Losing interest in pens

[Lloyd]

What's a good all-rounder? What would you recommend? I am ebarrased to say this but my disposable fountain pilot writes smoother than my fountain pen, it just seems to glide...

You should post this in its own thread. I'm sure there are many opinions at FPN.

[magan]

Dear FPN Friends,

 

...

 

Also I discourage you from characterizing me as some kind of saint for giving things away. In fact, I acquired all these pens because I have strong streak of greed, and now I'm trying to rectify my wayward character defects. Believe me, I'm getting more out of giving the pens than those who receive them. I'm not really that good of a human being; I've been given a lot of opportunities and have failed to give much in return. Giving the pens is just a step I'm taking in the right direction, and I'm thrilled that some people can benefit from actions.

 

Rob

 

... My one piece of advice is to enjoy the pens you have. I don't think pens were ever supposed to be collected, even though the pen manufacturers would beg to differ and I bought into that idea for a long time. So I don't care how precious a pen might be -- they are meant to be writers, not investments. And if you lose it, break it, wear it out -- that's life and it's time to look for a new pen.

 

 

this is just... wow!

[ihimlen]

How about trying calligraphy? I've just discovered it :roflmho:

 

Spot on - that's what I'm up to in my spare time. It does take a helluva lot of practice but my handwriting vastly improved even though it was quite nice (humble as I am!) to begin with :roflmho: Still, I can only wish I could write in such beautiful vintage scripts as Rob Morrison uses when testing all those beautiful vintage pens...

 

Regards

 

i.

[ZeissIkon]

What's a good all-rounder? What would you recommend? I am ebarrased to say this but my disposable fountain pilot writes smoother than my fountain pen, it just seems to glide...

 

For not much if any more than the disposable pens, you can look for eBay sellers ghostshow and caleen6, who regularly have Chinese pens that are good writers selling for starting bids of 99 cents and free shipping. With a little patience, you can get one of these for under $2 including shipping. I've gotten a Hero 257 and two Hero 70 this way; all three are nice writers, fill from a bottle, and look much nicer than the disposable pens. No affiliation, just a happy repeat customer.

[OnTheBayou]

I've lost interest too. Where I once spent whole days on this board or poring over pen info, I haven't logged on in weeks and I canceled some pen orders because I lost my desire for them. Just came back today because I was curious.

[rroossinck]

Also I discourage you from characterizing me as some kind of saint for giving things away. In fact, I acquired all these pens because I have strong streak of greed, and now I'm trying to rectify my wayward character defects. Believe me, I'm getting more out of giving the pens than those who receive them. I'm not really that good of a human being; I've been given a lot of opportunities and have failed to give much in return. Giving the pens is just a step I'm taking in the right direction, and I'm thrilled that some people can benefit from actions.

 

Rob

Rob, I'm going to try not to put you on a pedestal as I write this, but I've gotta tell you...I'm learning a lot about the human spirit in this thread. Thanks for being an example.

[Anton Emdin]

I've lost interest too. Where I once spent whole days on this board or poring over pen info, I haven't logged on in weeks and I canceled some pen orders because I lost my desire for them. Just came back today because I was curious.

 

This happens with all things in life. Just don't get rid of ALL your pens - keep the special ones - as you might pick it up again later on.

[Inka]

Just an observation, not a criticism:

I'm surprised this thread has lasted such a long time, taking so many different directions too.

After all, this thread started on Aug 10 2009, 12:17 AM.

On Aug 11 2009, 01:27 AM, the original poster clearly stated, among other things "I'll run this offer for 48 hours (midnight Thursday MST) because I don't want to be overwhelmed."

That deadline was on Thursday, August 13th, and here it is August 24th already, the deadline for the offer long since expired 11 days to the day as of midnight tonight.

Here it is nearly two weeks to the day past the giveaway deadline, still new and old members alike are still finding this thread to be a topic of interest and for so many other discussions.

I'm surprised, with all he has on his plate; that the OP [original poster] hasn't asked this thread to be closed, so as not to be "overwhelmed" as he’d politely asked, by the continuing replies.

All I can say is "I'm guilty" here too, as I've gone off-topic here as well instead of posting in the proper areas. I've been having fun here too since it's already marked in my Profile for Instant Notification.

That to me shows incredible patience, since I'd probably be totally frazzled by now.

[Beardy]

Which is exactly why I held off on PM'ing the OP, as I came on the thread too late.

 

I wouldn't imagine that the thread wandering a bit would really be too bothersome though, right? I mean, Rotomobees only has to follow it as much as wants, he doesn't really have to keep up with it.

[Arts11]

Part of the reason why I got into fountain pens was to use them in class for note taking, but thanks to this semester's particular selection of courses (lots of lab time), I really haven't had an opportunity to use any of them extensively. Add to that the sheer load of my coursework, and I haven't been following fountain pens nearly as much as I had before classes started again. Instead, I've actually been getting into other types of pens (felt/fineliner) as a necessity, both cost-wise and the fact that fountain pens don't work quite well writing in textbooks/lab paper. I'm hoping next semester will be better when I have more traditional lecture classes and may actually be able to use my fountain pens more often.

[BBailey]

Also I discourage you from characterizing me as some kind of saint for giving things away. In fact, I acquired all these pens because I have strong streak of greed, and now I'm trying to rectify my wayward character defects. Believe me, I'm getting more out of giving the pens than those who receive them. I'm not really that good of a human being; I've been given a lot of opportunities and have failed to give much in return. Giving the pens is just a step I'm taking in the right direction, and I'm thrilled that some people can benefit from actions.

 

Rob

Rob, I'm going to try not to put you on a pedestal as I write this, but I've gotta tell you...I'm learning a lot about the human spirit in this thread. Thanks for being an example.

 

 

 

I second the affirmation for Rob with a hearty, 'Amen'.

[MJSchuelke]

Which is exactly why I held off on PM'ing the OP, as I came on the thread too late.

 

Same here... Now I'm watching this thread with quiet amazement, and a smile on my face.

[hehiheho]

Just an observation, not a criticism:

I'm surprised this thread has lasted such a long time, taking so many different directions too.

 

I allow myself to think that some people are trying to become friends of Rotomobees/Rob. I noticed how, suddently, several people here revealed a passion for fishing and bees. But saying that they do it because they hope to have a better pen this way would be lacking respect for them, so I do not say it, I do not even think it. One can notice that I myself have participated in making this thread last more than ten pages, several times. And, if I have actually interest in this discussion, at least when it is about the fact that accumulation is not a source of happiness and the radical conclusions drawn by Rotomobees, I must admit that the idea of having one day a pen corresponding to what I search for brings me back here.

 

[Ghost Plane]

I'm enjoying the folks he's attracting. It's nice to be able to blather along in a thread that hasn't lurched off track into acrimonious topics.

[Anton Emdin]

I noticed how, suddently, several people here revealed a passion for fishing and bees. But saying that they do it because they hope to have a better pen this way would be lacking respect for them, so I do not say it, I do not even think it.

 

I think you just said it!

 

Time to opt out of this topic... Good luck to Rob.

 

[Inka]

Sharing ones' interests is by no means a way of trying to gain anything more than the joy of sharing ones' interests.

Sure, there are those who wish not to give but look for only what they can get out of life, however I am not one of them and I know for a fact many here are not as well.

Taking the course this thread has taken is of great interest to many that share not only in the joy of fountain pens, but other things as well.

I see nothing wrong with that, I applaud those that have shared it what they love, albeit pens or bees or fishing or whatever.

There have been many people behind the scenes giving of their "stuff" before this thread began, only to have a renewed interest in giving once finding this here.

I've been cleaning out my collection of "things" and gifting them as well, always have, just more so now than previously due to the kindness and pure unselfishness of those following this thread.

So mention what you love to do, talk about what your passions are, life is too short to go on without sharing with and caring for others.

This thread has been a source of all that and more, rarely seen in these hard times many of us are having to deal with, it goes far beyond mere pens.

[Siv]

Rob, you know what pens I want

 

I have had a similar thought to you, being an avid collector of VPs and modern Japanese pens with more than I can ever use (and we're not talking close to your numbers). I have gotten rid of the almost all of the usual Pilots and Sailors and have only kept the Urushi/Maki-e of which I now have 6 and each of them get used at least once a week.

 

But what do I do with all these VPs? I was thinking about selling just the common ones (I don't have quite the financial independence not to) and keeping the LEs and hard to finds... then again, I don't really use them anyway so I could just flip them all. What do you think?

 

How do you enjoy a pen when you don't even know how many you have or even where they all are?

 

I can so relate to this... where's the enjoyment in looking over my collection when I don't even pick them up to write with? Most are unused and that is not what I would wish on a pen - they are made to be used!

[Inka]

I'm enjoying the folks he's attracting. It's nice to be able to blather along in a thread that hasn't lurched off track into acrimonious topics.

Agreed!!!

Could not have said it any better myself, such a relief to get away from the blatherskite types of late.

I’ve met some really nice, caring, creative and very intelligent people here in this one thread, that I've found also having similar intersts as I.

Good stuff!

[Inka]

I also have a vast amount of fishing gear going unused, that I've been giving away since this thread began.

I have Rapalas [some could be called "antiques", dating back to the '40s-'50s], a collection of Rat-L-Traps, jigs of all types, Abu GArcia/Shimano and other reels, Fenwick Ultra-lights, a Shakespeare Ugly-Stik, all somewhat high-end items I haven't used in more than 13 years.

I'm slowly giving them new homes, having come to the harsh realization I will most likely never go fishing again, as much as I'd enjoyed it it just factual.

The same with a huge collection of rare and custom knives I've recently whittled down [pun intended] by gifting many to good homes of those that will actually use them, for scuba diving or just plain ol' "whittling".

What good was any of that stuff when it was going unused?

I too am guilty of the collecting game, seeing something new or rare I just had to have it, now looking at it thinking what was I even thinking.

It is too much trouble trying to post these things for sale, having to wrap, ship, track, hope the buyer likes whatever they buy.

Myself not wanting to deal with customer service per se as well, but really enjoying the looks when face-to-face gifting and the replies of those I give to, getting feedback when they're enjoying what I had going unused.

It is priceless to give, more than receive, and I've always been the former [hard for me to receive, no strings attached, I'm not used to it at all].

 

[Deirdre]

But what do I do with all these VPs? I was thinking about selling just the common ones (I don't have quite the financial independence not to) and keeping the LEs and hard to finds... then again, I don't really use them anyway so I could just flip them all. What do you think?

I kind of did that and now what I have are uncommon pens. Which means that when I want to go somewhere and want to take something I'm willing to risk losing (because it's easy to replace), I'm stymied. Sure, every day I take around some unusual pens, but sometimes it's hard.

 

Thus, I have an Aurora Mare and Minima Fuoco, but none of the regular Optimas.

I have a whole bunch of Stipula Etrurias, but zero of them are current production models.