Have people reacted to your knife with shock or fear?

[effer]

I think we are all talking past one another, so let me try again. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t use your knife in public lest you scare others. What I am saying is that a little courtesy goes a long way toward preventing others from being scared. A little courtesy goes a long way toward preserving our right to carry. On the other hand, rude, threatening, and boorish behavior is a huge threat to our right to carry. Yes, we have a right to carry. But other people have a right to roam our public spaces without fear. So how about a “Salute” of some sort?
As a young lieutenant in the USMC, I was taught that it is always permissible and proper to salute a civilian to let them know that you are not a threat. When I was visibly armed, I often gave nervous looking civilians a salute. Obviously, such a salute has nothing to do with rank. It has everything to do with courtesy. The hand salute mimics the motion of a knight raising his visor to identify himself. A sword salute lowers the sword to a non-attacking position. A gun or cannon salute discharges the weapon so people know there is no threat, etc. I am NOT suggesting that you do any of the above salutes in public! But when you encounter someone who seems to be nervous about your knife, you could at least smile and give them a greeting or a gentle word.
So use your knife in public, but try not to be ostentatious about it. Take it out quietly, use it, and then put it away. No ninja flicks, flourishes, etc. And the next time someone gives you a look that says, “Eek! A big scary knife!” smile and reply with “Good Morning” or “Didn’t mean to cause alarm, just cutting my sandwich.” That is so much better than sneering and saying, “Screw you bitch, I have a right to carry a knife in public.”
I would suggest that a little courtesy would go a long way toward preserving our right to carry. On the other hand, if people are afraid to go out in public with their children, they will start drafting legislation.

It only takes a few idiots to ruin it for everyone, but it takes Countless Millions of people to get it back....
There is always and always will be that 10% that ruin things for the 90%.
That's just the way it is...

+1 :thumbup:

Public courtesy is also one of the reasons why I prefer to carry smaller knives (~3") instead of 3.5"+ knives and stay away from Assisted Opening.

 

[ben317]

+1 on that, that's exactly the attitude that the antis love to hear, gives them all the ammo they need and a perfect example to use.

Respectfully, if hearing the F word from a knife user is all they need then I don't think anything will change their mind. They'll find an excuse. Or they barring that, they'll manufacture an excuse.

 

[effer]

Respectfully, if hearing the F word from a knife user is all they need then I don't think anything will change their mind. They'll find an excuse. Or they barring that, they'll manufacture an excuse.

The point was that "hearing the F word from a knife user" might the the last thing they need to change their mind from acceptance and tolerance to objection.

 

[Poez]

If othes see you jerk, you wery well may be a jerk. It is sort of "in the eye of beholder'. Like the beauty, but not quite the same.
How people see themself and how they tell the story, is not allways the same how others saw them.
Even regarding stories here in this topic... I have to say, some of them are OK, and some do sound quite stupid to me.
For even being in the same forum we are still not all the same. We are probably all knife enthusiasts, but each in his own unique way.
So there bound to be some people here you probably would not like to meet in real life - like anywere in the Internet.
So it is good that there is some meaningful argument in this particular topic. Unlike another thousand ones before it in this forum of the same theme and nearly the same name.

 

[ben317]

The point was that "hearing the F word from a knife user" might the the last thing they need to change their mind from acceptance and tolerance to objection.

I think there's a line between being reasonably courteous of other people's sensitivities and walking on egg shells around them and bending over backwards to comply with their demands. There are some people that might need to hear an "F off" in my opinion.

 

[stabman]

There are some people that might need to hear an "F off" in my opinion.

That says alot right there now, doesn't it?
If you're thinking that way, it probably is you they are reacting to more than the knife.

 

[ben317]

That says alot right there now, doesn't it?
If you're thinking that way, it probably is you they are reacting to more than the knife.

Are you so saintly you've never told anyone to F off? I think you are drawing rash conclusion of me based on very little.

 

[effer]

I think there's a line between being reasonably courteous of other people's sensitivities and walking on egg shells around them and bending over backwards to comply with their demands. There are some people that might need to hear an "F off" in my opinion.

You just don't understand what public opinion means when it comes to things like this.

As an example I will tell you that now it is illegal to smoke cigarettes in public places in my state. I'm for one thankful for this. You might want to think about how this happened. It was perfectly legal not long time ago. I'm sure that couple of jerks told other people to "F off" when they were politely requested not to smoke where it was legally permitted. You think that if no laws are broken, you can just disregard other peoples opinion. Smokers didn't want to "bend over backwards to comply with demands" to smoke away from the children, no put down cigarette, because it was uncomfortable for other people. Well, it was legal, now it is not.

 

[stabman]

Are you so saintly you've never told anyone to F off? I think you are drawing rash conclusion of me based on very little.

I'm saintly enough that people don't freak out when I use my Spyderco Military, Strider Smf or Spyderco Superhawk in public.
I must be making a better impression on the people aroung me than you are.
Remember, you are the one who is having the issue with people freaking out around you, not me.

 

[keygenkid]

really where do you live? cause i live close enough to a major city to get their lcoal news broadcast and i can't remember a stabbing ever in public. not saying it never ever happens, but i am saying stabbings are super rare in public places. maybe not where you live though, i guess?

i think it is fair. it's non-logical and weak to fear a tool that is legal and being used legally. saying it isn't is like saying a man carrying and using a 12v powerdrill doing standard powerdrill work with it, is something to be feared of.

when it isn't being used to do any crime or attack or even threaten someone, there is no reason to fear it. fearing it is pretty weak and illogical.

i appreciate your point of view though, i just do not agree with it.

I live in Canada. I guess because we have a lack of guns we use knives. I understand your point with the power tool but I think a lot of people, at least around here don't see it as an essential tool (I didn't until I started carrying it). So when they see one they automatically associate it with a weapon. The first response I got when my friend saw i was carrying a blade was "is that even legal". It was a 3 inch stainless steel folder.

 

[ben317]

I'm saintly enough that people don't freak out when I use my Spyderco Military, Strider Smf or Spyderco Superhawk in public.
I must be making a better impression on the people aroung me than you are.
Remember, you are the one who is having the issue with people freaking out around you, not me.

I posted a humorous anecdote of what happened with me and a girl I went on a date with. She must have gotten over her fear of me since she's been dating me for about two years now and flips through my knife catalogs more than I do. I've said repeatedly that I think it's good to be "reasonably" aware of other people's sensitivities. I was posting a thread that I thought would generate interesting stories and give me a perspective on other people's experiences. But apparently anyone who has experiences like this according to you is an irresponsible punk or something.

 

[stabman]

But apparently anyone who has experiences like this according to you is an irresponsible punk or something.

If it happens to them often, then yes.
If once or twice, then perhaps they ran across an irrational person with ridiculous fears.

 

[stabman]

I live in Canada. I guess because we have a lack of guns we use knives.

We have no lack of guns here really. There's plenty.
And lots of people get stabbed in the States.

 

[ben317]

You just don't understand what public opinion means when it comes to things like this.

As an example I will tell you that now it is illegal to smoke cigarettes in public places in my state. I'm for one thankful for this. You might want to think about how this happened. It was perfectly legal not long time ago. I'm sure that couple of jerks told other people to "F off" when they were politely requested not to smoke where it was legally permitted. You think that if no laws are broken, you can just disregard other peoples opinion. Smokers didn't want to "bend over backwards to comply with demands" to smoke away from the children, no put down cigarette, because it was uncomfortable for other people. Well, it was legal, now it is not.

REASONABLY COURTEOUS. Asking people to smoke away from your kids is reasonable. Asking smokers to smoke outside of city limits is not. If I was a smoker and someone told me to take my cigarettes out of the city I would tell them to "F Off." And I think that would be appropriate. Now I think you can draw the same analogy for a knife situation. If someone says, "hey, do you mind, juggling your striders is scaring my daughter" I'd say that was reasonable. If I'm in a public park and cutting a sandwich at a picnic table and someone walks 50 yards over to me and tells me to leave the park with my knife... I might be a little less compliant. Are we really at odds on this point?

 

[ben317]

If it happens to them often, then yes.
If once or twice, then perhaps they ran across an irrational person with ridiculous fears.

Well we're in agreement then. Thanks.

 

[effer]

REASONABLY COURTEOUS. Asking people to smoke away from your kids is reasonable. Asking smokers to smoke outside of city limits is not. If I was a smoker and someone told me to take my cigarettes out of the city I would tell them to "F Off." And I think that would be appropriate. Now I think you can draw the same analogy for a knife situation. If someone says, hey, do you mind, juggling your striders is scaring my daughter I'd say that was reasonable. If I'm in a public park and cutting a sandwhch at a picnic table and someone walks 50 yards over to me and tells me to leave the park with my knife... I might be a little less compliant. Are we really at odds on this point?

It is all in personality. If someone one tells you "B1@tch take you F-ing knife away from this park", please tell them to go "F" themselves. If they tell you to "please don't use you knife like that, because it scares children", you might want to explain them politely that you're not doing anything wrong, this knife is no threat to them and shouldn't bother them, because it is not different from the kitchen knife that they have in their picnic basket. If you snap and tell that person to "F-off" then you're bad at representing knife-loving crowd. It is like "walking on egg shells", but it makes all the difference and makes you a better, responsible man carrying a tool, not a weapon.

 

[ben317]

It is all in personality. If someone one tells you "B1@tch take you F-ing knife away from this park", please tell them to go "F" themselves. If they tell you to "please don't use you knife like that, because it scares children", you might want to explain them politely that you're not doing anything wrong, this knife is no threat to them and shouldn't bother them, because it is not different from the kitchen knife that they have in their picnic basket. If you snap and tell that person to "F-off" then you're bad at representing knife-loving crowd. It is like "walking on egg shells", but it makes all the difference and makes you a better, responsible man carrying a tool, not a weapon.

In complete agreement.

 

[stabman]

I feel a chorus of Kumbaya coming on!

For a positive story...
This last winter semester, I used my SnG to get the staples out of a stack of papers for a cute girl in the university library (they had a stapler but no staple remover).
She was very appreciative, and I probably could have gone for a coffee with her if I wasn't married.
I guess there's hope afterall.:thumbup:

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

We have no filter other than the good sense and courtesy of our members.
Moderators cannot catch every infraction. This doesn't mean it isn't wrong.

Read the FAQ at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/faq.php
Read the following nested sections:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/faq.php?faq=faq_rules
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/faq.php?faq=faq_warning_infractions_banning
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/faq.php?faq=faq_infractions_lists

So I've read the links you provided. Was the poster in question issued an infraction for content? I get the feeling it's a judgement call.

 

[Mr. Bright5ide]

Have people reacted to your knife with shock or fear?

I remember the first time I got a reaction for pulling out and using a knife very well. I was back in Boston after having grown up in South Africa & finishing up high school in Kentucky where the thought of a pocket knife raising an eyebrow would be ludicrous -- I still remember some guys from the army who were giving a presentation at the 'ol high school in KY & to unbox an award they were giving a student one of them whipped & flicked out his Kershaw on stage in front of about 400 kids, teachers, & the principal. No one seemed to even notice, let alone care.

Now skip forward a few years to Boston, I'd recently gotten into knives & at the time EDC'd a Buck Vantage Select Small, & had recently gotten a job in the printing & production center inside a big retail store. I was about to change out a large roll of plastic on the oversize lamination machine & needed to cut off the old one. One of my co-workers, a buddy of mine from Vietnam was giving me a hand. Without even having to think about it I flipped out my little Buck & started to make the cut. I cannot describe the shriek that little guy made. It was one of the oddest, funniest sounds I'd ever heard! (for a split second his eyes weren't even Asian! -- haha I keed, I keed xD). He then started laughing at his own reaction but even then he threw out the 'ol "Why you carry that? You wanna kill someone with that?!" Only then I realized it was the little blade that had so shocked him. I was quite surprised but frankly also thought it was hilarious. I assured him that if I planned on using a knife for tactical/defensive purposes my choice of knife would certainly not be a 2-inch mini folder.

That was the first time I realized that certain people might view pocket knives as weapons, rather than as tools. So ever since then I am modest in my knife use and open my blades thoughtfully when about to use them in the presence of others.