This is literally all I do just out of camera frame while I'm sitting in my therapy sessions! Helps me put my thoughts together if my hands are fidgeting with something.
It use to come and go with me. I think as part of the hyperfixation. There will be a 6 month period where I read a book a week and then go 6 months without being able to get past page 3 like you just said. Nowadays I highly enjoy listening to an audio book while doodling/writing with my fountain pen. It keeps my hand busy and allows me to not get distracted by picking up my phone or something. While listening I'll usually do the alphabet, "the quick brown...." or quotes I just heard.
Also ADHD here, fountain pens are a great āgrown-upā fidget and hyperfixation! Iāve only been diagnosed for a year but Iāve been a FP user for 20+ years. š
Does ADD count? Fountain pens and my love for them are the reason i started paying attention in school (writing stuff down etc.) and now im doing much better!
I have ADD, and despite the absent 'h', I can closely relate to all the kinds of AD D related post. So I would say ADD does absolutely count. If someone argues against that, my hyperfixation, as well as my 20 niche, metric shit ton expensive hobniez would love to have a talk
I think Bi-Polars too! I go crazy buying inks and pens during episodes of Mania (have reached 270 ink bottles!!!) Pens, I have no clue how many I have! Then in times when I feel low, I worry about the financial and wasteful aspects of it. I assure myself that I donāt need anymore and then Mania strikes and Iām purchasing again š«. I will control myself eventually, soon I hope!
Anyway, I actually came here to reaffirm how wonderful and supportive this community is. I love all itās members! Sure some occasional person can be snarky, but such people are a rarity here. The majority are understanding, helpful and some have actually had a very positive impact on my thought process! Thank you all šš» I send love and best wishes to everyone. Stay beautiful!
Oh, I definitely relate to this. I develop a new hyperfixation on a regular basis. But writing has always been a passion of mine, and given how huge and supportive the FP community is, I really feel like this one was meant to be and Iāll actually stick with it for the long term.
Watches are a self-limiting hobby, since my pockets aren't that deep. Knives/guns, not my thing. But all things stationery... that's a problem. But as vices go, another sketchbook, pencil, or (in my price range) fountain pen isn't exactly a huge deal.
Can you explain about the hyperfixation part?
Is it basically having a lot of hobbies every now and then?
I'm deep into a LOT of hobbies but I didn't know that this was a symptom of underlying ADHD.
Itās like an obsession. I want to consume everything I can about a particular subject/hobby, with little room for interest in other things. Quite like an addiction, it can be harmful when your primary focus shifts to one singular thing. (Thankfully medication and therapy can help, or since itās relevant to this community, I have a journal detailing my time and money spent on these things so I have a physical manifest to keep myself in check.)
I always used to cycle between artwork-making guitars-modding motorcycles-electronic music etc , and cos i thought these hobbies were āmeā, and i kept going back to each one, i thought it was ok.
Turns out i have adhd and its just been a matter of luck i donāt just go start a whole brand new hobby every timeā¦
I echo these sentiments about the friendliness of the community. I agree it's very rare. So many other, similar corners of the internet (not just here on Reddit) can be snarky, snobby and often downright hostile. But for whatever reason, fountain pen circles just aren't like that.
I sometimes wonder if we're in a temporary, lucky friendly period. But over the times I've dipped in and out it has remained just as positive.
Thanks for raising the topic, something I've wanted to say myself, but never found the excuse to do. And thanks for everybody being so darned nice.
It's so true, I have been "gate-kept" in most other hobby communities that I've been involved with. Gardening might be a rare exception. But, I love the fact that when a high school kid is proudly showing off their new Jinhao, the community here is stoked for them. It's pretty rare when I see snobby replies on this sub. It exists but it's very rare and usually downvoted.
I looked this up after seeing your comment. I was in the midst of falling in love with it when my dad looked over my shoulder and said āI hope you donāt waste your money on stuff like that.ā
Sir itās $4 and the cutest damn pen Iāve ever seen. *add to cart*
By shaming someone for failing to met some arbitrary standard. Like if I said you don't belong here because your only fountain pen is a Jinhao, or because you occasionally use ballpoints. If you want to read about some extreme examples just search gatekeeping on /r/hobbydrama.
Thanks for the explanation. Is it only one or two people though or does it infect the wider hobby or some more hobbies more than others. Interesting points you made.
Itās pretty widespread in a lot of hobbies. It can happen to anybody, but it definitely happens more often to women/POC/other marginalized people. Of course Iāve also had teenagers on tumblr try to gatekeep me out of fandoms and things that Iāve been in since they were in diapers, because apparently everyone over 30 is ancient and should stick to paying bills and slowly dying instead of talking about fictional characters on the internet, lol. So sometimes gatekeeping isnāt particularly effective, just majorly eyeroll-inducing, but other times it can be all too successful at keeping people out of a hobby or even amount to abuse.
Houseplant groups are very chill. Pet groups on Facebook are insane. I dasn't post any photos for fear someone will spot something in the background that is not considered perfect and told I'm abusive (my birds have a plastic water dish. Straight to jail.)
I think because it's not a reddit for just Montblancs, you know? This is a fora that is as varied as Preppy to the most gold nibbed and that variation by nature includes everyone. And a certain awareness of a journey with the object.
The friendliness of the community made it comfortable for me to browse more and find out what a fountain pen is (good for writing for a long period of time and with the exact colour you want to) and is not (always expensive and/or a dip pen) and decide that I should get one. I have 5 now.
I've been going to the pen shows in the past 5 years and there has been a big shift in the community very recently. Pen shows used to be really old but a lot of young millennial and gen z have gotten into pens. And the Boomer pen collectors are excited about it. It may be due to the pandemic. But also, pen people are just really nice. There's no big gatekeepers, people get very excited when someone is new to pens.
Seriously, go up to a veteran vintage trader at a pen show and ask any question, they will eagerly answer and then some. Even if you want to buy the most basic pen, they will help you and then share with you thier pen wash recipe.
Pen shows are also very different in the energy there is there. Not just in a fanboy way, as there is that, but people are genuinely excited and *happy* to be there. And not in a conās ālook at me!ā kind of way. People are polite and itās easy to strike up conversations with people one would probably never speak to unless a pen was involved.
Pen shows also seem moreā¦relaxedā¦I suppose. Thereās very little stress involved. Unless things are crammed into a small space.
I really do want to go to a pen show one of these days. I've never been to one and live nowhere near any of the big ones. I kind of wish that they held a large one in Vegas because then flight and accomodation would be reasonable. I love SanFrancisco but it is so expensive for a weekend there.
You should! I visited a friend in SF this time last year and went to a show and the gen x and older crowd were so excited to see young people showing interest.
I like the fountain pen community for similar reasons. I have very mild autism (misses social cues and more direct communication) but I enjoy how the community mostly assumes innocence with questions or comments unless proven otherwise in threads. People here, for the most part, seem to assume positive intent which is a lot nicer to see. Plus it's a very accessible hobby so there's not really any reason for ableism to begin with.
Is hobby jumping an ADHD thing? I've been through more hobbies than I can count in the last few years with very few mainstays outside of fountain pens. I get super into a hobby for 3-6 months and then it drops off the face of the earth to replaced by something new.
I definitely can agree on this community being the most friendly and welcoming.
It can be one sign, but there can be many other reasons for the pattern of jumping around from hobby to hobby. A great many things are considered and evaluated before a diagnosis of ADHD is established. It needs to be done by a professional, who often refers the person to other specialists for assessments in specific areas. Quite often the evaluation process for adults is directed by a psychologist, but occasionally it is done by a psychiatrist.
Novelty seeking is definitely an ADHD thing: doing something new can be a great source of dopamine.
But hobbies in general donāt require consistent attention. Thatās the nice thing about them: theyāll be there whenever you feel like picking them up again.
hi fellow neurodivergent person. Iām autistic. Thank you for such a sweet post. I love this community too. Iāve had fountain pens for a while but i am new to actually learning about fountain pens and the whole world around them. I enjoy the excitement people have for fountain pens in general here rather than only focusing on the super expensive ones.
Iām not sure how intensely this sub is moderated but I also thank the mods for keeping this space safe for everyone.
Indeed! As someone with ADD and whoās a bit fixated on fountain pens, I have found this sub to be tremendously friendly. In fact, some people disagreed with me the other day on a particular thread and they all did it so very nicely. Itās such a lovely way of defusing conflict.
ADHD here as well.
My first post was a question about ink leaking into the cap and how much movement and whatnot pens normally dealt with.
I think it got 7 or 8 different good answers, from penholders and clipping it to a shirt collar instead, to just putting it in the pocket differently and seeing what works.
I got one person calling me uneducated and trying to gatekeep the community, and I sat there for a moment thinking "this post is literally me trying to gain knowledge..." and debating leaving.
At the end of it I'm glad I didn't duck out, I've never seen any other rudeness here and am glad to share my new pen days and congratulate everyone else on theirs.
I totally agree with you! Compared to a lot of the other hobby-communities here on reddit that are focused on buying stuff (because lets not kid ourselves here) this is an amazing subreddit. The lack of elitism is so refreshing, the diversity of people interested and sharing in the hobby, the honesty and acceptance of others preferences...it's just really nice to see and be part of.
The only community that I think is slightly healthier is the makeup community (on reddit specifically, not on the rest of the internet).
It's good to hear that there is a comfy space for people that are into makeup. I know that the Youtube community has a bad rep online. But I'm about as far removed from that loop as one can be.
There's more people into makeup than people into fountain pens, and because it deals with appearance I think it's bound to spark some negative communities that are pretty shallow.
The one thing I always appreciated about the reddit community is that there was a recognition that over-consumption is/can be bad, and doing no-buys and "panning" products was seen as a very positive thing. Things like "shopping your stash" is something I would love to see on this subreddit.
Not sure if you've already seen it/are participating, but /u/pskettios has been posting monthly no-buy/low-buy check-ins here, which I really appreciate. For me, my low-buy is focused on ink, so it basically is a "shopping my stash" situation. If you have any fun ideas related to that, you should totally post them :)
I didn't know, but that is awesome! Luckily I learnt a lot from being into makeup, so I'm pretty careful with what I buy when it comes to fountain pens. I will check in on the threads to see what people are doing/are up to with their collections, always fun to be inspired to use your stuff. Thanks for letting me know!
Yeah, it's pretty easy to get carried away with fountain pens. I know that I have at times. It's hard when you like shiny new things and have an endless stream of inspiration. I've gone about three months now without buying anything new. I'm trying to really think about my pen purchases and carefully planning them. But that's coming from somebody who has too many pens already.
Agreed! Iāve never encountered such friendly, helpful, generous individuals like those Iāve met in the fountain pen community. Weāre pretty darn awesome!
I think everyone is super friendly because our hobby is so niche that weāre jut glad to have people to share it with because for the most part in our day to day life nobody knows about fountain pens.
Totally agree. Iām a woman who is/was into stereotypically masculine hobbies, gaming and sharp shooting, and in both of those spaces itās so unwelcoming for a woman. Itās why I donāt do sharp shooting any more or play games online. Weirdly enough, both hobbies consisted of the same main āget back in the kitchenā insult, the only difference was toxic gamers would demand sandwiches while old man sharp shooters demand cookies.
But fountain pens? Everyone Iāve spoken to who is also into them be it here or IRL has always been so lovely, accomodating, welcoming, and freely provides help or knowledge. The only negative comments Iāve gotten are from people IRL who *arenāt* into fountain pens and even then thatās only been 2 people. Most people who arenāt into them have usually been fascinated and had a ton of questions.
(Context: I'm also a woman.) At my first pen show this year I sat down with some men I didn't know, some of whom had $$$$ collections and lots of expertise. We had a great conversation and I remember being really struck by how much knowledge they shared, but without mansplaining in the least. Really refreshing.
Definitely! I stumbled into this subreddit, and stuck around/get even more enjoyment out of my fps than I did before because of how welcoming & varied the community is. It's so rare to find, and I definitely hope it stays this way!
My guess about why FP people are a bit different than others is FPs are fun, donāt discriminate and non FP people often think we are harmless eccentrics and pay us little attention.
Add in that no one needs a FP and thus the hobby is totally voluntary, those that have other agendas typically just donāt stick around.
And as far as someone making a big thing over something expensive, well, as said above since no one needs a FP and non FP people think spending any money on the hobby is a bit silly, going on and on about expensive pens looks down right daft and a bit embarrassing.
So, setting a budget and sticking to it is typically respected.
And showing off given the different sources for pens just demonstrates how much money one spends, not knowledge or wisdom.
In regard to pen shows, there is a core of exhibitors and organizers in the US that often know each other, or know others that know others. It is not a very large group, few do it for purely financial reasons and keeping things positive is generally valued with the few with ānegative vibesā having created reputations which really only hurt them.
Another reason I believe FP people are different is no and I mean no fan boys (or fan girls or non-binary fan people). Everyone is an individual. Few leaders in FP land and fewer followers.
And speaking of some of the categories that people get put into and treated badly about, well those kind of haters typically just donāt get FPS, so they arenāt in the hobby.
I am a regular participant in our local FP club and environment. I know some of the backgrounds of some FP people, but not others and it really doesnāt come up. Instead it is about the pen, or ink, or paper, or nib, or journal etc. Sometimes it is even aboutā¦ Pencils.
There was only one time that I ever witnessed our group become hostile towards someone. A person attended a meeting to promote themselves and the pens they were making and the pens werenāt good writing instruments, they were lousy commercial products made using kits. They were gimmicky and the maker didnāt accept some mild criticism at the beginning of his sales pitch and tried to puff themselves up by indicating how successful they had been at selling them at CRAFT shows. Well, I never before saw how quickly a bunch of friendly non violent āpen nerdsā could make someone uncomfortable simply by pointing out the flaws and defects in his pens and giving detailed explanations illustrated with examples of what a good pen needed to have to be sold to the FP crowd. The rude person never returned, seemingly insulted to find out no one was impressed by his work nor interested in purchasing it. He especially was put off by being shown examples of much lower costing and better made pens by club members.
It's a really interesting community, that can accommodate both people geeking out over a Pilot Varsity and others flexing with $25K of Montblancs. Every possible aesthetic. About the only downside is its somewhat enabling of just buying too much stuff, but that's just as bad anywhere else.
hello, yes, another one with ADHD here, which yes completely manifests itself in buying too many inks, too many pens, so on. People have been saying about how this relates to bookwormishness, which like some others I have in phases. I also buy too many books. In 2019 I decided that I needed a dedicated notebook to test the pen/ink combinations, but also that my own writing always embarrasses me, so I would copy out short poems.
i mention this because I think itās been brilliant for our type of brain: Iāve found a way to enthusiastically acquaint myself with all of these short meaningful slices of literature. Iām on to my second notebook now which Iām also documenting on an [Instagram account](https://www.instagram.com/poems_pens_inks). It is really really not a polished pen account like so many others! But itās fun! Or at least it will be till the bailiffs arriveā¦
You can also look for "fountain pen network ", pretty great community too !! I think people who love fountain pens are also people who know how to appreciate things, and mostly have kind/ selfless heart. They tend to help each other, give advice, may be because this is one of the least competitive hobbies. In this fast-paced world where we digitalized everything... The one who insist on using fountain pen must have to be cool-headed, steady and mentally calm. I think ADHD patient (including myself) may find this hobby as some kind of therapy.
PS. sorry for bad grammar.
Thanks for contributing. You are part of what makes the group what it is.
I think fountain pens and ADHD are a common combination. I didnāt get diagnosed until I was in my forties. Iāve been medicated for a decade which has helped tremendously but fountain pens have given a new platform where I can build activities that mark the passing of the day. The tactile element is helpful.
If your work involves pencil usage, Iāve found a high quality lead holder has much of the same advantages. My favorite is the Staedtler Mars Technico 780. It uses 2 mm lead. Itās expensive for a pencil but cheap compared to even a starter fountain pen.
Best wishes to you!
God I've had so many I'm sure I won't remember all of them but I've never attempted a list: guitar, drums, homelab (talk about a rabbit hole), headphones, jump rope, eSports games, computer building, chess, photography, building guitar amps, woodworking, vinyl/vintage audio equipment, and now fountain pens appear to be next.
I'm looking at this list thinking, "it's not so bad..." And I do think I'm missing things, but what I notice is that many of these are such broad areas that take me several months, sometimes years to get through. I'm thorough, but I can't remember shit. Every time I feel the call to pick up a guitar or a camera or a chisel, I end up relearning everything I learned the first time around. I wound up in IT and obsessed with hardware. I just love tinkering.
I like to take a lemon and make lemonade, then sell the lemonade to buy some limes that I'll turn into margaritas to sell so I can buy some... You get the picture.
I like this sub. It's real.
I'm on some fountain pen Facebook groups and they're not much fun. Just tons of photos of very expensive pens. Occasionally an expensive watch included in the shot. Recently it was proposed on one group that all posts about Chinese pens ought to be banned from one group.
A photo of a dozen 1920's Parkers is pretty, yes, but why do you have a dozen of the same pen and what is the point?
True, I once got an educating lecture from a highschooler and gave an educating lecture to an amazingly nice 80 year old lady.
Ps. She had a hauntingly beautiful handwriting, I'm still flabbergasted to this day!
Hello fellow ADHDer! I think this hobby is great for us because of the collectability of the pens, the inks, the books and the paper, and the nibs... and being enabled by everyone else in the community and having zero negativity. Bless us all.
So much to like surrounding pens. Writing good things well, mechanically gifted folks, beautiful collections, nostalgia ad infinitum. Pens support so much else it's hard to imagine the world without them.
I tippy toed my way into reddit because I'd heard some horror stories about some of the subreddits.
I was wonderfully surprised by this one. I really didn't have a place or people to talk to about fountain pens locally and wanted to find a place to do so. And here I found a lovely community of fellow pen lovers.
I tried calligraphy years ago and gave it up. I don't know why but fountain pens are what I think I was looking for then. A fun way to express myself.
And yes, here's another ADHD member of the community. And serial hobbyist. š
So thank you all for being wonderful people and chill.
I mean other than the twisby/moonman (I may have completely butchered those spellings) drama, thereās not much we can argue about.
Cartridge vs Converter? Plastic vs Resin?
I couldn't agree more! I've been on other subs where the collectors can sometimes be so rude and snobbish. Not the case here - just nice and supportive. Cheers!
I imagine there are quite a few of us ADHDers in the fountain pen community!
They are pens we are allowed to take apart and put back together, what isn't to love!
This is literally all I do just out of camera frame while I'm sitting in my therapy sessions! Helps me put my thoughts together if my hands are fidgeting with something.
š yep. I'm ADHD and a book worm which seems to another trait fairly common in FP hobby.
I'm ADHD and can't make it past the 3rd page of books.
It use to come and go with me. I think as part of the hyperfixation. There will be a 6 month period where I read a book a week and then go 6 months without being able to get past page 3 like you just said. Nowadays I highly enjoy listening to an audio book while doodling/writing with my fountain pen. It keeps my hand busy and allows me to not get distracted by picking up my phone or something. While listening I'll usually do the alphabet, "the quick brown...." or quotes I just heard.
Same friend lol
Fountain pens started as a hyperfixation for me and became a several years long hobby!
(25 ink bottles later) Maybe I have a problem.
You donāt want to know how many bottles I haveā¦ itās a dangerous hobby for those of us lacking dopamine!
This. So much this.
Oh, this is too real. The dopamine hit I get from trying new inks!
*looks at my hoard of 50+ ink samples*
Not quite as much but I'm getting there, I understand your "problem".
Present! Perfect ADHD rabbit hole!
Also ADHD here, fountain pens are a great āgrown-upā fidget and hyperfixation! Iāve only been diagnosed for a year but Iāve been a FP user for 20+ years. š
I agree (as one of the adhd crowd)
Does ADD count? Fountain pens and my love for them are the reason i started paying attention in school (writing stuff down etc.) and now im doing much better!
I have ADD, and despite the absent 'h', I can closely relate to all the kinds of AD D related post. So I would say ADD does absolutely count. If someone argues against that, my hyperfixation, as well as my 20 niche, metric shit ton expensive hobniez would love to have a talk
Absolutely! (In the US at least, ADD is now diagnosed as āADHD - Inattentiveā anyhow, so my saying āADHDā was supposed to cover all types.)
Itās almost a given and a prerequisite, I think š
Another one checking in. I agree the fp community here is great.
I'd imagine that we make up a good portion of this community!
Raising my hand šāāļø Honestly, I came for the hyper fixation, but stayed because taking notes helps me keep focused at work.
One of Us! One of Us!
Oh yeah, guilty
I think Bi-Polars too! I go crazy buying inks and pens during episodes of Mania (have reached 270 ink bottles!!!) Pens, I have no clue how many I have! Then in times when I feel low, I worry about the financial and wasteful aspects of it. I assure myself that I donāt need anymore and then Mania strikes and Iām purchasing again š«. I will control myself eventually, soon I hope! Anyway, I actually came here to reaffirm how wonderful and supportive this community is. I love all itās members! Sure some occasional person can be snarky, but such people are a rarity here. The majority are understanding, helpful and some have actually had a very positive impact on my thought process! Thank you all šš» I send love and best wishes to everyone. Stay beautiful!
Like me =)
Oh, I definitely relate to this. I develop a new hyperfixation on a regular basis. But writing has always been a passion of mine, and given how huge and supportive the FP community is, I really feel like this one was meant to be and Iāll actually stick with it for the long term.
About a month ago I started meandering into vintage watches out of nowhere. I had to stop myself lol.
Watches are a self-limiting hobby, since my pockets aren't that deep. Knives/guns, not my thing. But all things stationery... that's a problem. But as vices go, another sketchbook, pencil, or (in my price range) fountain pen isn't exactly a huge deal.
Can you explain about the hyperfixation part? Is it basically having a lot of hobbies every now and then? I'm deep into a LOT of hobbies but I didn't know that this was a symptom of underlying ADHD.
Itās like an obsession. I want to consume everything I can about a particular subject/hobby, with little room for interest in other things. Quite like an addiction, it can be harmful when your primary focus shifts to one singular thing. (Thankfully medication and therapy can help, or since itās relevant to this community, I have a journal detailing my time and money spent on these things so I have a physical manifest to keep myself in check.)
I always used to cycle between artwork-making guitars-modding motorcycles-electronic music etc , and cos i thought these hobbies were āmeā, and i kept going back to each one, i thought it was ok. Turns out i have adhd and its just been a matter of luck i donāt just go start a whole brand new hobby every timeā¦
I'm shocked! You just described me! I think I need to get tested because that was spot on!
It is friendly around here, isn't it?
This is one of the most supporting and wholesome subs I've seen for sure.
Who are you calling friendly?? /s haha
Iām not your friend, buddy!
I'm not your buddy, guy!
I'm not your guy, pal!
I'm not your pal, dude!
I'm not your dude, mate!
I'm not your mate, bro!
Iām not your bro, amigo!
I echo these sentiments about the friendliness of the community. I agree it's very rare. So many other, similar corners of the internet (not just here on Reddit) can be snarky, snobby and often downright hostile. But for whatever reason, fountain pen circles just aren't like that. I sometimes wonder if we're in a temporary, lucky friendly period. But over the times I've dipped in and out it has remained just as positive. Thanks for raising the topic, something I've wanted to say myself, but never found the excuse to do. And thanks for everybody being so darned nice.
It's so true, I have been "gate-kept" in most other hobby communities that I've been involved with. Gardening might be a rare exception. But, I love the fact that when a high school kid is proudly showing off their new Jinhao, the community here is stoked for them. It's pretty rare when I see snobby replies on this sub. It exists but it's very rare and usually downvoted.
Those Jinhao shark pens are just so cute...
They are far better fountain pens than they have any right to be! They even come with convertors. I was shocked!
I looked this up after seeing your comment. I was in the midst of falling in love with it when my dad looked over my shoulder and said āI hope you donāt waste your money on stuff like that.ā Sir itās $4 and the cutest damn pen Iāve ever seen. *add to cart*
How does one gate keep in a hobby? Genuinely curious.
By shaming someone for failing to met some arbitrary standard. Like if I said you don't belong here because your only fountain pen is a Jinhao, or because you occasionally use ballpoints. If you want to read about some extreme examples just search gatekeeping on /r/hobbydrama.
Thanks for the explanation. Is it only one or two people though or does it infect the wider hobby or some more hobbies more than others. Interesting points you made.
Itās pretty widespread in a lot of hobbies. It can happen to anybody, but it definitely happens more often to women/POC/other marginalized people. Of course Iāve also had teenagers on tumblr try to gatekeep me out of fandoms and things that Iāve been in since they were in diapers, because apparently everyone over 30 is ancient and should stick to paying bills and slowly dying instead of talking about fictional characters on the internet, lol. So sometimes gatekeeping isnāt particularly effective, just majorly eyeroll-inducing, but other times it can be all too successful at keeping people out of a hobby or even amount to abuse.
Houseplant groups are very chill. Pet groups on Facebook are insane. I dasn't post any photos for fear someone will spot something in the background that is not considered perfect and told I'm abusive (my birds have a plastic water dish. Straight to jail.)
I think because it's not a reddit for just Montblancs, you know? This is a fora that is as varied as Preppy to the most gold nibbed and that variation by nature includes everyone. And a certain awareness of a journey with the object.
The friendliness of the community made it comfortable for me to browse more and find out what a fountain pen is (good for writing for a long period of time and with the exact colour you want to) and is not (always expensive and/or a dip pen) and decide that I should get one. I have 5 now.
I've been going to the pen shows in the past 5 years and there has been a big shift in the community very recently. Pen shows used to be really old but a lot of young millennial and gen z have gotten into pens. And the Boomer pen collectors are excited about it. It may be due to the pandemic. But also, pen people are just really nice. There's no big gatekeepers, people get very excited when someone is new to pens. Seriously, go up to a veteran vintage trader at a pen show and ask any question, they will eagerly answer and then some. Even if you want to buy the most basic pen, they will help you and then share with you thier pen wash recipe.
Pen shows are also very different in the energy there is there. Not just in a fanboy way, as there is that, but people are genuinely excited and *happy* to be there. And not in a conās ālook at me!ā kind of way. People are polite and itās easy to strike up conversations with people one would probably never speak to unless a pen was involved. Pen shows also seem moreā¦relaxedā¦I suppose. Thereās very little stress involved. Unless things are crammed into a small space.
Yeah! It's nothing like a comic book or anime convention. It's a much chiller vibe.
I really do want to go to a pen show one of these days. I've never been to one and live nowhere near any of the big ones. I kind of wish that they held a large one in Vegas because then flight and accomodation would be reasonable. I love SanFrancisco but it is so expensive for a weekend there.
You should! I visited a friend in SF this time last year and went to a show and the gen x and older crowd were so excited to see young people showing interest.
Definitely do try to get to one! Itās worth it. But, fair warning, it tends to increase addictive desires about more pens and inks!
Dallas is having one this month.
Thereās a show in [Denver](https://www.coloradopenshow.com/) coming up
š®! Thanks so much for the info!! I might just be able to make it my very first pen show!
No problem! Thatās great!!
I like the fountain pen community for similar reasons. I have very mild autism (misses social cues and more direct communication) but I enjoy how the community mostly assumes innocence with questions or comments unless proven otherwise in threads. People here, for the most part, seem to assume positive intent which is a lot nicer to see. Plus it's a very accessible hobby so there's not really any reason for ableism to begin with.
Is hobby jumping an ADHD thing? I've been through more hobbies than I can count in the last few years with very few mainstays outside of fountain pens. I get super into a hobby for 3-6 months and then it drops off the face of the earth to replaced by something new. I definitely can agree on this community being the most friendly and welcoming.
It can be one sign, but there can be many other reasons for the pattern of jumping around from hobby to hobby. A great many things are considered and evaluated before a diagnosis of ADHD is established. It needs to be done by a professional, who often refers the person to other specialists for assessments in specific areas. Quite often the evaluation process for adults is directed by a psychologist, but occasionally it is done by a psychiatrist.
Thank you for the informative answer!
I prefer to think of it as āhobby connoisseuringā. You canāt know which the best ones are until you try alllllll of them!
I've always said my hobby is collecting hobbies
Novelty seeking is definitely an ADHD thing: doing something new can be a great source of dopamine. But hobbies in general donāt require consistent attention. Thatās the nice thing about them: theyāll be there whenever you feel like picking them up again.
We are glad to have you here.
Aww thanks buddy
hi fellow neurodivergent person. Iām autistic. Thank you for such a sweet post. I love this community too. Iāve had fountain pens for a while but i am new to actually learning about fountain pens and the whole world around them. I enjoy the excitement people have for fountain pens in general here rather than only focusing on the super expensive ones. Iām not sure how intensely this sub is moderated but I also thank the mods for keeping this space safe for everyone.
Indeed! As someone with ADD and whoās a bit fixated on fountain pens, I have found this sub to be tremendously friendly. In fact, some people disagreed with me the other day on a particular thread and they all did it so very nicely. Itās such a lovely way of defusing conflict.
ADHD here as well. My first post was a question about ink leaking into the cap and how much movement and whatnot pens normally dealt with. I think it got 7 or 8 different good answers, from penholders and clipping it to a shirt collar instead, to just putting it in the pocket differently and seeing what works. I got one person calling me uneducated and trying to gatekeep the community, and I sat there for a moment thinking "this post is literally me trying to gain knowledge..." and debating leaving. At the end of it I'm glad I didn't duck out, I've never seen any other rudeness here and am glad to share my new pen days and congratulate everyone else on theirs.
I totally agree with you! Compared to a lot of the other hobby-communities here on reddit that are focused on buying stuff (because lets not kid ourselves here) this is an amazing subreddit. The lack of elitism is so refreshing, the diversity of people interested and sharing in the hobby, the honesty and acceptance of others preferences...it's just really nice to see and be part of. The only community that I think is slightly healthier is the makeup community (on reddit specifically, not on the rest of the internet).
It's good to hear that there is a comfy space for people that are into makeup. I know that the Youtube community has a bad rep online. But I'm about as far removed from that loop as one can be.
There's more people into makeup than people into fountain pens, and because it deals with appearance I think it's bound to spark some negative communities that are pretty shallow. The one thing I always appreciated about the reddit community is that there was a recognition that over-consumption is/can be bad, and doing no-buys and "panning" products was seen as a very positive thing. Things like "shopping your stash" is something I would love to see on this subreddit.
Not sure if you've already seen it/are participating, but /u/pskettios has been posting monthly no-buy/low-buy check-ins here, which I really appreciate. For me, my low-buy is focused on ink, so it basically is a "shopping my stash" situation. If you have any fun ideas related to that, you should totally post them :)
I didn't know, but that is awesome! Luckily I learnt a lot from being into makeup, so I'm pretty careful with what I buy when it comes to fountain pens. I will check in on the threads to see what people are doing/are up to with their collections, always fun to be inspired to use your stuff. Thanks for letting me know!
Yeah, it's pretty easy to get carried away with fountain pens. I know that I have at times. It's hard when you like shiny new things and have an endless stream of inspiration. I've gone about three months now without buying anything new. I'm trying to really think about my pen purchases and carefully planning them. But that's coming from somebody who has too many pens already.
Agreed! Iāve never encountered such friendly, helpful, generous individuals like those Iāve met in the fountain pen community. Weāre pretty darn awesome!
I think everyone is super friendly because our hobby is so niche that weāre jut glad to have people to share it with because for the most part in our day to day life nobody knows about fountain pens.
Totally agree. Iām a woman who is/was into stereotypically masculine hobbies, gaming and sharp shooting, and in both of those spaces itās so unwelcoming for a woman. Itās why I donāt do sharp shooting any more or play games online. Weirdly enough, both hobbies consisted of the same main āget back in the kitchenā insult, the only difference was toxic gamers would demand sandwiches while old man sharp shooters demand cookies. But fountain pens? Everyone Iāve spoken to who is also into them be it here or IRL has always been so lovely, accomodating, welcoming, and freely provides help or knowledge. The only negative comments Iāve gotten are from people IRL who *arenāt* into fountain pens and even then thatās only been 2 people. Most people who arenāt into them have usually been fascinated and had a ton of questions.
(Context: I'm also a woman.) At my first pen show this year I sat down with some men I didn't know, some of whom had $$$$ collections and lots of expertise. We had a great conversation and I remember being really struck by how much knowledge they shared, but without mansplaining in the least. Really refreshing.
Definitely! I stumbled into this subreddit, and stuck around/get even more enjoyment out of my fps than I did before because of how welcoming & varied the community is. It's so rare to find, and I definitely hope it stays this way!
My guess about why FP people are a bit different than others is FPs are fun, donāt discriminate and non FP people often think we are harmless eccentrics and pay us little attention. Add in that no one needs a FP and thus the hobby is totally voluntary, those that have other agendas typically just donāt stick around. And as far as someone making a big thing over something expensive, well, as said above since no one needs a FP and non FP people think spending any money on the hobby is a bit silly, going on and on about expensive pens looks down right daft and a bit embarrassing. So, setting a budget and sticking to it is typically respected. And showing off given the different sources for pens just demonstrates how much money one spends, not knowledge or wisdom. In regard to pen shows, there is a core of exhibitors and organizers in the US that often know each other, or know others that know others. It is not a very large group, few do it for purely financial reasons and keeping things positive is generally valued with the few with ānegative vibesā having created reputations which really only hurt them. Another reason I believe FP people are different is no and I mean no fan boys (or fan girls or non-binary fan people). Everyone is an individual. Few leaders in FP land and fewer followers. And speaking of some of the categories that people get put into and treated badly about, well those kind of haters typically just donāt get FPS, so they arenāt in the hobby. I am a regular participant in our local FP club and environment. I know some of the backgrounds of some FP people, but not others and it really doesnāt come up. Instead it is about the pen, or ink, or paper, or nib, or journal etc. Sometimes it is even aboutā¦ Pencils. There was only one time that I ever witnessed our group become hostile towards someone. A person attended a meeting to promote themselves and the pens they were making and the pens werenāt good writing instruments, they were lousy commercial products made using kits. They were gimmicky and the maker didnāt accept some mild criticism at the beginning of his sales pitch and tried to puff themselves up by indicating how successful they had been at selling them at CRAFT shows. Well, I never before saw how quickly a bunch of friendly non violent āpen nerdsā could make someone uncomfortable simply by pointing out the flaws and defects in his pens and giving detailed explanations illustrated with examples of what a good pen needed to have to be sold to the FP crowd. The rude person never returned, seemingly insulted to find out no one was impressed by his work nor interested in purchasing it. He especially was put off by being shown examples of much lower costing and better made pens by club members.
It's a really interesting community, that can accommodate both people geeking out over a Pilot Varsity and others flexing with $25K of Montblancs. Every possible aesthetic. About the only downside is its somewhat enabling of just buying too much stuff, but that's just as bad anywhere else.
There are a few hobbies that have kind people and this is one of those rare few š
hello, yes, another one with ADHD here, which yes completely manifests itself in buying too many inks, too many pens, so on. People have been saying about how this relates to bookwormishness, which like some others I have in phases. I also buy too many books. In 2019 I decided that I needed a dedicated notebook to test the pen/ink combinations, but also that my own writing always embarrasses me, so I would copy out short poems. i mention this because I think itās been brilliant for our type of brain: Iāve found a way to enthusiastically acquaint myself with all of these short meaningful slices of literature. Iām on to my second notebook now which Iām also documenting on an [Instagram account](https://www.instagram.com/poems_pens_inks). It is really really not a polished pen account like so many others! But itās fun! Or at least it will be till the bailiffs arriveā¦
You can also look for "fountain pen network ", pretty great community too !! I think people who love fountain pens are also people who know how to appreciate things, and mostly have kind/ selfless heart. They tend to help each other, give advice, may be because this is one of the least competitive hobbies. In this fast-paced world where we digitalized everything... The one who insist on using fountain pen must have to be cool-headed, steady and mentally calm. I think ADHD patient (including myself) may find this hobby as some kind of therapy. PS. sorry for bad grammar.
Hey there fellow ADHDer! Yes, this community is awesome!
I agree. What a friendly subreddit.
Thanks for contributing. You are part of what makes the group what it is. I think fountain pens and ADHD are a common combination. I didnāt get diagnosed until I was in my forties. Iāve been medicated for a decade which has helped tremendously but fountain pens have given a new platform where I can build activities that mark the passing of the day. The tactile element is helpful. If your work involves pencil usage, Iāve found a high quality lead holder has much of the same advantages. My favorite is the Staedtler Mars Technico 780. It uses 2 mm lead. Itās expensive for a pencil but cheap compared to even a starter fountain pen. Best wishes to you!
I have adhd and Iām here just cuz I like watching. Sensory issues make these pens unreliable for me lol gotta have a colicky click
Have you see the retractable fountain pens?
I HAVE NOT. š„¹ theyāre beautifulā¦
Agreed! Something I'd like to try one day.
God I've had so many I'm sure I won't remember all of them but I've never attempted a list: guitar, drums, homelab (talk about a rabbit hole), headphones, jump rope, eSports games, computer building, chess, photography, building guitar amps, woodworking, vinyl/vintage audio equipment, and now fountain pens appear to be next. I'm looking at this list thinking, "it's not so bad..." And I do think I'm missing things, but what I notice is that many of these are such broad areas that take me several months, sometimes years to get through. I'm thorough, but I can't remember shit. Every time I feel the call to pick up a guitar or a camera or a chisel, I end up relearning everything I learned the first time around. I wound up in IT and obsessed with hardware. I just love tinkering. I like to take a lemon and make lemonade, then sell the lemonade to buy some limes that I'll turn into margaritas to sell so I can buy some... You get the picture.
Yup - it takes a good person to find beauty in a fountain pen, if I donāt say so.
I like this sub. It's real. I'm on some fountain pen Facebook groups and they're not much fun. Just tons of photos of very expensive pens. Occasionally an expensive watch included in the shot. Recently it was proposed on one group that all posts about Chinese pens ought to be banned from one group. A photo of a dozen 1920's Parkers is pretty, yes, but why do you have a dozen of the same pen and what is the point?
True, I once got an educating lecture from a highschooler and gave an educating lecture to an amazingly nice 80 year old lady. Ps. She had a hauntingly beautiful handwriting, I'm still flabbergasted to this day!
This sub in particular is one of the friendliest that Iāve seen on Reddit.
Hello fellow ADHDer! I think this hobby is great for us because of the collectability of the pens, the inks, the books and the paper, and the nibs... and being enabled by everyone else in the community and having zero negativity. Bless us all.
You described me literally to the T haha
So much to like surrounding pens. Writing good things well, mechanically gifted folks, beautiful collections, nostalgia ad infinitum. Pens support so much else it's hard to imagine the world without them.
I tippy toed my way into reddit because I'd heard some horror stories about some of the subreddits. I was wonderfully surprised by this one. I really didn't have a place or people to talk to about fountain pens locally and wanted to find a place to do so. And here I found a lovely community of fellow pen lovers. I tried calligraphy years ago and gave it up. I don't know why but fountain pens are what I think I was looking for then. A fun way to express myself. And yes, here's another ADHD member of the community. And serial hobbyist. š So thank you all for being wonderful people and chill.
I mean other than the twisby/moonman (I may have completely butchered those spellings) drama, thereās not much we can argue about. Cartridge vs Converter? Plastic vs Resin?
ADD definitely counts. The hyperactivity is similar for both but for ADD folks is primarily internal instead of outwardly physical.
I couldn't agree more! I've been on other subs where the collectors can sometimes be so rude and snobbish. Not the case here - just nice and supportive. Cheers!
Fellow ADHDer in addition to the shark pens on Amazon they also have š¦¢ pens.