Pen or Pencil

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

So, which one do you prefer?

****, ****, damn, ****! That should be "pencil," obviously.

[OrphanPip]

Depends what I'm using it for. Doing math in pen always struck me as bizarre, but sometimes we had to do it in university so that you would have the right to contest grading.

I don't care that much though, when I write in pen I sometimes scratch out huge portions, I don't bother with painting it over with wite-out.

[cacian]

I like both and I also like fountain pens and crayons.
To write I would use a pen or fountain pen.
To draw I would use a pencil.

[Scheherazade]

So, which one do you prefer?

Decided to get there before Cacian did? :p

Pen for me. Got the habit at university because we were not allowed to use pencil for the reasons Pip mentioned above. Now, I almost never use pencil for writing.

[MystyrMystyry]

2B or not 2B - that is the quest then?

In a perfect world and forward thinking tolerant civilization I would choose the black graphite for all official transactions, but as it stands now it is just unacceptable to society.

A while back the upsidedown gerbil who is my landlord attempted employ of a butcher's pencil stub in signing the rentbook - he was berated for his effort and in no uncertain terms told to return to his kennel and retrieve correct implement for appropriate purpose. Fortunately he complied and his miserable life was spared.

[Helga]

I can't really answer that cause I have a certain pen for my calendar and note book but I have IKEA pencils in my small note book. IKEA pencils are the best. I have a pen on my fridge by the pad on it for my grocery list.... I have pens and pencils everywhere but a certain one for each place.

[Buckthorn]

I haven't used a pencil (outside of Argos) for years. I don't really know why, I may have to get some and start using them again

[JuniperWoolf]

Electric pencil (must be sharp) for math and hiragana, black pen (blue looks bizarre, books don't have blue letters so why should my notes?) for English.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

What the hell is an electric pencil?

[JuniperWoolf]

Mechanical pencil, whatever.

[Calidore]

Same question as Mutatis. What in the world does a mechanical pencil do mechanically?

[stlukesguild]

What the hell is an electric pencil?

I was wondering the same myself... but then I figured they have electric erasers so why not an electric pencil.

**********

Personally I almost always use pen when writing... preferably a good gel pen... unless I'm using the keyboard. When it comes to drawing I'll use pencil for thumbnail-sketches and color-pencil in my large "paintings" but I prefer to begin with conté crayon and pastel... and my eraser is as important a drawing tool as any other.

[JuniperWoolf]

Same question as Mutatis. What in the world does a mechanical pencil do mechanically?

I don't know, you click the eraser and the little gears make the lead stick come out, GAWL!!! Don't Amerians have mechanical pencils?

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/cellar_door17/th_20664-1005-3ww-l.jpg (http://s426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/cellar_door17/?action=view&current=20664-1005-3ww-l.jpg)

:yesnod: See how it would be perpetually sharp? You just replace the lead stick when it runs out, you could hypothetically live on one mechanical pencil until it falls to pieces. Probably the greatest invention of the 21st century so far.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

We have mechanical pencils. If I have to use a pencil, I prefer one of those. I was confused because even mechanical pencils require no electricity. You had me excited there--an electric pencil sounded badass.

One thing I don't like about mechanical pencils, though, as that if you drop them (and I often did) the lead would break inside. Huge pain in the ***.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Graphite is the only way to go.
4B-it from me to choose the pen.
There's nothing quite like the smell of fresh shaven cedar or pine, the sooty film that builds up on the palm, the ability the vary the width of a stroke with a tilt of the instrument.


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/IMGP2689.jpg



btw- that's a mecahnical "pencil" or lead holder oriented vertically to the left.

[qimissung]

I will write with a pencil, just a plain old yellow pencil will do, sharpened preferable, but I prefer pens, and I prefer black gel, but I will happily use a blue pen too.

[Calidore]

I don't know, you click the eraser and the little gears make the lead stick come out, GAWL!!! Don't Amerians have mechanical pencils?

Yes we do; I've just never heard them called that before. Makes sense now.

My ideal mechanical pencil would be one that could be plugged into a computer's USB port and write what I type, thus saving a bundle on printer toner and electricity and improving my handwriting besides.




:yesnod: See how it would be perpetually sharp? You just replace the lead stick when it runs out, you could hypothetically live on one mechanical pencil until it falls to pieces. Probably the greatest invention of the 21st century so far.

But is that really an advantage? That kind of pencil is completely useless without the lead sticks, and they need constant replacing both because they're used up quickly and they break easily. Plus, moving parts. A regular pencil is one durable piece and can be sharpened with a knife in a pinch.

[Lokasenna]

Depends on what I'm writing for - my academic notebooks are in pen, my personal notebooks are in pencil. I don't know why I've made such a distinction - just one of my little quirks, I suppose. Overall, I probably prefer pencil, if only for the ease of correction.

[JuniperWoolf]

But is that really an advantage?

Totally! Particularly when I'm writing hiragana where the lines have to be nice and uber fine or else an "ah" becomes an "oo," that pencil has to be a point which could penetrate skin at all times. With a wood pencil, you've got to sharpen it every two lines to keep it stab-able sharp, which is so annoying (then of course the lead will eventually break off in the stupid sharpener and you've got to pick it out, and there are stupid pencil shavings all over the place). With a mechanical pencil, sure you might go through a lead stick every six pages or so, but you can write consistantly without stopping until then. Also, instead of having to buy pencil after pencil, you just buy a little pack of lead sticks when you run out.

[Scheherazade]

I haven't seen anyone sharpen a pencil using a knife in 30 years.

The worst thing is, though, when the lid of lead stick spare box comes off and they pour out into your bag. Trying to find a piece that is still long enough to feed into pencil and write...

[billl]

I'm assuming, Juniper, that you use a Mono Tombo plastic eraser...

[JuniperWoolf]

The worst thing is, though, when the lid of lead stick spare box comes off and they pour out into your bag. Trying to find a piece that is still long enough to feed into pencil and write...

Haha, if I turned my bag upside down right now, probably three dozen tiny little pieces of lead stick would fall out. Still, it beats pencil shaving dust.


I'm assuming, Juniper, that you use a Mono Tombo plastic eraser...

No, I've seen them but they doesn't seem any more handy than a regular eraser. Erasers don't dull or have to be a particular shape to work at their optimum level, so any hand-held eraser (which all erasers are) is pretty much as convenient as any other.

[billl]

No, I've seen them but they doesn't seem any more handy than a regular eraser. Erasers don't dull or have to be a particular shape to work at their optimum level, so any hand-held eraser (which all erasers are) is pretty much as convenient as any other.

It isn't the shape, it's the superior erasing that they do, though. There might be cheaper versions, made of similar stuff out there that do as good of a job, but I've never been lucky enough to find one... The Tombo are a bit expensive, but I think it'd be worth the risk on one of those littlest ones, really, you should try one. They work minor miracles--I was stunned the first time someone showed me.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

... A regular pencil is one durable piece and can be sharpened with a knife in a pinch.


I haven't seen anyone sharpen a pencil using a knife in 30 years...

These two comments^ brought an indescribable joy to my life.
Whittling pencils has been a Gurgle tradition for several generations. I've been shaving them down since the 3rd grade.
I felt that this would be a perfect opportunity to share the tools of the trade with you.

Gilliatt's preferred tools for sharpening pencils:


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/IMGP2691reduced.jpg

[Revolte]

For writing I prefer a pen, I can't stand the scratchy feeling of pencil on paper, especially in the cold.

But for drawing I prefer led pencils (mechanical). Because you can do more with detail.

Of course for writing, there are tons of crossed out words and lines, but I eventually translate it onto the computer if it's not a letter or a journal entry.



Gilliatt's preferred tools for sharpening pencils:


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/IMGP2691reduced.jpg



I use a box cutter :)

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I'll still use pencils on the rare occasions I want to do some sketching, and on those I'll use and electric pencil sharpener. They're fun.

[grace86]

Pen! Almost always! And I prefer blue ink. Being a lefty, I always have smudges on my writing when I use a pencil (I don't know why I don't when I use pen). But when necessity calls for the use of a pencil, I like Ticonderoga pencils the best. Classic.

[Scheherazade]

These two comments^ brought an indescribable joy to my life.
Whittling pencils has been a Gurgle tradition for several generations. I've been shaving them down since the 3rd grade.
I felt that this would be a perfect opportunity to share the tools of the trade with you.

Drawing was an essential part of my father's profession and he always sharpened his pencils using a small knife, which he kept for this particular purpose. I used to try to immitate him but, after puncturing my fingers couple of times, decided real-ladies used pencil sharpeners or mechanical pencils (in my teen years).

I still have his drawing and inking set, ruler and eraser with a brush (to get rid of the dust). They are around 40-30 years old, I think.

[cacian]

I haven't seen anyone sharpen a pencil using a knife in 30 years.

The worst thing is, though, when the lid of lead stick spare box comes off and they pour out into your bag. Trying to find a piece that is still long enough to feed into pencil and write...

My partner does and he is really good at it haha.:D