Why do office people freak?

[amper124]

You are in an office, you don't need a folder. Just use a pair of scissors or a box cutter.

Aren't box cutters ... knives?

The point is, that people are regarding folders like weapon what obviously is stupid, when looking into statistics of knife assaluts. Look at police reports, no matter when you are living - at least 75% of attacks are done using kitchen knives :foot:

Let me repeat myself: society is going selective-paranoid :thumbdn:

 

[JohnnyR]

People have forgotten, orsome have never learned how important and necessary of a tool the knife has been throughout history.

 

[thejamppa]

People have forgotten, orsome have never learned how important and necessary of a tool the knife has been throughout history.

Indeed. Most office people do not go wander in nature or take hike. Most office people I know don't even know how to make a fire in forrest. Urbanization has taken most men away from nature and in urban area those of us who actually use knife daily and love being in nature are minorty. Thus also simply tools are percieved as weapons.

I heard Briton's are making new kinds of pints as glass pints can be broken and used a weapon... That's a shame beer doesn't taste same from plastic as it does from glass...

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I usually go with these two. Seems to work out well, even with larger folders.:thumbup:

I follow those two pretty religiously as well. It's worked out well for me. Fortunately in MOST of Maine, folks aren't too skittish. :thumbup:

 

[Gadgetaholic]

I set my office PC desktop wallpaper to my favorite blade shot.
It scares them to some extent, although it is just a laptop peecee

Maybe you need a Mac - I've heard that they are more user friendly!

 

[pedicabdriver]

I've carried a knife in office settings for years. Over this time I've assembled my own list of common sense guidelines I use. I don't know if you'll find them useful, but they've worked for me...


1. Keep the knife appropriate to the setting. For an office, I always keep the blade <3 inches, sometimes even smaller. No uber-tactical knives. Try and avoid assisted opening knives. Knives with damascus, embellishments, etc. are more likely to be seen in a positive light than a black coated blade with "Commando Death Dealer" emblazoned on the knife.

2. Use the knife to help others. When someone is struggling with opening something, I make a point of using my knife to help, so that they can see the utility of having one and so that they associate a "warm fuzzy feeling" with the use of a knife. They've always been very courteous and thankful for the help. I've also offered to sharpen kitchen knives for folks -- something that is really appreciated.

3. Be careful how you deploy the knife. While we don't think twice about unclipping a knife, opening the blade with the thumbstud, cutting the intended item, and returning the knife to our pocket all in a few seconds, I've noticed that the speed of this event can freak people out. If you do it more slowly, they tend to react more positively to the whole experience. Their brain has time to process the event and the knife didn't "come out of nowhere" and surprise them. It also sometimes helps to deploy it two-handed, like you would with a knife without a thumbstud.

4. Let them handle the knife. When someone starts to freak out, I make a point of handing the knife to them and letting them hold it. This takes away some of their fear, and it subconsciously turns them into the knife person. It changes the perceived balance of power between the two of you. They find that they can hold the knife and amazingly it doesn't hurt them. It also gives you a chance to explain how the lock works (a huge mystery to most of them), that the frame is made of titanium (very cool to most people), the type of scale material, and other neat features.

5. Choose your knife terminology carefully. When I tell someone that I collect knives, I always use the term "pocket knives." It is more readily accepted by others, since I think it conjures up images of Grandpa's slipjoint, instead of the more "deadly" knives they fear. Also, NEVER tell them how many knives you have, unless you want to immediately be labeled a nut job.

6. Give knives to others. I make a habit that when someone expresses interest in my knife, I often will give them a small SAK to keep. I have a few on hand for these times, and it officially makes them one of us.

7. Be discreet. Never flaunt the knife or randomly play with it, even if you are by yourself in your cubical/office. Leave it in your pocket until it's needed, then use it, and put it away. You have lots of time to play with your knives at home, on the trail, and in other more appropriate places.


We should never be ashamed of carrying a knife, but a little common sense goes a long way in portraying knifeknuts as rationale, thoughtful people who mean no harm, but simply choose to carry this tool.

- Mark

Excellent post. :thumbup:

 

[Tostig]

I have never had a job where I could not carry a knife or multi-tool aside from a seasonal stint at Sears , then I carried it depsite policy, just kept it discreet.

"office people"/suburbanites tend to freak because they live in a world filled with candy canes and ponies where only bad things happen on the news and men no longer need a tool to get a job done.

Seriously look at how much this Country has been wussified/feminized/hollywooded , it makes me sick.


Ahhh.... might as well keep smiling and keep your blades sharp


Tostig

 

[batosai117]

Excellent post. :thumbup:

I second what he said :thumbup:

Common sense is a two way street: We want them (sheeple) to have common sense enough to know that a knife is a tool first and foremost. However, we need to keep in the back of our minds that they aren't into knives like us and thus a little common sense on everyone's part makes the day go by smoother.

That loud "thwack" that we all enjoy = great lockup to us, but weapon of mass destruction to them. I also do what is on the list in front of others. I'll open my EDC two handed and keep my index finger on the spine of the blade so that it looks less threatening.

 

[Psychopomp]

Common sense is a two way street: We want them (sheeple) to have common sense enough to know that a knife is a tool first and foremost. However, we need to keep in the back of our minds that they aren't into knives like us and thus a little common sense on everyone's part makes the day go by smoother.

I get kinda tired of this "us versus them" mentality that a lot of people around here seem to have. It's the same as the whole "if you're not with us, you're against us" crap.

You're right that it's all a matter of common sense. On both parts. But the biggest thing is just to not wave your knife around and then get angry when someone freaks out.

I've been around knives all my life and guns too, but I'd be extremely uncomfortable if someone I didn't know was waving a knife or gun around.

I never think twice about using my knife no matter who's around, and no one has ever freaked out. I've had comments about my knife before, one lady recently said "that's a beautiful knife" when I opened up my Paramilitary to open a box... that one freaked me out a bit. As much as I love that knife, I wouldn't call it beautiful.

But I digress.

Someone said earlier in this thread about the emerging paranoia in the population, and they're right. But from what I've seen, that paranoia is firmly rooted here, in the gun and knife community. What most of us need to realize is that as long as we use our tools responsibly and legally, "they" (whoever you want to classify as they) aren't going to care. The gun and knife people need to relax and not worry so much about it. No one is coming to take our toys away.

Like I said before, I think every single one of us would feel uneasy if somone we didn't know was waving a knife around.

Think about all sides of the issue, and then don't worry about it. Follow the law or the rules of the office and you'll be just fine. If someone freaks out and you're within your rights, let them freak out.

 

[Parasitic Psycho]

That loud "thwack" that we all enjoy = great lockup to us, but weapon of mass destruction to them.

Best description ever.

Like I said before, I think every single one of us would feel uneasy if someone we didn't know was waving a knife around.

Think about all sides of the issue, and then don't worry about it. Follow the law or the rules of the office and you'll be just fine. If someone freaks out and you're within your rights, let them freak out.

I couldn't agree more.:thumbup:

 

[crom]

I carry a slipjoint in my pants pocket while at work. People don't seem to mind the humble slipjoint. But today I happen to have my AK-47 in my jacket pocket. I could never reveal that knife in my place of work.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

You're right that it's all a matter of common sense. On both parts. But the biggest thing is just to not wave your knife around and then get angry when someone freaks out.

This is true - there are many people that are not 'into knives' that don't bat an eyelid at someone using a knife in a sensible manner to open a package or whatever. Most people are in this category. Then there are knife nuts that wave them around and show off their 'awesome' skills at opening and closing their locking folders. And on the other side there are paranoid nervous Nancy types that get all worked up at the sight of someone using a small knife to open a box instead of a box cutter - as if a small folding knife is somehow drastically more dangerous than a box cutter or a pair of scissors.

We can do our part to use our knives in a friendly non-threatening manner and purely as cutting tools when around others. But of course there will be that occasional idiot that over reacts and cites the company's no weapons policy. I think >95% of people are not like that regardless of whether they are 'into knives' themselves or not.

Those that have been able to show someone their knives side by side with a much larger sharp fixed blade knife in the kitchen or much more dangerous pair of scissors - well done! If you can make the paranoid idiot see how crazy they are being by complaining about your knife when much more dangerous tools are lying around then you have done well. It is always better to help them understand than to be confrontational and end up in front of management trying to justify carrying a knife.

Personally I think scissors are many times more dangerous than a folding knife. When a knife if folded it is safe enough to run while holding it - you wouldn't want to do that with a pair of scissors! When the blade of a knife folds into the handle - that is a great safety feature! The big carving knife in the kitchen isn't even in a sheath for goodness sake!

 

[tnt-user]

I suppose to go deep I'd say because people fear what they don't know. From that fear of the unknown they develope prejudices against people whom carry what they fear. Therefore they act with irrationality out of such fear on said prejudices.:thumbdn:

 

[Erasmus]

All my use has been low-key/ no fanfare. It isn't even a question of brandishing:

-I've had wimps panic when I used the flat screwdriver (bottle opener) on a 9cm SAK to tighten a loose screw.

-I've had other wimps panic when they saw me opening a package or cutting string with the 1 1/2" blade on the same knife.

The only thing both wimps had in common is that they were 20 years younger than me. Which makes me suspect that they were socialized by Zero Tolerance policies at their elementary schools to be fearful of ANY knife.

It's not us, it's them .

 

[A.P.F.]

...The only thing both wimps had in common is that they were 20 years younger than me. Which makes me suspect that they were socialized by Zero Tolerance policies at their elementary schools to be fearful of ANY knife...

You make a very good point, Erasmus. Early education plays an important part in keeping things in perspective. In reality, you are far more likely to die in a car accident than by a knife or gun, but I rarely see such facts published.

Regional location also plays a part. Can you imagine a Gloucester fisherman without a knife? I can't. Same thing here in Canada. When I am away from the nut house they call a city, I expect to see men or women carry a knife of some sort. It is just not natural if they don't.

 

[Amaranth]

I have never "just whipped it out" in front of anyone in the office. In fact, no one had ever seen it, before a manager noticed the clip and said, "Thats a weapon!"

 

[coloradowildman]

It's as useless as the UK knife law, you can go down to the hardware store and get an 18" piece of pipe, but a locking blade is outlawed.

Two guys square off, one with a pipe, and one with a knife, I'll put my money on the pipe guy 10 times out of 10.

I guess the few workers who went postal ruined it for the rest of us.

Politicians use tragedies to pass anti-gun and knife laws to protect themselves and the rich bankers and industrialists who finance their campaigns (i.e the ones who got the bailout money). They sure as heck don't want taxpayers with concealable weapons walking around when they are stealing your money to give to the rich who bribe them.

Concealable blades killed many Roman leaders back in the day as one example. So next time some bloke in office says he's passing another law on knives to protect "us" it really means he wants to protect himself and his rich friends!

Just my 2 cents

 

[Gadgetaholic]

Concealable blades killed many Roman leaders back in the day as one example. So next time some bloke in office says he's passing another law on knives to protect "us" it really means he wants to protect himself and his rich friends!

The only problem with that theory would be in regards to how likely an assassin would be to obey the law.

Knife laws keep knives out of the pockets of law abiding people - but do they make any difference to criminals?