Jump to content

Hello Friends and Not Yet Friends!

Ghost_Writer

By Ghost_Writer
in Introductions

 Share

Recommended Posts

Ghost_Writer New

Ghost_Writer

Posted
Posted

It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm Ghost! 

My first fountain pen was a Pilot Varsity in 2011. Simple to use and with no additional required steps, the Varsity was my gateway. To minimize the waste I was generating, I quickly upgraded to the Pilot Metropolitan (poor student back then) and used Parker's Quink as it was readily available at any office supply store in my city. Unfortunately, after using my metropolitan for over a year, I lost it in a move and forgot about it along with my love for fountain pens. I went back to the world of roller balls, .38 gel pens, and digital calendars. 

Flash forward to 2021. The line between work and personal time gets blurred while many of us transition to remote work. I found more and more that I was needing a portal to remove myself from the digital space. Somewhere to escape from the endless information stream. That's when I started looking into journaling and stumbled across fountain pens again. Recalling my fondness of my trusty Metropolitan, fountain pens were back on my radar. And so the decent back into the rabbit hole began again as it was not even a week before I ordered a Black Kaweco Sport, Rhodia notebook, and Diamine Earl Grey ink.

Now it's March 2022 and my pen collection has expanded to also include:
- F TWSBI ECO-T Fountain Pen - Mint Blue
- EF TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen - Jade 
- EF LAMY Safari Fountain Pen - Light pink? I have no idea what the name of this colorway is as I bought it when I was in Berlin. 
- MF Sailor Pro Gear Slim Fountain Pen - Grateful Crane
- M Kaweco Sport - Iridescent Pearl 

Although it's small, I'm very pleased with my collection as each pen is used often and isn't just sitting there collecting dust.

I'm very conscious about materialism and try to resist the fomo that tends to pop up in serial hobbyist circles. I'm a member of too many of them (Video games, TTRPG, Stationery, Photography, etc.) and it's unsafe for my wallet/mind.
As you can see, the Iridescent Pearl got me this time...but next time I'll be ready!

Let me know, what are some ticks or tips on how you fight back against the hype or fomo in the fountain pen space? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 12
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • amberleadavis

    2

  • A Smug Dill

    1

  • mizgeorge

    1

  • Ghost_Writer

    1

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Ghost_Writer said:



Let me know, what are some ticks or tips on how you fight back against the hype or fomo in the fountain pen space? 

 

 

1. Welcome aboard!

2. I love ghosts. (See the link below).

3. No, I am an enabler.  :)

 

large.InkySeas.jpg.9e55d2f1eb4ae5d24f29c5b9459aa60d.jpg

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
A Smug Dill Museum Piece

A Smug Dill

Posted
Posted

Welcome to FPN.

 

8 minutes ago, Ghost_Writer said:

Let me know, what are some ticks or tips on how you fight back against the hype or fomo in the fountain pen space?

 

By talking down the objects of hype or FOMO in online forums, going against the grain as the case may be. Not to disrespect the hobbyists who happen to like or even love those products, or belittle their tastes, of course; but the opposite sentiment towards those material items and consumer goods, from any of their/our fellows of equal standing, has equal entitlement to be aired and shared in a discussion forum. The fear of missing out cannot be based exclusively on scarcity or rarity of a product alone; it also has to appeal to a prospective buyer as being good (however subjectively defined and assessed), and/or holds a higher value holistically to oneself than the cost (in terms of money, as well as effort and/or risk) of acquisition. Critical evaluation of the products, especially in threads and/or sub-groups whether the ‘norm’ is for fans to wax lyrical and profess their love for such, and backslap each other to reassure each other they have good taste, may be seen as unwelcome by them; but it is a service to the rest of the (predominantly silent, unidentified and thus unseen) readership of the forum and those threads, in offering a more balanced viewpoint and also inviting other dissenting voices to chime in. While that may not spare you or me personally from succumbing to FOMO regarding products of our own preferences and weaknesses, voicing criticism of, or pointed disinterest in, some over-hyped products help others come to their own conclusions and perhaps temper their FOMO; and thus that is “fighting back” in the fountain pen space, even if it doesn't save ourselves. :)

I endeavour to be frank and truthful in what I write, show or otherwise present, when I relate my first-hand experiences that are not independently verifiable; and link to third-party content where I can, when I make a claim or refute a statement of fact in a thread. If there is something you can verify for yourself, I entreat you to do so, and judge for yourself what is right, correct, and valid. I may be wrong, and my position or say-so is no more authoritative and carries no more weight than anyone else's here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
inkstainedruth Ancient Artifact

inkstainedruth

Posted
Posted

Greetings from Pittsburgh!  :W2FPN:

I generally suggest that new folks click on the "View New Content" button, to get a good overview of a range of topics, and to check out the pinned Index to the Ink Reviews Forum (even though a number of older posts no longer have the images available).

But I'm afraid that if you want to fight against FOMO, you are in the wrong place, Ghost_Writer!  You have come amongst a horde of evil enablers, who will help you spend your discretionary funds on pens, inks, paper, storage, repair tools, sealing wax and seals, pen shows and ephemera....  Amberlea Davis is definitely an inky enabler (I can attest to that -- not only did I try a sample of what is now one of my favorite inks because of her posting about it, I once showed my husband a photo she had posted of the cabinet she stores ink in and his response was "This is NOT a competition!" (he also tells people that I used to collect pens -- but now collect inks...).

At least you're starting out with budget pens for the most part (I have one ProGear Slim, in one of the LE colors, and held out for the longest time until the next year's LE model came out; then looked for used ones, but then found that I could save some money by ordering from Cult Pens in the UK).  I mostly have jumped down the vintage pen rabbit hole, but my two most expensive pens are modern Pelikans (a couple of M405s).

Have fun, enjoy the ride, and remember that there are no dumb questions except the ones you don't ask.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LizEF Museum Piece

LizEF

Posted
Posted

Welcome to FPN, @Ghost_Writer! :)  Glad you've joined us.

 

1 hour ago, Ghost_Writer said:

Let me know, what are some ticks or tips on how you fight back against the hype or fomo in the fountain pen space? 

At the end of the day, personal awareness and discipline are the only way.  Knowing that you have the tendency, knowing what brings you real satisfaction vs. temporary thrill followed by "meh" or regret, being concerned about long-term financial security and preparedness for the inevitable (guaranteed) hard times, knowing how long it will take to recoup the cost (and what else you can buy with that money - including the free use of your own time), analyzing the probability of real use and enjoyment of the target item, recognizing that you can nickel and time yourself to the poor house, analyzing how much each of your current pens is used, etc.

 

Plus, different inks and papers can make your pens feel completely different! :P ;) :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
northstar Donor Pen

northstar

Posted
Posted

Hello and welcome to FPN.

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous  Who taught by the pen

Taught man that which he knew not (96/3-5)

Snailmail3.png Snail Mail 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
OCArt Donor Pen

OCArt

Posted
Posted

large.FPN_Welcome.jpeg.06a98836a6514f196d41cc8b2895ec9f.jpeg

...............................................................

We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PAKMAN Ancient Artifact

PAKMAN

Posted
Posted

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!! Little help on the "Oh Pretty" must have front with many of us! I just came back from a pen show with 4 new to me pens! Look around have fun and again welcome to FPN!

PAKMAN

minibanner.gif                                    Vanness-world-final.png.c1b120b90855ce70a8fd70dd342ebc00.png

                         My Favorite Pen Restorer                                             My Favorite Pen Store

                                                                                                                                Vanness Pens - Selling Online!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

Posted
Posted
On 3/23/2022 at 6:52 AM, PAKMAN said:

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!! Little help on the "Oh Pretty" must have front with many of us! I just came back from a pen show with 4 new to me pens! Look around have fun and again welcome to FPN!

 

 

:)  I'm always happy to borrow them from you and return them after a few uses so that they don't get lonely.  :P

 

 

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
1nkulus Collectors Item

1nkulus

Posted
Posted

You have successfully entered a rabbit hole, who knows what it'll yield and where it'll lead.

Enjoy the fascinating journey and feel free to ask/share...  thumbup.gif

 

W2FPN.gif

Engineer :

Someone who does precision guesswork based on unreliable data provided by those of questionable knowledge.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33583
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26771
    5. jar
      jar
      26105

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      Links to web pages or articles about Chinese typesetting, signwriting, etc.

      By Shanghai Knife Dude · Posted

      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...