What Do People Say To You When You Whip Out That Pen?

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Although most people don't seem to notice, a few of my friends either tell me "that's so cool!" or "that's so cute!"

 

Dillon

[RJJ]

I get most comments when I use a demonstrator pen. They do draw attention and the curious.

[GabrielleDuVent]

 

So, if Europeans of a certain class only judge me on my pen and my shoes...that tells me what to wear to the next dinner party. I'm just not sure where I'd put my pen when I wasn't using it.

 

Inside pocket of your jacket, in a case, is where my mate puts it. I keep mine in a clutch purse.

[FreshlyMintedCowgirl]

"Oh, you use a fountain pen." I think the people who have noticed are familiar with them but think FPs are too much trouble to bother with. (Their loss.) Except my husband. He claims no interest, but on a regular basis he absconds with one of mine, uses it until it's empty, brings it back, and spirits away another full one. I think he's in denial.

[Meaty0]

Most of my customers seem to take more notice of my cell phone than my fountain pen. Those who do notice think I'm eccentric and I probably am. Hey! At least I've graduated to using a digital camera.

[N2theBreach]

I think he's in denial.

 

Hmm...I don't think he's in denial. I think he's got a good thing going.

 

He picks up a full pen. Uses it till it's empty. Picks up another that, somehow, was cleaned an refilled while he was having fun with the other one. And, off he goes to have more fun. It's kinda like the LP gas bottle service. You drop off the empty, and pick up another that, somehow, was refilled while you were having fun making kabobs with the other one. And, off you go...

 

I don't know your husband, so I'm probably way off the mark, but it does make a good story.

[GabrielleDuVent]

"Oh, you use a fountain pen." I think the people who have noticed are familiar with them but think FPs are too much trouble to bother with. (Their loss.) Except my husband. He claims no interest, but on a regular basis he absconds with one of mine, uses it until it's empty, brings it back, and spirits away another full one. I think he's in denial.

 

At least you let your husband use yours! My mate and I have "pen policy", although it wasn't inspired by David Mitchell.

 

1. No sharing of pens.

2. Yes to sharing of inks, but buy your own bottle if you like it. Stop nicking mine constantly.

3. If either of us buys a new pen, we're allowed to "try it out" for the duration of exactly ONE sentence; and the sentence is "the quick brown fox" or "portez ce vieux whisky".

Edited July 15, 2013 by GabrielleDuVent

[liapuyat]

"A fountain pen? Is that an antique?"

"Are you a lawyer?"

"Classy!"

"What if it leaks?"

 

Best comment ever was on my yellow Lamy Safari with a black nib and clip: "It reminds me of a sports car."

[J Jordan]

 

 

 

"... pens need to be refilled?"

 

I just thought you were suppose to lose pens before they ran out?

 

 

The most popular reaction I have recieved are people who recognize that it's a fountain pen, and comment with something like, "Nice pen."

[The Blue Knight]

They often ask why are you carrying such an expensive pen and suggesting I may end up loosing it..I've had that happen with pens such my safari which I don't consider to be an expensive pen.

[flatline]

People are often surprised that I actually have a pen on me, but the type of pen seems to be irrelevant.

 

--flatline

Edited July 15, 2013 by flatline

[Strombomboli]

People are often surprised that I actually have a pen on me, but the type of pen seems to be irrelevant.

That's a good point; people don't expect you to have a pen on you, they expect you to have a mobile phone. Whenever there is something to sign, they immediately hand you a cheap ballpoint pen.

[ravantra]

Childish I know. Classic Mel Brooks movie.

 

[Lisya72]

Anyone born before 1950: Wow! I haven't seen one of those in thirty years! Do they still make those?

Anyone born after 1950: says nothing, just stares at me like I have three heads.

Everyone: says some version of, "You should use a ballpoint. They don't leak." Note: I've had plenty of clothes ruined by leaking ballpoints. None have been ruined by leaking FPs.

[amberleadavis]

Childish I know. Classic Mel Brooks movie.

 

 

I love that line.

[smiorgan]

Am I the only one who got the weapon question? My entire Latin class was firmly convinced that my fountain pen was a knife. I nearly got sent to the headmaster's office. The writing etiquette teacher had to testify that no, I can't stab people with it, and yes, it's a writing instrument (it was a Lamy).

 

My charcoal safari looks "tactical" and it often feels like a scalpel (to the point that I was worried I might have it confiscated on a flight). But I've never had anyone actually ask me if it was a weapon.

[requiescat]

You know, I was just a a sf con and signed books with fountain pens because they were the only pens I had brought with me (stupid of me, I usually know to bring a gel pen or something for emergencies), and nobody seemed to notice they were fountain pens, even the Nakaya.

[Elizabeth in NJ]

Today I had a brief meeting with someone I had never met before. At the end, she said "I just have to tell you, I love your pen. I haven't seen one of those in a long long time!" Turns out she was from Poland and seeing my pen brought back a lot of happy school memories for her.

[WaskiSquirrel]

Last night, I was at a school board meeting and taking notes with my TWSBI 700. A woman next to me noticed and said she had no idea that anyone still made fountain pens. She said she loved putting different color cartridges in her fountain pen when she was in school.

[Chthulhu]

"Oh, you have your own pen!" Generally in an astonished voice. :-/