Comment Re:Knot identification fail (Score 1) 159
That's an overhand knot, not a square knot. If you want to join two like-sized ropes use the square knot; neither the overhand nor the figure-8 can do that.
You're right that the figure-8 is better than the overhand in most ways.
A square knot is properly used only as a binding knot. It can collapse and fail when placed under strain. If you want to joint two ropes (or glorious miracle graphene cables) use one of the interlocked overhand bends, such as the Carrick bend, the Zeppelin bend, or the Ashley bend.