How big is your stick?

[Akai Shizuku]

"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/SpeakSoftly.jpg"
-Teddy Roosevelt

What I'm asking here is, how closely do you follow this ideology in your daily life? "Big stick" can refer to a number of things (except that), but mostly center around what seems to be toughness and strength, if I am interpreting Teddy and the originators of this saying correctly.

For me personally, I'm a little off the mark but kind of there. I look like a dangerous person, and around my old school I had the reputation for serial murder, despite the fact that I really couldn't hurt a fly (and would have a hard time doing so if asked to). In contrast, I'm a very shy person in real life, to the point of timidness. But I know martial arts. =/

So I guess I do speak softly and carry a big stick.

 

[Ciarang]

Huh, when I saw the thread title I thought it would be about something different...

And I've never heard of the ideology, so I don't follow it.

 

[Amnestic]

Bout six and a bit inches?

 

[Skeleon]

Uhm, not really.
I don't parade around any notion of "toughness", at least not actively.
I'm mostly passive and stay out of trouble.


Anyway, I like how Dawn of War transformed this into "Walk softly... and carry a big gun."

 

[Mr. Grey]

My father always told me, "I'll beat ya with a big stick!" whenever I made a comment against him. Granted he was laughing when he said it and never laid a hand on me as I grew up. He never really - and rarely could - physically punish me. Heck, he felt so horribly guilty putting soap in my mouth the one time I said a bad word.

But, I assume from my father's example - in a way - is that you don't shout you will beat people with large sticks but rather you do it and keep their mouths shut afterwards.

Or something along those lines.

----

As for Teddy Roosevelt... It essentially means to me that you keep to yourself and speak not a word that draws attention. If you do draw attention, make sure you have a large stick to combat that which you've drawn attention from.

Or on a diplomatic means: Speak not against the person speaking to, but if you must make sure you have a weapon they can notice.

 

[Alotak]

I tend to follow the idea that people will leave you alone, if you leave them alone.
However being 6 foor 4 inches (height, you strange strange people) does help.
However people still pick fights and to be fair if you react with a heavy handed responce then they go away. Just make sure that you can follow up the 'Big Stick' with the ablity to weild it.

Bout six and a bit inches?

This made realy question the threads purpose!
Can i sugest a differnt thread is made for this purpose?

 

[DoW Lowen]

4 inches... wide.

Title was misleading...

OT: I think you've taken the proverb slightly out of context. When he says "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far" he referred to another more well known proverb "Actions speak louder than words".

 

[The Rockerfly]

[HEADING=1]OVER 9000!!![/HEADING][sub][sub]Miller meters[/sub][/sub]

*cough*
Well someone had to say it

 

[Amnestic]

Bout six and a bit inches?

This made realy question the threads purpose!
Can i sugest a differnt thread is made for this purpose?

I wouldn't recommend it. It'd get locked faster than Labyrinth's whip-crack.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I don't follow that philosophy but yeah, it's as big as you want it to be!.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

A metre and a half.

Spoiler

My stick for hitting people obviously, what did you think I meant? Heavens!

 

[dark_taint92]

God dammit. misleading titles *facepalm* was going to make a joke.
it seems like a viable philosophy.

 

[Skeleon]

OT: 12 inches oo yeee (I’m lying *cry*)

Reminds me of this comic:

http://www.explosm.net/comics/1768/

 

[Jedamethis]

Bout six and a bit inches?

This made realy question the threads purpose!
Can i sugest a differnt thread is made for this purpose?

I wouldn't recommend it. It'd get locked faster than Labyrinth's whip-crack.

Must...not...laugh...
OT: 0cm
I use a sword!

 

[manic_depressive13]

My stick is the size and shape of a katana, because it is, in fact, a bokken.

As for the ideology, I do not speak softly, hence the need for a big stick. However, my bark is much worse than my bite.

 

[Puzzles]

A bit of facial hair, a sullen look, and confidence.

I'm a nice guy, but I always find myself projecting a rather mean image when I'm put in an unfamiliar situation, not consiously, but I do notice it happening when I'm walking down a dark street alone.

Off/on topic; 6.5-7 inches, depending on how horny I am.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

Bigger than yours!

..Oh. I'm generally an okay guy, but I have a knack for being pricky, a little dark, and wet with sarcasm. I love myself.~

 

[Disaster Button]

Gotta love misleading titles..

I don't really understand that ideology so someone's going to have to explain that to me

 

[lodo_bear]

Haven't got a gun or a club and my knife collection is pretty small, so all I can do is speak softly and hope people assume I'm packing a big one.

 

[Acaroid]

Yeah i will do anything I can not to fight, and sometimes im seen as weak for doing it. But if it comes down to it I can fight, I can fight really well. growing up in a dodge area, older brothers and years and years of martial arts is a good combo for learning to defend yourself.