# Fancy Pens **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fancy-pens/591329 "2011-08-03T16:04:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fancy-pens/591329/41 "2011-08-05T15:59:34Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > This means that not only was the clerk unfriendly/ snobbish, they actually didn’t know about good pens; as the others have said, trying it out is important. It’s like a car dealer not having gas in the tanks to offer test rides. As I said before, I’ve experienced this in Mont Blanc-branded stores. > [@constanze](#): > > I’m afraid to ask\* what the reason for that is, in case it turns out to be a case of “it was too difficult to teach the children, so we dropped it, caving in to the lowest denominator instead of devoting more resources to teaching better”. My impression is that it’s a combination of: 1. It was a low priority in the first place and now that there are so many other obligations, such as endless preparation for standardized tests, that it simply got squeezed out. 2. They expect students to do most of their writing, especially outside of school, on keyboards anyway – so handwriting is largely obsolete. 3. They don’t think it’s worth the time and effort to teach two separate scripts – they figure that block/print will be good enough. I don’t agree with these points. However, I do think that the traditional cursive script taught in American schools sucked ass. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > However, the two types of pens are VERY similar, and the difference is really not very significant. As far as mechanical principles go, they’re nearly identical, but the writing experience can be quite different ballpoint pens require a lot more pressure and make a relatively dry and scratchy line. Rollerball pens can be used with much less pressure and make a more wet, smooth line. > [@](#): > > Ball points and roller balls don’t have springs in them, unless they have a button on the top of the pen which the user clicks to extend or retract the writing point. Actually, a lot of non-retractable ballpoints and rollerballs use springs too, especially if they are refillable. In fact almost any quality rollerball will have a spring inside. It’s not a mandatory part of the mechanism, but it does allow some give, which can make for a slightly less stiff writing experience. The entirely disposable kind that can’t be opened up has no spring. ---
**Author:** ![AuntPam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@AuntPam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntPam)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fancy-pens/591329/42 "2011-08-05T16:44:53Z")
In addition to Fahrney’s, check out Paradise Pen and Colorado Pen, both have websites and, in my experience, great service. I collect fancy pens. I love the Auroras, most Pelikan pens, Watermans. Faber Castell makes some cool pens, too. Rollerballs run out of ink at least three times as fast as ballpoints, so buy refills if you buy a rollerball. I have a mix of rollerballs and fountain pens. I tend to use fountain pens for signing legal documents, in blue ink, or for writing formal letters, which I still do from time to time. They aren’t as speedy as rollerballs, so you have to slow down and think a bit as you write. For taking notes at high speed, nothing beats a rollerball. One nice thing about fancy pens is that the thickness of the barrels makes them easier to grasp. No hand cramps, even when writing for a long time (like in a law school final exam.) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fancy-pens/591329/43 "2011-08-05T19:02:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, a lot of non-retractable ballpoints and rollerballs use springs too, especially if they are refillable. In fact almost any quality rollerball will have a spring inside. It’s not a mandatory part of the mechanism, but it does allow some give, which can make for a slightly less stiff writing experience. The entirely disposable kind that can’t be opened up has no spring. Ah. When I buy ballpoints for household use, I generally buy the cheapest stick pens available, because my husband will grab them and use them and then abuse them. The cats will also play with them. So I buy the packet that has ten or twelve pens in it, and stick them into the “household” pencil cup. I put my good pens in my desk drawer when I’m not using them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fancy-pens/591329.md?page=2)