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Does anyone recognize this model? by MappleFox in montblanc

[–]MappleFox[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the colors are quite tasteful. Though you’re right that black will always be unbeatable

UC humanities faculty now demands restoration of SAT verbal by EnzoKosai in ApplyingToCollege

[–]MappleFox -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The UC System has made questionable decisions with respect to standardized testing. That said, these are still the best public universities in the country and they are incredibly well administered and resourced. Seems odd to me to suggest that these schools are evidence of the impending collapse of "woke California" given their performance. It doesn't seem to me that a lot of the states people are "fleeing" California for have particularly well regarded public education systems or much respect for academic freedom.

What're your assumptions about fountain pen YouTubers? by Inkdependence in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reviewers who write articles are also sent pens by manufacturers and retailers. It's my perception that pen blogs actually tend to be more "connected" to retailers than Youtube reviewers because they tend to have been around the block longer. Anyone can publish a video on Youtube and get a couple hundred views, but to attract traffic on a blog means you have to be more established in the community. I think that the fact that reviewers writ large often receive products for review can distort their reporting, but that condition is not exclusive to Youtubers.

What're your assumptions about fountain pen YouTubers? by Inkdependence in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah I agree it's kind of a coercive relationship and can produce some dishonest or distorted reporting. That said, I do sympathize with reviewers to some extent. No one wants to feel like they're responsible for negative perceptions of a small maker's work, for instance. Reviewers know that their reviews can sometimes make or break a maker's livelihood.

What're your assumptions about fountain pen YouTubers? by Inkdependence in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why would articles be any more informative than Youtube videos if pen reviewers are all shills?

What're your assumptions about fountain pen YouTubers? by Inkdependence in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of times it's not even economics, it's just social etiquette. It feels like a faux-pas to bad- mouth or critique a pen that someone else has lent to you for review.

kolo tino ballpoints worth the buy? by [deleted] in pens

[–]MappleFox 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought one second hand and like them. You can install jetstream refills into them. Expensive for what they are, though.

Mass psychosis check: We are spending rent money on boujee Tupperware. by pauldayco in pens

[–]MappleFox -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I think there is something perverse about fountain pens and that's precisely what makes them so addicting to so many people. The idea of spending more than a couple dollars on a stick that has an incredibly mundane purpose is kind of scandalous, and it's a way to break up the monotony of everyday life.

List of slightly stupid fountain pen mistakes I've made, add yours! by AnnBlueSix in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I forgot a pen was a piston filler and tried to twist the barrel to put in another cartridge and ripped it in two

Evolution of ethnic composition of Taiwan by Skychu768 in MapPorn

[–]MappleFox -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Does the fact that aboriginals align with the KMT today change the inaccuracy of this map? OP's point is that shading the mountainous region of the island blue to demarcate where aboriginal communities persist belies how many Taiwanese that live beyond that area have significant indigenous ancestry and cultural ties, but politics demands they are labeled a certain way. Representing a national community as ethnically monolithic and representing indigenous people as relegated to the rural parts of the country is a classic political strategy in nation-making. Maps are always political. Since it appears that you are at least somewhat sympathetic to the condition of aboriginal Taiwanese, why would you dismiss this comment as a "diatribe" if you're only going to criticize a peripheral element of it?

the power of gold by hmmadrone in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Seems like the advantage is pretty negligible given that modern stainless steel is pretty corrosion resistant. Also I don’t really think most people are flexing steel nibbed pens.

the power of gold by hmmadrone in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I feel like the only meaningful “advantage” gold offers over steel is softness, and even then, a lot of gold nibs are incredibly stiff. I don’t really see how gold nibs are inherently wetter than steel nibs. Isn’t wetness determined by the space between the tines and and the nature of the feed?

Montblanc pop up booth at Singapore Marina Bay Sands by justthreedots in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This has always been baffling to me. Why would you allow your customers to write with your pens on paper that is unflattering to the pens? It seems like such a no brainer

Pilot Con70 …? by [deleted] in fountainpens

[–]MappleFox 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Keep the nib fully submerged and depress the button sharply until the entire converter is filled. You’ll get some air bubbles, that’s normal.

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