Editing The Pen Addict 94/transcript (section)

== Fountain Pens ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' And I think, I think that's part of my transition into fountain pens a little bit. You know, I'll write more and more about fountain pens and less and less about traditional pens. One, because there's not as much change in the traditional gel, rollerball, ballpoint pens. And fountain pens, there's almost infinite possibilities. Right? Between not just brands, but between combinations you can do with nibs and inks and things like that. It's like fountain pens are the Lego of the pen world. I mean, you can do so many things. You can create your own pen that's perfect for Brad or perfect for Myke. And I think that's kind of the enjoyment I get with fountain pens. It's not just the writing experience. It's the customization aspect. So, I don't know if fountain pens are actually spoiling me because of that. And I get frustrated, you know, when I have, when I'm reviewing, you know, just another ballpoint pen that's not going to hold a candle to, you know, a jet stream or something like that. What's, why should I talk about just another ballpoint pen? I guess. So, I don't know. Just some thoughts I wanted to throw out there. No. And I.

'''Myke Hurley:''' It's interesting to think about. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. And, you know, I've been trying to think about, you know, from a reviewer's aspect, I'm able to, you know, take a ballpoint pen that I get from jet pens or something. And it's good that I can review any pen and compare it to any other pen I've ever used. You know, I think that's one of the advantages of, you know, pen blogs, you know, is someone like myself or anyone else, Ed or Anna or anyone who's been doing it for any length of time, you know, they have kind of a knowledge base where they can take a new pen that they get and say, it's like this other pen. And it does this better than this other pen. It does this better than, worse than this other pen. And you kind of get that knowledge base built around it. But at some point, it all becomes the same thing. At some point, the gel pen's the gel pen. And this gel pen doesn't write as good as the Sino 207, so don't bother. I feel that I'm getting to that point now with basic pens.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' You know, if I review a ballpoint pen from, you know, Manufacturer X, and it's just average, there's not a lot to say about it anymore, I guess. It's an average pen. You probably shouldn't buy it. Buy this. And that has become more frequent, I guess, is what I'm getting at. If a pen doesn't live up to the standards of the top pens in their category, it doesn't exist. I don't know. I think it's an expectation thing on my part and a lack of innovation. And I'm not really frustrated by it. I mean, I enjoy reviewing, like, every single pen I get. They're all different. And, you know, they're all good and bad in their own ways. And I'd really like being able to share that information. You know, I like saying that you should buy this pen or you shouldn't buy this pen. And here's why. I enjoy that aspect of it. But the challenges are when every pen is the same now and there's not a lot of change. And I think maybe it's just me a little bit getting a little jaded or antsy about I want that next big thing. And maybe there isn't a next big thing. Maybe I just need to enjoy more of what we already have kind of thing.

'''Myke Hurley:''' That's a very harmonious way to end that.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Enjoy what we have, Brad.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I know. Because what we have is good.

'''Myke Hurley:''' You better believe it.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' And maybe, yeah. And maybe I shouldn't be frustrated by all the good things that we have. Because, believe me, I want to champion good pens. And there's a lot of good pens out there.

'''Myke Hurley:''' There is something kind of cool about being part of a little club, though.