My Knife Spooked My Co-worker

Ironic that everyone on this forum is brought together by knives, yet we so easily pull away from each other as well. Human nature certainly is interesting and often quite regrettable as well :(

Been here thinking about this topic quite a bit and decided I have been in the wrong fighting with some of the guys in here. Sorry to all those insulted. Hope maybe we can put it behind us in the future. Have a great day guys, and enjoy your blades :)
 
I got up this morning and carried my favorite knife in my pocket to work and I didn't even need it. Anybody else? I hope our OP did too!
 
hardheart said:
So, a weapon is always a tool.
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tool (tl)
n.
1. A device, such as a saw, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work.
2.
a. A machine, such as a lathe, used to cut and shape machine parts or other objects.
b. The cutting part of such a machine.
3. Something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession: Words are the tools of our trade.
4. Something used in the performance of an operation; an instrument: "Modern democracies have the fiscal and monetary tools . . . to end chronic slumps and galloping inflations" (Paul A. Samuelson).

"Weapon" is a sub-category of tool for most of these definitions, barring 2, and perhaps 1. In all cases, the concept of tool seems to be relative to the concept of its intended use. Regardless, intent seems to me to be a key element, so I feel that it is more fair than not to say "knives don't kill people, people do." Intended use is everything. Thus, it seems WRONG definitionally, in my opinion for Wolfjohn, who brings his knife to work to use for a variety of different tasks, none of which involve killing people, to be criticized for brandishing a weapon.

I am certainly disappointed by the number of people who can't see past the word philosophy to the actual discussion at hand. You want to talk condescension? How about all of the liberal bashing in this thread. At least I explain my position. How about insulting the philosophy major. At what point does an argument, backed up with reason and examples, cross into condescension, while an insult to a large group of people (liberals and philosophers being my prime example) gets overlooked? Food for thought.
 
rubiconss said:
I got up this morning and carried my favorite knife in my pocket to work and I didn't even need it. Anybody else? I hope our OP did too!
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Guess what my favorite tool is... common sense. Just kidding dude. Truce man? I loves ya
 
bush-haus said:
Guess what my favorite tool is... common sense. Just kidding dude. Truce man? I loves ya
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Lol. No problem. Now that I'm clear on what you actually meant by common sense, your opinion makes much more sense. I'm not convinced I agree, but at least I can see where you're coming from.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
tool (tl)
"Weapon" is a sub-category of tool for most of these definitions, barring 2, and perhaps 1. In all cases, the concept of tool seems to be relative to the concept of its intended use. Regardless, intent seems to me to be a key element, so I feel that it is more fair than not to say "knives don't kill people, people do." Intended use is everything. Thus, it seems WRONG definitionally, in my opinion for Wolfjohn, who brings his knife to work to use for a variety of different tasks, none of which involve killing people, to be criticized for brandishing a weapon.
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I agree entirely. To criticize Wolfjohn for having the knife is to view not just the knife, but the man holding it, as a potential threat. Seems a bit disrespectful to me. The assumption of intent appears to have been made with no consideration for who he is, what he was doing, or where he was.

I just think it is better to point out that weapons are always tools, but not the other way around. There are few tools that cannot be used to cause injury, but we accept most are not designed or used as such if they are not built with that single purpose. As you say, one is a category within the other. I wonder if she would have had the same reaction if he was showing off a new hammer on the shop floor. He had no intent to cause harm in either case, yet would be perfectly capable of doing so in both. Most other hand implements are viewed as tools first, it makes little sense to do the opposite with knives as default.
 
Los Angeles said:
You call THIS good conversation?

Eat it, Harvey.
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No, as before, my issue is that you pick and choose irrespective of context, and without recognizing the point being made. You may not agree with it, but to simplify down to just the first 5 words, or the first line of a response, entirely misses the point. Not at all the same situation as in your reference to Die Hard (good choice of movie to reference though, I always love a good Bruce Willis movie).

I have no problem with you having your own opinion. But if you're just going to take my words out of their appropriate context, I find that troublesome. It's nothing against you personally, just that you seemed to be making light of an issue without seeing the point.
 
Crimson, thanks for the discussion dude. Pretty cool. I agree whole-heartedly with you and the OP. Just thought I would give you a run for your money. Meant no disrespect!
 
Los Angeles said:
Look in the mirror.
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Touche. I indeed missed your point too. :foot:

I had thought you were saying that weapons are tools, which suggested in light of the argument I was responding to, that therefore there would be no difference between a knife and a gun, for instance, both being tools, which would be to ignore the more important argument regarding intent, and would justify the claim that the OP should not have been brandishing a weapon.

Absolutely my mistake (unfortunately, an easy one to make given the lack of context). I do stand by my point that such misunderstandings are very easy if you don't explain yourself. That particular snippet could be easily taken to support both pro and con, without the additional caveat that the intended use is harm.

But you're right, I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. Thanks for correcting me.
 
This thread...
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Thalestin said:
Ironic that everyone on this forum is brought together by knives, yet we so easily pull away from each other as well. Human nature certainly is interesting and often quite regrettable as well :(
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Isn't it amazing? We humans, and indeed Earthlings are far more similar than different. But we do everything we can to distance ouselves from one another.

And to Crimson, I have to admit I didn't read all of your stuff, a wall of text in forum form can be fairly...unappealing. I got a Kant vibe and steered clear

And the philosophy thing was more a joke, it's like a liberal arts degree, it's one of those paths whos uses are immediately apparent.

[youtube]MpraJYnbVtE[/youtube]
 
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Well....umm....ok....I'm thinking I have a couple moderators on here ready to beat the hell out of me for starting this thread....This is such a great site for those of us who like knives and my intent sure wasn't to start a hatchet throwing event amongst members on here and I appologize to all of you who felt you were slammed over posting your views on this. Sorry man..:eek:
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
One of my flaws, I suppose, which I'm aware of, but can't/won't change. I just can't help but to respond in detail.
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I really liked what you had to say. I sent you a friend request.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
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