King Charles's pen leaks

[kmcmichael]

As an Texan whose last British ancestor was deported by Cromwell, I have no right to defend King Charles or a constitutional monarchy. Yet we are tied to the UK in many ways. If I had grown up in his situation, I would have been  a spoiled evil person. As for temper, I thought I had none until I was filmed in a training scenario and realized how others might view my actions as extremely aggressive and threatening.

He has a role to fill. In British history that role was often performed really well by people whom others had little confidence.

I am sure I’ve seemed to lost my temper regarding some modified pen that leaked on me at an inopportune time.

[Strega]

I have seen many people (especially older people) use products long after they were known to be unreliable.  Older people especially often develop a mindset where it makes no sense to repair/replace an object because they are convinced that they won’t be alive long enough to justify the cost/effort. Also, I suppose because time seems to move faster, they feel like they have less time to deal with “gadget unreliability”. 

 

Also, I see many people (of all ages) who act like devices have some kind of spirit or personality and they can either shame them into working or praise them into working.  Of course, these people probably all know that this is not factually true, but I think the human brain is fundamentally wired to deal with other humans so in the heat of the moment, we imagine human characteristics in technology.

 

Likewise, I know many people who are completely mild-mannered when dealing with other people yet go nuts when technology fails.  Again, I think this is related to the above, where in some part of your brain, the pen is intentionally doing that to you.  But then you calm down and realize that’s not how things work.

[Aysedasi]

51 minutes ago, Strega said:

Also, I see many people (of all ages) who act like devices have some kind of spirit or personality and they can either shame them into working or praise them into working.  Of course, these people probably all know that this is not factually true, but I think the human brain is fundamentally wired to deal with other humans so in the heat of the moment, we imagine human characteristics in technology.

 

 

On reading this, only one thing could possibly to mind.......   

 

 

[Karmachanic]

If he'd filled the pen prior to flying down from Scotland, and kept the nib upright it wouldn't have burped into the cap.  But given the stresses of the day .....

[Olya]

17 hours ago, Carguy said:

That pen sure looked small enough to be a burgundy Parker 51. Wouldn’t it be something if that were his mother’s pen which she cherished and he hated it?

Charles just has massive sausage fingers and a huge hand, so the 146 MB disappears into it. Someone posted pics of him with the pen over the years and the 146 is simply dwarfed into his hand.

 

Edit: I've seen the pen be referenced as a 146 LeGrand and as a LeGrand, not being well-versed in MB models, I don't know how accurate it is and whether it's a 146 or 149 size, all I know is it's an MB with a silver stripe overlay/finish and Charles's massive hands make it look like a pocket pen akin to a Pilot Elite 95s!!

[Olya]

3 hours ago, Aysedasi said:

 

On reading this, only one thing could possibly to mind.......   

 

 

I SO SO LOVE this!!! One of my most favourite comedy scenes, an absolute classic!

I remember watching this for the first time and just about died laughing!!! I'll never not love this bit!

[Strega]

Yes - that clip nails it!  It's hilarious because when you're calm you know how silly it is, yet people get mad and do that all the time. 😀

[ParramattaPaul]

57 minutes ago, Strega said:

Yes - that clip nails it!  It's hilarious because when you're calm you know how silly it is, yet people get mad and do that all the time. 😀

Imagine for a moment the stress of that moment and frustration of a leaky pen in that instant.  His mother has just died. He's about to endure first her funeral.  He's haveing to deal with what one might call a 'wayward son and his contentious wife, His coronation is looming in the not too distant future.  He's just inherited a job of lifelong servitude to the realm and the commonwealth that effectively will end any semblance of a normal personal life he has had.  A job one could describe as being enslaved with chains of gold.  I too would have 'vented'.

 

It's not a life or job I would ever want no matter what the fringe benefits might be.  Imagine never ever being able to get in your car and go for a drive just because you want to.  Or, going shopping or to a movie when you want. Being the 'show pony' that trotted out for the opening of a new bridge or factory.  Or having to welcome into your home and dinner table the likes of Putin or any other head detestable head of state you care to name.  NOPE! Not me.

[Strega]

Exactly.  Just in case I wasn't clear - I think this kind of reaction is completely normal.

 

Last night I was having to edit a mailing address I could barely understand to a customer in Japan, to make it acceptable to the USPS, and I was trying to get that done so I could drop the package off on the way to seeing my mom in hospital, and the website lost my edits several times.  I had a moment where I wanted to punish my computer.

[Ceilidh]

And to add to the confusion:

 

King Charles signed a condolence book in Wales today. He was using the same pen he had taken from his pocket the day he signed the accession document. The commentator said: " His Majesty appeared this time to have brought his own pen after an incident involving a leaking pen in Northern Ireland earlier this week."

 

So was the leaking pen not his own, or is it that the commentator hasn't been paying as close attention to the drama of the pens as this community of eagle-eyed pen nuts?

[IThinkIHaveAProblem]

Just now, Ceilidh said:

And to add to the confusion:

 

King Charles signed a condolence book in Wales today. He was using the same pen he had taken from his pocked the day he signed the accession document. The commentator said: " His Majesty appeared this time to have brought his own pen after an incident involving a leaking pen in Northern Ireland earlier this week."

 

So was the leaking pen not his own, or is it that the commentator hasn't been paying as close attention to the drama of the pens as this community of eagle-eyed pen nuts?

Pretty sure the commentator is out to lunch

[Ceilidh]

3 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Pretty sure the commentator is out to lunch

 Agreed.  😄

[ParramattaPaul]

26 minutes ago, IThinkIHaveAProblem said:

Pretty sure the commentator is out to lunch

Agreed. An observation: talking heads are too frequently air heads.