431 replies to this topic

[ethernautrix]

WHEN people notice (and usually they don't, but when they do), the typical response is, "Are you a calligrapher?" (Or variation, such as, "Do you write calligraphy?")

 

Also, "Oh, you could stab someone with this!" (Or variation, such as, "This could be dangerous!")

 

Occasionally, "Oh, that's beautiful! I could never write with one of those." Also, "I love those pens. Fountain pens, right? I couldn't have one; I would lose it."

[kagesama]

**silent** .....followed by.... I havent seen that for a very long time...... I used vintage fp and reaction to that can sometime be amusing.... Loaning a pen to someone can be a funny experience as well as heart wrenching as in the hand of a noob can spell the death of your pen (nib may spoilt with improper use)....

[GabrielleDuVent]

Okay, so it looks like I'm not the only one who got the "is that a weapon?" response. I'm not sure what it's about FPs that makes them look like weapons. If it's the pointy tip, then surely Pilot V5s look like weapons too?

 

I'm actually surprised people lend their pens. I flatly tell them no and either bestow them the valuable bic rod, or just blankly stare at them and say no if I don't have a bic at disposal. As DrCodfish said,

 

Hunting dog carbon fiber steelhead rod, vintage corvette, trophy wife, and fountain pen: "No, you may not borrow any of these." 

[queenofpens]

I had forgotten about the calligraphy question until I saw it mentioned above. I have gotten that one a couple of times, in addition to "is that a fountain pen?"

 

Even when I explain I don't do real calligraphy, I only try to write prettily, one co-worker insisted I demonstrate calligraphy on the spot to a couple of out-of-town VIPs he was escorting in the building.

[minislot]

 

Somebody said that to you?!

I also get that alot.

Probably 'cos of my scrawl.

Edited by minislot, 31 May 2013 - 19:35.

[orinix]

I've never gotten the "is that a weapon" question.

 

Usually I just get a passing "that's cool"  comment. Occasionally someone is more curious and ask to try it.

[CharlieTurtle]

I've never gotten the "is that a weapon" question.

 

Usually I just get a passing "that's cool"  comment. Occasionally someone is more curious and ask to try it.

 

I think I'll get the weapon one more with the Sheaffer - the others looks very pen like.

[pokermind]

... I go to a very small school and ... I'm also never asked for paper anymore as I only use Rhodia and usually its a dot pad and people can't figure out how to use it.

If you go to a school where they can't figure out how to use paper, you need to get yourself into a better school.

[GabrielleDuVent]

If you go to a school where they can't figure out how to use paper, you need to get yourself into a better school.

 

Maybe they use slate and stylus. That's more eco-friendly, ya know

[bailey philip]

My students know that I am an avd fountain pen user. There are a few users in my classes as well.

 

The other evening I changed my demonstrator Noodler's Ahab into an eyedropper. I filled it with Noodler's Nikita. The next day, when I went to grade a students' work, they asked me if it was blood in the Ahab, my response, "Of course." Then I moved the nib up towards the large vein in my arm like I was collecting blood. The response - raised eye brows, "You're weird Mr. Bailey."

Edited by bailey philip, 01 June 2013 - 10:26.

[Fakie]

Can I try that?

[jetsam]

I got the weapon response peeling an apple with my little red Swiss Army knife.
I hesitate to show any fountain pen in public because too many people want to try, touch, feel, borrow, have a go, and are understandably oblivious of fountain pen protocol.
Sorry for not spreading the culture.

[CharlieTurtle]

I got the weapon response peeling an apple with my little red Swiss Army knife.
I hesitate to show any fountain pen in public because too many people want to try, touch, feel, borrow, have a go, and are understandably oblivious of fountain pen protocol.
Sorry for not spreading the culture.

 

Someone tried using my Lamy upside down the other day. I stood there twitching then laughed when Dan (a friend) yanked it away, turned it the right way up, and repeated the five-minute lecture I'd give him on how to use it.

[MKIM97]

The reactions I've gotten so far are:

 

• Is that a knife? (Steel Parker Vector)
• Can I try writing with it?
• How do you write with that?
• Isn't that hard to use?
• I thought fountain pens leak everywhere.
• Nice! (Lacquer Parker Sonnet)

 

Very seldom do people notice the pen, however, and even rarer is them asking to use it, but I found that if they do they have ballpoint grip syndrome or can't-keep-the-nib-right-side-up syndrome, which makes the pen not work, which makes them give up.

 

Actually, there was one time when a friend tried using my Vector to write something, and he pressed so hard I am now convinced the Vector is actually a flex pen in disguise. I think he thought you have to push with more pressure than a ballpoint to write with a fountain pen. After correcting him, I walked away for a second, and when I came back another person nearby was using my Vector upside-down.

Edited by MKIM97, 01 June 2013 - 14:18.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

The most common response is to show no sign of noticing.

 

Second most is something like "oh, a fountain pen", with no further comments positive or negative.

 

Third most is "a fountain pen?"  with slight eye-rolling or a superior smile.

 

Clearly, if my goal was to impress people with my taste in pens, I'm going about it the wrong way.  I actually got more "nice pen" remarks a few years ago when I was using Parker Jotter ballpoints and Fisher Space Pens.  Luckily, impressing others is not a high priority, but they could impress me by recognizing one of my vintage fountain pens.

[Inkheart]

I generally get either a flinch (as if they'd come upon an unfamiliar insect), or a sincere but mystified-sounding compliment.

[Toll]

Rarely anything -- my colleagues know I am a fountain pen user and that's that. No comments!

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

"Nice pen" is the most common. "Weird pen" is up there. One or two nasty comments, but I always consider the source.

 

By far, most people don't even notice.

[rhodialover]

 

Maybe they use slate and stylus. That's more eco-friendly, ya know

 

If you go to a school where they can't figure out how to use paper, you need to get yourself into a better school.

Ha! Good one. The school I go to is small, but private e.g must apply and be accepted. It honestly amazed me to learn that my English teacher used to do calligraphy. She saw my pens and then related the story to me, admonishing me not to get ink on other people. 

[Avalonia]

Absolutely nothing. Then again, the only FPs I take out of the house are my 78Gs and Safaris, and I guess no one looks hard enough at the nib to notice that I'm not using a rollerball. 

[Penne Stilografiche]

I get a couple of comments in school when I use my fountain pen,

 

1) Is that a calligraphy pen? (annoys me sooooo much, IT'S A FOUNTAIN PEN!!! )

2) Why don't you use a regular pen?

3) How much did that cost?!!

4) Can I write with it? (I now bring a Jinhao X750 with me as I lent a MB out and I got it back with a broken nib...)

5) Nice pen.

[Edwaroth]

"Edward...you are so strange." Or, recently, "That's a pretty impressive pen you got there!"

[cbaytan]

Peeking at my writing: "I want one too"

[Paul Raposo]

Is that a 149 in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

 

But seriously, I've stopped using FP's outside of the house since my Duofold Junior incident, so I've never received comments from others.  The only time anyone has said anything, I was trying to beat a guy down on the price he was asking for a watch, and he noticed the white star and clip of my 161 ballpoint in my shirt pocket and said, "You're beating me up on this watch, but you've got a $500 Mon Blank pen in your pocket!"

[RMN]

On average I get 1 or 2 reactions a week, mostly older people remarking on the lines of: I used to.../ that's a long time since I have seen...

 

Often they comment on the legibility of my handwriting (not the normal doctors scrawl) and then remark: oh you use a......

 

Once there was a sweet little girl, whispering to her mother: he is using a beautiful pen....

Me all smiles....

 

 

D.ick

[GabrielleDuVent]

4) Can I write with it? (I now bring a Jinhao X750 with me as I lent a MB out and I got it back with a broken nib...)

 

 

I'm amazed you didn't attempt murder. Nobody asks me for a pen - with wisdom.

[cellmatrix]

What Do People Say To You When You Whip Out That Pen?

 

when I tell people I am going to whip something out, they usually breath a sigh of relief when they see its only a fountain pen.

[circlepattern]

Interesting topic, I had a friend that said something like "Wow, quill pen, do you have to dip this thing?" then she proceed to borrowing it and using it with the feeder on top and the metal on bottom and saying "This is really scratchy!". 

 

After all that I take my pen back in case they decide to something that will break it.

[Blade Runner]

Usually nothing.

[sethg2112]

I am in High School, so I do get a whole bunch of weird reactions.

 

For such a nice town I live in, (most people are 2%+ financially), I was shocked.

 

I had a TEACHER say to me, "That's a mad old pen. Why would anyone want to use that?" While twirling his bic stic.

 

My pen? A Lamy Safari.

 

I don't get this world.