this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
724 points (97.9% liked)

Comic Strips

12607 readers
5032 users here now

Comic Strips is a community for those who love comic stories.

The rules are simple:

Web of links

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] FryHyde@lemmy.zip 16 points 2 months ago (2 children)

absolutely, yeah. there's still a lot of construction folks/builders that refuse to do it. usually the same folks that have superstitions about tools (like never hand someone an unfolded pocket knife, no matter how safely you do it)

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

There's a really weird thing in the Southeastern US where people will hand you pocketknives with the blade out always and you can't hand it back closed. I don't understand it.

[–] cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

One explanation ties this to a belief that closing a knife someone else opened can bring bad luck, or is considered bad manners. There’s also the practical side: if someone hands you an open blade, they’re entrusting you with a dangerous tool, and closing it before handing it back could suggest you don’t trust them to handle it properly.

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I get the bad luck superstition, but handing someone a closed knife is just safer. The idea that handing someone an open knife shows more respect is stupid.
I've had someone hand me an open knife and accidentally stab me with it. The whole point of it closing is to reduce the risk of getting cut.

[–] cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Agreed with you. In Europe, there’s a superstition that gifting a knife can "cut" or sever a relationship. To avoid this, the person receiving the knife must give a coin—usually just a small one—back to the giver. This act symbolically "pays" for the knife, turning it into a purchase rather than a gift, and preventing any bad luck or harm to the friendship or relationship.

It’s blend of practicality, tradition, and superstition.

[–] Rubanski@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I also know about this superstition. It's apparently pretty widespread

[–] perviouslyiner@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Is that to do with showing the condition it was in, and that you didn't break it?

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Nope, is apparently a superstitious thing, but I have a feeling it's roots are in some masculinity BS.

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 1 points 2 months ago

like never hand someone an unfolded pocket knife, no matter how safely you do it

Yeah! Without a proper backspin toss, it's not going to land in their palm correctly, or in time for their next throw.