Why so cautious around non-knife people

[unit]

I think it is like farting in public.

I really like to fart, it feels good, it is healthy, and natural. However not everyone shares my enthusiasm for farting. I see no reason to offend others when it is easily avoidable, so I don't.

Carrying and waving around a knife that makes others feel uncomfortable seems similar to me. I am justified in doing it, but why be a jerk and offend other people that did nothing to deserve being made to be uncomfortable?

I did not read all the posts...perhaps someone else brought this up already?

 

[zyhano]

I think it is like farting in public.

I really like to fart, it feels good, it is healthy, and natural. However not everyone shares my enthusiasm for farting. I see no reason to offend others when it is easily avoidable, so I don't.

Carrying and waving around a knife that makes others feel uncomfortable seems similar to me. I am justified in doing it, but why be a jerk and offend other people that did nothing to deserve being made to be uncomfortable?

I did not read all the posts...perhaps someone else brought this up already?

and on top of that: all those dudes lighting their farts, or just shitting their pants in public make it worse for all us fart people out there. It's just better to not fart in public and just be a naughty silent farter.

 

[unit]

and on top of that: all those dudes lighting their farts, or just shitting their pants in public make it worse for all us fart people out there. It's just better to not fart in public and just be a naughty silent farter.

Well played sir...well played indeed!

 

[effer]

Marijuana laws have nothing to do with public opinion, Contrary to popular perception.

Nobody makes cigarettes illegal due to the attitudes of smokers

Let me repeat this to you again: "It is Illegal to smoke in public places in my state. I wouldn't be surprised if they make cigarettes illegal in 10 years or so." it is Illegal to smoke Cigarettes! It has nothing to do with marijuana, and has everything to do with public opinion.

I never said that I flash my knife around.

You have said "Until I do something illegal, they can cry all they want". As I have told you earlier, even if it is legal to carry and use your knife, you still need to be respectful to other people. There is no need to leave those bad, non-knife-people crying. They can cry pretty loud and affect public opinion in ways that hurts knife community. As others have said before, be "an ambassador', but to do this you need to change the attitude.

Everyone can see what you are doing. Using a distraction to discredit me and make me out to look crazy and irresponsible.

I don't care about you personally. I really didn't want to reply to your post at first. I don't need to discredit you, I don't need to win the argument. This is not a court of law. This is a place where people share their views and opinions

Stating that I don't respect others and throwing "democracy" in there. A very powerful word to many. Enough so that weak minded folks will sympathize and blindly agree with you. Because all they say to themselves is "You tell that disrespectful, weed smokin', troublemakin' leftist how democracy works."

Do you realize that you just tried to call people "stupid", if they agree with me?

As for "democracy", the distinguishing feature of democracy is that governmental authority is built, controlled and conditioned by the force of an active public opinion. Public opinion is exactly the issue we are discussing here.

 

[akula83]

I don't even use my pocket clips any more, garnered the interest of three security guards with a small folder in my pocket at a local mall in a food court before I thought it better to leave the premises.

 

[jay2pointoh]

Jay 2.0,

My sentiments are somewhat in agreement to yours as you say, "it is legal, tough" mentality. I only bring up that you are possibly a little overly and overtly passionate about it, asking members how tall they are is a little aggressive. We have to gently assert pressure on society to remind them of our rights to carry. We do not want to provide reasons for them to fuel their fears. Other members have elaborated.

Thank you. I apologize for coming off too passionate.

I asked only because I am 6'5". Some people like that and gravitate towards me in a positive way and because I conduct myself properly.

On the other hand I have had people treat me negatively for no reason other than my height. They immediately see me as a threat and imagine me hurting them or worse. Why? Because that is their nature. Their fear.

I say all this to mean one thing.

No matter how well you conduct yourself and how safe you appear, there will be someone who lets their fears get the better of them. And there is absolutely nothing you can do to change them. Some people are not reasonable and no amount of reason will sway their fears.

 

[swamp]

Perfect example.

On the topic of the South and knives, here in GA a knife with a blade over 2" long is a FELONY on school OR college grounds. I'm back in school again and the largest knife I can have without being a felon is a freaking spyderco ladybug. Back in the midwest I legally carried my freaking Glock to campus.

The South has a helluva long ways to go to catch up to its reputation.

Your just one state to far north my friend. I was with my mother at the mall in a VERY busy food court when her bracelet got caught on the string from her Williams Sonoma bag. After a few seconds I asked if she wanted me to cut it. She said, "yes." I whipped out my 4.25" Bladed Rukus and cut it free. I put it away and after a couple seconds looked around and everyone was self immersed in there own conversations. I have done this for 15+ years and never got a complaint, or weird look. Unless it was someone I knew telling me my knife was illegal. But I am very clean cut, and I think personal image has a lot to do with it outside of work, anyway.

 

[sgt244]

people feel uncomftorble around knives especially when they dont know the peson.. and seeing as though you have a ZT0350 snap out with that authoritatic noise... people will problly walk the other way =D

 

[CrialJLA]

Hello All,
I'm relatively new to the forum and have noticed quite a few people saying that they are hesitant to use their preferred blade around non-knife people. My question to them is why are you so concerned? I'm of course assuming any knife that you carry is legal and you are using it for a lawful purpose? With that being said, then who cares. Use the tools you have, enjoy them. I guess in my mind, by acting as if something is a big deal, then it's more likely to become a big deal when it really isn't in most cases.

Look forward to the replies.
RS

Because, your not allowed to cut anything.. You must use your mind..


But seriously, people see knifes as weapons.. Especially black blades, and do-dads such as auto and assist opening..

Their view is , if you carry a knife, it must be red and made by the swiss..

 

[GingivitisKahn]

The problem is that if everyone will have such attitude, then what is Legal now will be Illegal very soon.

Alternatively, if Americans keep rolling over and tolerating blatantly unconstitutional laws, the thugs in office will keep making them.

 

[rckshrk]

Alternatively, if Americans keep rolling over and tolerating blatantly unconstitutional laws, the thugs in office will keep making them.

nicely said

 

[rckshrk]

Your just one state to far north my friend. I was with my mother at the mall in a VERY busy food court when her bracelet got caught on the string from her Williams Sonoma bag. After a few seconds I asked if she wanted me to cut it. She said, "yes." I whipped out my 4.25" Bladed Rukus and cut it free. I put it away and after a couple seconds looked around and everyone was self immersed in there own conversations. I have done this for 15+ years and never got a complaint, or weird look. Unless it was someone I knew telling me my knife was illegal. But I am very clean cut, and I think personal image has a lot to do with it outside of work, anyway.

Perfect example of how to use a knife and not be labeled negatively.

 

[rckshrk]

It's really not all that simple.

If one starts talking about knives to non knife people one could be labeled as crazy, psycho, or Serial Killer.

It's best to leave it in your pocket etc while at work unless there are other knife people around, same goes for talking about them.

If someone is going to label you as crazy simply because of a knife, then you were either already labeled that way or were going to be labeled that way eventually anyway. My point is that what you carry in your pocket as a part of your EDC really reflects your personal philosophy or attitude and outlook on life and that is something that is impossible to hide. It will always come out one way or another.

However, I do agree with part of your response...kind of. It is best to leave your tools in your pocket until you have a legitimate reason to use them. But when you need a knife, you need a knife so use it appropriately. As far as talking about knifes, its just like any other conversation. If the conversation leads to knifes then thats where it goes. On the other hand If you walked up to me and started a random conversation about knives, I would look at you funny too.

 

[rckshrk]

I think concealed may be the key word here. Does anyone really complain over the knife they don't know you have?

Discretion is the better part of valor. I've said this before, and I'll repeat. I've lived in the big bad librul city of Los Angeles most of my life, carried and used a knife of one kind or another since childhood, and can't recall anyone ever batting an eyelash over the issue. If someone took offense, it was never expressed to me. I attribute this to simply being discreet. I find that people won't give you any grief if you pull out the right tool for a particular job.

Doing the balisong dance to clean your nails in polite company with indignance and a sense of entitlement will, at best, mark you as a mall ninja. Or worse, someone who's woefully lacking in self awareness, with something to prove, etc. Rights have nothing to do with this. It's a matter of taste and decorum. Having the good judgment to know when behaviors are appropriate. Having the sensitivity and wisdom to read one's surroundings and act accordingly.

Knife nuts can't have it both ways. We can't sneer at the "sheeple" contemptuously because they won't accommodate our knife fetishes, demand we're within our rights when we open a bag of Cheetos with that karambit, and then complain because they roll their eyes and look at us like we're a bunch of wanna-be Rambos.

I think this sums it up perfectly.

 

[SpartanSaint]

Thank you. I apologize for coming off too passionate.

I asked only because I am 6'5". Some people like that and gravitate towards me in a positive way and because I conduct myself properly.

On the other hand I have had people treat me negatively for no reason other than my height. They immediately see me as a threat and imagine me hurting them or worse. Why? Because that is their nature. Their fear.

I say all this to mean one thing.

No matter how well you conduct yourself and how safe you appear, there will be someone who lets their fears get the better of them. And there is absolutely nothing you can do to change them. Some people are not reasonable and no amount of reason will sway their fears.

to be honest, i'm 6' 0", 250 lbs. i've played quite a bit of football, highschool and some college. not a small guy, but not huge

i too have gotten that. in class in group projects i'll be slumping in my chair, talking normally and one of my group members were "uncomfortable by my aggressive behavior". i kid you not. people are afraid. just in general. of knives, of guns, of people.... yet irrationality is exemplified by the fact that most "sheeple" will get in their vehicles [be it minivan or convertible] without so much of a blink of recognition of the fact that more people die in car crashes than, feel free to correct me if i'm wrong, any combination of knife, gun or violence. boggling. really is. again, to be honest, people sicken me :barf:

 

[Warp]

Carrying a particular knife is one choice. Discretion is another choice. Make wise choices. I carry a pair of CRKT M16's because they're fast 'clickers'..

I don't carry my 6" Ek double edged daggers because I'd hate to give a lawyer money, or what's worse, spend a weekend entertaining Bubba in the county lock-up.

I make a point of not bothering the sheep, because they're overly fearful and generally nearsighted.

Didn't realize you were on here mitch.

Not a bad perspective, I"d say

 

[dberry]

Why bring on yourself possible headaches when you dont have to? My knives are tools but others may only see knives as they are portrayed in the media as murder weapon,etc. I think it is also a bad witness to scare folks unless it can be avoided.

 

[mmarkh]

I don't go out of my way to flash a knife or hide it. Granted, I work in an industrial setting but even when out if I need to use my knife I will. If I want to cut my sub and only have my Sebenza , that sub is getting cut! I guess it depends on age also. I probably won't get as many looks at 49 as I would have at 19 with my knife out.

 

[Warp]

Your just one state to far north my friend. I was with my mother at the mall in a VERY busy food court when her bracelet got caught on the string from her Williams Sonoma bag. After a few seconds I asked if she wanted me to cut it. She said, "yes." I whipped out my 4.25" Bladed Rukus and cut it free. I put it away and after a couple seconds looked around and everyone was self immersed in there own conversations. I have done this for 15+ years and never got a complaint, or weird look. Unless it was someone I knew telling me my knife was illegal. But I am very clean cut, and I think personal image has a lot to do with it outside of work, anyway.

Florida is one of those over rated southern states that does not allow openly carried firearms.

 

[effer]

Alternatively, if Americans keep rolling over and tolerating blatantly unconstitutional laws, the thugs in office will keep making them.

I agree with you completely. Nobody is rolling over though. Was it about a year ago when issue came up, that they wanted to change the law that would make pretty much every knife that could be opened with one hand illegal. A lot of people voiced their protest, lawyers and some politicians helped to get this straightened out. That was the time when we really needed to stand our ground and protect our rights.

On the other hand entertaining our right to carry and use a knife when ever and where ever we please, in any way we see fit, as long as it is legal, might back fire. Turning enough people against our right might swing the vote in other direction next time.

See what happens in New York state. Even without a change in federal law, DA (or whoever is doing it) raided knife stores claiming that most (if not all) locking knives that sell there are illegal. This is very unfair. It would be good, if we could figure out how to fight against this.

On the other hand insisting that you can and will continue using your 4" knife at work, at your own discretion, even if it makes 10 people around you very uncomfortable, simply because it is legal (and they can shove it...) That doesn't do any good at all.