My 12-year-old daughter would strongly disagree that this is gender-specific :)
> If you are thinking of self-defense, you could always carry a firearm instead (or perhaps a sword or staff), since most people apparently consider that a more persuasive deterrent to violence.
Frustratingly, knife laws in the US are bad and inconsistent. It’s often the case that you can legally carry a firearm but not a good knife. Knives are also comparatively very difficult to use defensively, and extremely dangerous to the user. Every skilled knife user I know has the same opinion: If you end up in a knife fight, you will get cut.
Finally, while they can certainly be lethal, they are not typical fast-acting - for defensive purposes, it does you no good if an attacker dies hours later in the hospital from blood loss if they’re able to continue their assault in the meantime. In all circumstances where it is legal, OC (“pepper spray”) in its various forms is much better suited for defensive use. It’s relatively fast acting and has the added benefit of not killing your attacker.
> If you cannot make up your mind there is always the "Apache" knife/gun/brass knuckles:
Brass knuckles are illegal in most states, even with a carry permit in the ones that offer and require them. I couldn’t carry this in Arkansas - not because of the gun, but because of the knuckles.
> You can always carry a pistol unloaded, with ammo in a separate pocket, so you have time to think clearly whether to load should violence occur!8-)) Remember that one can both punch or bludgeon quite effectively with a pistol even if it is not loaded. This is called "pistol-whipping" and is commonly displayed in old Hollywood westerns.
This is objectively terrible advice. I’m a strong advocate for carrying a firearm, but carrying unloaded is the worst of all worlds. It’s not going to be ready when you need it, and presenting it immediately escalates the situation both legally and in the eyes of a potential attacker.
You shouldn’t carry a gun unless you have seriously considered what that means, know when you can legally use it, and are 100% certain that you understand an accept the moral responsibility that it entails. If you do, you should carry it in a way that protects it from being taken from you and makes it available for your immediate use.
I’d say this is an excellent example of Poe’s Law.
Incorrect.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law:
"Poe then replied, "Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is utterly impossible to parody a Creationist in such a way that someone won't mistake for the genuine article."
My earlier post reads:>"You can always carry a pistol unloaded, with ammo in a separate pocket, so you have time to think clearly whether to load should violence occur!8-)) "<
Note the !8-)) emoticon/smiley.
While your first affirmation/admission above ("Apparently I'm...") holds, Poe's Law does not apply.
The knife is an endlessly useful tool for exploration, for testing materials, for abusing as a screwdriver or lever, removing splinters, trimming loose threads/cloth, etc. I've sometimes thought that carrying a pair of scissors might be handier but then cutting boxes, carving wood or cleaning under my fingernails would not be so easy and I worry about what image it might project. Nonetheless I would be hesitant to pick a fight with a tailor or a seamstress.
Perhaps you're too old and fixed in your ways to adapt to carrying a knife, since it seems that it's presence worries you.
If you are thinking of self-defense, you could always carry a firearm instead (or perhaps a sword or staff), since most people apparently consider that a more persuasive deterrent to violence. You can always carry a pistol unloaded, with ammo in a separate pocket, so you have time to think clearly whether to load should violence occur!8-)) Remember that one can both punch or bludgeon quite effectively with a pistol even if it is not loaded. This is called "pistol-whipping" and is commonly displayed in old Hollywood westerns.
If you cannot make up your mind there is always the "Apache" knife/gun/brass knuckles:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=apache+knife%2Fgun+brass+knuckles&...
but this is unwieldy for removing splinters and in everyday use tends to make companions unduly nervous.