@futurebird @epicdemiologist

it has been a very long time since i last saw a pair of those scissors with extra finger loops. i'm not sure i ever knew what the purpose was.

@futurebird @epicdemiologist

it has been a very long time since i last saw a pair of those scissors with extra finger loops. i'm not sure i ever knew what the purpose was.

@futurebird Western multi-tools have doubtful scissors and people question Swiss Army Knives because their scissors are functional. East Asian multi-tools have more variety, larger, and much more effective scissor setups including on-the-same-scale-as-the-pliers scissors.

I can only conclude that scissors are femme-coded and that it is thus wrong to treat them like they're important.

Which is supported by the use of "shears" for anything in a trade; tailor's, pattern, etc.

@epicdemiologist

@graydon @futurebird @epicdemiologist The femme-coded scissors comment stuck with me, hadn't thought much about it before, nor in a multi-tool context.

"Western" would be the small scissors on Leatherman? Compared with some of the offerings by Roxon or Nextool?

I have a couple of pairs of electrical scissors, they are sold as KEVLAR SHEARS, which always amused me, and feeds into what you are saying. (I've never cut Kevlar with them.)

Or the adjective TACTICAL being sprinkled gaily and joyfully over decidedly mundane items to make them hard and manly.

@mediaevalfishsandwich Western would indeed be the scissors on a Leatherman (or SOG) where by default, there aren't any. (RAPTOR or PARASHEARS if you insist), and yes, compared to Roxon or Nextool where the scissors are the same scale as the pliers or if they're not they're a main secondary tool on the same scale as the knife blades.

So far as I can tell this is broadly general; better things are expected of default general purpose scissors in East Asia.

@futurebird @epicdemiologist

@graydon @mediaevalfishsandwich @epicdemiologist

"parashears"

men need help good lordt

@futurebird @mediaevalfishsandwich @epicdemiologist If you want made-in-the-USA good scissors, they won't be called scissors.

There are excellent trauma shears (presumably for EMTs though the better companies admit nurses might want some and produce a range of handle colours broader than red and black) and odd corners of trades (e.g., pattern shears) but just in general scissors are a lot worse made and worse designed than they ought to be given the prevailing constraints of technology.

@futurebird @mediaevalfishsandwich @epicdemiologist If you want made-in-the-USA good scissors, they won't be called scissors.

There are excellent trauma shears (presumably for EMTs though the better companies admit nurses might want some and produce a range of handle colours broader than red and black) and odd corners of trades (e.g., pattern shears) but just in general scissors are a lot worse made and worse designed than they ought to be given the prevailing constraints of technology.

@graydon @futurebird @mediaevalfishsandwich @epicdemiologist Sewing scissors, especially cloth shears, are both femme-coded and VERY IMPORTANT. Exercise extreme caution when expressing other opinions.

Some are even made in the USA:

Scissors Still Made in The USA: 2025's Top Quality Picks & Guide

Discover premium scissors still made in the USA with superior craftsmanship. Top American-made options from Wolff, Klein Tools & Fiskars for lasting quality.

Sewing Trip (sewingtrip.com)

(sorry about replying to an old comment, I keep thinking about this and can't not point it out)

@moz @graydon @mediaevalfishsandwich @epicdemiologist

"sorry about replying to an old comment"

One of the things I like about the fedi is that old conversations can comeback and feed into each other and build.

I never understood the hate for "necro threads" in some online communities.