Posted on Aug 14, 2015
Have you ever given directions with a "knife hand"? What are some things you can think of that would make a civilian think you are crazy?
53.2K
261
58
27
27
0
Civilians
Fun
Humor
Military Life
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 38
5
5
0
SPC James Butler
I knife hand all the time when explaining something to my wife, giving my daughter "direction", explaining something at work (luckily my co-workers are all veterans and National Guardsmen so they "get it"), you name it.
Once in a college English class where every last one of my classmates were veterans, one student knife handed our professor when answering a question.
When I was still active duty I knife handed while briefing my Commanding Officer to really illustrate something (bless his heart he didn't get mad or even say anything).
I knife hand all the time when explaining something to my wife, giving my daughter "direction", explaining something at work (luckily my co-workers are all veterans and National Guardsmen so they "get it"), you name it.
Once in a college English class where every last one of my classmates were veterans, one student knife handed our professor when answering a question.
When I was still active duty I knife handed while briefing my Commanding Officer to really illustrate something (bless his heart he didn't get mad or even say anything).
(5)
(0)
PO3 Steven Sherrill
PO1 John Miller I have been told that when you point, you have one finger pointing at the other person, the rest pointing at yourself. Knife hand removes that problem from the equation. My daughter hates the knife hand. She knows I am pissed when it comes out.
On a side note, was the professor also a veteran? Did he (she?) realize what was happening? Was it entertaining? Details man for the love all that is holy and good details!
On a side note, was the professor also a veteran? Did he (she?) realize what was happening? Was it entertaining? Details man for the love all that is holy and good details!
(2)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Telling someone I wasn't looking for a "Pissing contest" confused my entire team a few weeks ago. It wasn't until then that I realized this was a military-specific term for "dick-measuring contest", er, wait. . .
(1)
(0)
5
5
0
4
4
0
All the time. My Son, who is almost 10, likes to say. There goes Dad knife handing the World. Lol.
(4)
(0)
4
4
0
SPC James Butler, all the darn time when I was a PLDC SGL. Shoot, I think that we were even taught that technique during the Instructor and Small Group Leader training courses. This technique was very effective in my opinion.
(4)
(0)
SPC James Butler
Although it is viewed as military specific, I have been in leadership seminars (civilian) where this is the approved way of pointing. I think it is very effective and conveys a strong message.
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
I have not used it, but my husband has with others, not with me. I think that our sometimes "no nonsense" demeanor our obsession with excellence can drive some civilians nuts.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
3
3
0
I still do, it's habit-forming.
I get weird reactions sometimes when I slip out a "roger", "tracking", or "check" as an acknowledgment. Again, force of habit.
I get weird reactions sometimes when I slip out a "roger", "tracking", or "check" as an acknowledgment. Again, force of habit.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
I think it would be funny if someone is behind you at a red light honking and you got and started using the knife hand yelling at them for honking. Good way to make peeps think your crazy and make for a hilarious story to tell others later.
Can't say that I have actually used the knife hand though.
Can't say that I have actually used the knife hand though.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
Standing at parade rest, EVERYWHERE I go lol, waiting in line at the restaurant especially lol
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google