# Finally Women are able to use writing instruments! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020 "2012-08-29T09:14:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kjckjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@kjckjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjckjc)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/1 "2012-08-29T09:14:05Z")
> **[BiC For Her Ball Pen - Black : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies](https://www.amazon.co.uk/BiC-Her-Ball-Pen-Black/dp/B004FTF6H4)** > > BiC For Her Ball Pen - Black : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies I love reading the comments. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/2 "2012-08-29T09:30:51Z")
> [@kjckjc](#): > > I love reading the comments. 😃 Hysterical. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/3 "2012-08-29T10:19:32Z")
I got that linky yesterday from [customerssuck.com](http://customerssuck.com) I absolutely love the lumberjack one =) ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/4 "2012-08-29T12:14:59Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I got that linky yesterday from [customerssuck.com](http://customerssuck.com) > > I absolutely love the lumberjack one =) Me too, because he’s a lumberjack and he’s allright. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/5 "2012-08-29T13:53:34Z")
> [@detop](#): > > Me too, because he’s a lumberjack and he’s allright. Does he work all day? What does he do at night? That’s just what a woman needs. A box of ballpoint penis. ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/6 "2012-08-29T14:10:57Z")
Shut up and take my money!!! Wait, what is this “writing” of which they speak? ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/7 "2012-08-29T14:17:39Z")
\***BIC For Her Amber Medium Ballpoint Pen (Box of 12) - Black** \*Not available in Afghanistan ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/8 "2012-08-29T14:18:10Z")
Walked into the local hardware store. It was promoting tools and toolbelts for woman. Everything either had a pink handle or was pink. Made me all stabby. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/9 "2012-08-29T14:50:02Z")
To be fair, its got to kind of suck to be the marketing guy that has to justify his paycheck by coming up with new and innovative ways to market pens. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/10 "2012-08-29T14:58:03Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > To be fair, its got to kind of suck to be the marketing guy that has to justify his paycheck by coming up with new and innovative ways to market pens. He was almost fired in 1955 when it was discovered through focus groups that millions of scuba divers wouldn’t write long letters under water with Paper Mate pens even if they could. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/11 "2012-08-29T14:59:31Z")
…but does it shave close? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/12 "2012-08-29T15:02:36Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > To be fair, its got to kind of suck to be the marketing guy that has to justify his paycheck by coming up with new and innovative ways to market pens. It was a pretty obvious move. Freud worked out more than 100 years ago that all women subconsciously suffer from pens envy. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/13 "2012-08-29T15:13:47Z")
That’s the first pen packaging I’ve ever seen that looks like it actually needs to have “For External Use Only” stamped on it. Serious, Bic, what the hell? Did you find some unused product designs while rummaging through the dumpster behind Kotex? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/14 "2012-08-29T15:18:03Z")
I think that we’re forgetting that the pen produces a 0.4mm line, as opposed to the more masculine 0.5mm. Perfect for dotting I’s with little hearts! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/15 "2012-08-29T15:19:37Z")
I thought I posted to this thread earlier, but it doesn’t seem to be here. I heard this story on NPR in my car this morning. Their approach was not surprising. “Not to put too fine a point on it,” they said, “Women are skeptical.” The feeling seems to be that the company is trying to sell two sets of pens to every household. If they want to sell to specialized groups, they shou;ld try marketing independently to writers, drafters, artists, etc. Not just specialized points, of course, but the whole ambience. I’ve known writers who tried out a variety of pens and stayed with what they thought of as their “lucky” pens. I have no doubt artists feel the same way. Establish a customer base like that and you’re set for life – they’d be like adicts, going to your company for their Hit. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/16 "2012-08-29T15:23:59Z")
> [@jlzania](#): > > Walked into the local hardware store. It was promoting tools and toolbelts for woman. Everything either had a pink handle or was pink. Made me all stabby. Personally, I think “girly” designs for tools can have some merit, at least for discouraging tool theft by husbands (mine has a bad habit of making off with my pliers, wire cutters, and such that I use for crafts). ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/17 "2012-08-29T15:24:29Z")
Women can write? Who knew! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/18 "2012-08-29T15:40:59Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > “Not to put too fine a point on it,” they said, Hello?!? 0.4mm! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/19 "2012-08-29T16:18:49Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Women can write? Who knew! It really is more for doodling but I don’t see why they can’t just share the crayons with the children. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020/20 "2012-08-29T16:59:20Z")
Oh, great. Now we’re going to be subjected to really grouchy notes every 28 days. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-women-are-able-to-use-writing-instruments/633020.md?page=2)