depressing reddit thread on knife attitudes

[bluemist]

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comme ... knife_for/

The comments that only a criminal would carry a knife make me sad.

"
There is more of a social stigma here in Holland on knives and guns then anywhere else I've ever been (I consider it a good thing). Knives especially are associated with criminal behavior and carrying a pocketknife is a big no-no. I don't think I know anyone who would carry one. A Swiss army knife is more accepted but only because of its tool aspect. I think I, like your friend, would have not used the gift. It seems kind of wrong to give someone else a weapon, its like: "here be a criminal!". You wouldn't give your friend a gun either would you? That's what its like"



"if you live in London and carry a knife you are a moron. If anything, carrying a knife for protection will only end in you getting your belly sliced open. if a situation has gotten that bad that you need to draw for a knife, then clearly the other guy wouldnt hesitate in using it against you if/when he gets hold of it.
There is no practical use for a knife outside the home in the city, i mean you can harly go hunting and skinning beavers (heh) in regents part"

[FIMS]

First time I ever had the need for a knife was working at a hotel many years ago. Little girl got her gown stuck in the escalator.

I didn't have a knife at the time so we had to run to the main kitchen to get one. Buy that time her clothes were shredded and she got injured.

A knife at the time would have been very practical.

We all have our reasons, but to explain them to those who do not know or do not care to know, I wouldn't waste my breath.

Its the same as what I hear at work "Why don't you just shoot the gun out of his hand?"

[Vincent]

I read the entire this earlier today. The fear that the general population has today of knives is astounding.

I live in one of the largest city's in the world and find uses for my knives everyday.

[Clawhammer]

In the 18th Century in Europe, 'Gentlemen' were nearly expected to carry sword canes, Apache knuckle-dusters and revolvers...

Don't tell me it's more dangerous now...

...the closest thing we've had to an assasination of a head of state in the past 200 years was last week when Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was hit in the face with a tourist statue.... do you hear talk of them banning statues? (probably not because every Italian knows he's the one guy that does deserve it!... :) )

[bluemist]

what a topsy turvy world

if you are prepared to defend yourself, you are a potential criminal

In America if you still care about the constitution and dare to defend your rights you will likely be perceived as a hater of freedom and potential terrorist.

All this doublethink makes my head spin..

Do you realize this forum is functional anarchy? It is like a dinner party and Sal is our host, but he is not our dictator, we self police, we have no clear leader.

Imagine if the rest of the world could be so civilized.

edited: OK sometimes we do need the Taz intervention but not very often, and maybe never for established members.

[Aimless]

I remember in the 70s my mom telling me I couldn't have a Buck folding knife because only hoodlums carried knives on their belt like that. I forget her exact wording but it was something like that. She grew up helping her father run a small dairy farm, it's not like she was from Manhattan. Pocket knives were okay and I had some kind of cheap bowie knife for camping but she put her foot down at a Buck folder carried in a belt sheath.

[sarguy]

Frick...and we wonder why America seemed to be the world's policeman for a while. I can think of several occasions in high school (even after the school shootings started) when teachers and students alike would use pocketknives for utilitarian tasks. Heck, I even made throwing spikes in metal shop on a day I was bored. Shop teacher just looked at them and said "nice tent stakes".

I find some of the later posts kind of interesting, such as the one recalling a near mugging by a street gang that was stopped when the mark pulled out a Gerber pocket knife.

Polite societies, no?

[defenestrate]

Best post on that thread:

You wouldn't give your friend a gun either would you?

This is america, it would be seen as an insult to gift anything but a gun. In fact, if you do gift something else, it usually comes with a card that says, "sorry this is not a gun."