Why do YOU care what OTHER PEOPLE think of your knife?

[danthaman1980]

I care what other people think because I depend on other people.
I depend on my boss to not fire me. I could find a job working at a more knife-friendly company, but they would pay less money so I wouldn't be able to buy as many knives.
I depend on my girlfriend to not think I'm an idiot. We could break up and I could find a new girlfriend, but I like this one; she already puts up with my current weird knife habits.
I depend on the strangers around town to not be threatened and call the cops when I pull out a huge knife to cut a thread off my coat, which would result in nothing happening except a huge waste of my time and a waste of the cop's time, when he should be out catching bad guys.

 

[danthaman1980]

Why do you assume that someone lacks common sense because they carry a bowie knife into Walmart?

And why does it make them a "moron"?

As long as the person isn't breaking the law, or threatening people, or twirling the knife between their fingers as they walk through the aisles, and as long as store employees and mangers don't have a problem with it, what is that person doing wrong?

It's bad enough when non-knife people pass judgement on us because we carry knives, or pass judgement on us based on our choice of knives, but I think it's even worse when knife people pass such critical judgement on other knife people based on those very same reasons.

I routinely carry a 10" fixed-blade in Walmart (picture posted earlier, post 41), and no one, not a single customer or employee, has ever freaked-out, told me to leave, or called the cops. And I've seen other people openly carrying similar sized fixed-blades in Walmart as well. Just recently I mentioned here on Bladedforums how there was a guy standing in line in front of me at a grocery Walmart with an openly carried fixed-blade on his hip, and no one even seemed to notice, neither his knife, or mine.

I believe that some knife people possess a sort of persecution complex. They believe that everyone is staring at them, or more specifically, their knife. And they assume that people will automatically freak-out and call the cops on them. But in over 35 years of openly carrying a knife in public, and after more than a decade of openly carrying a fixed-blade in public, that certainly hasn't been my experience

Then you're open carrying a 10" fixed blade into a Walmart where it is both legal and socially acceptable to do so. No problem there. But if you open carried that same 10" fixed blade into a place where it is legal but not socially acceptable, you might expect some negative reactions. And if you did get some negative reactions, you might consider carrying something more discreet next time to avoid alarming people.
In my opinion, it would be stupid to intentionally and unnecessarily alarm people just to make a point to myself.

 

[Surleyone]

I don't care. But when a fat lady yells "he's got a knife, police police " and screams her head off you might care

This man is SOOOO right. People [Sheeple] notice how we call them "Sheep...le" sheep are to be EATEN. We like to be lions [ OK maybe Wolverine] with big steel claws. That is very scary for the average soccer-mom, with the little lambs [your children] in her care. I try not to offend people. All people, but I am ready [armed], willing [defensive] & able [230 lb construction worker] to take care of myself & others if need be. I don't threaten people, & many people find big guys like me "Threatening" 6ft tall, biker bearded construction worker. The last thing I am going to do is let them see my knife, unless I "MUST' use it to save my life. Then my attitude is " WOUND - MAIM- KILL!" LOOKOUT!!

 

[BASguy]

Then you're open carrying a 10" fixed blade into a Walmart where it is both legal and socially acceptable to do so. No problem there. But if you open carried that same 10" fixed blade into a place where it is legal but not socially acceptable, you might expect some negative reactions. And if you did get some negative reactions, you might consider carrying something more discreet next time to avoid alarming people.
In my opinion, it would be stupid to intentionally and unnecessarily alarm people just to make a point to myself.

How about we just back up and assume I said "samari sword" instead, so we don't go offending anyone's delicate sensibilities. That wasn't my intention, it was merely to stay on track and make the point that I don't believe reinforcing negative stereotyping is helpful. Seems I mucked that up entirely....lol

 

[BASguy]

....besides, when you head down the road of socially acceptable that becomes a very slippery slope. It's hard enough these days to make sure your always in compliance with real laws besides having to worry about navigating around what's PC in some places and not others.

 

[stkh22]

I care what other people think to a point... Especially in the work environment, last thing I want is negative vibes and complaints to the boss where it will cause issues down the road. Where I work, I need to be cautious not to offend people since there are some sensitive people who I have to work with and they report to some pretty high up big shots.

 

[Surleyone]

I disagree. I don't care what total strangers think of me, and I live "a well-adjusted, normal, happy life". I can't imagine, nor would I want to imagine, what it would be like to go through life always worrying about what other people are thinking about me, much less trying to make them all happy.

The only time I alter my behavior around others is when it serves MY purposes (like not carrying my fixed-blade into the bank). But I don't alter my behavior because I care about what other people think. I do it so they won't insist that I leave before conducting my business. If the same people who work in the bank saw me on the street carrying my knife I couldn't care less what they might think.

I conduct myself in a polite and respectful manner when I interact with people, because that's how I was raised, and because that's how I want to be treated. But I don't conduct myself in that way because I care what people might think of me or say about me.

Growing up my parents taught me - No matter what you do you can't control what other people are going to think about you. So don't even bother caring what other people think about you. And besides, who are they that you should care what they think.

Like I said, I disagree. But that's ok, we just have different philosophies. I'm not saying my philosophy is right and your philosophy is wrong, just that they're different. And there's nothing wrong with that.

AHH So WELL ADJUSTED of you! I salute you!

 

[Mitchell Knives]

The knives I carry are what I consider to be the best options for the tasks I generally perform.

I don't particularly care what anyone else thinks about them.

 

[Surleyone]

I choose my knife for the day based on what I'll need it for and where I'll be. Sometimes I can't carry one at all, for example when I go to Fenway Park. Honestly, I don't give a rats petootie what anyone thinks of me, but one has to be honest: I've always viewed my knives as tools, but we now live in a liberal pc world where they are viewed as weapons. I'm not willing to have one of my knives confiscated, so I carry discreetly. The only question I ask when selecting my blade for the day is," does this knife make my butt look big?"

Hey if you want to go to FENWAY carry an FGX or what ever they call it from COLD STEEL or Lansky's CIA knife or as I think outside of the box a big tent stake or several.

 

[Sosa]

I care what other people think to a point... Especially in the work environment, last thing I want is negative vibes and complaints to the boss where it will cause issues down the road. Where I work, I need to be cautious not to offend people since there are some sensitive people who I have to work with and they report to some pretty high up big shots.

Nothing worse than snitches, suck asses, backstabbers and bird dogs.

 

[ChumBucket]

I work in a church. Surprisingly, a knife is needed often, for everything from cutting open boxes to killing demons. It has never mattered to me what knife I use there, as everyone knows I wouldn't hurt a fly.

In public, I go by the law, which in GA says any kind of knife under 5" is legal to carry. All my knives are the kind I use, and use often.

The one knife I almost never carry is this little Mantis folder that I got real cheap. I don't carry it, because I DO care what people think of me, and that knife just screams "A-HOLE!"

 

[Surleyone]

Why do you assume that someone lacks common sense because they carry a bowie knife into Walmart?

And why does it make them a "moron"?

As long as the person isn't breaking the law, or threatening people, or twirling the knife between their fingers as they walk through the aisles, and as long as store employees and mangers don't have a problem with it, what is that person doing wrong?

It's bad enough when non-knife people pass judgement on us because we carry knives, or pass judgement on us based on our choice of knives, but I think it's even worse when knife people pass such critical judgement on other knife people based on those very same reasons.

I routinely carry a 10" fixed-blade in Walmart (picture posted earlier, post 41), and no one, not a single customer or employee, has ever freaked-out, told me to leave, or called the cops. And I've seen other people openly carrying similar sized fixed-blades in Walmart as well. Just recently I mentioned here on Bladedforums how there was a guy standing in line in front of me at a grocery Walmart with an openly carried fixed-blade on his hip, and no one even seemed to notice, neither his knife, or mine.

I believe that some knife people possess a sort of persecution complex. They believe that everyone is staring at them, or more specifically, their knife. And they assume that people will automatically freak-out and call the cops on them. But in over 35 years of openly carrying a knife in public, and after more than a decade of openly carrying a fixed-blade in public, that certainly hasn't been my experience

AHH! But the BIG QUESTION is "Where do you live ?" I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that you don't live in L.A. California! BECAUSE....THAT makes ALL the difference!!!

 

[danthaman1980]

....besides, when you head down the road of socially acceptable that becomes a very slippery slope. It's hard enough these days to make sure your always in compliance with real laws besides having to worry about navigating around what's PC in some places and not others.

I agree with you there, and in that sense, I made a poor choice of words. I don't so much care what is 'socially acceptable', as much as I care what is 'not socially inacceptable'. I don't care if I get a sideways look now and then, but I don't want to give anyone a heart attack either. Besides, maybe if they see 3" folders in use around town a few times, then they won't be alarmed when they see a 3.5" folder.

I don't want to give anyone the impression that I as a knife person go around judging other knife people for carrying knives that I deem to be too large or scary for the occasion; just that I as a knife person am aware that non-knife people might notice what I do, and my behavior will serve to reinforce their stereotype of knife people. If I do something that is slightly outside their comfort zone, but I do it in a positive non-threatening way, they might come away with a slightly more positive point of view. But if I do something that illicits a negative reaction, that impacts me and the people around me, and reinforces the negative stereotype in their mind. So I don't consider it a bad thing that I try to be aware of my environment and respectful of strangers. As I said above, I'm not 'judging' anyone unless they're intentionally alarming people just to prove a point. That only makes us look bad.

 

[bdmicarta]

For the most part I don't care. If my knife is where it can be seen, it is because I'm using it for something that you would obviously use a knife for and I figure people should understand.

I do care a little bit at work because people could complain to management and management could come up with restrictive rules. I don't want to rock the boat so I try to be careful. I have to use my knife a lot at lunch to cut up my food and I haven't noticed anyone paying any attention to it so I feel lucky in that regards.

 

[BASguy]

I agree with you there, and in that sense, I made a poor choice of words. I don't so much care what is 'socially acceptable', as much as I care what is 'not socially inacceptable'. I don't care if I get a sideways look now and then, but I don't want to give anyone a heart attack either. Besides, maybe if they see 3" folders in use around town a few times, then they won't be alarmed when they see a 3.5" folder.

I don't want to give anyone the impression that I as a knife person go around judging other knife people for carrying knives that I deem to be too large or scary for the occasion; just that I as a knife person am aware that non-knife people might notice what I do, and my behavior will serve to reinforce their stereotype of knife people. If I do something that is slightly outside their comfort zone, but I do it in a positive non-threatening way, they might come away with a slightly more positive point of view. But if I do something that illicits a negative reaction, that impacts me and the people around me, and reinforces the negative stereotype in their mind. So I don't consider it a bad thing that I try to be aware of my environment and respectful of strangers. As I said above, I'm not 'judging' anyone unless they're intentionally alarming people just to prove a point. That only makes us look bad.

That's exactly what I would consider to be a reasonable perspective. You can't change someone's perspective if you never use the opportunities presented.

 

[killgar]

Then you're open carrying a 10" fixed blade into a Walmart where it is both legal and socially acceptable to do so. No problem there. But if you open carried that same 10" fixed blade into a place where it is legal but not socially acceptable, you might expect some negative reactions. And if you did get some negative reactions, you might consider carrying something more discreet next time to avoid alarming people.
In my opinion, it would be stupid to intentionally and unnecessarily alarm people just to make a point to myself.

The term "socially acceptable" does not play any part in my choice of knife. I don't take public opinion polls wherever I go to determine what knives are "socially acceptable". It's entirely possible that tomorrow I will encounter a negative reaction because of my knife. And if that happens I will ignore that reaction.

I carry what I want. I carry what I feel will best serve my needs. And I carry what is legal. The only time I consider other peoples reactions when choosing what knife to carry is when I am going somewhere and don't want to risk being asked to leave, or where I know such a knife won't be permitted by the business (like taking my kids to the zoo).

And no, if I encountered negative reactions from others because of my knife I would not stop carrying it. I don't choose my knife based on what will, or might, alarm others. Some people don't like the loud exhaust pipes on my motorcycles. Some have told me so. But I haven't taken them off. And I don't intend to. The feelings and desires of total strangers do not dictate how I live my life.

And I never carry a knife "to make a point". I carry a knife to cut things.

I live in San Diego California. If I lived in Los Angeles I wouldn't carry the knife I pictured earlier because LA has a 3" length limit on any knife carried openly (although that law does not apply if a person is carrying a knife for legitimate work or recreational purposes).

 

[Wowbagger]

BASguy,

assume I said "samari sword" instead, so we don't go offending anyone's delicate sensibilities

you misspelled "Samurai" . . .
NOW I'm all offended and stuff. :grumpy:

My boss said the other day "You just can't please everyone . . . I've tried".

 

[danthaman1980]

The term "socially acceptable" does not play any part in my choice of knife. I don't take public opinion polls wherever I go to determine what knives are "socially acceptable". It's entirely possible that tomorrow I will encounter a negative reaction because of my knife. And if that happens I will ignore that reaction.

I carry what I want. I carry what I feel will best serve my needs. And I carry what is legal. The only time I consider other peoples reactions when choosing what knife to carry is when I am going somewhere and don't want to risk being asked to leave, or where I know such a knife won't be permitted by the business (like taking my kids to the zoo).

And no, if I encountered negative reactions from others because of my knife I would not stop carrying it. I don't choose my knife based on what will, or might, alarm others. Some people don't like the loud exhaust pipes on my motorcycles. Some have told me so. But I haven't taken them off. And I don't intend to. The feelings and desires of total strangers do not dictate how I live my life.

And I never carry a knife "to make a point". I carry a knife to cut things.

I live in San Diego California. If I lived in Los Angeles I wouldn't carry the knife I pictured earlier because LA has a 3" length limit on any knife carried openly (although that law does not apply if a person is carrying a knife for legitimate work or recreational purposes).

Just to clarify, the 'carrying to make a point' comment wasn't aimed at you, and I clarified above that my choice of words in 'socially acceptable' was poor. I was trying to make a point that I (and I assumed most knife people) would not carry a knife in a way that was likely to scare someone if there were other options that did not sacrifice the utility you needed. You already said that would not affect you, and I can respect that as well.

And I think the loud motorcycle exhaust pipes are a slightly different scenario. I don't know of anyone that is scared of loud motorcycle exhaust pipes.

 

[Steve in SoCal]

So much energy expended on a troll thread.

 

[bigmark408]

Listen to the "cool kids" , they test lots of knives. 👍🏻