fountain pen taboos - don't enter if you're easily offended

[bushido]

i second the complaint about cheap pens. if you're going to get a fountain pen, by god get a fountain pen, not something made by child labor.

 

'please help me find a fp btw $1.20 and $3.67 because i can't see myself spending more than $3.68 on a fp'

[NotPiffany]

- FPs should be inked and used. Why have a pen (probably expensive) and just let it sit there.

 

Quoted because it needed to be said again.

[Sailor Kenshin]

You talkin' to me?

 

Though I have been known to spend a whole $20 on an interesting fude pen.

[Silvermink]

Imagine if high-end cars were supplied with the equivalent amount of packaging!

 

*imagines cars coming in boxes the size of battleships*

 

And pens aren't always the worst offenders re unnecessary packaging. Look at software. How many CDs could you fit into the average retail software box?

 

Software's actually been getting a lot better in a lot of cases (pun not intended), with the smaller-format boxes and, in many cases, just slightly-jazzed-up DVD cases. The big old cardboard boxes were a complete waste of packaging material in most cases - I think maybe it just took packaging a long time to change between the "software comes on 20 diskettes" and "software comes on 4 or fewer CDs or 1 DVD" phases.

Edited March 12, 2010 by Silvermink

[WyattS]

Interesting topic.

 

For some reason I like cheap things. I don't know why, maybe it's because I can't afford much else.

 

Not that strange, but I hate when people swoop in last minute on auctions that I have been watching and thinking about for days. It makes me feel like they saw it on a whim and bought it, but that's probably not at all the case.

 

Huge number of readers by the way. Hi Readers!

[Sharkle]

For me, it's the ludicrous packaging that accompanies many high end pens.

Hardwood boxes with satin lining and jewelled metalwork with a luxurious full colour brochure the size of a shoebox.

 

I'm not suggesting the Montblanc WEs (eg) should come in a blister-pack. But a better sense of proportion would be appreciated.

 

:roflmho: +1, for me it's the size -- some look like trunks :blink: .

 

And +1 to Silvermink and the small pen recommendations for newbies. Someone recently recommended an ultra-cheap disposable FP for brand new FP users and I couldn't agree more. Get to a pen store if possible and see what looks and feels good, see if you want to spend that much, and get a pen you'll appreciate.

 

About screw-on caps: Most of my FP's have these and I like them fine. I have yet, however, to have a snap-on or slip cap come off in my pocket.

[ethernautrix]

Myth: Using fountain pens makes you special or eccentric or noteworthy.

 

 

No, no, no, using expensive fountain pens makes you special.

No, using cheap fountain pens is the noteworthy part.

Nope, using only vintage fountain pens proves your superior aesthetics and VALUES.

What? No way, the more it costs, the more special you are!

Make sure everyone notices that you're using CHEAP fountain pens! That way they'll think you're cool and not a status seeker.

Carrying Montblanc pens means you can't think for yourself.

Black is stupid and boring. Who's going to notice you're using a FOUNTAIN PEN if it's a boring black one?

And using really vibrant inks means you're fascinating. No, it does. Watch: [writes in spectacular non-black ink color] "I am fascinating." See how that works?

Hey! Notice me trying to be not noticed for using a fountain pen! Hey! Heyheyhey! I'm using a FOUNTAIN PEN! How come nobody cares that I'm using a fountain pen? No! You can't borrow it. Touch with your EYES!

Why would you spend your money on that? How come you don't think like me? How come you don't think like me? How come you don't think like me? Let me show you how to live....

Edited March 12, 2010 by ethernautrix

[Anna Cecilia]

I can't stand the iconic arrow-shaped Parker clip. In fact I think Parkers are just ugly.

So are Mont Blanc 149s. Big ugly black blobby misshapen cigars. It's even worse when I see people with more money than sense ostentatiously whipping one out and making sure everybody's seen their replacement phallus before they put it away again. They don't actually use their fountain pen for any real writing of course, just when there are witnesses (and no this does not mean I dislike everybody who owns a MB 149, I just don't get the whole status thing).

I like the design of the Lamy 2000 but what's up with ALL their other pens? They might write really well and be practical and ergonomic and whatever else, but they look like something I thought was cool in the 80s. When I was 9. I just can't get past that, probably because I'm superficial like that.

Staff at pen counters in department stores. Why do they not receive proper basic training beyond selling Mont Blancs? I actually asked a lady at one of them if they sold Pelikan nibs and she asked me what a Pelikan was. I then showed her my pen and pointed out they sold Pelikan inks, to which she replied very few people buy bottled ink nowadays so she'd never really paid attention to them.

/rant

Edited March 12, 2010 by Anna Cecilia

[Selous]

Lamy Safari etc. fountain pens. Because their attractive, minimalistic and straightforward styling is marred by that ridiculous slab-sided front section which dictates how you hold the pen, and I don't hold it like that so I can't use it. And anyway, who are they to tell me how to hold a fountain pen? I'll hold it how I like, thank you very much...

[Scrawler]

I was just starting out after years of not using FPs, so I had an excuse, but still...

 

I bought a Dikawen 806 on eBay. Pretty, but heavy as lead.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4427563624_16910f4f93_o.jpg

 

No more buying pens online. I'll haunt the estate sales this spring.

 

—Jill

That is because they do weight them with lead to make them feel as if they are more substantial. I intensely dislike semi-hooded nibs like are on this particular pen.

Edited March 12, 2010 by Scrawler

[Sailor Kenshin]

Interesting topic.

 

For some reason I like cheap things. I don't know why, maybe it's because I can't afford much else.

 

Not that strange, but I hate when people swoop in last minute on auctions that I have been watching and thinking about for days. It makes me feel like they saw it on a whim and bought it, but that's probably not at all the case.

 

Huge number of readers by the way. Hi Readers!

 

 

I can afford it---sort of. I have two higher-end pens, but I get MUCH more of a kick out of my many cheapies.

 

I recently made a page of notes about how Pilot's price points are an inverse indication of how much I will like the pen.

 

My faves: the Plumix and Petit 1.

 

Returned to seller: Lucina.

 

Hated on sight: Namiki Falcon.

 

:ltcapd:

[Scrawler]

Hey,

 

Now that we're on a roll. Why would anyone pay more than $1.50 for a fountain pen that doesn't have a screw-on cap?

 

And what's wrong with Pelikan? Some of us like our pens plain. Fancy doesn't make them put ink on paper any better or efficiently.

 

There ought to be a law (1) concerning highly polished, metal sections, (2) against converters that fill counter-clockwise and (3) ink that doesn't taste good.

 

So there.

 

-- cuza

 

 

 

PS: I don't like my P51 any more.

 

 

Are you trying to tell me that there are such pens? :roflmho:

[Fuddlestack]

What is a fude nibbed pen?

 

 

The nib bends up, on purpose, to provide a variety of stroke thickness and density. They are supposedly modeled after brushes to write Chinese and Japanese characters. I love 'em.

 

Je me coucherai moins con. I thought they had just left the G out. So fude is Chinese or Japanese for what - ski-jump?

[Bill]

<rant on>

 

This morning I chose a Montblanc 149 for the day and then stopped at a gas station. After the third try to complete skipping characters in the gas log, I realized that the heap of a car at the next pump probably cost less than the pen BUT PERFORMED MUCH BETTER!

 

When I got to the office, I swapped the 149 out for a Pelikan M800 that has never failed me.

 

</rant off)

 

Bill

[Aunt Jill]

Interesting topic.

 

For some reason I like cheap things. I don't know why, maybe it's because I can't afford much else.

 

Not that strange, but I hate when people swoop in last minute on auctions that I have been watching and thinking about for days. It makes me feel like they saw it on a whim and bought it, but that's probably not at all the case.

 

Huge number of readers by the way. Hi Readers!

 

I know you don't want to hear this, but if you really want something and don't want to overpay for it, you pretty much have to be able to swoop in and grab it. Successful eBayers, especially those who buy for resale, use sniping software.

 

Here's the link to Esnipe. Happy Buying!

 

—Jill

[Aunt Jill]

I was just starting out after years of not using FPs, so I had an excuse, but still...

 

I bought a Dikawen 806 on eBay. Pretty, but heavy as lead.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4427563624_16910f4f93_o.jpg

 

No more buying pens online. I'll haunt the estate sales this spring.

 

—Jill

That is because they do weight them with lead to make them feel as if they are more substantial. I intensely dislike semi-hooded nibs like are on this particular pen.

 

I agree completely. Hooded nibs... ugh!

 

Wait, maybe I shouldn't talk trash. This pen writes very reliably and smoothly and doesn't leak. I want to trade it for some ink samples. I'm off to the trade forum.

 

—Jill

[Sailor Kenshin]

What is a fude nibbed pen?

 

 

The nib bends up, on purpose, to provide a variety of stroke thickness and density. They are supposedly modeled after brushes to write Chinese and Japanese characters. I love 'em.

 

Je me coucherai moins con. I thought they had just left the G out. So fude is Chinese or Japanese for what - ski-jump?

 

 

Japanese. I'm totally stealing this. :ltcapd:

[cpsantillan]

1.Why buy expensive pens,when you can find good quality pens at a low price...

2.Lamy safari is over-rated

3.Chinese pens haven't worked well for me,I don't really know if I will keep on trying and get a good one...

4.Modern pens are really expensive,and some of them over-rated...(Now I'm in the hunt for a good vintage pen)

5.Pen manufacturers seems to be working on offering an ostentatious pen than a good quality nib performance...

[jamesh]

Interesting topic.

 

For some reason I like cheap things. I don't know why, maybe it's because I can't afford much else.

 

Not that strange, but I hate when people swoop in last minute on auctions that I have been watching and thinking about for days. It makes me feel like they saw it on a whim and bought it, but that's probably not at all the case.

 

Huge number of readers by the way. Hi Readers!

 

I know you don't want to hear this, but if you really want something and don't want to overpay for it, you pretty much have to be able to swoop in and grab it. Successful eBayers, especially those who buy for resale, use sniping software.

 

Here's the link to Esnipe. Happy Buying!

 

—Jill

 

I knew it!!! All those times I lost to last second bidders, I just knew there was some kind of technology trick to that.

 

Also, I have never seen Montblanc as a status symbol. If you like a Porsche and can afford a Porsche, then drive a Porsche. If you like to sail and can afford a sail boat, then buy a sail boat. Because I drive a fast sports car... it does not mean I am trying to compensate for anything or trying to show off. (I do not drive a fast sports car... just making examples.) I hope it is not too bold to say, but it is judgmental and presumptuous to suggest someone is using a Montblanc just for the status symbolism. That being said, I own a 149 and 146... and yes, I bought them for status symbols. (However I am missing the status part)

[riff raff]

• 
   
  
• black pens (bhr excused)... why get a pen you can't tell from any other pen?
  
• loud-colored pens
   
  

 

Uh, what?