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Thread: "We're cool!"

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    Default "We're cool!"

    Are we, really?

    I think fountain pen enthusiasts are thoroughly uncool. I consider myself one through and through, of course. That makes me uncool, and I'm completely fine with that.

    I once told my wife she's thoroughly uncool, and she took it almost as an offense. Her hobbies are...knitting, fountain pens, and making herbariums. Not that cool for a 30 year old person, I think. Not that I'm any better - I collect fountain pens and mechanical keyboards; for some reason, both of them write words.

    What do you think? Are we cool, are we uncool, or are we above the petty mortal issues such as dealing with others perception of us?

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    Senior Member usk15's Avatar
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    I think "cool" is such a personal choise. I'm not cool into others eyes, but I DON'T care too! I'm perfectly fine with my hobbies and my life, I don't need others apreciation about me and my life.

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Quote Originally Posted by usk15 View Post
    I think "cool" is such a personal choise. I'm not cool into others eyes, but I DON'T care too! I'm perfectly fine with my hobbies and my life, I don't need others apreciation about me and my life.
    Right! That’s how I look at it too. But I read the “we’re cool!” at the title banner of this website every time I open it and I always think to myself...I’m not cool, but I don’t care about it either.

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    Senior Member calamus's Avatar
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    I find the whole concept of coolness ridiculous. It's a puerile, superficial assessment.
    Quid rides? Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur. — Horace
    (What are you laughing at? Just change the name and the joke’s on you.)

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    Senior Member carlos.q's Avatar
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Quote Originally Posted by calamus View Post
    I find the whole concept of coolness ridiculous. It's a puerile, superficial assessment.
    I'm cool with that.

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Most people seek social validation in one form or another, whether they recognise this or not. It is the extent and fervour of that seeking which gives cause for concern in our current time. The internet is a supreme tool for creating pigeonholes, and encouraging people to inhabit them. Scary.

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Cool is in the eye of the beholder if you ask me. But sure, OK, most folks aren't going to say I am cool. I'm a nerd, a little odd maybe, always have been. I've come to terms with it, accepted myself, and all that. Cool isn't the best thing to be anyway so it's OK.

    Plus I have reached that point in middle age where I don't really care too much what everyone thinks. And I care a lot more about what my friends and family think.

    I agree that we all seek some acceptance and validation. It is in human nature. To that end, I enjoy the company of pen geeks, which is why I'm here. I appreciate feedback, comments, and discussions with you all. Which is why I like it here way more than other places.

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    I am very cool. At least in the (Maine) winter.

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Being at ease with oneself in a way that transcends the opinions of others is proably part of it. No reason that shouldn't involve enjoying a nice pen.

    That said, isn't it uncool to assert one's own coolness?

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    My office is going through annual maintenance on the HVAC system so the temperature in my office is hovering around 60° F which is very cool (I brought in a heater yesterday and got the temperature up to 65° which is still pretty cool).

    I don't think I'd consider myself socially 'cool' by many standards. Fortunately my kids all seem to like me and my wife puts up with me and those are the opinions I care most about.

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    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Quote Originally Posted by adhoc View Post
    Are we, really?

    I think fountain pen enthusiasts are thoroughly uncool. I consider myself one through and through, of course. That makes me uncool, and I'm completely fine with that.

    I once told my wife she's thoroughly uncool, and she took it almost as an offense. Her hobbies are...knitting, fountain pens, and making herbariums. Not that cool for a 30 year old person, I think. Not that I'm any better - I collect fountain pens and mechanical keyboards; for some reason, both of them write words.

    What do you think? Are we cool, are we uncool, or are we above the petty mortal issues such as dealing with others perception of us?
    Based on that description above, I think both your wife and you, are cool.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Quote Originally Posted by mulrich View Post
    My office is going through annual maintenance on the HVAC system so the temperature in my office is hovering around 60° F which is very cool (I brought in a heater yesterday and got the temperature up to 65° which is still pretty cool).

    I don't think I'd consider myself socially 'cool' by many standards. Fortunately my kids all seem to like me and my wife puts up with me and those are the opinions I care most about.
    We keep our home thermostat set at 57 degrees F. Our air conditioner is an oak tree on the east side of the house and a maple tree on the west side. 60 degrees? Yer breakin' my heart.
    "Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little." -Epicurus-

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    I'm not cool. I have never been cool. Indeed, I reject the foolish concept of cool.
    Regards,
    Deb
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    I'm not cool. I have never been cool. Indeed, I reject the foolish concept of cool.


    I have never cared about what others think of me, my important ones excluded, and I still do not. I have always been odd, to others, but that never bothered me because I had love and acceptance from the ones I cared about.

    Conclusion, I am not cool, or fashion slave, and never have been.

    But I am cool about other's need to be

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    How does "cool" differ from "neat" and "boss"?
    "Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little." -Epicurus-

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    I always assumed it was either a bit tongue-in-cheek or said ironically. Lets be real, it was to separate ourselves from those stick-in-the-mud at that other place.

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    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Quote Originally Posted by AzJon View Post
    I always assumed it was either a bit tongue-in-cheek or said ironically. Lets be real, it was to separate ourselves from those stick-in-the-mud at that other place.
    Oh well, in that case...
    Regards,
    Deb
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    I certainly could be wrong about that, but when I was a kid in the highschool band, and therefore a "band geek", we were acutely aware that we were not, in fact "cool" by societal definition. We would say that we are very cool, despite our not being very cool.

    I will say though, Deb, I find your rejection of the concept to be very cool in a counterculture kind of way.

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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    I'm definitely with Deb in not wanting to be, nor even being cool.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  31. #20
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: "We're cool!"

    Quote Originally Posted by AzJon View Post
    I will say though, Deb, I find your rejection of the concept to be very cool in a counterculture kind of way.
    That's very uncool of you.
    Regards,
    Deb
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