UK knife article will boil your blood

mnblade

mnblade

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Check out this rather lame article from the The Daily Post in North Wales:

Sorry your cracker had a knife in it

Jan 14 2005

By David Powell, Daily Post

A CHAIN store yesterday withdrew crackers after a teenager found a toy knife in one.

Bookers said it will ensure the knives are not included in crackers for next Christmas.

It launched an inquiry after Llandudno mayor Janet Finch-Saunders complained the three-quarter inch metal knife was inside a cracker pulled open by her 13-year-old daughter Hannah.

Another girl at the town hall party in December also found one of the miniature pen-knife key rings.

The crackers had been bought from Bookers Cash & Carry shop in Ffordd Maelgwyn, Llandudno Junction. Store bosses promised to talk to their suppliers.

A Bookers spokeswoman last night said the cracker would be withdrawn and others would simply contain "gifts suitable for all the family".

Mrs Finch-Saunders said: "I am really thrilled and I am pleased we have really sensible traders like this.

"It's only by people coming forward and saying 'enough's enough' that we can make a difference.

"It's not mollycoddling people to reduce the carrying of knives because times have changed and society is more violent. The knife had a three-quarter inch-long blade, on a key ring."

She added: "My daughter had been chuffed at first because she thought she could use it to cut twine for bales of hay for her horse. But when I explained what knives can do she realised how dangerous they are."

Dee Edwards, who runs campaign group Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (MAMA), said she was "horrified" at the penknife in the cracker.

She said: "I'm glad someone has made a stand and the shop has done the sensible thing and said, Right, let's take these crackers off the shelves."

A Booker spokesperson said: "Customer safety and satisfaction is very important to Booker and we thank Mrs Finch-Saunders for bringing this to our attention.

"We can confirm that the Christmas cracker gifts in our 2005 range will not contain any pen-knife key rings, but a whole range of gifts suitable for all the family."

(Posted article is at: http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk...your-cracker-had-a-knife-in-it-name_page.html)

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There are just too many idiotic things in this piece to mention. However, I did a wee bit of searching and it seems the ninny mayor who, in one sentence says "My daughter ... thought she could use [the penknife] to cut twine for bales of hay for her horse," and in the very next says, "but when I explained what knives can do she realised how dangerous they are," can be reached via her secretary at sylviamorgan149@hotmail.com. Perhaps we should all send e-mails explaining the obvious folly in her logic and flaws in her twisted worldview. Jeez, George Orwell couldn't make up someone like that woman.

"When I explained what knives can do ..." God, that's rich! Well, lady, I don't know -- perhaps cut twine for bales of hay for your daughter's horse?! :mad:
 
hmm, mixed feelings about this one. sure, this kid in particular had the right mindset, and what those mother's women did/said is contradictory at the least and ignorant/annoying at best.

however, i think it's not appropriate to ditribute knives through candy, cereal and such, so that it will end up in the hands of kids. i mean, that could be any kid, a 4 yr old boy, a 9 yr old girl, a 15 yr old boy, good guys, good girls, bad guys, bad girls............and so forth.....). i don't think it's a good idea to put knives in kid's food. they should'nt be able to get their hands on IN THAT WAY. possibilities for things getting ugly are endless.
 
I too think it is wholly inappropriate to include knives as prizes in candy etc (was this the UK version of Cracker Jacks?, horrible stuff), but I disapprove of the mayors comments. "What knives can really do...". C'mon, any tool can be used to kill somebody, hell, a guy my size can kill someone with their fists. Should I have my fists in irons? People freaking out over a small mistake. She could've been an adult in this matter, instead, she decided that she would act like a child.
 
I also agree they shouldn't be putting knives in kid's candy, crackers, or whatever, with no warning to the parents. Were these knives actually sharp and fully functional? As functional as a knife can be with a 3/4 inch blade. :)

I know this, in the US if some parent bought their kid some candy and their kid found a 3/4 inch knife in it (assuming no warning was presented that the candy may contain a knife) and ended up poking their eye, or cutting themself, the company responsible would be sued from Pluto and back, and the people responsible for putting the knife there, from the company, would be in jail.

Maybe the Mayor was explaining to her daughter that "While you would use the knife for something proper another kid might do something dangerous and they shouldn't be including them in your crackers."
 
The cracker he's referring to isn't a food product. It's a cardboard tube with a tiny bit of gunpowder in it, that pops open when pulled, releasing a small trinket or toy. They're used to celebrate special occasions. Link.

I celebrated this past New Year's Eve with my girlfriend and her (British) South African parents. My cracker had a green plastic whistle on a lanyard.

I don't know much about how often they're used, but they don't seem like something an unattended child would have a stack of. I don't see how putting a tiny knife in one is anything approaching a big deal.

Jeremy
 
At first I thought this was a satire news site (like The Onion). But apparently they consider themselves a real news source after I read a few more articles from their site.

I've gotten more dangerous things than a 0.75 inch knive from a cereal box. I actually had to pull out a measuring stick to see how small that is. Its SMALL. REALLY REALLY small. So what do these MAMA people use in the kitchen to, like, cut things? Fingernails? Crayola plastic safety scissors?

EDIT: Wow, and the "crackers" in question are NOT even food, but more like a party trinket designed to contain a small ornamental or marginally useful item? Yeah, I'd expect a little pocket knife to be in one of those. So... anyone know where I can buy a bunch that come with the knives in them? For the kids around here?
 
ok, so it's not food, but a party-trinket with a little goody inside it......it's the same thing. mostly this kind of stuff is intended for kids, and i wouldn't want to see a 5 yr old kid fumbling around with a knife, even though it's only 0.75".

it's like a party-pinata, when the kid hits it real hard, 50 pounds of sharp throwing stars fall out.....party!!!

no, i don't think this stuff belongs in goody-tubes for kids. :o
 
She added: "My daughter had been chuffed at first because she thought she could use it to cut twine for bales of hay for her horse. But when I explained what knives can do she realised how dangerous they are."
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STUPID!!! STUPID!!! STUPID!!! STUPID!!! STUPID!!! STUPID!!! STUPID!!!

I say that (ALL) kids should be trained how to use knives AND guns from a very young age thereby eliminating the need to hide these things from them
AND I am SICK TO DEATH of this stupid PSYCOBABBLE that KNIVES AND GUNS ARE EVIL !!!!!!!! Knives and guns dont kill PEOPLE DO!!!!!
 
I agree 1000% with socintel. Our society is becoming more and more like that of Europe - WEAK! - When I was but a wee lad of 6 my Grandpa gave me an old Imperial pocketknife after telling me about how big of a responsibility it is , I understood perfectly , with the Cub and Boy Scouts came more camp knowledge and by 9 I was on my first hunting trip with my cousins carrying my very own 22. . I am only 38 so this wasnt that long ago and I live in California , so this shows how disgusting our society has become. The majority of people are nothing more than cattle , perfectly satisfied that Big Brother will provide for them and keep them safe from harm. BS.... :mad:
I thank God I do not live in Europe or the U.K. , when did they lose thier 'sacks' ?? At what point did people become so flacid that they willingly turn in thier guns and knives to the "authorities" ??
http://newswww.bbc.net.uk/1/hi/uk/4078019.stm
Check out the part where some idiot says "gun crime has been reduced" I'm not going to bother posting the crime statistics for the U.K. vs the U.S.A. , legally not having the means to protect yourself and your family and your home is more than cause to toss your so called government right out the window and start fresh. IMHO.

Quite sincerely,
Todd A Fries
 
Some of you are missing the point. If you want to give your kid, or grandson, a knife, that's your choice and you know what you are giving him or her. You can explain about how to properly handle and use a knife until you are blue in the face. However, if you give your kid a party popper to go play with, not knowing there is a knife inside, that's a totally different scenerio. Now you don't have the chance to tell them about how to properly use a knife, your kid or grandkid will be on their own to figure that out.
 
This kind of thing really gets me depressed. When I was growning up every boy over the age of 6 or 7 had a pocket knife. It was part of your life and you carried it everyplace with you. Even to school, imagine that in this day and age of "zero tollerance". If the pencil sharpener in school broke the boy nearest to the sharpener offered his pencil sharpening services to the girl. Even the male teachers had pocket knives.

Our society today is a pale disgusting shadow of what it used to be. By the time a boy was `10 or so he was getting experiance with a .22 rifle. I can't imagine if this country has to fight a real war with the modern generation of sheep that passes for young men these days how we will survive.

Outrage over a 3/4 inch knife is just disgusting.
 
socintel said:

I say that (ALL) kids should be trained how to use knives AND guns from a very young age thereby eliminating the need to hide these things from them
AND I am SICK TO DEATH of this stupid PSYCOBABBLE that KNIVES AND GUNS ARE EVIL !!!!!!!! Knives and guns dont kill PEOPLE DO!!!!!
Click to expand...


Unfortunately you're not a dictator and can't force all parents to train their kids how to use knives. I think most parents aren't in a rush to put a knife in their child's hand and tell them how to use it.
 
"I think most parents aren't in a rush to put a knife in their child's hand and tell them how to use it."
Right Wade. Most parents are more than willing to shove thier kid in front of the 'ol TV for some indoctrination and education :rolleyes:
 
"Some of you are missing the point. If you want to give your kid, or grandson, a knife, that's your choice and you know what you are giving him or her. You can explain about how to properly handle and use a knife until you are blue in the face. However, if you give your kid a party popper to go play with, not knowing there is a knife inside, that's a totally different scenerio. Now you don't have the chance to tell them about how to properly use a knife, your kid or grandkid will be on their own to figure that out."
Click to expand...


Unfortunately you're not a dictator and can't force all parents to train their kids how to use knives. I think most parents aren't in a rush to put a knife in their child's hand and tell them how to use it.
Click to expand...

If parents and the aged truly did their job their would be no need to worry :( ,
although in our current state it might (possibly) cause some problems. But
like I have said before at the very foundation of the problem is a lack of fundemental training given to the young people of this world.
If this problem were to be solved I belive this matter would no longer be of any real concern.

And I might add a blade being 3/4th of an inch is rather insignificant :)

O and well put again rebeltf !! :)
 
What should not be an emotional issue at all , it is to some people because kids are involved , and while I do understand that , I do not sympathize with it. Coddling children , constantly doing everything in your power to make sure they dont ever get a knee scrape or cut thier finger (God how many times did I do that when I was a kid among other things) makes kids dependant upon someone other then themselves. Guns , knives , cars and a host of other items are best in the hands of those that are Responsible. If you or your children arent the responsible type then perhaps it's best that you are slated to that grassy field and daily care that so many people are dependant upon these days. I do not mean anyone who has posted to the contary on this particular post , it is just a generalization :)
 
JR42 said:
The cracker he's referring to isn't a food product. It's a cardboard tube with a tiny bit of gunpowder in it, that pops open when pulled, releasing a small trinket or toy. They're used to celebrate special occasions. Link.

I celebrated this past New Year's Eve with my girlfriend and her (British) South African parents. My cracker had a green plastic whistle on a lanyard.

I don't know much about how often they're used, but they don't seem like something an unattended child would have a stack of. I don't see how putting a tiny knife in one is anything approaching a big deal.

Jeremy
Click to expand...

Please further explain this devise. I've never seen anything like this. Is it some sort of firework? Like those things that I used to get as a kid that had a string on each end and when I pulled them it would explode?

It's like a little toy bomb? A little toy knife inside a little toy bomb? The bomb is OK, but the knife isn't?

Help me. I'm freakin' lost. :confused: :eek:
 
I am not quite sure but I think its like a tube filled with random goodies
that blow out when you pull a cord or something :confused:
 
Were the knives even sharp? Was there a list of possible prizes and was the knife on that list, or pictured anywhere?

They shouldn't be included without warning, I agree. But the knife-attitude needs some help.

She added: "My daughter had been chuffed at first because she thought she could use it to cut twine for bales of hay for her horse. But when I explained what knives can do she realised how dangerous they are."
Click to expand...

Ugh. She probably doesn't prepare her own food either. Uh-oh, knives might cut you, better use a scissors for that twine!!! Explaining responsibility and care is one thing, but to villify an object and instill fear (which may last a lifetime) is not right.
 
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