The problems which this forum has with the discussion of weapons has always puzzled me, as I do not see any strong connection with kilts.

I do appreciate firearms and other weapons both brutally basic and delicately embellished, but do not do more than keep my kitchen knives a) away from children and b) very sharp. I don't need weapons, and I hope that if I used weapons I would not become too enthusiastic about them.

I have wondered if it is a male thing. I wonder if men's lives lack something elemental.

As I sit with my knitting I have the option of defending myself with a 12 inch stiletto like object - I have read that it helps to have a thimble and handkerchief to protect the heel of the hand from the pressure of insertion, or I could use a flexible circular needle to garrotte, best done from behind, but I do not often have even the impulse to do so - it would probably mean picking up lots of stitches so it would have to be worth the bother in the first place.

Other aspects of my life have similar possibilities, even if it is just swinging a carrier bag containing a tin of peach halves, the large size of which would almost certainly prove fatal if it connected with the right spot.

In a tight spot I could certainly do damage with my fists and feet - I did a little karate training - but last time someone tried to use karate on me I just caught his foot and made him look foolish in front of his little friends, hopping along as I towed him by the ankle.

The other moderators worked hard to try to resolve the problem, Steve must have spent some time considering and suggesting options for the last rewrite of Rule 11, but I did not feel that I could contribute much as I just did - and do - not understand why there is the problem in the first place.

I did intend only to read, not post but I thought that I could point out that there are some who truly do not understand the place of weapons in a forum dedicated to kilts.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: