Why is carrying a knife looked down upon by those who dont?

Its simply what people associate with it.

Most people here on this forum probably see it as a tool first. TOOL USE:thumbup:

Some people see it as a weapon first. What do they associate it with? Stabbings, gang violence, murder.

Take for example a gun. I associate target shooting, hunting, and self defense with a gun. Good times!:thumbup: Many people I know find it appalling (to say the least) that I would associate anything positive with a firearm.

BTW, I am forbidden from bringing ANY knife into work with me. And there are several situations in my day where a knife would be very handy.
 
Why is carrying a knife looked down upon by those who don't?

It's because of the public school brainwashing. And the reason these people can't change their minds is because once they've learned it, they never want to admit that they were brainwashed in the first place, so they pretend it is their own personal belief when confronted. They pretend for so long that they eventually adopt the belief to avoid cognitive dissonance.

[quote="Wikipedia]Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding conflicting ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance. They do this by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions. Dissonance is also reduced by justifying, blaming, and denying. It is one of the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology.[/quote]
 
Fear. Fear of many of the things mentioned above. We live in a fear filled society with the media and the government.....those are two seperate entities, correct?......telling us what is bad and what is good. BAD- carrying guns, knives, and to think for yourself. GOOD- Do everything the government tells you to do, without question.

At least that's my cynical take.
 
cognitive dissonance is exactly the reason. I wanted to name my band that, but people seemed to avoid us?
 
I am not sure, but it really depends on where you are/go.

I grew up in Central Missouri (if you have a fixed blade on your hip, people just assume and occasionally ask if you are going to or coming from the woods), I went to college in Southern Missouri at a Geology/Mining/Engineering college (again, no one cared if you had a blade on your hip). I went to grad school in Michigan at a BIG school in a fairly large city (a knife on campus was perceived VERY differently).

Stay legal and do not be a jerk...that is pretty much the best advice for all parties involved regardless of location or which side of the issue you are on.
 
foxx said:
cognitive dissonance is exactly the reason. I wanted to name my band that, but people seemed to avoid us?
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That's not cognitive dissonance they were avoiding...it was musical dissonance. Maybe you should have named it..."Harmony".
:D
 
Our culture is, ever increasingly, abandoning common sense, and replacing it with paranoid political correctness, and liability avoidance.
When my dad was a boy, he use to bring his hunting gun to school (propped it up in the back of the classroom), I use to bring my pocket knife....now you get in trouble if you draw a picture of one. Sheeesh.
Fortunately, where I live in the South, many men (and women) carry pocket knives and incur little grief.
 
becouse they dont know how usefull carrying knife as a tool... it happened to me several times...

but since i mostly use SAKs, they could get a chance to see how handy a SAK could help in some situations...
 
As the "Gerber" knife ad reads "in a world gone soft, you have chosen to carry a knife". It is natural for the alpha male/female, to intimidate those around it. In a world gone soft, the alpha male/female is much more intimidating. In P.C. world, those intimidated, have a right to voice their opinion. Those less masculine, will always be intimidated by anyone or anything masculine.

Bearing that in mind, i never flaunt or "whip out" or "flick" my hardware,when others are around. Henry
 
Some people are sheep.

Some people are sheepdogs.

Some people are wolves.

The sheep are often afraid of the sheepdogs and their teeth. Some even wish the sheepdogs had no teeth and would like to take them from them.

That is until the wolf shows up (or if they need a feedbag opened for them) and then the sheep are always glad the sheepdogs have their teeth.:rolleyes:
 
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I also love the south, im in class at southeastern louisiana university, with a strider smf in my pocket. My school allows knives of up to 5 inches. :3
 
I think, most of the people who dont use knife or carry such "things" are afraid. Fear. Think that people are some kind of manice which carry knives. Nothing else. I got an excample; when I use my edc (Benchmade Gripi) in my job (State Service) they would think: "It´s ok, he´s an officer!"
When i use it in sparetime they think; "OMG, he´s got a weapon on his belt, let´s call the officer´s"

Just my own thoughts....

Kind regards...
 
It's all about context.
In my office job, I very rarely NEED a knife. It's not exactly hard to just tear open those envelopes I get now and then.
Hence I most often carry an alox SAK at work or sometimes a Klotzli Sailor, which doesn't scare anyone, yet it is still useful in multiple ways.
Remember that perception = reality. If your "uneducated when it comes to knives" colleagues perceive you as potentially dangerous, that's reality for them, and it won't exactly help your career if that matters to you.
Outside work, I do vary quite a bit (I only have a handful really tactical designs though, most are gentlemeny), and my friends are meanwhile used to handling fine cutlery (mainly french & italian) when I cook. The Military and Pohl Force Alpha One and some fixed blades are mainly kept for bbqs or general outdoor activities, and in that friendly context it's good to see that they cause that big stupid grin to everyone (even women) who hold them.
 
I don't think I've ever been 'looked down on' by people that don't carry a knife. I've never experienced this issue, actually. I've had people ask me why I carry a knife, but never have I experienced any negative issues with it. My response is always the same, "to cut things". It seems that a lot of people don't really think about how often something as little as a knife can be applied in every day life, let alone the more ridiculous things that I carry, like a flashlight.

The negative connotations associated with a knife are generally that they're just for cutting people, once you take this away and simply show a utilitarian use for them, those connotations are quickly dispelled. Flipping it open and closed in public or fondling the blade are generally not acts that help dispel those negative thoughts, though.
 
I'm at college in LA. In 2.5 years with a knife clipped to the outside of my pocket, and nobody has ever given me any trouble.

This may be related to the fact that half of our students are engineers.
 
powernoodle said:
The best antidote is to carry a knife everywhere it is legal, to use it responsibly, and in the process to treat with gentleness and respect those afflicted with blade envy.
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I feel this is worth quoting again. It's one of the best statements I've ever seen on Bladeforums.

That said, I can't ever recall someone "looking down on me" for carrying a knife. A few people have acted surprised, and a couple have seemed startled or scared. Most people seem to be fine with it--many even appreciate it as I have become the resident guy with a knife. Other folks have complimented me on the various knives I carry. I frequently cut things for other people (I'm done loaning knives, thank you). Bottom line, a majority of people do not react negatively to me.
 
Moonberrys said:
I also love the south, im in class at southeastern louisiana university, with a strider smf in my pocket. My school allows knives of up to 5 inches. :3
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My sister-in-law teaches at Southeastern, and doesn't have any problem with knives, but cell phones in class drive her NUTS! ;)
 
DoctaD said:
My sister-in-law teaches at Southeastern, and doesn't have any problem with knives, but cell phones in class drive her NUTS! ;)
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What does she teach? Yeah most people there don't care. That's one thing I love about the south. Most people see it and then want to compare knives! lol
 
Yes, it's sad but true. I hate hearing "You planning on killing someone with that" every time I pull a knife out of my pocket, even a small folder. That's why I ordered a Mnandi; maybe something less intimidating will help. Unfortunately, our post-911 society has become paranoid about those who have a blade on them.

Makes me yearn for the days when a lot of us were Boy Scouts and the phrase "Always be Prepared" was acceptable and meant something. Where I work no one is allowed to carry a knife of any sort (a High School) and I can live with that. But as soon as I get home, you betcha I carry one of my EDC's.

-- Steve
 
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