who here decides what to carry because they are worried what the sheeple will think?

I'd be lying if I said the sheeple didn't affect me from time to time.

Usually I tend to carry the biggest I feel I can get away with... depending on where I'm going and what I'm doing, this could mean as big as a Becker Combat/Utility 7. Even when I'm concerned about the sheeple I usually have no real qualms about carrying up to 4".

The only place where I really worry about sheeple reaction is at school, since it's technically against school policy to carry a knife, I make sure the one I AM carrying is never longer than 2", while I know that some anal school administrative type isn't gonna care if it's half an inch long, carrying a very small knife tends to get you not reported, and what the admins don't know can't really hurt them.
Also I am on a friendly basis with the vast majority of my school's staff, so I'm sure even if someone was anal enough to confiscate it, that'd be all that'd happen (and my "School Knife" never costs more than $20 anyway). One last final thing of note is there are exceptions for carrying a knife up to 3" in blade length within the school policy, one of those being working Drama tech crew, which is something I do. But of course, there isn't always a play going so that excuse doesn't work all the time.
Basically my attitude is I need a small knife every once in a while to cut stuff, so I carry a small non-threatening specimen and expect people to be smart enough and to trust me enough not to freak out, since this is a high school out in the country, my results have thus far been surprisingly good... (used my 2" bladed stockman in front of a couple teachers who didn't care.)

Sorry to ramble...
 
I see no reason to change what I carry for fear of offending some worthless socialist wimp. Those are the scum who got us into this situation. For the most part, my considerations are legality and practicality. I'll also carry new knives just to get used to them. For the most part, I've found that an Endura, CQC-7, and Recruit seem to handle most of the tasks I need, with a Bushi and a Huntsman (for the saw) in my pack for heavier tasks. I carry discretly and am not a show off or in your face about my blades, but I also won't compromise with statists. If you fail to exercise your rights you will loose them.
 
I DO!
I pick out whatever will scare the sheep the most! ;)

Kidding,kidding....
I don't really worry about what people think of my knives, I carry a Bob Dozier Slim Outdoorsman on my belt every day (well,since my birthday) and never really get a second look. Not to mention the Lg Carson M21 clipped to my pocket.

Here's a novel idea,why dont we all carry what we want,and don't worry about the sheep of the world?

-robert
 
It doesn't affect what goes in my right front pocket a bit.

It DOES affect what I pull OUT from time to time.

I have been places where heart attacks may have happened if they knew. In fact I go to one place about once a week where I almost promise they would crap a brick in the front office, but I visit shipping - they have seen my Gerber Covert flicked open - and didn't bat an eye. I think it's a guy versus girl thing.

I am another one of those guys from Texas you know. We can do almost anything!

There's only one basic human right - the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences. -- P.J. O'Rourke
 
I try to be as distcrete as possible! NOT to please the sheeple, but to keep unwanted attention away from myself!
I love my BM 720 and Mini TSEK, but they are not quite legal in Denmark:(!
Because of that, I also carry a small SAK, LM Micra or whatever little thing that doesn't look threatening in any way.
I believe very strongly in staying low key to avoid people freaking out!
I never pull out a onehand folder in front of people I don't know and always use the smallest blade that will do the job!

Bo
 
Well, it all depends how good one's people skills are. If we are to become aggressive and on the defensive every time someone asks why we carry this or that, then IMO we should not carry anything and "they" have won.

For a crash course on people skills/human relations, I highly recommend Dale Carnegie's timeless classic " How to win friends and influence people", and Les Giblin's thin little book, "Skill with people".

I promise you, you will get much further winning people over and actually creating enthusiasm than being antagonistic. Perhaps you may even find that more and more of them will actually develop a curiosity that eventually leads to more and more of them going to buy a knife on your recommendation and then there will be more knifeknuts than not, eventually.

I have never been questioned why I carry this or that, I have been asked what this or that is and I explain why I carry it. This creates an greater awareness.

I just feel that we are too quick to pounce on "sheeple". After all, we were once sheeple too.......what changed us? Someone else's enthusiasm more often than not.......good luck.
 
I do consider the social implications of my knife choices, to a certain extent. If I feel that I need a large knife to perform a certain task, a carry the large knife. But I do not carry large threatening fixed blades or folders to prove a point, make some misguided social statement or shock people. I only carry as large a knife as is needed, which usually has a 3 3/4 inch blade or smaller.

I actually believe that the feelings of others do matter. If they are afraid of a large knife, I can accept that as long as it doesn’t prevent me from doing what I’m doing. If somebody was shocked at me carrying a 6 inch blade around town, I wouldn’t be surprised at all. I just can’t see any good reason to carry a knife that big in public, so I don’t. I could argue that the knife is for self-defense, but that would be a crock. I don’t know the first thing about fighting with a knife, and don’t even consider a knife to be a particularly good weapon in modern day society.

If somebody has a problem with my large Sebenza, that’s too bad for them. A knife of that size is a valid tool. While I respect the views of others, no matter how misguided I may find them, I don’t let them get in the way of my everyday life.

When I’m in the woods, anything goes. But when in public, the macho Rambo stuff can stay in the truck.
 
I take the "Sheeple" factor into consideration like any half way balanced individual, but I don't dwell on it. Course, I can pretty much carry any knife that interests me.

When I'm around my home town of Wasilla here I carry either my Spyderco Perrin or a REKAT Pocket Hobbit without anyone blinking an eye, and I've yet to meet anyone who cares about the other three knives clipped to my pocket.

When I head into Anchorage I tend to lose the fixed blade, although I'll keep the Pocket Hobbit for informal knocking around Anchorage. If I've got ocassion to be around suit wearin' types or going to work I keep it at the folders with clips.

I've got better things to do with my time than pi$$ off or antagonize people, but on the other hand I DO carry exactly what I want to.

I did quit carrying a REKAT Sifu for awhile due to an overdose of phallic remarks though.

although now that I think of it, My wife once had a problem with her carrying a keychain knife at work...

She works for a utility company and once one of her co-workers saw her carrying a Blackie Collins "Buddy System" on her keychain. (2-2.5 inch blade) and totally freaked out, told her supervisor that told yet another supervisor that told yet another supervisor.....

Anyhoo, they eventually called her in to ask her what she had it for to which she replied it's nice for opening mail, cleaning fingernails, etc. She was then told that no one else carries or needs a pocket knife, why does she? (we're talking about a utility company where people construct and maintalin utility lines in Alaska, yeah, I'm sure she had the only knife in that company of hundreds)

So, then it went to the big man himself who pretty much rolled his eyes and round filed the whole incident.:rolleyes:

The whole incident was pretty freakin' insipid, although she continued to carry her Blackie Collins and whatever else appealed to her throughout her time in that office. (I think she enjoyed occassionally rubbing it in the face of the original whistle blower who was incidentally a self proclaimed outdoors woman and "tomboy")

Conversely though, she has since transferred and quite enthusiastically showed her new co-workers her new Benchmade 31 Balisong. They all thought her a bit unusual showing off her new Balisong and belly button piercing, but no negative reactions.
 
Generally, I don't care what the sheeple think unless it could cost me my job. We have a 3" limit and a sheepleish female coworker spotted the clip and butt of my Benchmade 806D2 on Friday and said "Is that a knife or a cell phone? . . . It looks like a knife." I told her it was a pocket knife and left it at that. I left the 806D2 at home today. We have a 3" limit. If she "taddled" and my employer investigated I did not want to be carrying a "scary" black 4" blade. Under the circumstances, doing so could cost me my job.
 
First of all why you are keep calling general public sheepie ?
If you look closelly most people will fall to your sheepie category.
so why are you calling names ?

and about your question. I do carry what I want and it's alowed by law but in public I'm using only what's reasonable (usuali lethermans micra or similar small knife)
 
I'm not calling the general public sheeple. Most people I come across could care less what I carry. The term sheeple referes to people who are like sheep, blindly following the will of the establishment. They are statist fools who believe the citizens are lower than the government. Their brains are wired to find reasons to follow whatever government they have, so they will also gladly follow Communists, Nazis, or Islamicists. These people are stupid at best and evil at worst. An example of evil sheeple are that principle in Florida a year or so ago who expelled a 12 year old girl for having a folder and made her go to a school for delinquents, even though he admitted she wasn't violent. The same goes for any zero tollerance bastards who cause people to get fired, arrested, or expelled beacuse they did not like someones knife. I have no respect for someone who wishes to harm me. Someone who would report me for having a blade (especially if it is legal) is just as bad as someone who would attack me on the street. They are just cowards and want the police to do the job for them. Where is the morality in having someone go through great hardship because you don't like the knife they carry? It is none of anyone's business what I carry or own.
 
Originally posted by ThorTso


I just feel that we are too quick to pounce on "sheeple". After all, we were once sheeple too.......what changed us? Someone else's enthusiasm more often than not.......good luck.
Click to expand...

Im pleased to say ive never been a sheeple! when I was only a few yrs old we lived in south africa my dad had a browning high power my mum a walther ppk 9mm. even when we moved back to the uk and he had to give the guns up whilever i can remember my dads had a kershaw deerhunter on his belt whenever weve been out in the country hes had a glock bayonet in his bag

He gave me a SAK when I was about 10 and gave me my first oilstone lessons a short while after that and ive never looked back!

anyway, in answer to the original point, I keep it legal at all times. the cops here wouldnt have any hesitation in locking someone up for carrying a knife 3/16 over the 3 " limit here. also i never carry tactical looking knives. I prefer drop point blades anyway but I own a 3" tactical folder, yet I feel that I cant take it out of the house as I could easily be charged with carrying an offensive weapon, the blade design is obviousley meant for stabbing and even if that werent the case the reaction from anyone who saw it would be extreme. I take along a leatherman micra, to which ive never had one bad reaction and if anyone ever did say anything I would just reply 'its only a pair of scissors'

I also carry a fallkniven mod p but I dont take that out in front of people unless I really need the cutting power and I keep it in a pouch in my pocket so I cant be accused of carrying it as a weapon by the police if for any reason I encoutered them. (the time it took to get it from the pouch in my pocket would mean it would be ineffective as a weapon) and if i do take it out im careful to make opening it a 2 handed effort (if you flick the thumb stud on this knife with your index finger its so smooth it openes in a fraction if a second and would totally freak any sheeple out!)

I think that the attitude to what are tools and nothing more (as pointed out before a chair would be a better weapon to anyone but a trained knife fighter) is pathetic but by pulling huge knives it will only make it worse. take out a small knife thats acceptable for the situation and people think youre useful, take out a machete and they freak and you loose credibility and maybe lose other things like your job!

I look at it this way, I take out my leatherman micra and cut a packing strap on a parcel or something and people think hey thats really useful, I get people asking to borrow it (which I oblige as its only a £25 knife and its unlikely anyones going to lift it) if I took out something bigger they would freak and never come near me again, on the other hand say something serious ever happened that needed some serous cutting power and I pulled out the larger knife no one would freak I would get a positive reaction of 'thank god that guy had a knife or those people would have burned to death in the car wreck/ lost their arm in the rope tangle/ that girl would have been choked by that pit bull terrier/that stupid kid would have lost their finger after pulling a tie wrap tight onto it' etc

by not pulling the larger knife inappropriately i dont scare people into going and voting to take the limit down to 2" or something but I still have it there if i need it

the way to fight against knife restrictions is to sway people by proving how essential they are not by scaring people
 
Personally, I worry more about staying within the law. So long as what I am carrying is legal, I really couldn't care less what other people might think. It's been my experience that those afraid of weapons would be terrified by the sight of any knife ~ even a 2" blade. So why let the opinion of someone whose values you don't share dictate your choices? The way I see it, after they've soiled their underwear over my 4" Cold Steel Voyager Tanto they can go home, change clothes, sip their mineral water, eat their frozen yogurt, listen to their motivational tape, and then call their therapist to whine endlessly about how nervous both knives and knife owners make them. I use my knife for legitimate purposes and have every right to do so. If they can't handle it, that's their problem and not mine.




Speaking of sheeple, here's a qoute I love.

"One more thing. Can you find me a stout piece of wood about so long and so thick? Good, then do so and lash it to your spine, it needs stiffening."

~ Errol Flynn, in "Captain Blood"
 
I carry a larger knife, and know my state law with regard to carry. Anyone gives me a hard time I ask them if they would like it if someone questioned their legal rights. Usually shuts 'em up. If not, then I give 'em the ol' rasberry

PHTPLPTPTPLTPHTPLHTPTHPTLPTPH!
:D
 
When I get my carry piece (Glock 19), I won't care if people like the fact that I'm carrying it or not. They shouldn't even know about it, in most cases, but if they do, I have a license and am not criminal. I also see it as my duty to myself and thsoe I love to be able to defend myself and my family should violence become necessary.

This, however, is not the same attitude I take with knives. I first encountered this when I was talking to my prom date's mother my junior year. After about half an hour of talking, she noticed the black clip hanging over my fornt pants pocket. She asked what it was, and I told her it was a knife. She asked why I had it, and was disturbed by my honest declaration that it was for self-defense. It was a CS Gunsite folder and there is no denying it's design and purpose is the slashing and piercing of flesh. I didn't put it that way or even show her the knife, but I knew my reasons. After several near incidences involving my friends, I was doing what I could to protect myself. I am older and (I hope) a bit more mature, but my attitude toward self-defense has become, if anything, more unabashed than ever.

Bottom line: nobody whould ever feel guilty about providing, to the best of their ability, security for themselves and those around them.

Now, the other side of my philosophy is taht those who wave their weapons in fornt of other's faces should not be surprosed if they are scared. It is counterproductive to do this because you will never scare them into accepting your tools and your rights as what they are. If you carry anything for defense, keep it hidden. If you know your company and know they share the same ideas and/or interests as you, show them your stuff. If not, DON'T. Like it or not, most people aren't knife or gun nuts, and "flashing your peice" only creates sheeple.
 
Actually im usualy pretty rude to anyone that makes a rude comment.
Click to expand...

Nothing like lowering yourself to their level.

Why not be civil, and enlighten them to the usefull aspects of knife carry and its legality?

The 'sheeple' will talk behind your back (anyway). Which would you rather be referred to as...
The rude guy with the knife,
or
That nice guy with a knife?
 
I agree basically with Ebbtide. We need to be ambassadors for our rights. Reacting with emotion rather than seizing an opportunity to present our beliefs in a positive, non-threatening way, doesn't accomplish any good. You don't throw gas on a fire, unless you want a bigger fire. Sure, it takes some effort - it's a lot easier to throw a barb back, and I am very good at that. The fact is, if you do take the time and DO get them to see the truth, you've directly attacked the people behind all this crap by converting one of their sheeple, without which they don't stand a chance. There is no barb of any kind that can provide the satisfaction of spreading our views in a way that gains us support. Each of us needs to use our heads. When one of us does something to support the sheeple view, it hurts us all. When one of us does something to win others over to our beliefs, it helps us all.
 
This is the reason I moved to Arizona. Although I don't have a CCW license yet, as long as part of the knife/gun is showing its pretty much legal and if its legal I have no hesitation about carrying it and using it. When I get a package (almost always a knife) I open it up at the PO to ensure its condition and when I do I usually use the biggest/sharpest knife on me and have never received a second look from anyone. As a matter of fact I have sold knives at the PO when someone's seen what I've received and really liked it. Now the only problem with Az is all of the liberal Eastern yuppies moving out here that see someone carrying a gun or large knife and get all upset. To me though, this is like buying a house at the end of an airport runway and then complaining about the noise. Don't come out here and then complain because you don't like the way people are living! But realistically they'll probably win, its just a matter of time.
 
There are distinct differences between those people wom you all define as "sheeple", a term that I believe to be counterproductive, even if it is satisfying, and those who for good and valid reasons choose not to bear weapons or to have weapons around them. As a Quaker by convincement, a convert to Quakerism, but from a Southern military family background, I have become extremely aware of this. There are a number of Quakers wnom I know who do carry pocket knives and they are largely residents of more rural areas where such a tool is a constantly useful item to have at hand. They, and many other similarly rural but pacifist groups such as the Amish and the Mennonites, do tend to understand the usefulness of pocket knives. It is only when we have become separated fropm the land, from our roots, that we begin to see knives only as weapons. My wife is one such person who has, for years and years, made critical and nasty comments about my interest in knives, although she has no problem with any number of large and small knives in the kitchen. But there are occasional small breakthroughs. The other day, she asked me if I could recommend a small folder for her purse, as she had noticed that I seemed to always have a knife handy when needed and had come to realize just how convenient it was to have something like that handy. She had been looking at some POS Chinese rip-offs of Spydies at the food store and I suggested that I would be a great deal happier with her using my Spydie FRN Cricket rather than one of them, mostly because they were so badly made as to be unsafe, but also because their business practices horrify me at several levels and horrified her when I explained them. She is extremely happy with the Cricket, and would be happier if it were in another color than basic black. Ah, well, such is life.

My point in all of this ramble is that we should not be so quick to discount all hoplophobes, many are that way simply out of ignorance of how a knife, or whatever, can or should be appropriately used in that their exposure is mostly from Hollywood movies and tv where a knife is almost never used as a simple tool. About the only timew that I can remember such a scene was Oz using a Delica PS on a "Buffy" episode to strip some wires in his band's sound system, and that 3 seasons ago. Rather than discounting and looking down on such people, we should use any comments that they make as an opportunity to educate them and, hopefully, to win them over to our side.
 
I make adjustments to my EDC selection due to two reasons 1) I live next to a city that has 3" legal limit, and 2) work restrictions are somewhat foggy. Other than that I don't worry about it.

This weekend I was at my daughter's soccer game when the coach ran up and said, "quick, we need you and your knife!". One of the players had baseball cleats with the cleat on the toe. A quick swipe with my small Sebenza and the violating cleat was gone. Everyone was happy and even the girl thought it was cool that the knife just whipped the cleat off so easily.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top