Gentlemen Only Use...

[Northwoods]

When I write something, I always consider two things: what impression am I trying to make, and how will my writing be perceived by the intended reader. If I don't personally know my reader, and I'm trying to make a professional impression, I'll use very conservative ink. If I'm trying to convey creativity, I'll push the corners a little. The choice is always calculated, never haphazard. Never express yourself at the risk of insulting your reader unless you are intending to insult your reader.

 

There are (too many) people, especially younger and less experienced people, who don't make such considerations when they write something. It's for that reason such rules of manners are good to have around as guidelines. However, more important than the rules in understanding why such rules are important. Rules are not something to be followed blindly, but rather the foundation, the reasons the rules were put in place, is what should be respected. When you know the why, you know when it's safe, even appropriate, to deviate.

[mturk]

black or blue-black ink, at least according to Miss Manners a generation ago. and in england if one is described as using green ink, he/she is commonly assumed to be a crank. can one get away with more colour today in polite society? Yes? No? Discuss (as they used to ask in exams). many thanks.

 

A gentleman is one who never gives offense or indulges in ostentation. Blue-black does not shock, and is therefore the gentlemanly ideal; however, a heavy black with a broad nib (gentlemen never use anything finer than medium: fine nibs imply bohemian tendencies) may be used in communicating emphatic displeasure to those of a lower degree. Any other colours should be eschewed with the same vigour as one should apply to rejecting loud ties, coloured shirts or socks with clocks on them.

 

 

Bohemian? This explains my EF nibs and dark green inks. Now if I could only speak Czech...

[pamsc]

I grew up in an old Boston family and I had the impression that ladies should only use blue ink. I think I switched to black in my rollerball days as a feminist statement.

[carlc]

in england if one is described as using green ink, he/she is commonly assumed to be a crank.

 

I've mentioned the 'Green Ink Brigade' before but here's the link again.

 

I like using green inks and do so whenever the colour is not for 'official' documentation. There's nothing wrong with using green ink - it's all a Government conspiracy to keep us away from thinking about the environment!

 

I think that the use of other colour inks can be done with careful consideration to the context in which it is to be used.

 

I'm a nurse (now a lecturer) and until 2008 it had to be black ink at all times (a national rule), now it's any ink that is dark enough to give legible results when copied or scanned but I think most nurses would shy away from anything other than black. My students are still scandalised when I use other colours on their documentation - I just point out that I don't have to 'play the game' any more and pander to the wishes of the old guard (who do comment - I had a running battle with them for a few years and then just decided to ignore them). However when writing on documents to go to a commissioning hospital or other 'business' associate then it would be black ink.

 

If mackthepen is around he used to use La Reine Mauve for his nursing documentation - I presume he still does.

 

Now I must go and reline my hat with tinfoil.

 

Carl

[carlc]

On the flipside of this there have been discussions about inks that should probably no longer be used, e.g. red ink for grading because of the cognitive reaction it evokes.

 

 

 

 

I really like and respect my students but getting a 'cognitive reaction' out of some of them would be a real success!

 

PH

 

Classic!

 

That has made my day!

[LisaN]

When I was working in a university, all signatures had to be in blue ink because black could have been a photocopy.

The document people (receptionists, admins, et al.) always had a blue pen when they forced you to sign something.

[Jwolf24601]

I HAVE to use blue for work. So I use Waterman's Florida Blue, though I will probably try other blues soon, maybe Visconti.

 

For personal correspondance I use dark green, currently PR Sherwood Forest. I like that I have a less seen color and I think it still looks respectible and legible.

[Chrontius]

I always thought fine nibs conveyed a sense of precision, or something of that nature.

 

... Bohemian tendencies? Really?

 

And great, I just bought another extra fine. Oh well, perhaps there's some truth in it.

[lexi0514]

Well, thank heavens I'm not a gentleman~!:roflmho:

[Scrawler]

I understand that during the Soviet experiment, the NKVD wrote threatening letters in purple.

 

As to decorum. I have written love letters in pink.

[turban1]

A gentleman is one who never gives offense...

 

 

I understood it as a gentlemen never gives offense unintentionally.

[Fuddlestack]

A gentleman is one who never gives offense...

 

 

I understood it as a gentlemen never gives offense unintentionally.

 

I concede the point.

[OPG4711]

I think it depends upon what I am writing and to whom. At work, I sign things in Blue-Black but I take notes in blue (Baystate Blue to be exact).

 

For personal correspendence, I have a range of papers to choose from. Some are custom engraved. A favorite notecard I have is cream colored with a dark green cedar branch engraved at the top and a forest green ink looks very classy. Notes of condolence or serious notes are in black while lighter notes can get a shot of color. My Mother loves the color of Noodler's Apache Sunset, so that's what I use for her.

 

A true gentleman considers others first and acts accordingly. He also carries a reliable watch, a stamp, change for a dollar, a calling card (or business card for these modern times), a handkerchief and a good pen. Until recently, matches or a lighter were also on the list. This was what I was taught at prep school in the mid to late 80s.

 

There's also a whole other section on clothing. White shirts always. Blue shirts on occasion. But never, ever be caught wearing yellow, pink, green shirts! The list goes on and on and on...

 

In hind sight, I'm glad I had good manners drilled into me. I hated it at the time but 20+ years later, I see kids today with few manners or social skills. They're by no means stupid or even selfish - just ignorant because no one ever told them things like holding a door for a lady is a courteous thing to do.

Edited September 2, 2010 by OPG4711

[mori45]

I use black or blue-black for anything remotely work related, and unless I'm carrying more than two pens, only travel with Waterman Black, Blue-Black or HOD. I could probably get away with navy or a dark blue, but black tends to ruffle no feathers.

 

Outside of a professional context, I let the situation dictate. I used purple ink for a card to an ex (her favorite color), red for grading/editing students' work, and whatever is in my pen of choice for notes, lists, and first drafts. If Lewis Carroll could write in purple ink, why not? Still, I probably wouldn't send letters in a wild color unless there's a reason for it.

 

On a separate but related note, it always struck me that the look of the pen itself is as important as the color of the ink. Most of my serious user pens are fairly understated, black with silver/gold furniture or chrome, with the notable exception of my dark blue Rotring Esprit. Call me crazy, but even as a Pelikan loyalist I can't imagine a gentleman pulling one of these out: http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCMS.80796./the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon. Any thoughts on whether gentleman would carry a bright red or pastel yellow fountain pen?

Edited September 2, 2010 by mori45

[Thornton]

Well, I'm a guy and I have everything from the traditional Waterman Blue-Black to Noodler's Kuprin so to each their own.

[Fuddlestack]

On a separate but related note, it always struck me that the look of the pen itself is as important as the color of the ink. Most of my serious user pens are fairly understated, black with silver/gold furniture or chrome, with the notable exception of my dark blue Rotring Esprit. Call me crazy, but even as a Pelikan loyalist I can't imagine a gentleman pulling one of these out: http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCMS.80796./the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon. Any thoughts on whether gentleman would carry a bright red or pastel yellow fountain pen?

 

Perfectly right. Black with discrete gold furniture is to be preferred: chrome is flashy. Pulling out The Hanging Gonads of Babylon in the wrong surroundings would get one blackballed, if not arrested.

Edited September 2, 2010 by Fuddlestack

[mori45]

On a separate but related note, it always struck me that the look of the pen itself is as important as the color of the ink. Most of my serious user pens are fairly understated, black with silver/gold furniture or chrome, with the notable exception of my dark blue Rotring Esprit. Call me crazy, but even as a Pelikan loyalist I can't imagine a gentleman pulling one of these out: http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCMS.80796./the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon. Any thoughts on whether gentleman would carry a bright red or pastel yellow fountain pen?

 

Perfectly right. Black with discrete gold furniture is to be preferred: chrome is flashy. Pulling out The Hanging Gonads of Babylon in the wrong surroundings would get one blackballed, if not arrested.

 

 

Hmm. I always found gold to be more ostentatious in jewelery and accessories, in part because of its association with wealth. Silver accents always struck me as more elegant and refined, but perhaps that's just my bias.

[mandarintje]

http://bestsmileys.com/dancing/9.gifIt's absolutely essentialhttp://bestsmileys.com/dancing/9.gif to maintain decorum http://bestsmileys.com/dancing/9.gifand keep protocol.http://bestsmileys.com/dancing/9.gif

Ah thank goodness, the voice of reason !!!

[piembi]

Perfectly right. Black with discrete gold furniture is to be preferred: chrome is flashy. Pulling out The Hanging Gonads of Babylon in the wrong surroundings would get one blackballed, if not arrested.

 

Hmm. I always found gold to be more ostentatious in jewelery and accessories, in part because of its association with wealth. Silver accents always struck me as more elegant and refined, but perhaps that's just my bias.

 

At least in Germany the plain black fountainpen with gold trim has been THE traditional fountainpen for decades. Other colours than black had been export models. No silver trim at all. Except for Pelikans: the green binde had been their trademark and became a classic. A pen showing understatement is either the traditional black pen with gold trim or the greenstriped Pelikan.

[Moynihan]

At least in Germany the plain black fountainpen with gold trim has been THE traditional fountainpen for decades. Other colours than black had been export models. No silver trim at all. Except for Pelikans: the green binde had been their trademark and became a classic. A pen showing understatement is either the traditional black pen with gold trim or the greenstriped Pelikan.