Do you CARE if it's sheeple friendly?

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
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You read a heckuva lot on the forums about whether to choose knife A or knife B due to sheeple friendliness, and I was wondering if alot of people are considering that a priority in choosing a knife these days

And for the sake of focus, to define sheeple friendly, I'm referring to less likely to offend people, not to be confused with the legality to carry a knife.

Personally, I find it a very vague consideration with zero priority.

I don't believe I would get anywhere by trying to compromise or reason with those types of people, cause I believe something is gonna offend 'em no matter what you do.

Not to say I'm in favor of deliberately p!ssing people off like some clown at a childrens Birthday party whipping out a set of seven inch bladed Cuda Maxxes with a maniacal giggle just to watch the soccer moms cringe. But more into the perception of carrying what I want when I want to do the job I want irregardless of what someone else may think, as long as I'm legal.

Now, all that being said I must also admit that being here in Alaska there's quite possibly a bit more realistic attitude among most folks here about tools. Maybe I'd change my mind if I had to live in Chicago or something. (Near some areas I've heard about there though, I'd rather trade my Benchmade in for a Battle Mistress)

In otherwords, I'm not picking a fight with folks, I'd just like to know if there's many folks concerned about PC, and why that is.
 
You should read my "gents folder" thread, because this subject is covered there.

I think it really depends on where you work.

If I work in a sand and gravel pit in maryland, then HECK I'll carry my CRKT KFF or AFCK all I want. Or my chinook II, it'll fit right in.

But currently I work in an investment bank in NYC, and in this type of environment, you don't necessarily want to be known as the guy who carries a "big scary knife." Not that these types of opinions affect me, but these types of opinions affect how people BEHAVE towards me. I recently had this experience, and so now I'm known as "the guy with the big knife", even if the knife they're referring to is a SMALL CRKT KFF pro with the aluminum scales!

From my experience, a folding knife with wood scales doesn't register on the scary scale to sheeple. If it has ivory and wood scales, and fancy patterning, the knife tends to register more as a "fancy letter opener" than a knife.

So, in my case, yes it matters. Never did before. I liked scaring sheeple before. But, I can't now, considering that this job supports my knife hobby. :D
 
In this day / age, "PC" or not, you need to at least give it some consideration, as to what you carry and how you carry.

I prefer a firearm over a knife anyday of the week. That's not to say that at times, I don't carry only a knife. Sometimes.....it's just too much trouble / hassle to pack a firearm (how lame is that? :rolleyes: ).

I can carry a firearm concealed, in any state of the good ole USA. Same goes for a knife.

I give much consideration as to "what will work for me", not so much as to how it (weapon) may appear to others, but I do to some degree, if for nothing else, but to be aware.

Obviously, parts of the USA are / will be, more accomodating in regards to weapon carry. But.....because all of the USA isn't so understanding, I choose to carry concealed almost all of the time. I'm well-armed, and for me, it's not about showing off to the public, that I am.

Now....back to the original question.

What was it..........? :confused:
 
As long as I'm using my legal knife in a legal manner, I don't give a rats' ass who goes running away from me screaming in fear when I'm using one of my knives...That's THEIR problem, not mine.
 
I think most take the "sheeple friendly" factor into consideration if they are to use the knife at work. Your workplace can have a knife policy that is more restrictive than your state or local laws. My workplace has a pretty vague policy regarding knives so it is best to lean towards non-threatening knives to avoid being called into the human resources office for brandishing a weapon.
 
Yes, I'm concerned if the knives I carry are sheeple friendly or not because I like to have a knife on me, it's a very useful TOOL. I may have 2-6 knives on me at any given time, but I never have a weapon on me. If I'm not carrying a weapon why would I want to have anyone look at my knves as a weapon? Because guess what, people don't want to feel threathened. If they do they're going to want to remove the threat. Or in other words take away your knives. My suggestion is, don't give the anti-knife people anymore ammunition.
 
Never bothered me. If someone doesn't like it, then they can run home and pee themselves for all I care.
-KC
 
I live in a very knife-friendly environment as well; I agree with 4-Ranges' statement about how others will behave towards me, but I refuse to change my life just to suit those who insist on being perpetually offended.

I'm fortunate to be in a line of work where it makes good sense to carry a big, stout knife at all times, but I do on occasion have to remind the ignorant why my carrying one is necessary. I try to be patient when I do so because I work in the public sector and I understand the consequences of feeding their fears. So I guess there is a bit of compromise involved.
 
If a particular knife is less likely to raise an issue in the mind of an investigating LEO or a co-worker for that matter then that's an advantage. There may be an offsetting disadvantage in SD or utility, and that's what tradeoffs are all about.

Kref
 
I work in a cubicle wasteland, so yes, it's very important to me that what I'm carrying is sheeple-friendly. Now, bear in mind that I'm in a small town in NC, so it's not too big of a deal to carry a knife. I have three on me right now: a Victorinox Midnite Minichamp II, Victorinox Pioneer Farmer and a Spyderco Calypso Jr. I'll pull out the Caly (and prior to owning it, my Native III) to open boxes without hesitation. Sometimes people say, "Wow, what do you have that thing for?" but it's usually not even noticed.

What's funny is that I was looking at AG Russell's website a few days ago, examining old-school slipjoints of all things, when one of my reps walks up and says, "Naughty boy! What are you doing looking at weapons?" :eek: :confused:

... Decorum requires that I be at least subtle in my love of knives, but I won't hesitate to talk to anyone who brings it up.
 
BuckyKatt:

I look at knives online all the time, but nobody says anything. They're probably thinking "see, that big scary knife guy is at it again."

For me it's somewhat crucial that it's sheeple-friendly, because it is an investment bank in NYC, that has metal detectors for visiting clients, etc. So, if they stop me and find my chinook II, and open that blade, I'm definitely hearing it from HR.
 
PhilL said:
Yes, I'm concerned if the knives I carry are sheeple friendly or not because I like to have a knife on me, it's a very useful TOOL. I may have 2-6 knives on me at any given time, but I never have a weapon on me. If I'm not carrying a weapon why would I want to have anyone look at my knves as a weapon? Because guess what, people don't want to feel threathened. If they do they're going to want to remove the threat. Or in other words take away your knives. My suggestion is, don't give the anti-knife people anymore ammunition.
Click to expand...

I can't say it any better.

Paul
 
"speak soft, and carry a big stick", i have sheeple friendly knives on me (cricket)and SD knives that only come into play when the **** hits the fan.
 
My EDCs are all quite sheeple friendly, and this was a pretty important consideration when I bought each knife.

And then there are the big heavy use fixed blades that I love, which the sheeple never see.

David
 
I carry whatever I feel like carrying. In addition, I sometimes also carry something sheeple-friendly. I'd never buy my one knife based on sheeple-friendliness, but do often carry a second that is sheeple-friendly.
 
There are two considerations in my choice of pocketknives. The first is that I wouk for a federal agency and in Washington, DC, so I am constrained by laws that limit me to a folder with a blade of less than 2.5" at work and one with a blade of less than 3" elsewhere on the streets of DC. Also, like 4 Ranges, I don't want to rock the boat too very much or I will be hearing from the Office of Personnel or from my very patient boss about disturbing the local fauna. My second consideration is that I have becoma a "Quaker by convincement", or converted to Quakers. This means that I am regularly around those for whom anything that resembles a weapon seems threatening. Now, I continue to carry at Quaker affairs, but I do not carry a CUDA MAXX or a Bowie Knife and some of them have even become accustomed toasking me when they need a knife. I even have some reservations about wearing one of my re-enacting swords to, say, a costume party, and have never done so, although many know that I do re-enact people wearing swords.

Funny story: years ago, I was at a Quaker potluck and they had a wonderful ham, but no knife to cut up the slices into bite-sized pieces, so I pulled out what was my EDC at the time, an SS Spydie Police and proceeded to cut my slices of ham into pieces. The looks on the faces of the people around me were priceless and even more priceless was when they asked to borrow my knife to cut up their slices. :) :)
 
I find that there's a lot to be said for carrying two knives. I usually have my tiny Spyderco Kiwi in my change pocket, and a larger folder clipped to my pocket. For most of my daily tasks, the Kiwi can handle anything...and no one's frightened by it. If I need my other folder for something bigger, I have it.

That way I can carry whatever I want....that's half the fun.

Nitin
 
If I am in the woods I like a big knife like a BM 630 or Aftermath. But the rest of the time because of my work, and what I will be needing a knife for, I carry an under 3 inch knife. I like the BM 705 and I just order a small Sebenza Classic, these knives are sheeple friendly enough for me. If there are any hysteric people around then I will just have to explain to them that they are hysteric and need to see a doctor. Until they can get an appointment they should go home lock all the doors and windows, turn on all the lights and stay close to the phone, it is dangerous out side they may get hurt.
 
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