Would you lend your pen (FP, Roller or BP) ?

[bilbok]

Question 1 =

You are with some people, someone asks if you have a pen to write down something in front of you.

 

Will you give him an expensive pen ? Why ?

 

My reply =

I think I would tell to a stranger that I have no pen because I don't want him to make some test (I like to pull the clip and see if it is sturdy or crash the nib when I try a pen in a shop) and break something on my pen.

 

To a friend, I might give him and tell him to be careful.

 

 

Question 2 =

Same question if it is during a meeting and if someone needs the pen to write for a long time and he sees that you have several pen in front of you.

 

My reply = I would tell a stranger that I don't lend my 500 euros pens with 7 euros refill more than 30 seconds to a stranger.

 

To a friend, I might give him and tell him to be careful.

Edited May 31, 2008 by bilbok

[jonro]

I would ask the person if they know how to use a fountain pen. That usually deters someone from casual use. I wouldn't tell someone that I don't lend out $500 pens. It sounds a bit pretentious to me. If it's an expensive pen, I would probably tell them that the nib on that pen can be damaged if not used properly, so I don't want to lend it out. If possible, I bring an RB along to lend out if someone needs a pen.

[bilbok]

I would ask the person if they know how to use a fountain pen. That usually deters someone from casual use. I wouldn't tell someone that I don't lend out $500 pens. It sounds a bit pretentious to me. If it's an expensive pen, I would probably tell them that the nib on that pen can be damaged if not used properly, so I don't want to lend it out. If possible, I bring an RB along to lend out if someone needs a pen.

 

You would lend a $700 roller ?

[Philip1209]

I think I would lend out a more sturdy fountain pen to a friend, such as a Lamy Safari. They have steel nibs and aren't too fragile. Ina corporate setting, I think that lending your pen could serve two functions. I believe it was Parker that had an advertisement about a decade ago that displayed a picture of a parker pen and the caption, "Everybody in a meeting room is naked. How do you know who is in charge?" From that angle, lending a nice pen to a person in a meeting room could really be used to assert one's sophistication or leadership. On the other hand, it could ruin your pen.

[fierdog]

I would ask the person if they know how to use a fountain pen. That usually deters someone from casual use. I wouldn't tell someone that I don't lend out $500 pens. It sounds a bit pretentious to me. If it's an expensive pen, I would probably tell them that the nib on that pen can be damaged if not used properly, so I don't want to lend it out. If possible, I bring an RB along to lend out if someone needs a pen.

 

In my (limited) experience, a loan for more than a few minutes usually turns into a "gift," like it or not. I like to keep extra ball points with me to lend to others. That way if they don't come home, eh.

[Ghost Plane]

I've loaned my Carenes occasionally. I usually post the pen for them and hand it to them. Occasionally I've had a refusal with someone honest enough to say, "I don't know how to write with those." Depending on time constraints, that can mean an educational opportunity.

 

I might feel differently if it were my more expensive pens, but I generally don't take them outside the house.

[jdboucher]

In both situations, I would make sure to keep a roller ball or ball point on me. Everyone knows how to use those pens. Most people put way too much pressure on a nib. I've actually had people write with the pen the wrong way...instead of holding it at a 45 degree angle to the left (there right handed) the hold it 135 degrees to the right...haha o well

 

anyway...in a business setting it would be cool to keep an inexpensive, professional looking fountain pen just to lend it out....something you wouldnt care to lose/break.

[donwinn]

I do not own expensive pens; the most expensive I have is a tie between a Pelikan M200 and a user grade P 51. To a friend, for writing in my presence, yes, with a little education beforehand if they are not an afficionado; to a stranger, no. That being said, I do not normally carry pens visibly, so a stranger would not notice that I have a spare.

 

Donnie

[Shangas]

They can HAVE my RBs & BPs. My FPs they'll have to claw out of my cold, dead hands.

[lalindsay225]

As most of my collection consists of fairly inexpensive pens, I wouldn't mind lending one to someone, but I would be sure to let them know it's a fountain pen and make sure they know how to use it. The only exception might be a vintage pen, especially if it were one of the more fragile models out there.

 

I wouldn't mind loaning other pens -- rollers, BPs, etc.

 

Lisa

[lak611]

I try to carry a ballpoint or roller ball with me. If anyone asks, he is welcome to borrow those. I will only let people whom I know well and know how to use a fountain pen borrow any of mine. My mother and some of the older folks in the local historical society I belong to are welcome to borrow my pens. They grew up using them and know how to write with them. Most Americans my age have no clue how to use a fountain pen. If I met someone my age from Europe, I might let him borrow a fountain pen. I used to work with a fellow from Germany who was younger than me but knew how to write with one. He was required to use fountain pens in school.

[miketo]

I have a Pilot G2 mini (blobs a lot, 'nother story for another time) that I carry in my pocket briefcase. I'll let them use that. If I have a fountain pen with me, no way.

[piembi]

I would ask the person if they know how to use a fountain pen. That usually deters someone from casual use. I wouldn't tell someone that I don't lend out $500 pens. It sounds a bit pretentious to me. If it's an expensive pen, I would probably tell them that the nib on that pen can be damaged if not used properly, so I don't want to lend it out. If possible, I bring an RB along to lend out if someone needs a pen.

 

Asking about the persons knowledge about fountainpen usage would be my strategy, too.

Sometimes my boss is asking me especially for a fountainpen to sign letters. After the vintage 400 with a very difficult nib we moved to a troublefree M400 and later to a lesson in fountainpen maintenance for her own M250

 

I may not be happy to lend out my favourite pen but generally I don't mind because I don't have expensive pens (nothing beyond Pelikan M400/M600) and my daily pen case is filled with ebay pens (vintage Pelikans and Parker 51s). So it would be more of an emotional loss than an economic one if something might happen to my pen ....

[lovemy51]

i was very excited to show my humble collection to a veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrry good friend, who i hadn't seen for a long time, once. he ruined the nib out of my parker inflection and drop and broke the cap of my laban kaiser... those where the first two pens he touched!

 

all my veeeeerrrry good friends use my BP's now!... i don't talk to strangers!!

[KeatsPhD]

I've actually been in this situation before.

 

I was at a lecture/presentation a friend was giving and I was using my MB VW to take notes as he spoke. At the end, the organizers wanted people to sign in for attendance purposes and someone asked to use my pen. I said no but offered them a Cross bp I had with me. A friend sitting near me smiled and said something about my thing for my pens. Yep - the word's gotten out - they probably whisper about it behind my back! :embarrassed_smile:

 

 

[Robert Hughes]

If it's a stranger I have no problem lending them a ballpoint - what the heck, I pick 'em up for free at work, and am happy to pass them along.

 

I don't think I'd let a total stranger use one of my FP's, but a coworker could use it, in my presence, if they ask.

[el3ssar]

I always keep some Bic in my pencil case, you know, just in case