Reaction at the Office

[Sparky]

Thought I'd try to get a feel as to how co-workers or others react when you are in meetings using a fountain pen. Since some of the pens are extremely distinctive do you often notice "pen envy".... do they act annoyed.... do they ....etc?

 

Also has anyone had a particularly good or bad reaction at work they would like to share?

[RyanL27]

This is an interesting question as I've found a lot of people to just not understand my obsession with, or even use of, fountain pens. I think many people misconstrue it as something elitist when, really, it has nothing to do with image - as far as I'm concerned

 

Fortunately, I go to a very...well..quirky (eccentric?) liberal arts college, so people aren't taken aback by much here.

 

My one funny interaction was with my academic advisor, a philosophy professor, who said that my hobby of fixing vintage pens was a combination of my "industrial, blue-collar upbringing and my new, bourgeois lifestyle in academia." I told her I just rather like shiny things

[Sparky]

that is interesting. I would not over analyze her comments.... sounds like she potentially has some issues.

[DrPJM1]

My patients look intently as I fill the clinical notes on their chart with one of my fp's.

One of them said once: "That is not a MontBlanc?!"

Another asked what type of pen I was using.

Kids usually want to look at it.

Today one complimented me on my handwriting!

[grasshopper]

My one funny interaction was with my academic advisor, a philosophy professor, who said that my hobby of fixing vintage pens was a combination of my "industrial, blue-collar upbringing and my new, bourgeois lifestyle in academia."  I told her I just rather like shiny things

Wow, what an interesting observation by your professor, Ryan!

 

Sparky, the few people who have noticed my pens - clients and colleagues - would automatically ask "is that a Montblanc"? Sadly , I don't own any (yet).

 

 

raf.

Edited May 16, 2006 by grasshopper

[DrPJM1]

BTW: I also like shiny things!

 

LOL! That was the perfect answer.

[RyanL27]

that is interesting. I would not over analyze her comments.... sounds like she potentially has some issues.

Ha! I need to be careful there as she researches/writes/teaches on "psychoanalyses and the subject."

[kpfeifle]

I had an associate ask me if that was a real fountain pen.

Edited May 16, 2006 by kpfeifle

[empressofmath]

Well in my math courses, when people notice my pen I get one of two reactions:

 

1. "You use a pen for math?"

2. "Oh Prof. McKean uses a fountain pen too. I can never read any of his handouts b/c of his fountain pen."

 

Re: 1. Yes, I use a fountain pen for all my math related writings. I just don't like pencil for some reason and with good paper the fountain pen works well for me.

 

Re: 2. I want to tell them it has to do with the handwriting not the pen...but Prof. McKean is just too famous and I don't want the word to spread to him that I think he has bad handwriting

[PaulK]

that is interesting.  I would not over analyze her comments.... sounds like she potentially has some issues.

Ha! I need to be careful there as she researches/writes/teaches on "psychoanalyses and the subject."

Glad you didn't respond with something somewhat Freudian...

 

A while back someone asked a similar question. I normally don't use fountain pens when I know it'll be a distraction. Our meeting times are precious (and can be expensive), so I try to keep to the subject at hand. I normally save my eccentricities ( ) for people I know or gradually break 'em in.

 

My best

 

Paul

[Blackhill]

My experience has been that nobody (except me) pays any attention at all to what writing instruments others are using in meetings.

 

--Laura

[sfeinman]

Many of my staff with an average age of 35 had never seen or used a fountain pen when I showed up in 1999. I would say converts are rare, 3 or 4, but at least the staff knows that there is a precursor to BIC.

[Apollo]

Everyone at work are used to seeing me write with fountain pens. They think I'm an anachronism anyway, but that's okay.

[RonB]

My experience has been that nobody (except me) pays any attention at all to what writing instruments others are using in meetings.

 

--Laura

Exactly! Maybe once a year someone will notice I am writing with a fountain pen. Once every 5 years someone says: "Is that a Parker 51?"

 

Ron

[KCat]

I daren't say how people have reacted to my fountain pens lest I be perceived as making fun of them.

 

actually - i don't work in an office. I'm a stay-at-home-nothing.

[Viseguy]

My experience has been that nobody (except me) pays any attention at all to what writing instruments others are using in meetings.

 

--Laura

Exactly! Maybe once a year someone will notice I am writing with a fountain pen. Once every 5 years someone says: "Is that a Parker 51?"

 

Ron

I'd say my pens get noticed on average maybe once every couple of years. That's fine with me -- I use 'em because I like 'em -- but I do enjoy the rare appreciative or inquiring comment, when it comes along, or (even rarer) the occasional show-and-tell with a fellow FP user.

 

I once had a file with no name on it get back to me because someone in the office recognized my ink. I still smile whenever I think of that...

[Sidney]

Today one complimented me on my handwriting!

Wow! A doctor who's handwriting you can read.

[Sidney]

I normally don't use fountain pens when I know it'll be a distraction. Our meeting times are precious (and can be expensive), so I try to keep to the subject at hand. I normally save my eccentricities ( ) for people I know or gradually break 'em in.

That is what the chairman is for. Every meeting is supposed to have a chair.

[Blorgy]

Wow! A doctor who's handwriting you can read.

Many years ago, I wrote a request form for a pathology test or X-ray, but the form was rejected and returned to my receptionist. The culprit reasoned that the signature was a forgery, because the signature was legible.

My receptionist then pointed out that the signature was genuine, despite being legible.

[Slush99]

Hmm... the core has the ability to make people's eyes pop out

 

Once someone showed unnatural interest in my Core. She tried writing on her hand before I stopped her she didn't notice my wearever <_< .

 

 

People think of me as the person who has the "cool" pens.