Playing with my new SnG at IHOP at Midnight...

Megalobyte

Megalobyte

Joined
Jun 5, 2002
Messages
2,761
Well, i cant stop playing with my new SnG, and its lock is still a little stiff. So, when i got hungry a little while ago, i decided to go to my local IHOP all by my lonesome, at about midnight, and i also decided that to pass the time sitting there, i'd bring my new SnG and continue opening and closing it to further break it in. Like i said, i love to play with it and i knew id be bored.

So, there i was, midnight, dressed a bit like a bum (normal for me), sitting at the table, opening, closing and looking over my new SnG lovingly. It then occured to me that to some (most) eyes, and i surely did see some eyes in my direction, i might look like a pathetic psycho, all alone, no life, playing with a scary looking knife at midnight at IHOP. Poor guy. Its funny how looks can be deceiving though. Here i am, BS in Political Science, Law degree, own my own company, relatively affluent, beautiful fiance waiting for me at home, and yet, almost for sure, all most of my fellow IHOP'ers saw was a possibly psychotic, definitely pathetic loser with no life, playing what must have seemed to the untrained, obsessively with a very scary looking knife. Keep in mind, this is the original SNG with tiger striped Tanto blade and the colored Ti handle. Not a very sheeple friendly knife to begin with.

Well, i suppose it wasnt my best judgement to openly display my SNG as i did, but you know, 1) I generally could give 2 sh*ts what anybody thinks of me, and 2) Im pretty sure i was breaking no FL law, i certainly was not displaying the knife in a threatening manner, and i dont believe there is a law against simply using or displaying a folding knife in public. So, while it certainly wasnt very PC to do it, i had lots of fun breaking in my SNG while waiting for my omlette. :)

Now, I freely admit, i'm not a "high-speed, hard core" individual, im actually pretty slow and the closest i get to "hard core" is the porn i have hidden in my house, so i dont think that for one minute any of the above makes me particularly worthy of owning a Strider, and yet, i just found it somewhat funny how deceiving appearances can be, and i can also appreciate that my conduct might have caused a few raised eyebrows, and i guess i just see a little humor in it all. In any case, id bet that no other person has ever whipped out an SNG in that IHOP, so im a real trailblazer if nothing else. :)
 
I love Belgian waffles.

I always wondered why they didn't have a IHOBW.

It's because people like to say catchy words conveniently converted from acronyms. Therefore, International House Of Pancakes becomes IHOP, as in I- Hop. Almost like Hop-Sing, but not quite.

There is nothy catchy about I- Hobw.

But they taste better.
 
Hehe, I can't blame you! I've caught myself playing with my knives before. The SnG was one of the most fun to play with! :D

And you are right, the SnG isn't very sheeple friendly! :eek:
 
The only problem I see is that by openly flashing your knife, you make some folks more uncomfortable about knives, and more apt to vote to ban them, then they would if you didn't let them see you with it. It's kinda like flashing your concealed carry pistol. What might be a tool to you is considered a weapon by a lot of folks. Wantonly flashing around a knife is irresponsible and makes if difficult to promote the knife friendly agenda. Play with your knife in private. In public, discretion is advised.
 
Well, i guess i have to admit, i didnt really think about that angle. I suppose there is a time and place, even for political correctness. Of course, one could argue that if enough people would openly display their knives, the sheep would get used to it, fear them less, and realize that the mere possession of a knife doesnt cause a crime to be committed, but in the world we do live in, i guess we need to be careful about appearances, lest we fall victim to even more knee-jerk, pointless restrictions. What a shame, because i cant think of anything more fun than playing with my SnG while waiting for my food to arrive. :)
 
i am surprised that someone did not call 911 in this day and age. if the police showed up you would be at their mercy. ie carrying a concealed weapon, or improper display of a weapon. cops do not always interpret laws the same way.
 
There is a very definite difference between using a knife in a daily setting, in public where folks will get used to them, and flipping the thing open and closed for minutes at a time for no apparent reason. If I were a cop, I'd have thrown your butt in jail for making it harder for me to have my toys at home on principle alone.
 
Ryan summed it up pretty well in the statement about using a knife in public.
Your reason for having your Pocketknife out in IHOP at midnight is not for “common use”. I personally cannot foresee any common use for a pocketknife in a restaurant since you are generally provided with utensils. What you determine to be “threatening” may be entirely different to an elderly lady with a heart condition (think about this). That being said, you may be eligible for a charge... here in Florida.
 
And yet Ryan forgets, I think, a time here in Vegas where one of our esteemed knife friends tried to put a Strider through a quarter in a local watering hole. Repeatedly stabbing the poor defensless quarter over and over. By the way while an officer could interpret it as threating I doubt it would stick with a Lawyer as the actual offender. As with all things it is in the eye of the beholder. As it is if anyone was offended they could have called 911 or asked the manager to say something. I think it is better to show them then to hide it from them but hey who knows. You could have wound up on the news as the unidentified knife flipper outter guy. As far as interpretation goes "Theatening" is the code word to this situation....Sitting at a table flipping a knife open is not in the least bit "threatening" and any officer who saw it that way might find himself in for a lawsuit. The officer I spoke with said at best he might say something to him about putting it away after he asked if he could see the bada$$ knife. Of course that is only one officer.... Also whos to say maybe he was trying to decide if he wanted to use the IHOP knife or his Strider... I mean it is kinda hard to think about all that sticky syrup all over your Strider or how the Strider would cut through those pancakes like a knife thru butter.... Ohhhh sorry had to do it... LOL Of course I could be wrong one thing I know, when I get my SnG I will be flipping open where ever I happen to be until it is to my liking.

Brandon
 
Megalobyte,

Please re-think this behavior. I believe you are a sincere knut, but look at it from my point of view had I been there.

I always carry my cell-phone. Whether with my wife (I would have then immediately left the restaurant) or alone, I would have called the federales. Maybe you would have been let go, maybe detained, but the pretty SnG would be in an evidence bag.

Had you confronted me, I would have shot you.
 
Ichabod,
I don't get it; you tell us all on this forum how you are a knut and gun guy and that is great. But the first thing you do when a guy is sitting at his table playing with a knife...Not threatening anyone, Not shouting I think God is telling me to kill people, Just opening and closing a knife....the first thing you do is run outside and call the police?? Why, where was the intent? Danger is what it is. You respond to that with a measured force as to quell the situation. But to actively participate in trying to take someone elses right to bear arms when there was no threat to anyone...Ya sound kinda like one of the people who want us all to be sheeple and yet you can buy and play with your knives as much as you want.? Hmmm... strange thinks I...

What was Mega doing? Many of us do the same thing everyday (whip out knife to cut something in our way...a box, some tape, open a letter) sometimes in the privacy of our homes and other times out where God and everyone can see. How scary is it? Some have jumped when I do it maybe cause they dont know me or because it is a big a$$ GB (most likely because it is a BIG A$$ GB) but hey those that dont know me soon know about a great knife and a great company who makes them... and usually they know a bit about me as well... Hiding from these things cause as much of a problem as BadGuys abusing them on the population... We need to learn more about each other; more then we need to hide from one another.

While this rant might draw some fire, I want all who read it to know that I look forward to meeting each and every person who reads this forum and while I dont make it to a lot of the shows and or events. My heart and mind is always with the Strider crew be it just one guy in a diner playing with his new knife or the whole damned outfit. Mick and Duane dont just make knives they make friends out of people who might never have taken the time to talk to any one of the other people on this forum. I can tell you I have met some bada$$ operaters and some real kick a$$ people all because of these knives. I just wanted you to think about the positives as well.


Of course I might just be insane and this was really my mission statement of how to take over the world using only duct tape, chewing gum, baleing wire, spit and one GB......



Damn I gotta stop watching Pinky and the Brain......


Brandon
edited to fix some grammer and to say Hi back to Mick
Hi Mick.
B
 
I agree with ya Brandon.

It is a sad day when a knife user runs, hides, shits himself, calls the police....at the sight of a knife being opened in public. That kind of behavior, and thinking, is what I would expect to hear from sheeple not a person on the Strider forum.

Also, I don't get that "if you had confronted me I would have shot you" stuff :insert cool action hero music here: It seems a little melodramatic. Not saying that that you shouldn't shoot a knife wielding attacker, I just don't see where confrontation or aggression with a knife were ever referred to in Mega's post.

Just my opinion...going to get a drink now

Matt
 
Well since it was me who started this thread, i suppose i should chime in.

I can very much appreciate both sides of this issue. On the one hand, i can understand that my behavior wasnt exactly the height of responsibility and certainly not very PC, and i would say that upon some reflection, i wouldnt repeat my conduct.

However, i also see the other side of the coin, which is that it is unfortunate that we do live in a society that has an irrational fear of guns and knives and it is truly unfortunate that a guy, minding his own business, wanting to pass the time, cannot simply open and close his new pocketknife without causing problems.

Here is a question though, had it been a small Swiss army knife, would you react the same way, and if the answer is no, why? Should it really matter that i was playing with a politically incorrect Strider, rather than a SAK? Well, i guess the answer is, yes, it does matter, but i submit it shouldnt. It matters because we live in a world where people, more and more, are taught that the mere presence of a gun or knife is cause for alarm, and that's irrational and unfortunate.
 
Whoa, guys, I carefully used the word 'CONFRONT.'

And I also believed that Megalobyte carefully described his condition. Midnight, crappy clothes, playing with a knife.

I don't know about laws where you live, but playing with a knife in public in Madison would get you arrested for at least disorderly conduct. Is the guy on drugs? Is he about to hold up the joint? If a LEO was sitting there at midnight having a cup of coffee, would he give the guy a once over and ignore him?

To be sure, if a guy with a knife approached me I would indeed give him a verbal warning; any of us would do that. But if he continued to close the distance, even wearing a tuxedo, I wouldn't hesitate.

Come'n, guys, I'm 52. What do you want me to do? Wrestle him? Go knife-on-knife with the guy like in Tactical Knives? No such luck. I'd kind of like to see this guy confronting YOU and see what your reaction would be.

(BTW, I thought I was polite in asking Meglobyte to re-consider his behavior, and he wrote that he WOULD re-consider his behavior. I certainly did not mean to belittle him, or anyone else here. Read my posts; I take care to make sure people know that. And I do believe that as a sincere knut we shouldn't make trouble for ourselves or anyone else who choses to enjoy our sport. Further, Madison is now debating what should be done with aggressive pan-handlers. These people DO confront people. Sorry guys, I stand by my first idea. Observe, report to 911, leave the area and self defense.)
 
While I see your point about an agressor... the original post stated sitting at table playing with knife. Now if that is considered disorderly conduct where you live maybe the iron curtain fell in the wrong country. What you discribe sounds like profiling now dont get me wrong I know it happens...I do it as well working in a night club...seeing who fits and who dont... I understand it however when I read the post to a friend of mine who happens to carry a Strider, that I bought him, on duty. He said he saw nothing wrong with the scenario...though he did qualify it by saying he would have to see it to know truly how he would react... But that with the given information he would do what he originally said.

"The officer I spoke with said at best he might say something to him about putting it away after he asked if he could see the bada$$ knife. Of course that is only one officer...."

Now dont get me wrong here I am only reading the post and nothing in to it so from what is there I have to believe Mega was within his rights...but if a citizen was that worried about it I am sure they would have said or did something. If not, then, "alls well that ends well"

Now on to more Pinky and the Brain....

Play nice with sharp pointy things and they wont hurt you....Much!
 
I suppose, as is often the case in life, context matters, here, in 2 notable ways.

First, had i been camping/hiking in public and whipped out the SNG, in that CONTEXT, it shouldnt cause any problems, its normal and acceptable for a hiker/camper to have and use a knife. While at IHOP, showing off an SNG might be a situation where someone could get a little frightened, of course not a knife/gun enthusiast, but probably some variety of "sheeple". So, in this way, where you are when you display the knife matters. Whip out your SNG at the gun range, no big deal, whip it out in Victoria's Secrets at the mall, BIG problem! :) (Of course i mean, whip the KNIFE out)

Secondly, had it been a small SAK, im positive nobody would think twice about it, its a very "safe" looking knife to be sure. Whereas an SNG, particularly a tiger striped model is clearly a more agressive and to the uninformed, a "scarier" looking knife, so, once again, context matters, here, its the type of knife that makes the difference.

I wonder though, would people react the same way, or similarly if it had been lets say a Sebenza, rather than an SNG? The Sebenza is less agressive in appearance, and i wonder, is most of what people are reacting to the appearance of THAT knife, or the mere fact that ANY knife is there? Is their fear because i had ANY knife, or that I had a "sinister" looking SNG? Would an SNG in this context, get me into more toruble than a Sebenza because of the difference in appearances? Interesting.
 
At this point I would have to concure.

I mean they are scary knives, of course to the untrained eye any knife is scary...I mean for God's sake they took the lugs off AR-15s... Drive-by stabbings being as bad as they are an all though, I guess they had no real choice...Sad truly sad......
 
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