When Friends Copy You

[Darqest]

Hi everyone,

 

Do you guys ever get jealous when you order something first, and then later your friend copies you and gets the exact same?

For example, when they copy your everyday ink, or your pen?

 

Well it's happened to me. I tried to convert my friends to fountain pens. I lended my friend my pen to try and she loves it and is going to order the exact same combination that I am using. I'd love her to join this fountain pen community but at the same time, I am a little annoyed (is that the right word?) at her getting the EXACT SAME COMBINATION AS ME (pen and ink). She just asked me for the pen and ink combo that I'm using but I want to recommend her another combination/setup.

 

What do I do? Am I being too selfish?

 

Darq

[I like mango cheesecake]

I'd be the opposite. Imitation is the . . . what was it now?

[kenshiro]

I understand the feeling, but she's got to start somewhere. The danger of evangelizing your interests is that the person evangelized to may adopt your particular and exact form of that interest, because that's all he/she knows/has seen/has heard.

 

Given time, if your friend has actually adopted the interest rather than merely the like of your particular pen, I'm sure she'll branch out.

[estie1948]

I think I'd be flattered. At the same time, I have to admit that it has never happened to me. Still, I would suggest that you take it as the most sincere form of flattery (as I Like Mango Cheesecake was hinting). And congratulations! You have converted someone to the use of fountain pens.

 

Now, if in the future, you find it still galls you a bit that your friend copied you, you can take some solace in the fact that your friend will be addicted to fountain pens and inks thus spending money . . .

 

-David.

[Cryptos]

Hi Darqest, are you stuck on the one pen and ink combo yourself? Have some fun. Try some other inks! Wait until after your friend has got hers and then go and buy a bottle of Imperial Purple or something. Be creative.

 

... or do you want to hunt down and destroy all those other people using the same pen and ink as you? Perhaps they are looking for YOU! Muhwahaahacoughha

[Dickkooty2]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

 

Put in this form by Charles Caleb Colton (1780 -1832) English cleric, art collector, writer of aphorisms.

http://books.google.com/books?id=6AclAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA114#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

An interpretation: to imitate is to flatter without necessarily being aware one is flattering. As such, that 'artless' appreciation has to be 'sincere'.

 

You may be a tad too harsh on one who in emulating you out of a sincere respect for your taste and judgement.

Edited April 18, 2014 by saskia_madding

[Nonsensical]

I'd be happy to pass on the information, but at the same time, it's perfectly fine to also recommend what you feel might be a better fit for her. Ultimately, it doesn't cost you anything if your friend chooses the exact combination as you, and if you feel bothered by that, it might be time to move onto greener pastures (better pens, ink and paper).

[penrivers]

That's flattering, I would see her with a smile, soon you will be exchanging inks , papers, and opinions about fpens with her. Treat her well.

[mori45]

Personally, I'd be glad to convert a non-pen friend into a pen friend. Don't forget that the fact that many of us have the same/similar tastes is what keeps some of these pen companies afloat!

[hbdk]

I would take that as a compliment

[Chrissy]

I would take it as a compliment too.

 

I often try things that members on here have recommended, that I might never have thought of trying out on my own. I have even ordered something from a seller in Japan and I haven't done that for many years.

 

Our neighbour always seems to like our car choices. Once we have had one for a while, the same model frequently seems to pop up on their drive when they change their car.

[theverdictis]

Take it as a form of flattery.

 

Ben

[abritdownunder]

I'd be flattered that someone valued my choice of pen and ink highly enough to emulate my choice. I'm sure that as they learn more about fountain pens and different inks, they'll develop their own taste.

[BrandonA]

I wouldn't get jealous if they bought the same as me as they have nothing I want but do not have.

 

My brother did buy a set of Meisterstucks which matched mine though. I personally did not have a problem with this as we tend to like similar things (being twins). People at work have bought the Montblanc ballpoints since i started using my pens at work.

 

I think if someone bought a pen I did not have and possibly could not afford but really wanted then you might covert it. I can't see this happening though as they'd have to buy MB POA pens to achieve this and no one I know would want to pay this sort of money on a pen.

[Anoia]

I would consider it a compliment.

 

Then I would find out what her favorite colour is and gift her a nice ink in that colour.

[ISW_Kaputnik]

The friends and family who have tried fountain pens haven't stuck with it, although I did find out the other day that one still uses an FP "just for signatures". If one had been inspired to use exactly the same of version of the same model, with the same ink, and lets even say carried in the same pen pouch, I'd just have to make sure that we kept them separate. No laying them both down on the same table, for example. Other than that, I can't imagine why I would mind. Even if there were enough other FP users around to notice, who cares?

[NubeAzul]

Hi everyone,

 

Do you guys ever get jealous when you order something first, and then later your friend copies you and gets the exact same?

For example, when they copy your everyday ink, or your pen?

 

Well it's happened to me. I tried to convert my friends to fountain pens. I lended my friend my pen to try and she loves it and is going to order the exact same combination that I am using. I'd love her to join this fountain pen community but at the same time, I am a little annoyed (is that the right word?) at her getting the EXACT SAME COMBINATION AS ME (pen and ink). She just asked me for the pen and ink combo that I'm using but I want to recommend her another combination/setup.

 

What do I do? Am I being too selfish?

 

Darq

 

I wouldn't mind. She's a beginner and needs someone she can learn from. Take it as a compliment and feel flattered!

[perth]

It wouldn't be strange for me, as I usually carry modern pens which are slightly more common. I also only use black inks, as well.

[Edwaroth]

As it is probably the only fp she has used since grade school (depending on her age), I'm sure she is not even aware of the constellation of pens available. Be flattered! Enjoy it!

[Sallent]

 

On the other hand, she may be a brainless bimbo trying to amp her image. Break the bitchesr writing arm!

 

 

 

Unacceptable. Should never be said, even in jest.

 

Oh come now, this isn't a church gathering or a feminist convention. It was clearly a joke. A little tasteless and unrefined, perhaps, but this is the internet...and as far as jokes go, it's rather harmless. Perhaps an extra coat of thick skin would come in handy. I can refer you to a websitesite, run by one of the finest snake oil salesmen this side of the planet, that sells cans of "Dr. Quack's Thick Skin Ointment, with Environmentally Friendly Lead and Mercury" at a good price. Only three applications will increase your sense of humor, or your skin will turn green and your teeth fall off...I can't remember which.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Sallent