[OT] Carrying a knife

[Azlan]

And not carrying one isn't that big of a deal, but it's like they're asking me to not carry my car keys, or that i shouldn't have pictures of my family in my wallet, since it might be a distraction...

So, you equate your knife with your car keys and your family photos in your wallet, huh? Hmm...

Well, whatever.

If I were a manager and if, say, one of my employees carried a huge, constantly jangling set of car keys that were a distraction to the other employees or the customers; of if one of my employees had family photos that he was always pulling out of his wallet and showing off to the customers or to his fellow employees; then I would require that employee to set aside his keys or photos while he was on the job. And evidently, that is what your knife is: a constant, visual distraction to the customers and your fellow employees.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Re: Re: [OT] Carrying a knife

I find myself wondering why a 22-year-old adult feels the need to carry a knife around, everywhere he goes, especially in a modern-day city. What are you, Crocodile Dundee or something? (Yes, I'm sure your own knife isn't that big. But, still... )

Well, as he points out in the section you quoted, a pocket knife is a useful tool to have around.

I'm certainly not the outdoorsy type, but even working in an office, I constantly find my little knife useful. Box opener, strap cutter, improvised screwdriver, letter opener, paper cutter, wire stripper, the list goes on and on.

For the vast majority of us, a pocket knife is a tool, not a weapon. If I ever tried to defend myself with my folding knife (with it's inch and a half blade and my car keys dangling from the end) who ever was attacking me would probably wet himself laughing and then beat the tar out of me.

Even in post-9/11 America, I don't get much hassle over it. Most people never even see it. I just don't take it to the airport (obviously) or to wrestling matches (sometimes you get frisked on the way in). Even the guards at the courthouse don't make a fuss over it. I just have to check it at the door.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Re: Re: Re: [OT] Carrying a knife

For the vast majority of us, a pocket knife is a tool, not a weapon. If I ever tried to defend myself with my folding knife (with it's inch and a half blade and my car keys dangling from the end) who ever was attacking me would probably wet himself laughing and then beat the tar out of me.

Even in post-9/11 America, I don't get much hassle over it. Most people never even see it. I just don't take it to the airport (obviously) or to wrestling matches (sometimes you get frisked on the way in). Even the guards at the courthouse don't make a fuss over it. I just have to check it at the door.

Yes, your knife is an inch and a half folder hanging from a keychain. What is Dwarf's? We don't know. We know someone did see it, and found something unsettling about it even though they already work in a sharp object intensive environment... He never even refered to it as a "pocket knife" in his initials posts, AFAIK, though I would not object to correction.

[edit - after another quick look, not only does he never refer to it as a pocket knife, he makes a reference to "drawing" it... a terminology I associate with straight blades, not folders.]

Someone mentioned the "california coffee case" earlier in this thread. Its quite apt for different reasons than the poster meant it. Its a reference thats thrown around by people who heard a few details and filled in others with their assumptions - then judged the situation on their assumptions. Does "knife" mean pocket folder or lovingly blacked military knife, or switchblade? I don't know. Does "sued for coffee burns" mean a red stinging hand and a frivolous lawsuit or skin grafts for scalded thighs and buttocks and a corporation that had been warned before? I do know, and it makes me very leary of judgement calls on incomplete and biased information.

Kahuna burger

 

[takyris]

Ditto all the reasonable people. We're not saying that you're at fault, but if it's bothering someone, be reasonable and leave it at home. You work in a restaurant, not a hardware store -- your need for a knife is somewhat minor, and it's making someone uncomfortable.

Among the martial arts weapons I've used, three of my favorites are the kusarikama (kama with weighted chain on the end), hook swords (sword with hooked blade, crescent-bladed handguard, spike on pommel), and the towel. Neither my kusarikama nor my hook swords are sharpened, and they are made out of relatively cheap material -- I bought them early in my training days, when I was more impressed by stuff I found in catalogs. Nevertheless, when I want to take them somewhere, I put them in a pillowcase or athletic bag. I know that they're not "real" weapons, but I also know that they'll make people uncomfortable.

The towel, I pretty much wear in the open.

 

[Emiricol]

Re: Re: Re: Re: [OT] Carrying a knife

Someone mentioned the "california coffee case" earlier in this thread. Its quite apt for different reasons than the poster meant it. Its a reference thats thrown around by people who heard a few details and filled in others with their assumptions - then judged the situation on their assumptions. Does "knife" mean pocket folder or lovingly blacked military knife, or switchblade? I don't know. Does "sued for coffee burns" mean a red stinging hand and a frivolous lawsuit or skin grafts for scalded thighs and buttocks and a corporation that had been warned before? I do know, and it makes me very leary of judgement calls on incomplete and biased information.

Kahuna burger

Besides being rude, insulting and judgemental (what else is new), you are wrong (as often is the case). I'm well versed with the details of the case. But thanks for caring. You have my permission to flame away, so enjoy.

Regarding the knife, lots of people I know carry a knife, Mr. Original Poster, but IMHO that manager has the right of it. Such a knife should be left in your trunk while at work, if you simply *can't* live without it for the half hour it takes to get home from work (or however long...)

EDIT: Plus, as was clear from the quote, I was talking about the friggin mace, not the knife. Sheesh.

 

[Azlan]

Re: Re: Re: Re: [OT] Carrying a knife

Someone mentioned the "california coffee case" earlier in this thread. Its quite apt for different reasons than the poster meant it. Its a reference thats thrown around by people who heard a few details and filled in others with their assumptions - then judged the situation on their assumptions. Does "knife" mean pocket folder or lovingly blacked military knife, or switchblade?

Here are the facts I gathered from Dwarf's initial post...

1. He carries a knife practically everywhere he goes.

2. He carried the knife with him at work, at a restaurant, even though it is not needed for his job.

3. The mere sight of the knife on his person bothered one of the restaurant's assistant managers.

4. The restaurant manager told him to no longer carry the knife at work.

5. He is indignant and confused. He thinks he should be allowed to carry a knife at work, since he sees carrying a knife as ubiquitous and innocuous as carrying his car keys.

6. But then, he is not the restaurant manager here

Cripes, what more do we need? These facts alone make the case clear, cut and dried.

 

[Goobermunch]

Oh and on the concealed wepon bit. First it must be concealed. Second if it is a work tool you don't need a permit to carry it. This is by US law so other countries may be different. [/B]

That's a really bad statement of the law. It implies that there is a unified U.S. criminal law. In point of fact, each state has its own criminal provisions. Your jurisdiction may have such a statute, but there's no guarantee that others will.

--G

 

[Anubus]

Hey man, I'm 23, carried a knife for the past 8 years or so, I have it on me right now, here in my office at the U of A. I've never had a problem, of course if someone pulled my knife on me in a fight I would probably just laugh at them, how big was this knife of yours?

Being a geologist I know lots of people who carry knives and a leatherman everywhere they go, just out of habit from the field and what not, and even just a leatherman has been an issue for some people. I agree it seems silly, but I can understand the fear people have, though maybe not here in edmonton, more understandable down south. It doesn't both me if I know that somebody is carrying a pocket knife, if they carry a hunting knife it might bother me, with a nice sheath on their belt or something, just really isn't appropriate in the city. Of course it's hard to say if my aversion to larger weapons is just a result of getting mugged at gun point in the WEM parking lot, or if it predates that, but either way it doesn't seem appropriate to carry a hunting knife in the city.

 

[Tsyr]

I carry a Victorinox Cybertool, have for about a while now... Handiest thing I own. I can't tell how much I use it, and yes, that includes the knife blades. Before that I carried one of the "Classic" knives like you see in knife cataloges, the metal ones with USMC stamped on them that have a knife, can opener, screwdriver, etc? Also very, very handy.

I carry my knife at all times... What's the point of having one if you don't have it when you need it?

 

[Enceladus]

I've never had a problem, of course if someone pulled my knife on me in a fight I would probably just laugh at them, how big was this knife of yours?

I've had a knife pulled on me. I took it away from the dude (he was drunk and slow) and beat the living shiznit out of him. I know for sure I cracked two of his ribs. Of course looking back I was young and stupid. And unarmed! I should have just run away.

True story.