grainweevil (November 22nd, 2018), Jon Szanto (November 22nd, 2018)
And each of us has our own goals and our own levels of attainment which we find optimal. I, personally, subscribe to the Einsteinian view that every single person I meet knows something I don’t.
The gathering of repair or manufacture techniques is one reason to meet, the accumulation and sharing of information about what is, after all, a fairly niche interest is reason enough for me to load up the charabanc.
AzJon (November 21st, 2018), azkid (November 22nd, 2018), Chrissy (November 28th, 2018), fountainpagan (November 22nd, 2018), Jon Szanto (November 22nd, 2018), manoeuver (November 22nd, 2018), penwash (November 22nd, 2018)
I also tried for quite a while to stimulate content, either with (what I felt were) interesting questions, discussing contentious issues, or just being a bit provocative. The effort to grow new content takes time and energy, and perhaps that is one of the reason so many members here don't do anything other than the occasional response to someone else's topic.
penwash (November 22nd, 2018)
I'm afraid you're right. I found the effort to produce content here as well as in my pen blog just too much.
Jon Szanto (November 23rd, 2018)
Thank you kindly.
The course of this thread has raised several different topics:
1. anonymity on forums
I really wish I could safe my own anonymity on the forums, not because I don't want to get in touch with you, but because the internet has unfathomable depths an eternal memory. But I guess it's too late because I'm registered in several forums with my real name on it. Stupid of me, but no more changable.
2. the participation on pen shows
I really would love to visit as many pen shows as posssible and meet as many pen people as possible, specially some of you. But Geography, Family and a 120% full time job prevent me from doing that right now. Better times will come...
3. the active participation and contribution of content on forums
Some of you may know that I was an active member of FPN for about 10 years and did a lot of illustrated contributions during this time. But time has changed and lots of interesting people moved away. Since I am not a native speaker in english, contributions on this forum costs time. Also I feel a little empty of ideas after all this time. But when ever I can, I will jump on the interesting threads and will contribute my part.
C.
Last edited by christof; November 23rd, 2018 at 10:13 AM.
carlos.q (November 24th, 2018), catbert (November 23rd, 2018), Chemyst (November 23rd, 2018), ethernautrix (November 23rd, 2018), FredRydr (November 23rd, 2018), Jon Szanto (November 23rd, 2018)
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
(What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)
"When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."
~ Benjamin Franklin
Last edited by calamus; November 23rd, 2018 at 11:20 AM.
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
(What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)
I remember the Doggie Diner on Geary and Arguello when I was in junior high. Oh man... seventh grade. That was a good year. Hahaha.
_____________
To Miasto
Great thread. I live about 300 miles from the nearest pen show that I'm aware of, which is in San Francisco, where I rarely venture. I've never been to a pen show, though I'd love to go. The nearest analogous experience I've had was when I lived in LA and was a silversmith and lapidary, I used to go to gem and mineral shows. I loved them, and still go to the much smaller local one occasionally. Although gem shows have a social component, for me they were primarily about the gems and mineral specimens themselves. I imagine that if I were to go to a pen show, I would probably be irresistibly drawn to checking out the pens and inks, and only secondarily to hobnobbing. Also, unless I happened to have a little extra do-re-mi about my person, I might give it a pass, since it would be like browsing in a candy store with no pennies in my pocket.
Now a pen club, that would be a different matter. There it would primarily be about the people, and pens would be what we had in common. Of course, how enjoyable an experience it would be would depend to a large degree on the group itself, although I imagine most would be welcoming enough.
Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
(What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)
Hello, OM!
No, the handle comes from my indulgence in the canoe and kayak sports. I never made the change over to a keyer like the Vibroplex; afraid it would ruin my fist. HI. I still have my old telegraph key. The rest of the equipment ended up on the curb, one trash day. Problem was, I wanted to homebrew and talk about it. Nearly all the other hams bought their equipment ready-made and could only talk about twiddling with their antennas. Boring factorial. The only radio I do now is with a crystal set. I listen to KMOX in St Louis on weekend nights and hear radio shows made in the '40s and '50s featuring Sam Spade or the Green Hornet.
It is a lot like the fountain pen hobby with me. I spent a few years restoring pens from the end of the heyday and then, suddenly, the challenge was gone. Homebrewing pens didn't look like fun, so I gave most of my pens away and began to use the survivors for writing instead of using the dip pens I had been journaling with. If you can tell a story, you can homebrew to your heart's content if you are a writer.
So I liked the canoe sports and finally bought a couple of good ones. We use them every summer. Do I go to boat shows and look at the newest 60-foot Hatteras cruiser? Hell no! Give me a canoe and a fly rod and a lake where the fish are big and stupid.
K
"Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little." -Epicurus-
azkid (November 24th, 2018)
Perhaps there is the equivalent of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Wmq4YtC5E
Not looking for pity, but Pen Shows are somewhat cumbersome for me being I am a vet in a wheelchair. I have been trying for years to either do a pen meet-up or attend a pen meet-up in (Southern) Maryland - Northern Neck, Virginia without any success. I even have a venue to use free of charge with lots of space ad plenty free parking.
I went to a meet-up many years ago in MD that was a little quirky, but still fun. The coffee was good..........
So my contact is only in forums unfortunately
The secret of getting ahead is getting started-- Mark Twain
We moved to Tecumseh, MI, to be near my wife's parents and family. So, I guess the shows would be Detroit and Columbus. Health issues require a rigid schedule, and those are far enough away to present issues. I was an IT manager at the City of Pensacola, FL, though, and I do miss all the face to face contact. Then, again, this area is chock full of Yankees.
I would like to go to pen shows, but as I am in a relatively remote location, most of the time the internet is my only way of interacting with people.
Morgaine (December 1st, 2018)
Morgaine (December 1st, 2018)
You're going to get out of it whatever you already programmed yourself to expect. If you think it's going to be a bad experience, it will be bad. If you think it's going to be a good opportunity for making new friends, you will.
Fountain Pen Sith Lord | Daakusaido | Everything in one spot
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