Off Topic Knife , knifing , knifed ! Prejudicial language , loaded with negative assumptions , by definition .

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DocJD

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Definition of KNIFE

a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle; a weapon or tool resembling a knife; a sharp cutting blade or tool in a machineā€¦ See the full definition
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So in the kitchen or at dinner : spooning , forking your food is fine .

And you can cut , but you'd better not start knifing . šŸ„·

In the shop or on the job : hammering , sawing , scraping and even screwing is OK ...but knifing won't cut it . :confused:

The whole verb usage is primarily violently negative . To knife , knifing , knifed . šŸ—”ļø

This makes some sense for the word "gun" , but the overwhelming use for knives ,in the modern word especially, has nothing to do with violence .

It's difficult to overcome prejudice when it is encoded in your native tongue .

Maybe this is partly why some people get upset with anyone carrying almost any knife ?

After all , who wants to be "knifed" ! :eek:
 
It's a stupid word - "knifing".

In context of other tools being used with their associated verbs, some of them make sense. Eg. saw = sawing, hammer = hammering.

But "knifing" just sounds wrong, negative connotations aside. It's like using an axe and saying you are "axing".
 
DocJD said:
Because we've been conditioned by our word usage . My whole point .
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I don't mean it sounds "wrong" as in we've been conditioned to associate it with bad, dangerous, criminal etc. I mean it just sounds stupid. It makes no sense per my "axe" example.

In 50 years of using knives, I have never once been asked what I'm doing, and replied with "I'm knifing." Dumb.

Shame on Webster for even making "knifing" a word. We cut, slash, chop, stab, etc. with a knife, but we aren't "knifing" when we use a knife.
 
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Hashishiin said:
I don't get it, where do you want to use that verbiage where you can not? Seems OK enough used in context.
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Another example.... When you are in your automobile, you aren't "carring", you are driving, right?

"Knifing/knifed" are silly made up words. I may have been stabbed with a knife. I may have been cut with a knife. But I have never been knifed with a knife.
 
True enough Doc, but once we develop rational capacity, we are no longer bound to the thoughts we inherited. We can evaluate them and keep whatā€™s useful, and modify the rest or let them go.

Weā€™re also then capable of evaluating other peoplesā€™ lack of critical thinking, and deciding whether itā€™s a valid basis for modifying our own.

I see your point though, we have plenty of non-tool specific verbs to describe cutting tasks. Is ā€œknifingā€ a media usage? Because if so, itā€™s only a small drop in the bucket of stupid shiite theyā€™ve spouted out.

Almost every day on the job, l carry a small hatchet. Seldom does anybody care, or express to me that they care. But occasionally, somebody will comment on it, and I just shrug and keep working. I have decided not to engage in conversation about irrational fears, among other topics, or listen to/watch the media that encourages them. I have no basis for relating to them, and nothing useful to say.

Parker
 
catspa said:
True enough Doc, but once we develop rational capacity, we are no longer bound to the thoughts we inherited. We can evaluate them and keep whatā€™s useful, and modify the rest or let them go.

Weā€™re also then capable of evaluating other peoplesā€™ lack of critical thinking, and deciding whether itā€™s a valid basis for modifying our own.
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That describes a tiny percentage of humanity. šŸ˜‚
 
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