Originally Posted by
ethernautrix
Jon, as you make clear that the discussion is important to you and to the "pen community" in general, what do you perceive as the danger in not having this discussion?
I'm also not very clear on what is at the nut of "the discussion." That older, more experienced pen enthusiasts and younger, less experienced pen enthusiasts... don't overlap enough? And the potential consequences are...?
If not clear, I'm not being argumentative; I'm trying to understand the problem.
I am not answering for Jon. But here's how I see it.
Without these "discussions" the two groups of fountain pen users (ie.
present and
next generations) are in danger of complete alienation toward each other (that's typically what will happen when two groups perceived each other with leery eyes due to not enough understanding and empathy).
If that were to happen, how then the decades of accumulated wealth of knowledge about fountain pen history can be transferred from the current holder to the next generation?
If the loss of knowledge -- within the context of fountain pens -- is not perceived as a danger (or at the least a very sad outcome) then yes, there is not a single issue, and we should continue our own merry way and just let things fall where they may.
By the way, I see no need nor thrust in this "discussions" to dictate how one
should be relating to a fountain pen. Users would continue to be users, and collectors would be collectors, and those who are "smart enough" (said with a smile
) will continue to be both users and collectors. There is indeed enough space for both types and more. The only question here is whether respect and collaboration is
proactively fostered, or not.
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