Why have Americans become so timid?

[Back Pack Hack]

Some of you just might be old enough to remember when every boy carried a pocket knife to school................

And if you didn't, you'd have no chance of becoming a real man.

.....Didn't every American boy grow up playing mumbley peg, of same variation or another?

We did, but parents today are quite different.

[tango]

That is just a lesson on the state of our country--

[pakrat]

At 66 years old. I’m the oldest male (by about 15 years) at most of our family gatherings. Even though there are ten or more men at most get-togethers, I’m the de facto knife carrier. If something requires cutting, they all look at me to pull out a blade. No one gives me open grief about always having a 3” folding knife (though a couple of the new wives give cold stares), but it’s gotten so I just lay it on the table at birthday parties and such because I otherwise have to reach into my pocket a dozen times. The rest of the men either have no desire (socially abhorrent), see it as an “old timer thing” or don’t want to get in the shits with their significant city-bred others.

[sideKahr]

Or maybe a pocket knife just ruins the lines of their skinny jeans.

[T-Man 1066]

I work at a machine shop where employees are not allowed to carry knives. I am the supervisor. I ALWAYS carry a knife. Top level management thinks it will make us safer. Babbit hammers and 3' bars of steel or CI will give somebody a bad day too.

[inceptor]

At 66 years old. I’m the oldest male (by about 15 years) at most of our family gatherings. Even though there are ten or more men at most get-togethers, I’m the de facto knife carrier. If something requires cutting, they all look at me to pull out a blade. No one gives me open grief about always having a 3” folding knife (though a couple of the new wives give cold stares), but it’s gotten so I just lay it on the table at birthday parties and such because I otherwise have to reach into my pocket a dozen times. The rest of the men either have no desire (socially abhorrent), see it as an “old timer thing” or don’t want to get in the shits with their significant city-bred others.

Growing up they were considered a tool. Now they are almost equal to an AR.

[Redneck]

Growing up they were considered a tool.

Your first knife was part of growing up. Part of becoming a man. Part of being like your dad & his friends, who in my case, were all part of the greatest generation.

At dinner my wife, a teacher, was telling me about a 6th grade boy all upset because the coach called him names & was ugly to him. I think there will be some conferences with the parents over this. I just laughed. When I was a boy, that was the coach's job & was expected. These folks nowadays, kids & parents, are just a bunch of soft wussies. This ain't something you can blame on liberals. I blame it on lame parents who would rather do drugs or spend all their time on social media, than raise their kids. Kids nowadays don't spend any time outside. Hell, when I was young there was nothing to do inside. And if I was tired of fishing, swimming or shooting or didn't have any friends around, well heck, that is when the knife came out & I would challenge myself to a game of mumbley peg.

[NotTooProudToHide]

I can't tell you how many old timer tri folders I lost as a kid. Its a shame because I'd love to have one today.

It aint just knives. People have no desire or stomach for the possibility of direct conflict so we handle everything via proxy or electronic communication. There aren't many good old fashioned get in each others face and have it out scenarios anymore. If you happen to get into a fist fight you go to jail for assault. I think thats why we have mass shootings, people let the bad blood build and build and do nothing to get it out.

[Maol9]

Some of you just might be old enough to remember when every boy carried a pocket knife to school. Cutting up apples, sharpening pencils, carving Joe and Mary in a heart into the wooden desk tops

We used to Play Mumbley Peg at school. I still have a small scar on my right foot.

[pakrat]

I can't tell you how many old timer tri folders I lost as a kid. Its a shame because I'd love to have one today.

Yah, the Old Timer carbon steel USA 340T. I've got my Dad's (w/broken tip on the clip point), one I bought for myself about 40 years ago and my youngest son has one I gave him when he got his Cub Scout "whitl'n chit" about 20 years ago. Now they're made in China with stainless blades... not even close.

You can find the old ones on ebay, but they want a lot more than the $9.00 I paid for mine in the Agway store.

Edit: Added a picture of mine and my Dad's... keep'n me honest.