Quote Originally Posted by welshwizard View Post
I attended a school (a long time ago) where it was forbidden to use a ballpoint for any exams, prep, homework etc. I tried most of the good pens Parker, Shaeffer etc., but nothing seemed to write as well as a cheap pen made by Platignum in the UK. Times change,on starting at university my daughter was told only printed work was acceptable for marking. I'm interested to know why anyone would carry a fountain pen these days. Most if not all paperwork in my job is created with a keyboard and printer. Any handwriting seems to be on NCR multipart forms. Even Doctors (Physicians US?) generate prescriptions by computer these days.
I do use a fountain pen to write my Christmas cards and the very occasional personal letter.
Ha ha, yes, indeed, why would anyone carry a fountain pen these days? In fact, why would anyone shave with a straight razor?

The fountain pen was passed to me by my father. I've never felt the need to use one since school. But there's something inherently enjoyable in signing off a contract at work, or indeed anything requiring signatures, with an ink pen.

One thing that has been an unexpected pleasure is that fountain pens seem to make me take a little more time and care in the writing. With a ballpoint you can scrawl very quickly, but with a fountain pen it seems (to me at least) that you need to take a little more care. Apart from a better looking outcome (the appearance of the writing), the enjoyment I've found from this is very much like the enjoyment I get from shaving with a straight in that it forces me to take more care and time over the shave (compared to a cartridge razor).

Cartridge razor = disposable ballpoint
Straight razor = fountain pen