Awkard moments or negative responses while using your EDC!

[Dogan]

Today, went to open a pack of paper with my Kershaw boot knife (stored in my upside down tacticool sheath under my shirt) and the person I was opening it for just stared. I brought up that they have an axe in their purse. They said they didn't carry a dagger with them tho.

[Angrypirate]

You know, people seem to be more and more accepting of me having some sort of knife around. Heck, Its mostly cute, artsy girls who ask to borrow it. Probably just because I'm getting older and working in a hiking gear shop these days.

Its funny though, when I'm wearing RM Williams boots and jeans around, noone batts an eyelid. Whereas when I'm rocking around in a deep v-neck t-shirt, skinny jeans, pointy shoes and Raybans people are surpised I'm not a useless, half-stoned, Arts school dropkick. And thats when I get the weird questions... Did I mention I hate stereotypes?

Actually that reminds me of the time a couple were looking for jumper leads just near my university. They literally asked everyone in the carpark but me. I went up and asked if I could help.
"oh no, I don't think so, your type wouldn't understand anyway" (obviously thinking I'm gay, or one of those terrifiying indie kids)
"really? I thought I heard you say you needed a jumpstart? Ive got a jumper leads in my boot if you want to borrow them?"

*Silence*

"What?"
"Jumper cables"
"Oh... Ok"

*2 minutes pass*
*Car starts*

"So... yeah. Did you leave your headlights on or anything?"
"No, we don't know why it went flat"
"Dodgy alternator maybe? How old is the battery?"
"I dunno..."
"Might wanna get that checked out. Bye!"

At which point I walked off grinning, leaving 2 stunned bigots behind me.

[Ad'lan]

Its funny though, when I'm wearing RM Williams boots and jeans around, noone batts an eyelid. Whereas when I'm rocking around in a deep v-neck t-shirt, skinny jeans, pointy shoes and Raybans people are surpised I'm not a useless, half-stoned, Arts school dropkick. And thats when I get the weird questions... Did I mention I hate stereotypes?

I've recently shaved my head, and grown an apparently scary (bicoloured) beard, and I'm getting similar stuff, except they arn't surprised I have a knife, they are surprised I'm offering to help them open a package, or giving up my seat and not going on a mass murder spree with my evil multitool of death.

[Dogan]

I've recently shaved my head, and grown an apparently scary (bicoloured) beard, and I'm getting similar stuff, except they arn't surprised I have a knife, they are surprised I'm offering to help them open a package, or giving up my seat and not going on a mass murder spree with my evil multitool of death.

Oh, whatever happened to the cheery woodsman with bow?

[Fletch]

I've recently shaved my head, and grown an apparently scary (bicoloured) beard, and I'm getting similar stuff, except they arn't surprised I have a knife, they are surprised I'm offering to help them open a package, or giving up my seat and not going on a mass murder spree with my evil multitool of death.

Oh, whatever happened to the cheery woodsman with bow?

Ad'lan probably ate him

[JTNieman]

I've recently shaved my head, and grown an apparently scary (bicoloured) beard, and I'm getting similar stuff, except they arn't surprised I have a knife, they are surprised I'm offering to help them open a package, or giving up my seat and not going on a mass murder spree with my evil multitool of death.

Oh, whatever happened to the cheery woodsman with bow?

He finally ousted the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, returned the land to a more generous rule, hoisted the working class in the region from their most poverty-stricken state and married the maid, Marian. Richard the Lionheart returned from his Crusades, and ruled justly and fairly, ensuring no greedy Sheriffs usurped power and exacted such oppression while he sat on his throne.

[Dogan]

I've recently shaved my head, and grown an apparently scary (bicoloured) beard, and I'm getting similar stuff, except they arn't surprised I have a knife, they are surprised I'm offering to help them open a package, or giving up my seat and not going on a mass murder spree with my evil multitool of death.

Oh, whatever happened to the cheery woodsman with bow?

He finally ousted the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, returned the land to a more generous rule, hoisted the working class in the region from their most poverty-stricken state and married the maid, Marian. Richard the Lionheart returned from his Crusades, and ruled justly and fairly, ensuring no greedy Sheriffs usurped power and exacted such oppression while he sat on his throne.

Can't be! He looks nothing like Russell Crowe!

[JTNieman]

I was actually tapping the Kevin Costner version. Darn youngsters makin' me feel old, again...

[Angrypirate]

So if you take my skinny jeans.... and give them to Ad'lan... do you get men in tights? Rolling 'round the forest looking for fights? Or just an awesome dude with a beard that needs some bigger pants for the sake of his health?

[JTNieman]

So if you take my skinny jeans.... and give them to Ad'lan... do you get men in tights? Rolling 'round the forest looking for fights? Or just an awesome dude with a beard that needs some bigger pants for the sake of his health?

Are the TIGHT tights?

[Ad'lan]

So if you take my skinny jeans.... and give them to Ad'lan... do you get men in tights? Rolling 'round the forest looking for fights? Or just an awesome dude with a beard that needs some bigger pants for the sake of his health?

Are the TIGHT tights?

You've got to be a man to wear tights!

It gets odder, Being as I've lost my home (I really should do a Personal Exp about that, being as I used a lot of prep stuff for that). I'm now living with my Best Friend John; Who is 6' 3".
And I'm teaching him and our other trailer mate to shoot.

Robin Hood and Little John, walking through the forest
Isn't very big now the housing developments in the way.
Robin Hood and Little John running through the forest
The Bloody Chav nicked someone's phone and is trying to get away.

Oh, whatever happened to the cheery woodsman with bow?

Well, I grew the beard because I have a years leave from the TA, and I shaved the hair because I was letting a friend cut it for me, and the clipper's broke, taking out a great swathe at zero grade. So I did the whole thing at zero grade.

[DocMartin]

I noticed every time someone makes some comment about an EDC item I have, I always end up using it on or for them.

One example, me being a certified paramedic, I carry a minor first aid kit in my back pocket w/ extra pairs of nitrile gloves. I had a look from one person who happened to be hanging with our group followed by a "You carry a first aid kit? Seriously?" I also got odd looks from the group, some even saying "I don't think we'll need that."

He left and came back, asking for a bandaid and anti-septic cus he cut his thumb trying to open a beer bottle by smacking the cap against a table--but it shattered (dumbass). He needed more than a bandaid, lots of 4x4s, a triangular and a roll were used up.

Another time was when a few of my "new" friends laughed at me for carrying a flashlight, then one of them lost her cell phone in the back of my buddy's truck which the interior lights didn't illuminate where she was. After lending her my flashlight, she didn't say another word about it afterward.

At a bike racing event, I was a part of the medical team attending to boo-boos to responding to on-route injuries and tending to a spread of a GI bug. I was the only paramedic out of the entire medical team that carried a jump-bag as an EDC item. They were wondering why I brought it, said it wasn't necessary--but during the last day of the race, a biker crashed at the finish line and as the other medics were panicking and saying "Grab something! Grab something!" I grasped my bag and went to go help.

I have too many stories--but they're all pretty much the same. These may seem pretty lame, but I'm really too lazy to put up better ones up here.

[Towanda]

(Richard the Lionheart never returned to England from the Crusades. After he was ransomed from prison, he spent the rest of his life in Normandy.)

[johndoe]

Its funny though, when I'm wearing RM Williams boots and jeans around, noone batts an eyelid. Whereas when I'm rocking around in a deep v-neck t-shirt, skinny jeans, pointy shoes and Raybans people are surpised I'm not a useless, half-stoned, Arts school dropkick. And thats when I get the weird questions... Did I mention I hate stereotypes?

.[/quote]


I get the exact same problem, only sort of the reverse situation. On an average day I'm sporting leather backpacking boots, a pair of neutral colored cargo pants or BDUs, a tshirt, and either a leather bomber jacket or my beat up Columbia Bugaboo parka. On top of that I have a beard and often drive my truck around town. I've been asked if I work the oil fields, if I do construction, been followed around stores, and had people stare when I walk in a "nice" department store. I've had a Borders clerk give me a dirty look when I asked about a book as if saying there is no way I could be seriously asking about a book on philosophy and seemingly suggesting I MUST be trying to pick her up. When I go on cross country motorcycle trips I usually look REALLY rough after a few days spent sleeping in tents or dive motels. Then I get lots of nice attention from cops which really brightens my day.

Yet I have undergraduate degrees in humanities and social sciences, a law degree, have owned a law firm, and am currently writing a book on 19th century racial tensions in the US court system. Not that it makes me better or worse than anyone else, but it does go to show stereotypes can REALLY be worthless sometimes.

[KentsOkay]

Robin Hood and Little John, walking through the forest
Isn't very big now the housing developments in the way.
Robin Hood and Little John running through the forest
The Bloody Chav nicked someone's phone and is trying to get away.

That made my day

[Artiz]

The only comment I had was this summer, I sold a hat to a customer and he asked me to take the tag off. Well there goes my Delica 4 FFG doing it's job, and the man says: Yeah you're well equipped.

[col fallen angel]

Not awkward or negative just general surprise or fun poking that I have a bag that must have everything in it, I've explained I like to be prepared in case anything happens while I'm away from home cue confused look and "like what?" family and friends are used to it now, strange how mentioning duct tape brings on comments about being a possible kidnapper or murderer that was the only sort of negative I've had.

[Crazy Wolf]

...strange how mentioning duct tape brings on comments about being a possible kidnapper or murderer that was the only sort of negative I've had.

What I like pointing out is that duct tape has plenty of uses besides kidnapping/killing folks. So, who's the real weirdo, the guy who carries around tools so he can fix a few things, or the people who can only think about how those tools can be used to harm others?

Although the Johnny The Homicidal Maniac avatar doesn't exactly sell me on your mental stability...

[Dogan]

...strange how mentioning duct tape brings on comments about being a possible kidnapper or murderer that was the only sort of negative I've had.

What I like pointing out is that duct tape has plenty of uses besides kidnapping/killing folks. So, who's the real weirdo, the guy who carries around tools so he can fix a few things, or the people who can only think about how those tools can be used to harm others?

Although the Johnny The Homicidal Maniac avatar doesn't exactly sell me on your mental stability...

[Tribunal Power]

(Richard the Lionheart never returned to England from the Crusades. After he was ransomed from prison, he spent the rest of his life in Normandy.)

Until he was killed during a seige, because he was so busy laughing at one enemy crossbowman who was using a pot as a shield that he didn't notice another crossbowman aiming at him. xD Took a bolt to the shoulder, got infected, and kicked the bucket. Lesson learned: don't mock an enemy when he has friends, no matter how ridiculous he looks.

And now on topic:

I've had some interseting experiences from openly carrying my firearm. I carry a SA XD45 in a serpa holster on my hip, and have had the privelage of educating dozens of people who were curious enough to ask me about it. I've gotten a little bit of hassle here and there, and have been asked to leave a few places, but that's the price to pay for helping to normalize firearms in society by showing people that normal folks carry every day.

When I'm not openly carrying my firearm (which is generally only in places where it's prohibited), I'm usually carrying an extendable steel baton in my pocket. It's 10" collapsed and 26" extended. There have been times when the pockets of whatever pants I'm wearing aren't big enough, so I wear it on my belt in a nylon sheath instead, and I've gotten some pretty strange looks. Most people don't know what it is, but those who recognize it usually think I'm a real wierdo. Haven't really exposed it enough for people to give me a lot of reactions to it, though.

[vahtryn]

I try to keep my EDC for work very minimalistic as to not raise any eyebrows. I carry a skeletool everywhere as I need a small knife often, and the screw driver or a pair of needle nose. The last three offices I've worked in I've been the only person that carries something of this nature and I tend to be the most ready for stupid little things. It's funny watching people open packages with scissors and fail at it miserably when I just bust open the blade, cut in and get my server/switch/what ever immediately. Not to mention that I can put things together with it. It really is the perfect multitool for an IT guy.

At my last job with Logitech I spent a week in a data center with a coworker in Vegas. The fact that I had a first aid kit, a flash light and various other things (like a USB to serial adaptor x2) made my coworker very happy that I went on that trip to recable the entire damn thing. Even the cable monkeys we hired were glad I brought everything I did.

I usually don't carry a big knife unless I'm out doors. I just don't want the added attention. I'm never that far from home and have some things in the truck so I figure I can easily get back even after an earth quake. Walking 17 miles wouldn't take that long an my room mate will keep the fort down until I do.

[Lynxian]

Walking 17 miles wouldn't take that long and my roommate will keep the fort down until I do.

17 Miles will take the average person about 5.5 hours without taking any breaks. Even if you got the stamina for such along hike, you better we wearing the right clothes (shoes), hope your route isn't obstructed, that the roads on foot are of good quality, that the roads on foot travel the same distance (or shorter!) than those by car and that, in case of a contingency, walking outside for well over 5 hours is a good idea. You sure you don't want some alternative to that plan?

[ODA 226]

Walking 17 miles wouldn't take that long and my roommate will keep the fort down until I do.

17 Miles will take the average person about 5.5 hours without taking any breaks. Even if you got the stamina for such along hike, you better we wearing the right clothes (shoes), hope your route isn't obstructed, that the roads on foot are of good quality, that the roads on foot travel the same distance (or shorter!) than those by car and that, in case of a contingency, walking outside for well over 5 hours is a good idea. You sure you don't want some alternative to that plan?

I'm really shocked that so many ZS members think that they can just walk normally down the road in a SHTF situation. It is a potentially fatal assumption to make. Travelling 17 miles on foot could take you 3 days or more in a real SHTF situation.

[Jeriah]

I pulled out my CRKT M16-13Z to open my daughter's freeze-pop at a ball game once. The mother of another kid on the team with my son sees the knife and says, "Geesh, rambo. Why do you carry a knife?".

About a half-hour later, her daughter goes to the concession stand and comes back with a freeze pop. Neither of them could get it open, so who do they ask?

I didn't get any flack for using it to open that freeze pop.

I get that shit ALL THE TIME. It's fucking mind blowing. Like, a student will say, "Do you have a pencil sharpener?" And I take their pencil, and pull out my CRKT Hammond Cruiser, and sharpen their pencil for them. And as I'm doing so, they say, "Why do you carry a knife like that?" AS I'M USING IT FOR WHAT I CARRY IT FOR.

I'm nice, though, I don't say anything mean. I just say, "So I can sharpen pencils, mostly." Which really is what I use it for most commonly, although of course it has other uses as well, like opening boxes or cutting apples or opening those crazy bulletproof plastic blister packs things come in now.