch whether or not I have an appointment to keep, and I carry a pen and/or pencil because I am a literate person whether or not I have a specific writing task ahead of me, and I carry a knife because I am a human and not an ape.

A knife comes in handy for all sorts of random tasks that involve separating matter. Like cutting a string, or making a sandwich, or opening a package. It can also come in handy in an emergency, which need not involve a human assailant, and emergencies are by their nature unforeseen, so one should carry a knife all the time.

And in a perfect world where nobody needed a weapon, I'd probably carry a slightly larger knife, because it wouldn't scare people.
Click to expand...
Man... I wish I could be that eloquent. :)
 
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