Do IR goggles decrease accuracy?

[Danible]

Just 2 quick questions (for now) about the game:

1) I know how to use IR Goggles and I know they see through walls, but I sometimes hear they reduce accuracy of soldiers. Is this true, and if so how much? Is accuracy only reduced when the soldier wears the goggles? Can I just keep goggles in my backpack and put them on to scan then take them off to shoot? Or do I lose my tracked heat sigs if I do that.

2) What's the point of a knife? Or for that matter what's the point of any small arms weapons overall?

Yeah I know it was more like 10 questions but you get what I'm sayin 

[Nutter]

1) The Wiki says they do but I get the impression most of their code is still missing so I'll pass that one.

2) Backup weapon in case you run out of ammo, probably. Better to take another clip for your primary, though. Knife, gunfight; Don't.
Same with sidearms with the exception of designated medics and grenadiers who have use from the other hand.

[Tamanfodder]

The purpose of knife is to use it to stab the crap out of any alien stubit enough to end theyr turn next to your troops, because it has a much better LOL-factor than shooting the moron! 

[Nutter]

I dunno. Flechette facial is plenty of hilarity.

[Sarin]

And when civvie is nearby, also plenty of collateral.

[Nutter]

Now, now, they aren't that inaccurate.