It's unfortunate that "outdoor shops" have to project the image that you experienced. While axes and knives are tools to make our outdoor experience more practical and convenient, for any outdoor shop to project that kind of image does a disservice to outdoor enthusiasts. While we Americans are far from perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, I have noticed that many chains and smaller, privately owned shops, on this side of the "pond" do have those kinds of tools behind glass enclosed cases. Perhaps, unfortunately, their experiences have taught them that "fingers can do the walking" and the images that came to your mind were more of realities here than any place else. Of course, people intent on doing others' harm, I don't think is limited to any particular part of the world or limited to a particular country. Somehow, though, perhaps, if we took the time to educate our children more, starting there seems as good a place as any, as adults the thoughts that we conjure up, would be absent from their conscious later on in life? Something to think about. Joel
Thanks very much for your comments. I actually believe it is a positive testament to the outdoor culture in Sweden that sheath knives and various other sharp instruments can be dreely inspected by customers. In the UK our penknives and Leatherman tools are kept in glass cabinets. Axes and sheath knives are generally not found in outdoor sports shops. Hunting and fishing shops are different and interestingly this typifies the culture here where anglers and hunters shop in a different place to the mountaineers and canoeists.
I agree that children need taught a wide range of skills and under appropriate instruction and supervision taught how to use tools including knives, axes, etc. Ten years ago I taught in a remote highland village. The only club for children to join was the weekly gun club in the next village 10 miles away. Now that makes for an interesting debate!
2 comments:
It's unfortunate that "outdoor shops" have to project the image that you experienced. While axes and knives are tools to make our outdoor experience more practical and convenient, for any outdoor shop to project that kind of image does a disservice to outdoor enthusiasts.
While we Americans are far from perfect, by any stretch of the imagination, I have noticed that many chains and smaller, privately owned shops, on this side of the "pond" do have those kinds of tools behind glass enclosed cases. Perhaps, unfortunately, their experiences have taught them that "fingers can do the walking" and the images that came to your mind were more of realities here than any place else. Of course, people intent on doing others' harm, I don't think is limited to any particular part of the world or limited to a particular country.
Somehow, though, perhaps, if we took the time to educate our children more, starting there seems as good a place as any, as adults the thoughts that we conjure up, would be absent from their conscious later on in life? Something to think about.
Joel
Hi Joel
Thanks very much for your comments. I actually believe it is a positive testament to the outdoor culture in Sweden that sheath knives and various other sharp instruments can be dreely inspected by customers. In the UK our penknives and Leatherman tools are kept in glass cabinets. Axes and sheath knives are generally not found in outdoor sports shops. Hunting and fishing shops are different and interestingly this typifies the culture here where anglers and hunters shop in a different place to the mountaineers and canoeists.
I agree that children need taught a wide range of skills and under appropriate instruction and supervision taught how to use tools including knives, axes, etc. Ten years ago I taught in a remote highland village. The only club for children to join was the weekly gun club in the next village 10 miles away. Now that makes for an interesting debate!
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