I don’t usually link to Reason unless it is backup for a blog entry, or to make a larger point.
But I do rather like this J.D. Tuccille piece, “In Praise of Pointy Things“, and commend it to your attention.
Story: when I was going through the citizen’s police academy in !Austin, the chief of police showed up pretty regularly. There’s an entire class block devoted to his presentation on officer related stress and the physiology of critical encounters.
He likes to tell a story about asking his officers, “Why do you carry a knife?” and then mocking their responses. “In case I need to cut a seat belt.” “When was the last time you had to cut somebody out of a seat belt?” And so on, and so on. I kind of like the guy in general, but this is one aspect of his style I don’t get.
His answer: “In case I need to stab you.”
My answer: “Because I am a tool using animal. I have evolved over millions of years to be able to use tools. A knife is a tool.“