Yes, but now you're talking about TRAINED individuals, not a everyday civilian who decided to go buy a knife and carry it thinking that it'll save him in the event of being attacked.
I wasn't specifically talking about "trained" individuals (I don't know if that 50 year old man was trained in the use of a knife), but you touch upon a very important point.
I believe that you an I agree on the following points- Merely carrying a weapon (any weapon) won't make a person safe. And believing that it will keep them safe, or believing that they have the ability to use it effectively when in reality they don't, could very well get them killed. And there are a lot of people in this world who have deluded themselves into believe both of those misconceptions.
However, I would not assume that people on this forum, or anywhere else, have NOT received training. And I would not make blanket statements by referring to people who carry knives specifically for self-defense as "delusional" (post #87), nor would I say that carrying a knife specifically for self-defense is "absurd and not realistic". That is the primary cause of my disagreement with you.
For a normal person without any training to think they're going to be ready when a mugger with a machete decides you're his next victim just bc your packing a "combat" knife from bass pro is absolutely absurd and unrealistic.
Again, I completely agree with you on this.
Of course, the same can be said about carrying a handgun for self-defense. I don't believe that anyone in this thread has suggested that a knife, any knife, is the perfect choice for self-defense or that it offers any guarantees. Every weapon has it's limitations. And people who refuse to obtain qualified instruction in the use of their weapon, whatever it may be, are putting themselves at even greater risk.
Here's my personal philosophy on other people carrying weapons for self-defense-
As long as people seek qualified instruction in the use of their weapon, and as long as they learn and practice safe and responsible handling of their weapon, and as long as they educate themselves on exactly how and when they are legally permitted to use their weapon, and as long as they are aware of, and willing to accept the consequences of using their weapon, then I say more power to them, whatever weapon they choose. And I would neither judge nor criticize them for their choice of weapon.
Furthermore, if a person says "I carry
XYZ for self-defense", I wouldn't assume that they haven't received qualified training in it's use. When I have nothing to lose, and when I have no evidence to the contrary, I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt and believe that they have sought qualified instruction, whether it be a gun or a knife. Just like when I see people on this forum say that they carry a gun, I don't accuse them of being a "cowboy", or make similar negative judgments. Instead, I assume that they have been trained in the defensive use of a firearm. At least I hope they have been.