Knives and Family Gatherings

[Ankerson]

It is legal for me to carry for my uses. I am good friends with an LEO that works for the county. I have had several conversations about knives with him and I have mentioned this to the family members who seem to have problems with me having one - no difference.

Its going to come down to either me not having one on me, or them just learning to shut up. The sad part is no-one has pulled me aside and asked politely, or even asked at all - just stupid comments.

Even more interesting, my girlfriends family seems to send me emails every other day about knife related events in the area - the latest about a guy who reproduces Scagel knives.

Funny how that worked out

If they don't have enough respect for you to pull you aside or to respect your values then that's not a good thing.

Personally I would separate myself from them permanently.

The stupid comment stuff is Hillbilly Redneck in my book and not worth your time.

 

[Erasmus]

i just wait untill they need something open... and i harass them for not carrying a knife.

THIS.

Don't help anybody the next time they need something cut. When they come helplessly flailing to you, looking for help, just put on an asinine smile and tell them, "knives are icky. What possible use could they be?!" :foot:

And continue not helping them.
That will learn them.

 

[Mannlicher]

However, it seems that at every family event I attend, I get mocked/ridiculed for carrying and using a "dangerous weapon".

Oh my! At our family reunions, the folks that are mocked are those without a knife. Even the girls all gather around and participate in the annual 'show and tell' session.

 

[Gene K]

I guess its a different culture. In my family a man is expected to carry a pocket knife and a wallet. At a family reunion (Usually around 300 people) I doubt you could find a half dozen males over the age of 8 without a pocket knife. By the way that would likely include a large number of College Grads and a couple of Rhodes Scholars before you get visions of Deliverance.

That said if you were walking around with a 8" Fixed Blade you would likely get funny looks.

 

[n80shutterbug]

My favorite response when someone asks for a fingernail clippers is to pull out my pocketknife. I guess some folks don't know all the uses a handy little knife can have! Not too many take me up on it though, for some reason. Just keep your knife, and don't wave it in front of them all the time. They have their right to not like knives, and you have your right to like them and appreciate their usefulness. It's hard to change peoples minds, and its even harder to do it with confrontation.

 

[cziv]

Yep, sometimes we just have to go with the flow instead of against the grain. I learned that a long time ago and it's kept me out of some trouble and conflicts over the years. So even though I always carry a knife very few people know I have one on me and that's the way I like it.

That's my way too - don't advertise and ignore remarks completely, they'll stop after awhile. I carry and not being an office type worker who tucks in his shirt - mine are always over my jeans, concealing a clipped folder.

When I do have a tucked shirt - Church or formal function - I have an Izula in a custom kydex sheath with thumb jimping. I can bring it out faster than any folder. It lays flat, doesn't print on the pocket. Most of my peple who have seen the lttle bugger think it's "cute."

 

[KennyB]

Whenever I go visit my sister in Seattle for Thanskgiving, either her boyfriend or her always say something like, "...oh ask Kenny, he's probably got a big 12" knife strapped to him" when ever someone needs a knife or says anything about one.

 

[mmarkh]

Who cares what they think? It's their problem.

 

[Jesse B.]

The way I see it there are only two solutions at these family gatherings:
1) Carry a knife so small (e.g. Spyderco Ladybug, Honeybee, Bug) it couldn't possibly be characterized as a serious weapon.
or
2) Instead of carrying a knife, carry a broadsword. Great conversation starter and stopper. :thumbup:

 

[Ankerson]

That's my way too - don't advertise and ignore remarks completely, they'll stop after awhile. I carry and not being an office type worker who tucks in his shirt - mine are always over my jeans, concealing a clipped folder.

When I do have a tucked shirt - Church or formal function - I have an Izula in a custom kydex sheath with thumb jimping. I can bring it out faster than any folder. It lays flat, doesn't print on the pocket. Most of my peple who have seen the lttle bugger think it's "cute."

Yep, that way you can pick your battles and when you want them to be instead of being put on the defensive. :thumbup:

 

[Joben]

"You could kill someone!" 23 years of age is pretty young, but I am mature enough about knives that I don't feel like I have generated anything to get this kind of feedback.

Ones that silly give a nice opening.

"So you think I might kill somone with this just by accident? How would that happen?"

"...well no.."

"Ok, so you're saying that I'm a murderer?"

"...well no I just meant..."

"Ahh you must think the knife is alive and going to do something on it's own!"


Sadly though, the stupider a particular belief is the less likely you are to change it with logical argument. They may never see reason. But they probably will eventually stop harassing you.

If they say something particularly silly laugh and call them on it. A lot of people can stand being disagreed with, few can take being thought a fool.

But mostly just stay cool and act like it doesn't bother you.

 

[zatch]

That's my way too - don't advertise and ignore remarks completely, they'll stop after awhile. I carry and not being an office type worker who tucks in his shirt - mine are always over my jeans, concealing a clipped folder.

When I do have a tucked shirt - Church or formal function - I have an Izula in a custom kydex sheath with thumb jimping. I can bring it out faster than any folder. It lays flat, doesn't print on the pocket. Most of my peple who have seen the lttle bugger think it's "cute."

The more I think about it, this way seems to be the better - I picked up a Mikro Canadian a little while ago - I didn't get half the comments I usually do just because its so small.

 

[zatch]

I guess its a different culture. In my family a man is expected to carry a pocket knife and a wallet. At a family reunion (Usually around 300 people) I doubt you could find a half dozen males over the age of 8 without a pocket knife. By the way that would likely include a large number of College Grads and a couple of Rhodes Scholars before you get visions of Deliverance.

That said if you were walking around with a 8" Fixed Blade you would likely get funny looks.

Junglas all the way :thumbup:

 

[t1mpani]

All you can do is behave responsibly, refuse to respond to their reactions in an emotional way, and hope that eventually it sinks in for them. It's difficult to harass, mock and otherwise be childish in the face of someone acting like an adult.

I do have to smile about 23 being "young." I got my first knife when I was five, cut myself within five minutes, had a bandaid on a minute later, and didn't cut myself again for a couple of years. Actually, it was one of the best "your actions have consequences" lessons I ever learned, and still gets thought about here more than a quarter century later. Granted, I've since cut myself hundreds of times, but in most life-choices the lesson stuck.

 

[cziv]

My favorite response when someone asks for a fingernail clippers is to pull out my pocketknife.

No doubt - that's just plain nasty, asking you to let them use your nail clippers. :barf:

Of course, exceptions being wife & children who should already know Dad's a knife nut anyway. I wouldn't let my best friend use my personal stuff like comb, clippers, razor...but I'm a bit germaphobic.

 

[foxx]

I've had intellegent friends, from NYC, tell me I should not give knives as gifts. I gave a filet knife, a kitchen knife, and a throwing knife to my family members.
My friends, from the city, were convinced that carrying a weapon was asking for violence. In their minds, I was making a bad choice.
Neither of those guys ever went camping, but one of them would go on 10-15 mile runs in the mountains. So, lets run the crest trail @ 10,000ft with a bottle of water, and nothing else. A single slip could have put him in a survival situation, with no gear or skills.
You just can't force someone to change their mind, reality can't reach some.

 

[cziv]

I've had intellegent friends, from NYC, tell me I should not give knives as gifts. I gave a filet knife, a kitchen knife, and a throwing knife to my family members.
My friends, from the city, were convinced that carrying a weapon was asking for violence. In their minds, I was making a bad choice.
Neither of those guys ever went camping, but one of them would go on 10-15 mile runs in the mountains. So, lets run the crest trail @ 10,000ft with a bottle of water, and nothing else. A single slip could have put him in a survival situation, with no gear or skills.
You just can't force someone to change their mind, reality can't reach some.

Good post - not very intellegent outside the Big Apple or other urban settings are they. They should watch the "I Shouldn't be Alive" & "Dual Survival" shows and they'd appreciate what difference some bare essentials can make in a catastrophic situation.

By the way that would likely include a large number of College Grads and a couple of Rhodes Scholars before you get visions of Deliverance.

Funny one Gene K....

 

[FCFER]

Carrying a knife has been accepted in my family as a part of life. I've carried knives of some sort or another since the age of 13 so theres nothing new there. Work is another story. I'm a Network Specialist, work in an office in the Health Care industry. I use a Gerber remix as my EDC. It only has a 3" blade, but the comments I get on it, you would think I was carrying a machete! Just unreal! But then, most of these people see camping as spending the night in a heated cabin. Its all a question of relativity. If they've never had a real need to use a knife, or have had the good fortune to never be in an emergency situation, they wouldnt understand the value of carrying such a tool.

As for family... You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you cant pick your family. Just love them the best you can, even when they make it difficult to do so. I've had to tell myself that several times over the years, and it bears remembering as the Yule holidays are just around the corners! I just cant wait to see the circus Christmas at gramma's house will bring this year!

 

[Noctis3880]

I've had intellegent friends, from NYC, tell me I should not give knives as gifts. I gave a filet knife, a kitchen knife, and a throwing knife to my family members.
My friends, from the city, were convinced that carrying a weapon was asking for violence. In their minds, I was making a bad choice.
Neither of those guys ever went camping, but one of them would go on 10-15 mile runs in the mountains. So, lets run the crest trail @ 10,000ft with a bottle of water, and nothing else. A single slip could have put him in a survival situation, with no gear or skills.
You just can't force someone to change their mind, reality can't reach some.

This.

Some people don't want to admit it, but there are those who won't change no matter what. My mother still insists on buying those aromatherapy products to use as a sleep aid when I can spend the same amount of money(after insurance) on Ambien and get guaranteed results.

 

[link2derek]

. . . They should watch the "I Shouldn't be Alive" & "Dual Survival" shows and they'd appreciate what difference some bare essentials can make in a catastrophic situation.

I enjoy both of those shows -- they highlight what to do and, more importantly, what not to do.
For example, never go anywhere without a good knife!