Co-Worker Borrowed My Pen

[eric47]

He held it horizontally in front of him, and jerked the nib off, spraying himself across his white shirt and yellow tie with a small amount of J. Herbin Perle Noire.

 

He's the type that would have said something, but in the few times that I have seen him since, he hasn't said anything about the ink. I feel bad. Sort of.

 

Herbin inks are gentle ones, usually washable. It probably came out in the wash or dry cleaning. So don't worry about it.

Edited July 20, 2012 by eric47

[dragon666]

Nearly all the strangers whom i meet every day think that it is wonderful that I use a fountain pen (I work in the medical field). They mostly say that they have not seen or used a fountain pen for many years (+10 years for some, which I find very surprising). Most also have absolutely no clue on how to use one - nib upside down, sideways etc. I carry a ballpoint pen when i need to gain their signatures because of this fact.

 

Despite these points, most people seem to have respect for the fountain pen, even the cheap ones that I mostly use in my work place.

 

The curious ink vs shirt guy fountain pen thrower is a douche.

 

I think you should lend him another 'cheap' fountain pen that is freshly filled up with Noodlers Bullet Proof ink, the next time you run into him.

Edited July 20, 2012 by dragon666

[dragon666]

How much did a jerk respect your valuable Parker 51 by throwing it ?

 

How much did you respect your valuable Parker 51 by lending it to

a jerk ?

 

Do something nice for your P51. Sleep well.

 

I like it :0)

[Jared]

He jerked off the cap, and not the nib, right?

 

Right, it was the cap. Nice catch, which I have included in an edit.

 

When I told my wife, she said that I should have opened the cap for him (thinking it was a screw on), but at least understood that fountain pens should be treated differently.

 

Usually carry a roller ball for others to use, but thought in this instance that the P51 was close enough to a roller ball, and that perhaps I'd make a FP convert...

Edited July 20, 2012 by Jared

[Pen2009]

Despite these points, most people seem to have respect for the fountain pen, even the cheap ones that I mostly use in my work place.

My boss at my former company was aware she was borrowing a fountain pen from me at work. She even said she would not want to use my "expensive" pens (I think she noticed I was carring several fountain pens with me at work). But, I handed her my Lamy Safari:) as there was no other pen available (Even a Safari Alstar looks expensive if it is mixed with more expensive pens:)). I can suck up an expense of replacing my Lamy nib. If I suspect someone (especially my superiors) asks to bum a pen from me at my workplace environment, I will bring my Lamy's. You need to assess your workplace before you bring your good pens.

[Seele]

Somehow I have a sneaky suspicion that we, as fountain pen users, tend to be more respectful to both people and objects. Unfortunately perhaps. we also make too great an assumption that others are like that as well. This explains why I would not let anyone near my mission-critical gears such as my computers and mechanical cameras, which in the wrong hands can get totally messed up, and there have been people accusing me of being selfish. Perhaps the OP gave that individual a chance to show his true colours, and show them he certainly did.

Edited July 20, 2012 by Seele

[Robinkeys]

I do think that the majority of people do not care because the majority of the population doesn't even think about pens. People like us on FPN take an interest and consider our pens valuable, therefore I wouldn't expect someone that doesnt even think about pens to consider them valuable. Thats why I carry and only offer a Pilot V7 retractable rollerball to any co-worker that asked for a pen.

 

I do though work with elderly people and had them inquire about my fountain pens when signing documents, I've let a few of them sign with them as well because I noticed their light writing with a rollerball and knew they would write like that with a fountain pen. If they inquired and I noticed they were driving my rollerball into the paper I wouldn't offer it for their use.

 

just my two cents

totally. my parents tune me out whenever i start one of my 20- minute lectures on fountain pens! The ignorace!

[Robinkeys]

I don't voluntarily lend my pens to anyone anymore. But that doesn't stop people from abusing my pens.

 

Just the other day someone asked to borrow my pen because they didn't bring one with them for the boss's signature (surely the big boy had a pen lying on his desk?). I said uh, it's a fountain pen, which usually stops people. She, being close to the age that likely had to write with them in school, said it's ok and grabbed it and pulled on the cap. I winced (probably visibly) but did not blurt out twist! or screw cap! fast enough. The horrid sound of plastic scrappy against the thread still ring in my ears. Thank goodness she stopped.

 

The pen? It was my custom Edison.

 

I have avoided her since. And the pen has stayed locked in my pen case.

how dare she commit uch a crime!

[MarneM]

At work, as a detective, my uniform shirt is a Polo with two pen-holder pockets in the left arm. One of them houses my fountain pen. The other houses what we call a "perp pen," which is a ordinary plastic bic ballpoint pen. Other than the slightly unflattering vernacular, I try to keep up this practice in my daily life too. Only people I really like get the privilege of ever using my fountain pens.

[novarider]

At work, as a detective, my uniform shirt is a Polo with two pen-holder pockets in the left arm. One of them houses my fountain pen. The other houses what we call a "perp pen," which is a ordinary plastic bic ballpoint pen. Other than the slightly unflattering vernacular, I try to keep up this practice in my daily life too. Only people I really like get the privilege of ever using my fountain pens.

 

 

Where do you get polo shirts with a pen pocket on the left arm?

[haldane3]

Oh my. I wouldn't lose sleep over that situation. He could kiss my you know what.

[dogpoet]

I think I'm with the majority on this one.

 

That said, I did have a colleague leave a note for me with a pen I'd left on my desk when i was away from it without it causing her any trouble, so this tit could have have just been a fluke.

You get oafs in every workplace, after all.

[MarneM]

They are 511 Tactical Polo shirts, in the synthetic blend. They're a little shiny, but I think they'd be fine for regular office wear as well. I wear a cotton shirt underneath mine. They come in plenty of colors -- white, blue, green, etc. They aren't cheap, but I only need 4-5 of them, since I work four days a week. So I just bought them one at a time until I had enough.

 

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Shirts/Polos/Performance-Polo-Short-Sleeve-Synthetic-Knit.html

 

Where do you get polo shirts with a pen pocket on the left arm?

[mrchan]

Nearly all the strangers whom i meet every day think that it is wonderful that I use a fountain pen (I work in the medical field). They mostly say that they have not seen or used a fountain pen for many years (+10 years for some, which I find very surprising). Most also have absolutely no clue on how to use one - nib upside down, sideways etc. I carry a ballpoint pen when i need to gain their signatures because of this fact.

 

Despite these points, most people seem to have respect for the fountain pen, even the cheap ones that I mostly use in my work place.

 

The curious ink vs shirt guy fountain pen thrower is a douche.

 

I think you should lend him another 'cheap' fountain pen that is freshly filled up with Noodlers Bullet Proof ink, the next time you run into him.

 

I work in the medical field as well and all my patients and nurses are enchanted by the fact that I'm using a pen that they used to use in school. But yes if I need a signature for a consent or something of that sort, I borrow it from the ward clerk and give it to them to write with. No brute is going to handle my pen! Especially patients who might be carrying MRSA!

[provis]

At work I'm known as the gal who gets packages from around the world every week or so. And the girl with the geek eye (jeweller's loupe perched on nose). And the girl with the inky hands. And the girl who will go all Godzilla on anyone who grabs her pens without permission.

 

So, pens saved by reputation. Ha.

 

My attitude's softened somewhat, these days. Now, if anyone asks me about fountain pens, I open my drawer and pull out a bunch of purty Pilot Parallel pens and/or Parker 51s and ask them to go at it.

 

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

A lot of this is arguably because pens nowadays have been reduced to a disposable article for many. Most people have disposable pens. Who cares if it is disposable? If it breaks or wears out if I toss it across the table, when it runs out of ink, or if I feel like it, I can reach into my desk and get another one.

 

I usually don't lend my pens out, but I let people use my pencils–sometimes.

 

Dillon

[Cognaticrotty]

I don't let others borrow my pens. They want to use them, they can buy them...I keep a crappy rollerball for others to use, while I enjoy the comfort of my FPs.

[Dimitry V.]

Anyone who unceremoniously throws a valuable pen across a table deserves to have ink splattered all over their shirts.

Happened to me once, I lent my Waterman and the other person just threw it onto the table once they were done writing as if it were some cheap bic stick. The confusion was clearly visible in their face as the pen made a tremendous thud against the table. Since then, that same person has taken extra care when using my pens. At least he learned from his mistake .

[georges zaslavsky]

How much did a jerk respect your valuable Parker 51 by throwing it ?

 

How much did you respect your valuable Parker 51 by lending it to

a jerk ?

 

Do something nice for your P51. Sleep well.

True true, you never lend a pen to a douchebag ball point user and to someone who is an absolute careless dingbat. A vintage pen is like a vintage mechanical watch, it is a strictly personal and individual item.

[Newjelan]

Life's too short to worry about things like that. Will you (or he) remember in 5 yrs? Probably not - let it go.