When I hear about this stuff it stinks of gestures - "vice signalling" - rather than any genuine desire to do anything. He wants to look like a big man waving his knife around, so he waits until any risk of conflict is over, then whips out his tool and uses it ineffectually... but oh, by that point someone has got back in the boat, and he demonstrates he's still willing to endanger them.

I bet his followers don't see it like that though - bet they see this as brave, masculine and sending a message.