I am getting sick of High-End Elitists... Grrr!!!

S

Stiletto Raggio

Joined
Jan 29, 2000
Messages
546
I have noticed a disturbing trend lately in the forums. Some members have made replies to the posts of others in a condescending and disrespectful manner.

Scenario: Joe Schmoe asks about his Buck 110 folder, and wants to know the best kind of sharpening stone to use.

Big Bowie, a "real knife guy", replies that Joe should buy a 150 dollar sharpening system that is obvioulsy out of Joe's financial range. He then adds that Joe shouldn't even bothering to sharpen such a Plebian blade, because unless it is D2 or CPM 440V and has Sebenza or Elishewitz or some other big name stamped on the side, it shouldn't even be classified as a knife.

Excuse me if I interpreted this wrong, but I thought this place was supposed to be for everyone to get info and discuss their knives or potential purchases, not some cutlery country club where only refined folks can talk about their custom, and often ridiculously expensive knives, and talk down to anyone who isn't willing to shell out 450 bucks for a pocket knife.

Some of us operate on a budget, and I have had it with people who act like they are the only "real knife people" on the internet.

Last time I checked, most of us started out with cheap SAKs or Buck or Schrade pocket knives. While tese products obviously do not perfomr to the same degree as high-tech customs, they are still useful for us common folks.

It is one thing to warn people that 420j steel is soft and not high quality, and it is another for you to chastise someone for even bringing it up.

This is not meant to target the knowledgable people who try to help other with their choices and give their honest opinions, but rather to let people know that being condescending sdoes not make friends.
 
Go buy yourself a MIcrotech and calm down
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There is a small "high brow" group, but most folks here are very friendly and helpful.
Mass production knives (by Victorinox, Wenger, Buck, Gerber, Camillus, Schrade, ect) are my choice and are better than the knives used to settle this country (we live in good times).
I have heard you get what you pay for, but these are knives, not super-computers.
If a knife does'nt have precious metals or precious stones then I'm not gonna pay over 80.00 dollars for it (and I think 80.00 is VERY expensive for a knife).
But it's your money...do what you like.
 
Stiletto,
You are right in that this place is for 'everyone' and it sounds like perhaps someones dry humor has been mistaken for aggression..... I'm guessing as I haven't seen the posts you are referring to. However, the knives you mention are WELL respected brands and I haven't seen a lot of dogging against them. Hopefully it was not meant as derision as I can't imagine many people dissing brands like Buck or Schrade. Perhaps it was the 'use' of the blade intended that prompted the remark. I'm not making excuses for anyone just don't want you to write this place off for a couple posts that got you torqued. The POS knives and design rip offs from China are the only knives I've seen take a heavy beating here and for (what I feel) is good reason after reading both sides here. As far as the budget goes, you can budget for 'any' price it just takes longer to get there. So, if someone mentions buying a high end knife they are probably doing so in all seriousness and feel the knife is worth waiting a year or two to buy. Good post/good info!
biggrin.gif


Shawn

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'Peers don't know what they can't see...
They can't see inside of me... It's sickening
how comforting the privacy of the mind can be...
How much longer will I try before I realize I'm
desperate in the situation that I'm in again...
I'm exhausting yet another topic I've exhausted
frequently... With no regrets!' - Eve 6
 
Raggio--

Well said. I can understand both ends of the spectrum...but I choose to fall in the middle. I carry a BM and lust after MT knives. I own SAK and Buck ,etc, but I can see the appeal to have the "higher end" knives as well.

Everything in this life is about perspective. I carry a BM as my everyday knife...for some of you that may be very expensive, for others...you might have 10 BM to choose from to carry today. It is all about perspective and how we choose to use the funds that God has blessed us with.

When someone addresses a question in a condescending matter...that's where it needs to stop. If someone addresses a question with their educated opinion and still (after he answers) can respect the question and the one who asked it, then that is constructive. In my past experiences, I have had nothing but constructive interactions here on the forums, but I could easily see where the "other" could happen pretty quickly.

Please take everything here with tempereance and a grain of salt...look who is answering the question and as my dad used to tell me, "consider the source" when you get advice...that can make a HUGE difference on how much weight it should carry.

David

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David P. Sproles
Eagle Scout Class of 1988
dps2970@hotmail.com
 
Are you standing up for others, or concerned with yourself? I've never chastised anyone for being on a budget, and in reviewing your post before this one about fixed blades under $75 it seems you got nothing but helpful kind remarks.

Brandon

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I've got the schizophrenic blues
No I don't
Yes I do...
 
I don`t really see it, to be perfectly honest. For every person who loves expensive knife "A", there will be someone who simply hates expensive knife "A" for some reason or another. Knife "A" is sort of irrelevent, it`s the reasons both sides have for their opinions that really matter. I think we end up with a fairly balanced point of view.

I think it`s great time to be a knife knut. I can`t remember a time when there were so many decent quality knives of every description in virtually every price range. How someone decides to spend their money is their business. If it weren`t for the opinionated characters with all their differing points of view, this would be a pretty boring place to hang out.
 
When I first came here, I had only one Spyderco "Q" that I paid $20 for. I dreamed of owning a Benchmade, but thought $100 was ridiculous. Then I had 10 BM's, sold them for customs and high end production, now my daily carry is a custom order Apogee. The more you learn here, the more "geared" you'll be toward higher end folders. Theirs room for everyone here.

-AR
 
Jackyl,
Interesting coincidence -- when I first found BF, my daily carry was a Q that I paid $20 for. I was looking to replace the Q with something plain edge (and under $50) and was astounded when I ended up spending $65 (including shipping). Spending $100 was unthinkable, regardless of my income level.

Right now I have a William Henry CF Lancet with me. Because a $175 knife cuts better than a $65 knife? No, because the CF Lancet fits my need for discreet carry better than an Almite Walker does. For most purposes, my sub $100 Spydies, Benchmade, etc., are much more useful tools.

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Dave

Signature line needed. Apply within.

[This message has been edited by dsvirsky (edited 07-26-2000).]
 
I don't think there are that many snooty people in these forums. Just people who have differing opinions.

As with any hobby, there are varying degrees and reasons why they prefer certain brands/styles of knives.

I think opinions should be taken with a grain of salt. It's obvious that a guy who is brand loyal to Spyderco is going to tell you that it's a better knife than any other. It may be to him (or her) but it doesn't necessarily make it so for someone else.

Similarly, a guy who is willing to spend $300 on a high-end production folding knife may look down upon a $40 CRKT. Afterall, he has to logically justify having spent $300 on a tool that will essentially do the same thing as the CRKT; to cut!
 
Yeah, I forgot...I too wanted an under $50 plain edge...so I got an Endura with plastic clip. Than came other BM's and Spyde's.

-AR
 
Hey Full Tang Clan....

Good to see another CanaJun here at BF...

Drop me a note at ericn@mnsi.net

ttyle Eric...

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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom,Quality, Concealex Sheaths.

Leading The Way In Synthetic Sheathing.
 
When I first signed up for BladeForums.com, I was 13 years old. I owned a Buck Protege, and Imperial Schrade fixed blade (Apex, I think), a Buck Mentor, and was about to buy a Gerber EZ-Out. I saved up every penny I could to buy those knives, and I think I really got my money's worth. The Buck Mentor and Protege costed me about $20 each at Wal-Mart. The EZ-Out costed me about $34, and it was also from Wal-Mart. I got the Imperial Schrade knife from a locksmith, and I think I paid a good deal above retail. However, I still think the knife was worth it. Of all the knives, that Imperial did the most work. I paid 20 dollars for it, and it should have costed about $12. What did I sharpen it with? An $8 stone measuring 2x8x1 inches. Did those knives and the cheap sharpener allow me to do everything I can do now with my Benchmade and Microtech? Yes, they did.


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Chang and the Rebels of the East!
Southern Taiwan Will Rise Again!
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I have been "into" knives as long as I can remember. I started my "humble" collection with a few "cheap" SAK knockoffs. Eventually I moved off into the realm of higher end knives, a Spyderco stainless Rescue being my first. Followed by a few Police models and so on.
Over time I grew out of folders(not really) and into Fixed blades.
Before coming to blade forums I was already interested in higher end knives; CRK, Benchmade's Nimravus, Mission Knives etc....
I don't feel there is anything wrong with the "lower end" knives and still own few myself. Believe me I punish them and they still come back for more.
What I am getting at is that time, experience, and research have led me to more expensive knives. But I do not feel that gives me any right or reason to come of as an Elitist and if I ever do please kick me in the A$$. I am more than willing to share my miniscule knowledge/experience with anyone.
Sorry for the ramble
confused.gif
I am on my 4th cup of coffee and 3rd sleepless day....

Peace
 
Just about everybody I know of on the forums started on the lower end and worked their way up. Three years ago, I would have thought anyone spending more than $50 on a knife was insane. Having sampled the works of some of todays best makers, I still think it is insane! But it is an insanity that I willingly participate in.
Last weekend, several of us got together and went to a gun/knife show. We all are collectors of custom pieces, but 3 of us bought CRKT KFFs because they are a heck of a lot of knife for the $39 we paid for them.
Scratch a custom guy and you will find a production knife fan underneath.
I hope that any perceived condescesion was a mistaken feeling. But, there are over7,000 forumites now and if only 1% were buttheads, that would still mean that there were over 70 of them! Personally, I think the number is even lower than that.
A phrase that I use in daily life has given me a lot of satisfaction and may apply here;
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."
David


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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
SR: you sound like an 'agent provocateur.'

You have around 150 posts, so are fairly new to the forum. You have recently posted questions about a general purpose fixed blade under $75: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum54/HTML/002061.html

and about a possible Onion/REKAT collaboration: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum54/HTML/001994.html

Both of these posts were answered without any condescention, elitism or an attempt to refer you to a much more expensive product.

If you have examples of the sort of behavior you are protesting, then let's have you post them. As of now, frankly, I do not see data to back up your position.

Walt
 
Stiletto, I don't think the postings that bother you reflect elitism as much as pure spendthriftitis. It seems that some people get pleasure and fulfillment out of freely spending on their hobbies and want to share that joy with others. Some of us come from a different place spiritually or financially and find the recomendations to spend large sums on luxuries irritating.

I only take satisfaction in getting a bargain or getting more bang for the buck. I could never take pleasure if I bought something new that I could have bought used for 1/3 the price. I could never take pleasure in paying full price if I could have gotten something at 1/2 price. I would never be happy buying an expensive sharpening system if I could do as well with a less expensive system. And I could easily spend ten times as much on knives as I do and never notice the difference.
 
If you take issue with something said in a particular thread, then it's best to post your reply there. Complaining to your friends about a co-worker's offensive remarks might make for interesting chitchat, but it won't resolve your differences at the office.

Also, keep in mind that internet exchanges are *highly* subject to misreading or poor phrasing. There's a bit more ill will *interpreted* than intended on the forums, IMO.

$0.02 --
Glen
 
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