Do you CARE if it's sheeple friendly?

Carrying a folding knife is pretty normal here. Lots of cheap tacticals, multi-tools, and pocketknives of various sorts in lots of pocket and on lots of belts. But carrying a fixed blade would seem "show offy" and possibly threatening to most people.
 
Johnny11758 said:
......Two ladies in their forties happened to see me, and one said to the other as if she'd just witnessed a street fight, "Look, he has a knife.".....
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When I get a reaction like that (from a man or a woman) I always ask: "What do you use to cut your home-baked bread; what do you use to carve your turkey at Thanksgiving; what do you use to slice tomatoes for a salad; what do you use to cut a steak? A TOOL just like this - a knife."
 
No I don't, and whats more it irritates the crap out of me that people think I am carrying a weapon. If I wanted to hurt someone I would use a hammer, easier to kill with and innocuous.
 
The great thing about wearing clothing to work is that you can carry several knives at a time, including but not limited to a "Sheeple" friendly knife. (My EDC is no less than 3 knives) and I use them! I carry a nice little hot pink SAK in my pocket at all times so that when I'm in a crowd or situation where I don't want to have to "explain" my freakiness and yet I find the need for a knife, I have one that isn't going to raise any eyebrows...

I believe that you have a right to carry and use what you want, but in doing this you have to be prepared to spend 20 or 30 minutes now and then trying to explain to ignorant people that you are a "good, sane, normal person who happens to carry a knife that is bigger than most other peoples". Much to my dismay, they (being Sheeple) more than likely won't ever understand what your saying! So sometimes its easier to save your energy for the cut your going to get to make with your big scary knife when the sheeple aren't around to watch!!! :D

4 RANGES: Trust me I can relate...I too worked in a bank that didn't look to highly on knives or tools of any kind (they didn't even allow me to carry my leathermans tool!!! (now thats stupid!). In fact I was called in by HR several times because I had a "big scary knife". (It was my Calypso Jr Light Weight) The ironic thing is that the company had no policy on "weapons" of any kind including guns, and they even admitted I was with in the bounds of Idaho Law to carry any or all of the above to work at any time. But they flipped out and made my life enough of a hell that I quit. And boy did that feel GREAT!!!

I say "carry what you want, but use what you need for the situation" that means take into consideration the people around you.
 
You know, I'd love to say I don't give a sht what people think, but I went to strap on a fixed blade before taking the wife and kid to the mall the other day and stopped myself short. The only reason I didn't was because I was concerned that a sheeple might call security on me, and if by chance my shirt had fallen oner the handle I could have been in a world of sht. I always carry a full sized Grip when out (S30 or D2), but for some reason I felt like going large. Couldn't make myself do it.
 
All the folders in my EDC rotation are either balisongs or autos, except the Spyderco FRNs which are still fully serrated and quite wicked looking, so no, I don't really care if they're sheeple friendly. But I don't go out of my way to get a reaction either.

"But why do you need a switchblade or butterfly knife?" is a common response. Because they're my preference and style. Like my dorky cycling shoes or the fact I only wear shorts or the way I cut my hair. Appearance is only appearance, shoes are only shoes, and a cutting insturment is only a cutting insturment, whether it's an Xacto blade, a SAK, steak knife, or a shiny balisong. If it's legal, who are they to complain? Any perceived difference is ignorance.

But, despite all the bluster, I am a somewhat nice and polite person and don't want to scare people, even if it is their own stupid fault, so I'll often have a smaller blade (3" bali or pocket auto), or I'll open the knife out of their view. I regularily play with my knives in open view, so my coworkers (mostly my age anyway) are used to me and my knives, but I don't act like a jackass and "show them off" when customers can see me. Then, I'll only use a knife if I'm doing something that requires it (which is often), like production related stuff or cutting coupons out for them. If they freak out when I use a knife to cut their own coupons, then they really are sheeple. What am I going to do, use my teeth?

Arizona seems to be relatively sparsely populated by Homo Aries, probably due to the rugged nature of the state (even in the city), combined with the knife/gun carry laws, which are amongst the freest in the nation. Lots of pocket knives, lots of openly carried pistols, not as many yuppie democrats. :cool:

EDIT: I should also add that I like having a smaller blade not just for the sheeple, but for myself, since I do feel kinda weird whipping out a Severtech auto to, say, clean my fingernails. :rolleyes:
 
This is my opinion, and i'm putting it out there :)

I must say that I enjoy carrying my pocket knives of all shapes and sizes. However, I would not wear a fixed blade out in public if the environment in which I was in, didn't warrant the need to carry. (e.g. wearing a Battlerat to my dental appt.)

For me it's a question of ethics and common sense. Carry what is suitable for the situation. I know the law would permit me to carry a large fixed blade in most places, but in many places it's just plain unethical. Maybe I'm just self righteous ;)

The laws are the minimum standard to which we as individuals and a society are held accountable for our behaviour. It doesn't mean we shouldn't hold ourselves to a higher standard.

I wouldn't think twice about seeing other people around and about in public with a knife clipped to their pocket but there's more to be said about a big blade strapped to the leg or belt.

Carrying with the intention of getting a rise or reaction from people is just immature IMO.


TO answer the original question. Yes it's a focus if it's going to be used in a work environment. No if it's for use among friends who don't care on my private property or theirs, or if it's going to be used in situations where size or "scary factor" would be warranted e.g. camping.


*edit for spelling
 
trust ME.

it is better to be SAFE than SORRY is the best way to roll on this topic.

I have been caught on the wrong end of the stick ( not while commmiting a crime )

the courts DO NOT care what your reason is or how many other style knives you collect or whatever your reason is.


they need #s plain and simple.

stay sheeple freindly and think what could happen not what SHOULD happen ( as I once did )
 
My only concerns are if it is legal (in Arizona any of my knives are legal to carry) and if it is convenient (a Bowie is not very convenient for urban EDC for me, though it might be for others.) Sheeple are sheeple and therefore unqualified to advise anyone on cutlery EDC. It would be similar to asking a monkey to help you choose a car.
 
For me it's a question of ethics and common sense. Carry what is suitable for the situation. I know the law would permit me to carry a large fixed blade in most places, but in many places it's just plain unethical. Maybe I'm just self righteous ;)

How is carrying a knife a question of ethics? It might attract unwanted attention, get in the way of everyday activities such as driving, or clash with your mode of dress ( a large survival knife would look wierd with a business suit, for example,) but how is it unethical? :confused:

The laws are the minimum standard to which we as individuals and a society are held accountable for our behaviour. It doesn't mean we shouldn't hold ourselves to a higher standard.

What do you mean by this? IMO a higher standard would be to keep ourselves prepared. Carrying a gun, for example, is holding yourself to a higher standard than not carrying one. Carrying a first aid kit in your vehicle is a higher standard than not carrying one. It is taking responsibility for protecting yourself and others. Following the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared" is holding yourself to a higher standard. Conforming to sheeplism is holding yourself to the lower standards of socialism and collectivism.
 
I have enough of a variety to choose from for EDC, so sheeple friendliness is not an issue with me, still I always carry a sheeple friendly knife as part of my EDC, right tool for the job, and try to draw as little attention to myself as necessary.
 
I like this topic so much I'm going to reply to it again. Given I work in the LE and Security field and having a "tactical" style knife is largely acceptable. I have in the past worked in a civilian office setting and frequently EDCed larger BM's or an Emerson Commander. The way I see it if your knife is legal on the street and it doesn't violate a written directive by your employer why should you care what some goofy ass liberal POS thinks or "feels" about you or your knife? I think we do ourselves, not just as "knife guys" but as reality based citizens, a great disservice by bowing down to all these f-cking candy asses! The way I figure it they wouldn't have the luxury of being so goddamned sensitive if me and a lot of other people like me w/ guns and knives and "evil" things didn't protect their freedom, their rights, and their punk asses while they sleep. So if I want to whip out my AFCK to my steak and eggs at Denny's the Sheeple can be as uncomfortable as they want.
 
Lobo103 said:
I like this topic so much I'm going to reply to it again. Given I work in the LE and Security field and having a "tactical" style knife is largely acceptable. I have in the past worked in a civilian office setting and frequently EDCed larger BM's or an Emerson Commander. The way I see it if your knife is legal on the street and it doesn't violate a written directive by your employer why should you care what some goofy ass liberal POS thinks or "feels" about you or your knife? I think we do ourselves, not just as "knife guys" but as reality based citizens, a great disservice by bowing down to all these f-cking candy asses! The way I figure it they wouldn't have the luxury of being so goddamned sensitive if me and a lot of other people like me w/ guns and knives and "evil" things didn't protect their freedom, their rights, and their punk asses while they sleep. So if I want to whip out my AFCK to my steak and eggs at Denny's the Sheeple can be as uncomfortable as they want.
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AMEN to that Lobo.tom.
 
I do indeed consider if a knife is sheeple friendly. I have taken a liking to smaller knives recently since i have taken a good hard look at how I use my knife. I typically open packages, mail, cut loose threads ect. I don't NEED a large knife and besides a smaller knife is easier to carry. It really depends on what you do for a living and how do you use your knife.
 
The reason I don't care is because I don't feel the need to adjust my decisions based on another person's ignorance.
 
i agree with easyrider, i do service work and can't (or shouldn't) go into a customer's home looking like rambo.
 
I would like to change my original answer. I do consider if my knife is sheeple friendly. And if it is, I use a different one. :D

Thor
 
Other than not being able to carry more than a 3" fixed blade at work, there are no sheeple restrictions or considerations given to what I carry.
 
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