David E
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2008
- Messages
- 7,459
I swear I don't get it. People willfully making themselves incapable and nearly helpless. I see folks wearing pajamas and slippers to Walmart. Frequently.
Men and women used to carry at least a pen knife in their pocket or purse, but not now. Is it a side effect of silly "no tolerance" policies that suspend 5 yr olds for drawing a picture of a gun or knife?
I remember news footage of Katrina where National Guard troops (18 yr old kids) searching everyone wanting to enter the Super Dome and confiscating nasty weapons like nail clippers, etc.
At a group get together recently, someone brought a watermelon, but forgot a knife. It sat there untouched until I wanted some. I took out my knife and cut up the melon. It was soon gone. IE; everyone wanted some, but had no way to cut it.
A few weeks ago, at a child's birthday party, they couldn't light the candles because no one had a lighter. One guy thought he had one in his truck and was on his way to get it when I found out the situation. I lit the candles right away, with no needless pause in the action. (Important with 4-5 yr olds)
Next, they couldn't cut the cake because, you guessed it, no one had a knife. I saw someone trying to fashion a cutting edge from ripped cardboard. Once again I cut the cake quickly and easily with no pause in the proceedings.
No one looked twice at me (that I saw) or said anything, but I was once again struck by how many people, male and female, don't carry very basic tools with them.
The other day I saw National Geographic's "American Blackout," where the power grid goes down due to a cyber attack. The jittery footage is annoying after awhile, but it did illustrate that you can't schedule an emergency. What you have with you matters.
I don't smoke (never have) but I've carried a lighter since my teens. And I've always carried a knife. Those two things alone have solved a lot of minor problems thru the decades, often for other people.
What is your most useful EDC item? What's the biggest problem you solved with it?
Men and women used to carry at least a pen knife in their pocket or purse, but not now. Is it a side effect of silly "no tolerance" policies that suspend 5 yr olds for drawing a picture of a gun or knife?
I remember news footage of Katrina where National Guard troops (18 yr old kids) searching everyone wanting to enter the Super Dome and confiscating nasty weapons like nail clippers, etc.
At a group get together recently, someone brought a watermelon, but forgot a knife. It sat there untouched until I wanted some. I took out my knife and cut up the melon. It was soon gone. IE; everyone wanted some, but had no way to cut it.
A few weeks ago, at a child's birthday party, they couldn't light the candles because no one had a lighter. One guy thought he had one in his truck and was on his way to get it when I found out the situation. I lit the candles right away, with no needless pause in the action. (Important with 4-5 yr olds)
Next, they couldn't cut the cake because, you guessed it, no one had a knife. I saw someone trying to fashion a cutting edge from ripped cardboard. Once again I cut the cake quickly and easily with no pause in the proceedings.
No one looked twice at me (that I saw) or said anything, but I was once again struck by how many people, male and female, don't carry very basic tools with them.
The other day I saw National Geographic's "American Blackout," where the power grid goes down due to a cyber attack. The jittery footage is annoying after awhile, but it did illustrate that you can't schedule an emergency. What you have with you matters.
I don't smoke (never have) but I've carried a lighter since my teens. And I've always carried a knife. Those two things alone have solved a lot of minor problems thru the decades, often for other people.
What is your most useful EDC item? What's the biggest problem you solved with it?