Not a Hobbyist

[pajaro]

I agree with Scrawler. I don't need fountain pens. I spend up to an hour daily, fooling with pens, filling some, testing some and less than a minute writing with them. I use a ballpoint much more, typically a nice Parker 51 bp, a Papermate bp or a Montblanc 164 red or black one. Those last were $44 each from Fahrneys in 1983.

All my pens are pretty old.

[arrow]

...I don't need fountain pens. I spend up to an hour daily, fooling with pens, filling some, testing some and less than a minute writing with them. I use a ballpoint much more, typically a nice Parker 51 bp, a Papermate bp or a Montblanc 164 red or black one...

I wonder why you registered on this forum? I would not expect someone with less than a minimum of interst in ink and refillable pens to guide themselves in this direction. I would expect a minimum of interest in writing or ink drawing, your post count indicates at at least some ;- )

I think pen and paper gives the mind a chance to direction and focus in a different way, the web connection and even the lcd screen tend to scatter the effort. A word processor isn't the worst thing that has come along, but the linear thought and reasonably connected chain of argument aren't as common as it used to be.

[pajaro]

...I don't need fountain pens. I spend up to an hour daily, fooling with pens, filling some, testing some and less than a minute writing with them. I use a ballpoint much more, typically a nice Parker 51 bp, a Papermate bp or a Montblanc 164 red or black one...

I wonder why you registered on this forum? I would not expect someone with less than a minimum of interst in ink and refillable pens to guide themselves in this direction. I would expect a minimum of interest in writing or ink drawing, your post count indicates at at least some ;- )

I think pen and paper gives the mind a chance to direction and focus in a different way, the web connection and even the lcd screen tend to scatter the effort. A word processor isn't the worst thing that has come along, but the linear thought and reasonably connected chain of argument aren't as common as it used to be.

Well, arrow, I have collected pens for a long time, mister. I have a couple of hundred fountain pens. At age seventy I am winding down the spending, and the fooling around. I have been registered here for a few years longer than you. Why did you bother? Are you at the outset of your interest in pens, inks, etc.? Your remarks struck me as very judgemental and snappish..

[dfo]

Self-identifying as a fountain pen hobbyist is up to the person.

I enjoy writing with fountain pens and spend time doing so outside of work in my leisure time: thus, I consider myself a hobbyist. However, for the last year, I rarely used a pen outside of work and, as such, I have written in other threads that I came back to the hobby. I do not expect to buy another pen. But, for me, buying things does not make a hobby a hobby. It is repeatedly doing something for enjoyment in your leisure time.

I guess I could also consider myself a connoisseur of fine writing equipment, but I also enjoy writing. So maybe writing is my hobby.

[arrow]

...Why did you bother? Are you at the outset of your interest in pens, inks, etc.? Your remarks struck me as very judgemental and snappish..

I have used fountain pens in the past and never entirely put them aside, but it wasn't until lately when I noticed I needed to firm up my writing and couldn't find my favorite pen I invested in a few new ones. I didn't aim for snappy at all, but I am guilty of being judgemental. From your post I assume you didn't bother much about fountain pens, and was a bit baffled by a guy fiddeling an hour daily with his pens and not having much interest or plans for them. It's all right to move on to different things and what ever you do with your pen collection. I will probably never have a vast collection, just a few aimed for my experiments and uses. My writing will probably stay with me for life, so investing in the right pens for the purpose still seem like the right choice.

[penwash]

To each their own.

3 pages.
56 posts.
4 words sum it up.

So you'd rather everything to be summed up in 4 words? I don't.

Everyone in this thread is civil to each other and we all learn about something that is useful for us to re-evaluate our views. I think it's worth 3 pages and 56 posts.

By the way, Lisa and Zou, I thank you both for your responses to my comment (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread...l=1#post266646), I learn from them.

[Jon Szanto]

To each their own.

3 pages.
56 posts.
4 words sum it up.

So you'd rather everything to be summed up in 4 words? I don't.

I don’t see it as rather, merely that the answer was sufficient for them. Speaking only for myself, I’ve grown increasingly resistant to the near-constant need for labeling people and their interests. I much prefer just getting on with life and it’s pastimes, and wish the same for others, hence my concise comment.

[ethernautrix]

Why not start with, say, four words? Hmm? Ever think about that?

Original post for "Not a Hobbyist": To each one's own.




Now what?

[kazoolaw]

Why not start with, say, four words? Hmm? Ever think about that?

Yes,
And I think that it would be hard to summarize that which does not yet exist, i.e. 3 pages and 56 posts.

[kazoolaw]

To each their own.

3 pages.
56 posts.
4 words sum it up.

So you'd rather everything to be summed up in 4 words? I don't.

3 numbers, 6 words.
Into which you infuse a non-existent intent, and express your opposition to that which isn't there.
Sometimes long posts are just..........long.

[catbert]

Why not start with, say, four words? Hmm? Ever think about that?

Original post for "Not a Hobbyist": To each one's own.




Now what?

My posts are like that. Could be why they never go anywhere.

[Zou]

To each their own.

3 pages.
56 posts.
4 words sum it up.

So you'd rather everything to be summed up in 4 words? I don't.

3 numbers, 6 words.
Into which you infuse a non-existent intent, and express your opposition to that which isn't there.
Sometimes long posts are just..........long.

You can't use a platitude about people liking what they like to mock people who like reading and writing long posts. I forbid it!

[Deb]

You can't use a platitude about people liking what they like to mock people who like reading and writing long posts. I forbid it!

Quite right too! Your post was long and very readable. I can't imagine why people would be critical about the length. Maybe it was too demanding for their easily-tired little minds. Poor things. I think it's down to all those snippets of information we get fed on television. We're trained to accept nothing longer than ten seconds before the attention wanders.

[penwash]

3 numbers, 6 words.
Into which you infuse a non-existent intent, and express your opposition to that which isn't there.
Sometimes long posts are just..........long.

That's your opinion.

You could say it in a kinder way and less condescending, but I'm truly okay with you not agreeing with me on that matter.

[kazoolaw]

Them were my words.
That was not an opinion.
Facts can be unkind.
But "truly okay?"
Jury's still out.

[kazoolaw]

To each their own.

3 pages.
56 posts.
4 words sum it up.

So you'd rather everything to be summed up in 4 words? I don't.

3 numbers, 6 words.
Into which you infuse a non-existent intent, and express your opposition to that which isn't there.
Sometimes long posts are just..........long.

You can't use a platitude about people liking what they like to mock people who like reading and writing long posts. I forbid it!

If it was a platitude it wasn't mine.
But one can admire concision without mockery.
It isn't the summary's fault that it's so...short.
Yes, mi'lord.

[kazoolaw]

Quite right too! Your post was long and very readable. I can't imagine why people would be critical about the length. Maybe it was too demanding for their easily-tired little minds. Poor things. I think it's down to all those snippets of information we get fed on television. We're trained to accept nothing longer than ten seconds before the attention wanders.

I can't imagine why people would be critical of the economy of Jon's post.
Perhaps you might break training, turn off your television, and polish your sarcasm.
Nothing a little editing would help.

[kazoolaw]

Nothing a little editing wouldn't help.

[Jon Szanto]

The direction of this thread really bothers me. The OP is of a very benign nature, a musing on how one views their involvement with these objects. Hardly inflammatory stuff.

Why can’t people read responses to glean the intent and ideas being offered, instead of focusing on things like tone, length and perceived agendas? As just one example, one of my critical flaws as a writer is unchecked verbosity. In addition to the fact that I’ve been recovering from a hospital stay and merely typing on my iPad, I thought my response was an easy choice for brevity. It said what I needed it to say, and yet the manner of my expression has superseded the message.

The world has a lot of ugly. Let’s all take a breath and not have it flourish here, as well.

[kazoolaw]

"why can't people...glean the intent..?" Because it's easier to insert intent.
I'm not committed enough to be a hobbyist.
I'm focused enough to be a collector.
I'm just a guy with pens and bottles of ink.