The Discomfort Of Mortality
Introduction:
Not mine own, but of the objects I own. Perhaps it is some insecurity, but that’s not our topic. I bought a pen, I bought some pens, I bought a pencil, I bought a fountain 1 pen. All with the concern of ink supply, DURABILITY and support.
My Preference:
Metal. I love metal, all metals (usable ones), stainless steel, aluminium, titanium, BRASS . Why? They feel good in the hand, all my mechanical 2 pencils and 3 ballpoints are metal. Then I wanted a fountain pen, too many options, none to my taste, too many companies yet no good place to buy them. I hate living in India, can’t have anything. I got a Lamy Safari, ASA plastic. I hate plastic, it’s light, it’s DURABLE . Huh.
Plastic:
The wonder material, it’s magic. DURABLE , doesn’t shatter, comfortably light and non-decomposable. I hate it, I shouldn’t. I’m a well-researched environmental advocate, no unnecessary hate, plastic is a need and is the best material for a lot of things. BUT ITS SO DAMN UGLY, but I bought a Lamy Safari. Why?
Feed:
Fountain pens inherently all contain plastic. Their feed has to be 4 plastic. Broke my spirit. The lads running the business also have something against metal on the grip section, thus the Pilot Metropolitan which is mostly metal has a cheap plastic lower barrel which breaks.
Lamy Safari:
It’s DURABLE , nice plastic. That’s mostly it. Nibs are replaceable, the company is reliable, easily cleanable. It has horrible design. Huh. It’s ugly, not as much as i thought, but it’s ugly. I’m not satisfied. I generally hate all fountain pen designs, I like the industrial look (ref. Rotring 600). But this doesn’t matter. I’m rambling
What Mortality?
When I bought my ballpoint, the main concern was the refills. I wanted a pen I could refill easily. I want everything to fit. I wanted a BigIdeaDesign Arto EDC. It’s too expensive. I compromised for a pen that supports parker-style inks (its a standard). I was buying a fountain pen, they take all inks, inks are everywhere. Perfect, Perfect right? Fountain pens have a mechanism, my ballpoint or my pencil does not . The feed is in the pen itself. It’s flimsy, cheap, DURABLE*. Huh.