Gear Choice: "Sheeple Friendly" a Factor ?

I would not allow being politically correct in some else's eyes jeopardize my chance at survival. Pick the gear that you are comfortable with and gear that works and swagger appropriately. The old quote "confidence is very sexy". Confidence comes from good gear regardless of looks.
 
lighthiker said:
I would not allow being politically correct in some else's eyes jeopardize my chance at survival. Pick the gear that you are comfortable with and gear that works and swagger appropriately. The old quote "confidence is very sexy". Confidence comes from good gear regardless of looks.
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Who said anything about not taking aproppriate gear, or second rate gear?
 
No, political correctness hasn't entered into my purchase decision process for edged tools. However, it is a consideration when I am taking my tools out in the field to play.

Very rarely will I 'open carry' a knife of any sort. An exposed pocket clip, yes. If I'm on a trail or on public land, knives get stowed in the pack. Period. However, I do have a Benchmade River Rescue on the left shoulder of my PFD. I always forget about that one. And it's BLACK, too. Oooooo...

I have a camo boonie hat that I wear when hiking or doing yardwork. I have a couple packs that could be perceived as 'tactical' or 'tacticool' but I use them freely and do really care what others think. I have a 2500 ci pack on the way in ACU pattern, and it will be used on day hikes, overnight trips, etc. I was going to get a coyote tan pack figuring it would blend in everywhere better, but the wifey said she like how the ACU pattern looked and preferred it to the coyote. Awesome.:D
 
I always try to find that balance between having a story to tell on bladeforums and ending up in jail for suspicion of terrorist activities.
I don't mind the odd look for carrying a machete, as I use it to groom the trails that people are using back home, and even better it makes me feel even more removed from the sheeple. They just better not come looking for help when the world ends.:D
As runningboar said though, I would think "dork" over "dangerous guy" most times, unless he actually is carrying a rifle or swinging a machete over his head.
I usually carry my blue alox farmer in public, which usually gets looks of envy even from the sheepliest.
 
I am really sorry to be such a stick in the mud, but where I live and work there are posers and wannabes on every corner. Everytime I see someone trying to look tactical, wearing a kill em all t shirt, or have their entire ERB on the back windshield of their car the bile rises into my throat. Let me tell yall a little secret, the scariest of the scary special ops guys get a budget to go buy their field gear at REI, their is a huge difference in looking tough and being tough. I always hear that milsurp and milspec is the best and toughest field gear around, yeah right, it is tough, I will give you that, and heavy, and hot or cold depending on the season and about 10 years behind what civilians are using. Chris
 
"sheeple" - slang term used as a kind of short cut phrase to describe people who often take on the demeanor of sheep. That is, passiveness to an extreme and the willingnes to blindly & automatically follow someone else's lead, even when it is against their own best self interests to do so (such as being led off a cliff). A phrase that is filled with judgement and ridicule. Sometimes disliked as are other 'judgement words' because to discriminate - that is evaluate & judge one thing as better or more desireable than another thing - has lost favor with those who live with an "its all relative & all good" world view or those who were taught as children that "its naughty to call people names".
Definitely not a politically correct term nowadays. But it does seem to fulfill its purpose - - since most here seem to understand what is meant by the term when used on these forums. That is, a member of the general public (not a 'knifenut') who might very well over react to the mere presence of a knife. - - - To be fair, some, such as women & older people, should be given much more consideration in this regard. They are more physically vulnerable & its very unstandable that they might be much more sensitive. - - -
Regards, -
 
Very good point, if you think about it, it is very understandable why a woman with a small child would recoil from a man in camos with a large knife prominately displayed, not sheeple at all, common sense. Chris
 
We must live in vastly different cultures, I don't even know what an ERB is. I don't wear "kill" type t shirts or anything like that. I do carry an ALICE pack, for my back, it's much better than internal frame backpacks, and yes, I've tried almost all of them. Clothing is a mix and match of whatever works. I guess I look like a mutt. The fixed blade is certainly on my hip, that keeps me legal. I'm not going to illegally conceal it.

Other than the poster concerned about meeting eligible young women on the trail (a valid concern for a young man), I honestly can't see why what others think would EVER enter my stream of consciousness. Who cares? Someone wants to stereotype me, go for it, as long as they leave me alone.

I forgot to mention, for those of you who tend toward PC, the term "wife beater" to describe a tank top is every bit as offensive as "sheeple". Now you have another word to add to your list that you cannot mention. Hope that helps. :D
 
ERB = Enlisted Records Brief, your official military records.

Yeah we probably do live in different worlds, I am about as PC as a fart in church I just don't let most people know.;)

If you think Alice packs are comfortable I have a nail mattress for sale, and some shoes full of gravel, I also have a 30K ruck on May 4th your welcome to come do it for me. Chris



EDIT: I don't give a big hairy crap if you call people sheeple because they don't believe like you or not, I am sure they have names for you too.
 
There is a big difference between being a mall ninja of the woods, and simply going about your business. I don't wear BDU's, or Camo, nor do I wear t-shirts that say Kill Fest 2006. . . (everyone knows Kill Fest 2004 was better, anyways)

Shamefully hiding your tools inside your backpack instead of carrying them on the outside or on your belt is just plain stupid.

Morons bending over backwards in fear of offending someone so sheltered they will jackrabbit in panic at the sight of an axe, saw, or sheath knife does society a great injustice.

Anyone so scared of reality should not be allowed outside of their group home or mental asylum in the first place, and why, when they do venture out, does it suddenly become our job to shelter them from knowledge of the existence of useful tools? Everyone Backpacking or camping should have useful tools, and maybe just seeing these useful tools strapped to people's packs and belts will help clue in even the most naive of "sheeple", so they can become functional human beings like myself.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Anyone so scared of reality should not be allowed outside of their group home or mental asylum in the first place, and why, when they do venture out, does it suddenly become our job to shelter them from knowledge of the existence of useful tools? Everyone Backpacking or camping should have useful tools, and maybe just seeing these useful tools strapped to people's packs and belts will help clue in even the most naive of "sheeple", so they can become functional human beings like myself.
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Rat,
Believe it or not I agree word for word, the only thing is, I am pretty sure your definition of a useful tool and mine is a wee bit different.;) :D

Also sheeple, for lack of a better term, don't do the same things that we do, most are much more interested in low impact, and need different tools for their nature experience. For example if they see an interesting animal on one of their nature hikes they enjoy the moment and are touched. If I see an interesting animal I wonder what it tastes like, if I have never eaten one before. Chris
 
Rat Finkenstein, I was just going to post those very words. You plagiarized me before I could even click "submit".
 
runningboar said:
It never fails to make me chuckle when I see someone dressed in black or green BDU style pants, rocky boots, a ball cap with a glock logo on it, dark shades and a photographers vest in 90 degree weather. The first thing that goes through my mind is not "WOW that is a dangerous dude", it is somthing along the lines of "What a dork".
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I know we are usually laughing our asses off, for the record I keep a tac tool strapped to the outside of my pack because its handy for brush clearing
 
I wonder if that kind of thing is more of a regional phenomenon? I never see any Military wannabees and mall ninjas when I am out and about. Maybe I am not close enough to any major urban centers.
 
Rat your words have the ring of a mall ninja. I keep my fixed blade knife inside my backpack to avoid confrontation with other users of the land I happen to be on. If you were to venture away from the computer for a few days and walk the trails I do, not your trails-mine, you would see the value of going about your own business. You don't understand the situation, maybe from a lack of experience, that people who have nothing to do with their time other than makes waves for someone else, often love to do so. This results in a scenario called the squeaky wheel gets the grease. People who venture on the trails of say the Los Padres Nat Forest once every ten years will run screaming to the ranger that armed camo clad Nazis are taking over the forest. Smart people will avoid the whole mess by just keeping their knife inside their pack.

If you go looking for trouble you'll usually find it. Showing weapons around others will help you find it quick. Of course if you do all your hiking and camping in the back yard then wear what you want and carry what you want. Run the extension cord out to the tent and watch Rambo movies all night long if you want to. But, on public land don't be an idiot and show weapons. If you are hunting in season or target shooting where it is legal then offer to demonstate what you are doing. If you are riding a quad stop when others approach and wait for them to pass. Same if you are riding a horse or a dirt bike. Every day fewer and fewer acres of land are available for outdoors use. Don't give the "other side' ammo by being an armed mall ninja.
 
Come down to Fayetteville, home of US Army Special Operations, and you will see them in herds. There is a whole subculture of SF groupies and wannabes. Chris
 
Pointshoot777 - As I got older I realized the truth in the saying, "We would worry less what others thought of us, if we realized how seldom they do..." Mike
 
malextwo said:
Pointshoot777 - As I got older I realized the truth in the saying, "We would worry less what others thought of us, if we realized how seldom they do..." Mike
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malextwo - thanks for your input and all the others here who posted on this, its got me thinking more about what I have actually done in this regard in the past & what I'll do in the future. - When out in more remote areas, I've never even thought about this. Nor when I've been out rifle or bowhunting. - - But, when over on the more populated west side of my state, I sometimes like to go for a hike in areas where the nearby city folks like to go too. - - Need my dose of the outdoors on a regular basis ! - - Some of those people are nice looking lady hikers :) and wanting to strike up a conversation with these athletic gals, I don't wear the fixed blade in a belt sheath. (The objection of some dweeb guy hasn't really crossed my mind.) But, there are times when a fixed blade is the best possible tool. Its probably a real good idea to at least have one in my personal survival kit. - - Even when I'm carrying all my gear, its usually a 5 1/2" fixed blade, a folder w/ a 3 1/2" blade, a small SAK, and maybe a small hatchet. Never been a big knife guy anyway. - -
 
runningboar said:
ERB = Enlisted Records Brief, your official military records.

Yeah we probably do live in different worlds, I am about as PC as a fart in church I just don't let most people know.;)

If you think Alice packs are comfortable I have a nail mattress for sale, and some shoes full of gravel, I also have a 30K ruck on May 4th your welcome to come do it for me. Chris



EDIT: I don't give a big hairy crap if you call people sheeple because they don't believe like you or not, I am sure they have names for you too.
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I'm sure you are correct. The whole point is - so what? Why should that influence anyone? I'm not looking for trouble when I hike, and don't consider wearing a belt knife as such. If folks want to not wear a blade, no problem with me at all. If people want to go running to a ranger, fine. I'm careful to stay well inside the law. I've had many a pleasant conversation with rangers with a Ruger on my hip, no problems. They usually involved where we thought the elk had migrated to.

Yes, I've done 30K's and some longer, but my military service was a looooong time ago. I specifically kept my ALICE because it fit so well. It's now pushing 30 years old, and I still love it.
 
Its funnny, up here I never see people with the t-shirts you speak of, or wanna b's. Every one has a knife on their belt, Ive seem people going with huge knives befor, going into future shop, with a belt knife the size of an arm. But these guys are allways in the bush, rather their on oil rigs, hunting or just trial blazin Its one thing that makes me love it out here, It makes absolutly no diffrence what you wear or what you look like, haha every one hates ya. no j/k, but everyone is skeptical.
 
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