Sheeple friendly features

Not what I understand the word to mean. More like
People who are meekly submissive or easily swayed.
American Heritage Dictionary
 
I have never liked the term sheeple. I think it assumes things that become self fulfilling prophesy. If you treat people around you like they subscribe to some fearful hive-mind, and you are a lone wolf who alone understands danger, than you are going to look for any sort of discomfort in your co-workers or bus passengers or whatever, and interpret it as sheeple-ness.
I don't feel safe around guys at work wrist flinging or flipping and catching their half-serrated, murdered-out, automatic gerbers in the office. They make knives look dangerous because they act stupid and will probably hurt themselves or me someday (I AM LOOKING AT YOU JAMES).
So like others have said, I agree that any knife can be appropriate, it is how it is carried and used, although I also think (to answer the original question) that wood and colorful synthetic handles paired with a utilitarian blade shape (like a sheepsfoot or spear point) make a knife look most like a tool, and not an excuse to pretend like you might try and cut someone to death.
 
Herlock said:
Sheeple - A derogatory word that combines the words "sheep" and "people", and is typically used by conspiracy theorists to try to describe a person whom does not believe in their conspiracy theories.
Click to expand...

A 'sheeple' or 'sheeple' are people that follow the group without individual thought. Which makes up the vast majority of society. IMO, it comes from too much brainwashing and propaganda - the media, the school system, the voting system, organized religion, consumerism etc. I use the term frequently, but not in the context that most on this website use it. Even the term 'conspiracy theorist' has a negative connotation these days, when there's nothing crazy about it. The social definition has also been construed negatively - thanks to the media.

For example, here in America people continue to talk about a 'recovery,' THE 'recovery.' Those people are sheep, and experiencing cognitive dissonance. The television continues to tell people how good things are, yet if you open your eyes and really look, you can see the economy falling a part. Without going into any more detail, because people are easily upset, I'll leave it at that. :)
 
Wood grain - Drop point, (no holes)

The warm natural look of wood makes any knife look less menacing and more dignified and classy.
Whereas the drop point profile (without holes) is old school and familiar; subtle curves without any hard edges or aggressive points is definitely more "friendly" then any other.
 
Hi.

I'd say colour. It may sound racist, but people seem less scared of something pink or baby-blue or bright orange or green, it's more toy-like to them.

th


9472Detail.png


4062BL_Full-Size_2.png


th
 
Herlock said:
Hi. Where I live the only knife with a 100% public acceptance is the Swiss Army Knife. This one is tolerated even by LEO/Police Officers and very rarely, in spite of a strict legislation, is questioned even in urban areas, towns and cities. Traditional slipjoints and folders are generally accepted in a rural/countryside, villages contest. Big fix blades are accepted within mountain hiking/camping scenarios. Tactical folders are generally perceived badly enough from everyone. Colour is not so important.

I have one question, since English is not my mother tongue. I see many of you use the term “Sheeple” instead of “public”. Not understanding it, I searched for a definition and found this one:

Sheeple - A derogatory word that combines the words "sheep" and "people", and is typically used by conspiracy theorists to try to describe a person whom does not believe in their conspiracy theories.

Do the knives hobbyists/experts in USA consider themselves as conspiracy theorist or is something else?
Click to expand...

I use the term "sheeple" all the time. I'm most certainly not a conspiracy theorist. The word is used to describe people who behave with a herd-like mentality, who take a step back when someone uses a knife in front of them because "it's dangerous," even though they have no reason to believe so.
 
One thing I've maintained is when talking about what ever knife I'm carrying, I always adress it as "my knife" rather than "a knife".

"Yes officer, I have MY knife in my pocket"

"...yeah sure, I have MY knife right here"

Using the possessive implies a companionship, a handy tool I always have on me. "My grandfather always had HIS trusty pocket knife with him".

Versus "Oh my god he has A knife!!"

"What are you doing with THAT knife!?!?"

Having one's own pocket knife harkens back to Boy Scouts and your grandpa's ole Case. Not a weapon.
 
A member of the "sheeple" is defined IMO as a person incapable of a critical thought process, someone who is easily swayed by the lowest common denominator segment of society.
 
slipjoints like a SAK are generally acceptable, they are so well known.

but also traditional looking will get you thru...colors beyond black and titanium seem soothing to.
can't go wrong with this combo.
 
Whatever one thinks of the word sheeple, and however one defines it, we must carry our knives with the proper measure of both confidence and humility, and be aware at all times of the appropriateness of the situation. It may be appropriate to thwack open a Spyderco Military at a cookout, but not at a pre-school party. But ultimately it is we - and not the emasculated or the emotionally fragile - who must determine what is right and wrong with respect to knife ownership. And if we are complying with the law, and not using a knife in an otherwise inappropriate manner, anyone who doesn't like it can go drown herself in the river.

As for which knives tend to fly below the radar, I have always found that Sponge Bob stickers make anything seem a little less scary. Link.
 
I think tanto and recurve style blades tend to be seen as more 'aggressive', while knives with rounded tips and gently sloping edges, like an insingo or sheepsfoot, look a bit less threatening. The 'razor-blade' profile of a wharncliffe like the Yojimbo 2, however, scares the hell out of most people... which explains how important context is.

It's hard to find any knife people won't find threatening, so using it carefully and not drawing attention to yourself is the best bet. Even knives that are clearly intended as tools, with no self-defence connotations, become weapons when taken out of their working environment.

An OLFA H-1 'box-cutter' is made of hardened yellow plastic and rubber grips, and allows you to extend a 4-5" length of 1" wide razor-blade, segmented for snap-off disposability. In the home or on the job, it's common place. But carry one in your pocket as you walk down the street, and people will think you're a face-slashing psycho. Straight-razors are even worse, since they have absolutely no believable use beyond shaving, and very few men use them for that. With any knife thought of a 'razor', including scalpels with tiny blades, the unease relates to real and perceived sharpness. Movies, urban legends and crime reports

Even the knives everyone uses on a regular basis in the kitchen -- the 8-inch Chef's knife, 9-inch Slicer-Carver, or a Cleaver -- instill suspicion and outright terror once they cross the 'welcome-mat'. Dexter's knife-roll was mostly made up of kitchen cutlery, not 'tactical' knives. Everyone knows they're made to cut meat and bone, and we're not any tougher to carve up than most of the animals we eat.

We were driving my Grandmother to the airport, and the knives my Grandfather used to carry came up. I showed her my Spyderco Slysz Bowie, thinking it was a nice conservative design (it is). Her comment was that it was a very 'vicious looking knife'. I think it's impossible to guess what someone might consider 'a knife with bad intentions'.

Feel Free to Avoid, Off-Topic:

I usually ignore the 'sheeple' reference, mostly because it's a vague insult that assumes everyone who holds a different POV is a conformist, 'brainwashed', or too lazy-cowardly to think for themselves. There's plenty of conformists everywhere, in every vocation and every school of thought. Simplistic generalizations, in fact, are a symptom of a shallow mind incapable of critical thinking. So many people fall into 'radical' or 'individualistic' political philosophies, talking about the 'sheeple' with judgement and disdain... when all they've done is join another herd. A well-armed herd is still a herd -- even cattle have horns.
 
vanslem6 said:
A 'sheeple' or 'sheeple' are people that follow the group without individual thought. Which makes up the vast majority of society. IMO, it comes from too much brainwashing and propaganda - the media, the school system, the voting system, organized religion, consumerism etc. I use the term frequently, but not in the context that most on this website use it. Even the term 'conspiracy theorist' has a negative connotation these days, when there's nothing crazy about it. The social definition has also been construed negatively - thanks to the media.

For example, here in America people continue to talk about a 'recovery,' THE 'recovery.' Those people are sheep, and experiencing cognitive dissonance. The television continues to tell people how good things are, yet if you open your eyes and really look, you can see the economy falling a part. Without going into any more detail, because people are easily upset, I'll leave it at that. :)
Click to expand...

Please, let's not get all political. It is Friday, and I have a box full of cherry chiclets waiting for new owners.
 
In my experience, blade shape, size, and overall style of knife are the main aspects that scare non knife people.
These are quotes regarding my knives from people that needed something cut, or that were just curious:
My purple delica: Murder weapon.
My opinel no.7: Beautiful.
Queen barlow: big and pointy.
Vic manager: Cool.

A wooden handled traditional, or a classic SAK with red scales are the ones that get the fewest comments in my experience.
 
powernoodle said:
Whatever one thinks of the word sheeple, and however one defines it, we must carry our knives with the proper measure of both confidence and humility, and be aware at all times of the appropriateness of the situation. It may be appropriate to thwack open a Spyderco Military at a cookout, but not at a pre-school party. But ultimately it is we - and not the emasculated or the emotionally fragile - who must determine what is right and wrong with respect to knife ownership.
Click to expand...

Beautifully put. :thumbup:
 
Color is a great way to have a knife accepted. I have a Rainbow Leek and when I have pulled it out, instead of being scared, people oo'ed and ah'ed over it. A purple Delica or Dragonfly are none threatening, too. Colored blades (not black) are best, however.

Also, we need to do away with such derogatory terms as "sheeple". They are not helpful and actually hinder us from serious dialog.
 
RevDevil said:
Please, let's not get all political. It is Friday, and I have a box full of cherry chiclets waiting for new owners.
Click to expand...

I didn't even scratch the surface, and I have no idea what you're talking about. :) I'll have a good weekend though, too.
 
Sheepsfoot/wharncliffe non-stabby looking blade. Sub 3". Controlled slow opening with studs or hole. These are the three points I try to hit with my work blades and never have had anyone show concern.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top