People are weird about knives - or maybe just weird

The old man pulled out a SAK in Stephen Kings “animal cemetery” movie to protect himself. Very laughable, hardly appears intimidating. I actually felt my own hand hurt thinking of the thin blade closing on my hand.
 
It’s unfortunate, but one byproduct of urbanization is that many people’s only exposure to pocketknives is through media. News media teaches people that knives can only ever be weapons, because the overwhelming majority of knife-related reporting is about someone getting stabbed. (This is particularly prevalent in certain countries I won’t name.) Entertainment media teaches people the same thing by constantly depicting knives as tools of violence.

Over time, social norms change. Regardless of how one feels about or chooses to react to those changes, it’s a fact of life.
 
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small town in Northern CA where we lived on 21 acres of walnut trees. We also hunted, hiked, and raced motocross. Pretty much everyone had some sort of knife otherwise you were simply not prepared for doing the daily chores. I'm 55 and even back in high school people had knives in their pocket. There were zero physical altercations that a knife came into play. If you got into a fight you did it the old fashioned way with no weapons. I guess I grew up in an environment where a knife was simply not a weapon but more of a tool.

In this day and age I still don't consider a knife as a weapon unless I was in a life threatening incident with no other choice. After I graduated college I ended up moving to Santa Clara, CA and it was much different. Given the vast variety of nationalities and cultures it was clear that not everyone considered a knife as a tool so for the first time in my life I actually had to be very subtle with my knife usage. The good news is after I've been in the industry I am able to work from home most of the week where I can carry anything I want. I do travel on our corporate jet about once a week so that means no knife carry at all but it's not too bad of a trade off.
 
mfunnell said:
Different circumstances require different responses. The common brown snake is the most, well, common snake where I live. It is also the 2nd most deadly snake in the world.

I've had brown snakes in my back yard, and have called the fire department to remove them (the recommended action, here in suburban Sydney). They're protected and it isn't legal to kill them - not that I want to. But I also want them gone if they're too close to the house.

...Mike
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...... the hose wavers must love you. Where did you get the info to call NSWF&R for a snake ? The most common advice is call Wires or a "licenced snake catcher", most of whom work for free. I just keep a long handled spade near the back door in the warm months. It is perfectly legal to kill a snake that is a threat to you, your family or pets.
 
Andy the Aussie said:
Where did you get the info to call NSWF&R for a snake?
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1st time it happened, I called the local police to ask what they recommended. They told me my local fire station keeps a list of snake catchers reasonably local to the area. 2nd time I called the same snake catcher, who was no longer available - and referred me back to the fire station. The couple of times I've done it since I called the fire station directly. There's someone there to answer the phone, and they keep a current list. Pretty simple, really.
Andy the Aussie said:
It is perfectly legal to kill a snake that is a threat to you, your family or pets.
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The NSW Dept. of Environment and Heritage advises: "All snakes are protected in NSW and killing one is an offence." Yes, it's more complicated than that. But why test exemptions if there's no emergency? Easier to just call and have the snake removed.

...Mike
 
I guess it is just a factor of where I grew up I suppose. Calling anyone about a snake is not normally the first recourse. If I had a python hanging around I am OK to leave it and wait for someone but if I get something bitey in the yard I will just manage it. As I once explained to someone about "protected snakes" .... well i have yet to see one I a vest...
 
When it comes to snakes I tend to use the shovel technique as well. But if you think you get strange looks carrying around a small pocket knife you should see what happens when you carry around a shovel.
 


Had this visitor show up last summer on our 2nd floor window sill . Just a "black snake" constrictor . Let him go about his busssinesss !
 
Andy the Aussie said:
I guess it is just a factor of where I grew up I suppose. Calling anyone about a snake is not normally the first recourse. If I had a python hanging around I am OK to leave it and wait for someone but if I get something bitey in the yard I will just manage it. As I once explained to someone about "protected snakes" .... well i have yet to see one I a vest...
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I take the view that I'll react differently in suburban Sydney that I would on a property in Adaminaby and differently again depending on whether the snake is close to the house or out in the bush. It seems that's my own weird notion. To react differently in different circumstances? Who'd have thought?

...Mike
 
I carry a knife, and a first aid kit, I get the same reaction to both, generally "why?" and eventually someone needs one or the other. I've always been non-conformist, so if I can't rock the mohawk anymore, I guess I'll rock the prep. As for people being weird, it all depends on context, I've had the same level of "freak-out" (a few comments) to a Vic Swisstool, as to a SOG PE2. So with that in mind, I don't much care of some one is worried about a SAK, dragonfly, opinel or machete. That's their problem, generally one I'm solving with said knife.

As for snakes, I've only seen a few here in SEQ, getting better on my ID skills slowly. We've got a good population of carpet pythons and keelbacks around work and those handle the red bellies and browns generally pretty well. One shows up every once and a while, but we are on a big enough patch that it would be tough for a catcher to get to us and find it again, unless it had really taken up residence in a building or something.
 
DocJD said:
When people are actually really afraid , they don't berate and shame . They freeze , cower , hide , run away (or physically attack ). These "anti-weapon" people are on a mission motivated by ignorance and an ideology of harmlessness . They're not afraid , they are self-righteously PO'd .
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I think that is the more likely scenario. Really scared people tend to cower. People who berate you are just self righteous pricks and thoroughly enjoy being so.
 
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