Comments on: Instruments of Writing http://www.acceity.org/2010/01/instruments-of-writing/ A Southwest Wisconsin Blog Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joshua http://www.acceity.org/2010/01/instruments-of-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Joshua Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:11:37 +0000 http://www.acceity.org/?p=638#comment-92 It seems that a few more people have brought a pencil to my Algebra class with each new day, but there are still plenty of pens. It's interesting how you both mentioned feelings of smoothness, but each had somewhat different ideas of what the ideal smoothness is. I actually prefer to have a little friction or resistance when writing, it helps me "feel" what I'm putting down. I've never noticed my pencil squeaking, but I do agree that they are noisier then pens. Ellen, I see why you prefer pen, we have almost opposite philosophies — you prefer to achieve something bold and finished, I prefer to achieve something light and revisable. We both use the ideal tools for our aims, I guess. It seems that a few more people have brought a pencil to my Algebra class with each new day, but there are still plenty of pens. It’s interesting how you both mentioned feelings of smoothness, but each had somewhat different ideas of what the ideal smoothness is. I actually prefer to have a little friction or resistance when writing, it helps me “feel” what I’m putting down. I’ve never noticed my pencil squeaking, but I do agree that they are noisier then pens. Ellen, I see why you prefer pen, we have almost opposite philosophies — you prefer to achieve something bold and finished, I prefer to achieve something light and revisable. We both use the ideal tools for our aims, I guess.

]]> By: Eric http://www.acceity.org/2010/01/instruments-of-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Eric Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:27:06 +0000 http://www.acceity.org/?p=638#comment-91 Hey, you are finally using those note cards I gave you! Not to the exact purpose for which they are meant to be used, but used, nonetheless. As for pen or pencil, definitely pencil. I must not be one of those math whizzes in that class as I have a math degree, but almost always use a pencil. It is handy when trying to trace an error through a couple pages of work. However, I do prefer the mechanical pencils as those provide the nice feel of a pen without having the need to sharpen it. I do sometimes prefer the pen, such as when the pencil cannot give me the same boldness and clarity. In fact, there are only a few pens that satisfy my feel of smoothness. And I wonder who these critics are as mentioned in the caption of the photograph... Hey, you are finally using those note cards I gave you! Not to the exact purpose for which they are meant to be used, but used, nonetheless. As for pen or pencil, definitely pencil. I must not be one of those math whizzes in that class as I have a math degree, but almost always use a pencil. It is handy when trying to trace an error through a couple pages of work. However, I do prefer the mechanical pencils as those provide the nice feel of a pen without having the need to sharpen it. I do sometimes prefer the pen, such as when the pencil cannot give me the same boldness and clarity. In fact, there are only a few pens that satisfy my feel of smoothness. And I wonder who these critics are as mentioned in the caption of the photograph…

]]> By: Ellen http://www.acceity.org/2010/01/instruments-of-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Ellen Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:27:44 +0000 http://www.acceity.org/?p=638#comment-90 I like pens because I like to feel of the smooth lines that I create when I write. The pencil doesn't quite feel the same. Sometimes, in an attempt at getting that smooth feeling, the pencil squeaks, which is really annoying. I also enjoy the color of the pen. It is black, strong, bold, without my having to press really hard, which would give my hand a horrible cramp if I were using a pencil to achieve the same boldness. I also like the feel of a piece of paper when it is covered by words written in pen. It feels like it is finished. A blank piece of paper feels empty and smooth, whereas a paper covered in pen feels finished, rough, subdued. Pencil can only achieve that when the writer pushes really hard, which, as stated above, is a problem. Pencil just blends in with the feel of the blank paper. It also tends to fade when it rubs against other paper, which is a problem, especially when writing multiple, consecutive pages.Yes, there are times to use a pencil, such as when drawing and doing math, but otherwise, I prefer pencil. As for the monochrome and monotone color of the pen, well that is not true. I can shade with a pen almost just as well as with a pencil. I like pens because I like to feel of the smooth lines that I create when I write. The pencil doesn’t quite feel the same. Sometimes, in an attempt at getting that smooth feeling, the pencil squeaks, which is really annoying. I also enjoy the color of the pen. It is black, strong, bold, without my having to press really hard, which would give my hand a horrible cramp if I were using a pencil to achieve the same boldness. I also like the feel of a piece of paper when it is covered by words written in pen. It feels like it is finished. A blank piece of paper feels empty and smooth, whereas a paper covered in pen feels finished, rough, subdued. Pencil can only achieve that when the writer pushes really hard, which, as stated above, is a problem. Pencil just blends in with the feel of the blank paper. It also tends to fade when it rubs against other paper, which is a problem, especially when writing multiple, consecutive pages.Yes, there are times to use a pencil, such as when drawing and doing math, but otherwise, I prefer pencil.

As for the monochrome and monotone color of the pen, well that is not true. I can shade with a pen almost just as well as with a pencil.

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