The evil balisong!

S

SiliconJester

Joined
Apr 8, 2000
Messages
16
Here's the jist:

Im sixteen not sure if even you guys think that its cool for a teen to have it but anyways I love the manipulation of balisong's. I obviously dont have a credit card, so I end up using my mom's. I always pay her for the charges and usually a little more. Ive only ordered 2. I have been wanting to get those Imada books, and another Jaguar. But my mom knows about those balisong's now, and Is anti-balisong. When I ask her whats up, she thinks Im gonna go kill someone, she thinks, that by having that knife ur gonna stab someone or kill yourself. This really makes me mad, how do I explain to her, that I feel at ease when Im manipulating a knife, or doing my static throw's. She thought she got rid of them by throwing them away at a dumpster, but hey Im determined, I went trash digging. I Just want her to understand, how do you explain to someone that what you have is just a blade with handles, similar to those 6 lockblade knives I have that she's just dandy with.

Im not gonna ramble any longer, got any advice, past experiences, or criticism, let it go.

Thanks, SiliconJester.
orbital@utm.net
 
People are often quite irrational about things.

Even back when they were readily available, very few crimes were ever committed with "assult" rifles. But, because they look evil and because Hollywood always portrays them as evil, they had to be banned.

Very few crimes were ever committed with automatic knives. But, because they look evil and because Hollywood always portrays them as evil, they had to be banned.

Even handgun magazines are subject to this sort of thing. I once saw a statistic that said that in something like 99% of crimes in which a handgun is fired, no more than three shots are fired. So, why ban magazines with ten shots or more? But, because Hollywood always portrays the big shot-em-up (next time you see one of these scenes, start counting. Some of those guys apparently have belt-fed pistols.) large magazines must be banned.

I am aware of three murders that have been committed in the US with a balisong. Three. (There was one in Japan just last year.) Kitchen knives are involved in hundereds of murders every year.

Statistically speaking, balisongs are probably the least-likely knives to be used in a crime.

Balisong manipulation builds manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. Learning the balisong is also an important exercise in goal-setting, learning, and accomplishment.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Hi,
some little experiment could help: Dig out some screwdrivers, take your mother to the kitchen of your house/appartment and compare your balisongs with her kitchen knives and the screwdrivers. Let your mother estimate what´s the most dangerous weapon (the kitchen knives, IMHO), and which weapon is used in US crimes involving stabbings most often (the screwdrivers, according to FBI figures quoted by Jerry VanCook or Marc MacYoung, can´t remember exactly).
Let your mother handle all three, and point out that every tool is a weopon if you hold it right and have the intent to use it. Maybe she´ll think different about screwdrivers, kitchen knives AND balisongs. Maybe she´s just pissed off, who knows
smile.gif


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"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron
 
Heh ... I'm 18, and in Canada, where all this stuff is pretty much illegal. My mom just recently found out that I've got a bunch of switchblades, and I have an order in for a bunch of balisongs (hopefully they'll be here within a week). It's kinda cool, 'cause my mom was totally cool with it. She even applauded my taste in materials and design in what I bought. My dad wants me to get him something from one of these sites.

Oh well, I guess all I've got is parents who trust me (and know I'll be moving out in a couple of years).

-=in10city=-
 
In addition to mentioning that they aren't some evil weapon of ninja death as Hollywood has portrayed them to be, you can also say that you're interested in Eastern culture and that the balisongs are fascinating tools from the Phillipines. Your mom then might be more willing to let you keep them due to a desire to avoid appearing rascist.

That could also provide you with an excuse in case you ever get interested in katanas, barongs, or anything else relevant to eastern martial arts too. Some really neat stuff that you can find (though I guess I'm a little bit biased
biggrin.gif
)

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Simon Yu

"I look at it this way. If things get much worse I'll be too dead to care."
 
Hey! I'm 16 also, it took me a year of continous asking of my mom to get her to get me one. My mom knows that I'm not going to go kill someone, the only person I've hurt with my bali is myself. I'm even teaching my mom and dad how to manipulate a bali. Also, if someone owns a gun, it doesn't mean that they are going to go on a shooting rampage, it just means that they either
1. Feel that they need protection
2. Enjoy target shooting -or-
3. Enjoy hunting
I personally own 5 bali's and probably will own at least 9-11 by the end of June.

Everyone in this Balisong Forum CANNOT stress enough the fact that the balisong is not bad, people who USE the balisong for evil are bad.
 
A quote from an old book `Starship Troopers' different from the movie though it was taken from the book. But in the book the instructor tells the men that `There are no dangerous weapons, only dangerous men' and that's what he was trying to do, turn them into dangerous men.

So Chuck is right on the money, anything can become a deadly weapon.

G2

------------------
"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...


G2 LeatherWorks
 
Pretty unfortunate for you.

While Chuck and I were taking a rest at the show (with our new buddy Bob Mikus) a few kids came up to us with Balisong questions. They couldn't have been more than 10-12 years old.

We talked to them a bit and let them check out our Balis. They loved them. Next thing ya' know Dad walks up behind them and says "Busted"........ and I'm thinkin' to myself "Here it comes".

After talking a bit and seeing how much the kids were into them, Dad goes out and gets a few. Just like that. No kidding!

So they bring them back and got some lessons from Chuck and I. It was a blast! And they caught on really quick.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your Mothers probably not as concerned about you having the knife, as much as shes worried you're going to pull it on someone (maybe hoping to bluff your way out of a situation) and get your ass shot off.

Give her a break, shes your Mom, shes supposed to worry about stuff like that. It's a sign that she cares. If she didn't give you a hassle, then I'd worry.

Don't panic......... act responsibly and she'll come around.

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Clay
www.balisongxtreme.com
Because......
getting 'em open
is half the fun!
 
It is a strange thing in this country.

Parents of a 16 year old will let them have the car keys but not a bali. Knowing full well that automobile accidents kill more teens than any weapon. You are responsible enough to hurtle down crowded highways with a ton and a half of steel, but not enough so to manipulate 7 ounces in the form of a "weapon". In my opinion the keys are the worst weapon we can allow 16 year olds to play with.

However, I have to go with Clay on this one. Your mother deserves the latitude. It is her job. Act responsibly in all your endeavors and you may get a bit of latitude yourself. She may come around yet. If not, wait til you're 18 in a couple years. Then buy em up!
 
I'm fifteen. My mother doesn't seem to think its that weird. She doesn't approve of me buying a whole bunch of them, but she doesn't really make a huge fuss about it. Consider yourself lucky to have access to a credit card at all. I have to use cash for everything. And the only thing I have access to is cheap Rostfrei ones.

-Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
I thnk the discussion here is deep and well though tout but the thign still remains. The issue of the mother. She is very headstrong (I speak from personal experience) and she only cares for you. Best you can do is talk about it. THough I agree when my mother says I shoudl not get a gunn for myself
smile.gif




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<A HREF="http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html
</A> If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]


 
I have one right now, but I gave one to a friend's girlfriend as a joke for her birthday. Her mom threw a fit and she has it now.

PEOPLE ARE NOT LOGICAL. If they were, nobody would be surprised by our prsident's continued marital infidelities.

Balis are fun, and useful, and develop hand-eye like nothing else. I like having one just to spite people who think they are bad.

I am about three weeks short of 18, but my parents either didn't notice it, or don't care. After all, I got a Recon Tanto for my dad for his birthday, and he has bought me countless pocketknives over the years.

It comes down to trust and endowing a sense of personal responsibility in a person's children.
 
Here's a great tip - never EVER take one to school. I got busted for that, and came pretty close to finding myself in an orange suit the next day, and picking up trash on the side of the interstate. Luckily, I started talking really fast, so I managed to weasel my way out of it before it got to court.. I really never intended to use it as a weapon -I just had to show my stuff off to my friends, of course.. Try convincing a close-minded female school principal that you're not a thug when she's staring at the balisong that was in your bookbag a few minutes ago.. anyway, I'm still alive, but that was close.. and that was 6 years ago. They'd probably give you everything but the gas chamber for it now..
 
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