# I am too stupid to use a pencil sharpener, and other tragedies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638 "2010-05-24T23:47:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/21 "2010-05-26T01:01:43Z")
I just thought that maybe this [Cul de Sac strip](http://www.gocomics.com/culdesac/2008/05/02/) involving a pencil sharpener might make **jsgoddess** laugh (and the rest of y’all, too, I hope). ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/22 "2010-05-26T01:13:41Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I just thought that maybe this [Cul de Sac strip](http://www.gocomics.com/culdesac/2008/05/02/) involving a pencil sharpener might make **jsgoddess** laugh (and the rest of y’all, too, I hope). Now I feel like that cartoonist knew me in my childhood. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/23 "2010-05-26T07:28:55Z")
I can’t tie my shoes. I tie them but not with that bow that tucks itself. I buy Skechers with the elastic instead of laces and my sandls have velcro because i never got the knack of that one knot. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/24 "2010-05-26T07:41:02Z")
[Should have read further down] ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/25 "2010-05-26T08:16:42Z")
Not sure if you want advice how to use a pencil sharpener or not, but the key is always pressure. Each pencil sharpener has an ideal pressure that the pencil should be pressed into the hole. The manual ones usually need more pressure than the mechanical or electric, but the manual or electric need a firmer grip. Also, angle is important. Some people bend the pencil while turning. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/26 "2010-05-26T13:26:53Z")
In addition, for the little [hand-held](http://www.bridgat.com/files/Aluminum_Pencil_Sharpener.jpg) pencil sharpeners: Don’t hold the pencil sharpener static in one hand while you twist the pencil in the other. Twist _both_ hands, as if you are wringing out a washcloth. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/27 "2010-05-27T03:31:22Z")
I believe the “no mechanical pencils” thing on standardized tests to be BS. I’ve been teaching HS for 26 years and have never had problems with mechanical pencils and Scan-Trons. I have also never heard of any state-graded (EOCT, CRCT) tests not grading correctly because of them. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/28 "2010-05-27T04:47:29Z")
Why can’t you use mechanical? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/29 "2010-05-27T04:53:00Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > Why can’t you use mechanical? The instructions for at least some standardized tests prohibit them (or at least tell you not to use them); see Post #11 for why. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/30 "2010-05-27T05:44:55Z")
Per [collegeboard.com](http://collegeboard.com) (the fine folks behind the SATs and a few others): [ > [@](#): > > Mechanical pencils might punch through the answer sheet and the marks they make cannot be guaranteed to scan properly ]([What were SAT Subject Tests? - College Board Blog](http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-subject/test-day/tips)) My conspiratorial .02: I think it’s to avoid hyper-clicking sprouting up in test rooms as leads need changing. A room of fifty people focused on their test, and every five to ten minutes there’s a click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click coming from somewhere. Keeps the distractions down. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638/31 "2010-05-27T13:01:00Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > Why can’t you use mechanical? You’ll poke your eye out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-too-stupid-to-use-a-pencil-sharpener-and-other-tragedies/540638.md?page=1)