Writing By Hand Matters! Benefits (& History) of Penmanship

[@justinleemiller]

I write with a fountain pen nearly every day. If you're looking for a good way to take a break from the tyranny of screens. Get a fountain pen and a notebook and spend some time with your personal thoughts. It's therapeutic.

[@sillypinkmate]

Just curious what's your workhorse pen?

[@macktheripper7454]

I write everyday. It’s very good for mental health as mentioned in “meditations”

[@HJKelley47]

@@rayh.9130 : I am another fountain pen collector, and journal and/or creative write every day using one of my many pens. Love writing with my pens; and find the flow of the many beautiful inks "intoxicating" (LOL). I also enjoy my Esterbrook Dipless Desk pen on occasion. I was taught cursive writing in elementary school many yrs ago. I remember learning how to write using the Esterbrook fountain pen, inking with Sheaffer bottled black ink.

[@stefanlaskowski6660]

Just ordered my second fountain pen, plus ink and two different papers.

[@HJKelley47]

@@stefanlaskowski6660 : The joy begins!!!

[@messerschmitt3725]

I’m a shoe maker from Innsbruck-Austria, and every receipe that i give, it is always hand-written with germanic font, my clients collect them, awesome video🇦🇹

[@moviemad56]

But your name says that you make knives! LOL

[@EmilehUnk]

@@moviemad56 or planes... or bubble cars...

[@moviemad56]

@@EmilehUnk Actually no, messerschmidt means knife-smith.

[@kalamir93]

@@moviemad56 Emile U. is referring to the german Messerschmitt AG, a company that manufactured planes and funny looking cars.

[@EmilehUnk]

@@moviemad56 but his nickname is Messerschmitt...not messerschmidt. ;)

[@derranstokes8760]

The sheer joy of drafting a letter with a fountain pen is one of life's great indulgences in this day and age. Thank you so much for the video on handwriting.

[@shapshooter7769]

But snail mail is not an indulgence - but is a pain.

[@andrenewell9483]

My mother used to write with a Mont Blanc fountain pen. I bought my first fountain pen some years ago and I have not looked back since. One of the best decisions I have ever made.

[@STScott-qo4pw]

be careful. they're like drugs or butter cakes. My Gran gave me a couple of original Parker 51's I use and recently I bought a Pilot Metropolitan for everyday use. Funny thing, I find using them (so help me) calming... A Parker Jotter for work and I just buy the gel refills but all my personal correspondence is with a fountain pen.

[@christophergallagher531]

My used a Cross . I can still see him doing the NYT cross word puzzles ever Sunday. He folded the paper comuter style, and did it holding the paper in the air, while sitting. This is an Un-reoroducable feat! Enjoy Life Chris

[@radityaekaputra710]

Opĺĺ

[@Im-BAD-at-satire]

I misread that as Mel Blanc, the voice actor, for a second.

[@spiritwalker6153]

I write in a journal each day for about 20 minutes. I use a fountain pen and have found that, as a welder, hand writing each day has improved my motor control that is so important for a welder.

[@manueldeubler1127]

Please note, that the yellow fountain pen shown with the caption 'not so quality' is still a Lamy Safari fountain pen. One of the best entry level fountain pens. This was a special limited Pikachu edition which is now highly sought after.

[@kokojakes]

And people in here are still going crazy about the petrol and dark lilac!

[@vinniesucks]

Safaris and Al-Stars are fantastic pens for their price. I have pens triple the price that aren’t that much better than an Al-Star. The Pikachu is not cheap at all nowadays

[@sarihoffman-dachelet4491]

I came here to say the exact same. I love my Safari! I use it for taking notes and the EF nib writes better on lower quality paper than any of my other pens. I'd definitely say that a Safari is still a "Quality" pen, even if it is novelty. Plus, the triangle grip has forced me into a better hand posture!

[@kingquinn3897]

@@sarihoffman-dachelet4491 I put a 1.1 nib on all my Lamy's

[@MichaelMacco]

Yup! I have 4 Lamy’s that I really enjoy. Even more than my Montblanc.

[@sandromatthiouz7413]

Living in Europe, I've been taught how to write with a fountain pen, and during all my studies until university, it was badly seen to write with ball points, and even more not in a cursive way. Also had the luck to have a nice control over my hands, that allowed me to imitate while I was around 14 a 19th century handwriting, that I still possess and that I made mine over time. I am always really complimented for it and it makes me quite proud.

[@joshmiller7777]

I'm so glad to see that you have made a video on this topic! As a engineer, I find that many in my field have poor handwriting, but I feel the effort I make with mine gives a good first impression, and I'm proud of it!

[@c.d4936]

how is it being an engineer? describe me your job/routine?

[@joshmiller7777]

@@c.d4936 Ah well that depends a lot of the type of engineering you're up to. But it involves a lot of problem solving! Not sure I can write a whole essay in the KZbin comments

[@allanroberts7129]

Ditto. I fix drawing and the red line mess I get is horrendous. I have noticed, though, that after returning some of the drawing with questions like "Is this a 1, 7, 8, or 9" written in Old English font, I usually get much more legible notes now. I think some of it is the idea that nobody cares about how it looks (especially engineers who want to get back to building things), so why should you? Just showing that you do care can remind people that it does matter.

[@joshmiller7777]

@@allanroberts7129 Haha, that's a brilliant tactic, I will have to try it myself next time someone redlines a drawing I make!

[@mickolesmana5899]

it is funny. My handwriting is superb when I am trying to write a LaTex (mathematical equation) style form. But horrendous when I am writing an essay. My friend and I included seems confuse to why

[@barnastil591]

All I got were thanks and amazing comments on the hand made Christmas cards I sent. Writing by hand shows the person receiving it that they matter.

[@allanroberts7129]

Same. It's a great feeling when you go to someone's house and see what you write standing front and center on display.

[@britannia2129]

Just got off a 2hr written A-Level exam, and this is in my notifications! Oh the irony...

[@baileygregg6567]

*smirks at the Lion*😼

[@Mikkirose1]

Hello there, thank you so much for the video. I am a homeschooling mother who is currently teaching my 13 year old son to write in cursive. I showed him this video and then we talked about why cursive writing has merit. I just wanted to say that having this video to show him was so helpful!

[@TheTektronik]

I started my fountain pen journey back in 2021 with a simple objective of trying to improve my handwriting and now I have a couple of fountain pens. We live in fast paced environment so picking up a fountain pen to write a journal entry is a luxury. It does help calm things down when they get so tight. Even with the advancement in communications I don't think penmanship will be confined to the pages of history books.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

I like to study by penning my own notes as I read or watch the source material. It's such a zen activity.

[@repentbeforeitstoolate..8239]

@@DinnerForkTongue "zen".🙄

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@repentbeforeitstoolate..8239 Eyeroll what? Say what you mean already.

[@d.od.3463]

Excellent presentation! Although I (now 80 years old) was taught cursive in my elementary classes, by the time I began High School, many of my fellow students were continuing with the cursive method; however, individuality in style began to take precedence over the original cursive learned. Consequently, many, including myself, wanted to show off their recently developed flair showing this new style to promote this distancing from cursive, which became popular. At 80, I look back with regret on not staying with the cursive method I learned and have begun to practice; with the help of several fountain pens that I've recently purchased, an instructional guide and have returned with much practice to the cursive method, I learned in the very early 1950s. Thank you for the much-needed video.

[@mikesomerset6338]

In the electronic age, a hand written note is more difficult to hack.

[@scottjessee4152]

If you burn a handwritten document - it's gone. Write anything on the Internet and it will last as long as computers do.

[@James-en1ob]

@@scottjessee4152 have you heard of fire proof paper? And also you do know computers are also flammable

[@febed01]

@@scottjessee4152 unless the datacenter burns like OVH's where vapor (cloud) turned to smoke ^^

[@keshavrhm]

@@James-en1ob yes but have u heard of The cloud

[@johnfaustus1]

Everyone is dumber having read your comment.

[@johnlopez3996]

Due to the pandemic, I am not in class to teach my students cursive handwriting. In the past, if my students practiced their cursive handwriting and learned the parts of a fountain pen(cap,nib, breather hole, shoulders, section, finial, barrel), then they would receive one from me. When kids are practicing their cursive handwriting, you can hear a pin drop because they are concentrating. A handwritten letter or note serves to preserve and protect the analog soul.Thank your for your presentation.

[@dangaines405]

We wish there are more teachers in the US like you John. I do like fountain pens (I own few dozens) but I grew up in Europe where 45 years ago we all took cursive writing and calligraphy…

[@vodars]

I'm left-handed and my handwriting is beautiful like square-toed shoes with tuxedo 😂

[@gentlemansgazette]

Practice and you may be able to get to patent leather evening pumps.

[@vodars]

@@gentlemansgazette thanks for your support, i really appreciate that! Anyway i feel okay as i am, i have dozen of skill that i would improve before that. Apart from it, it's still hilarious for me comparing your footage with fountain pen and my memories with it: it looked like if i was stabbing the paper 😅

[@bjarnekeytsman2923]

I'm left-handed too, practice AND good ink is key!

[@SharonH11100]

Thank you for this! Writing by hand is an art🎨💁🏼‍♀️

[@stephtros9029]

Being a lefty is a struggle in this world lol

[@utkarshchourasiya5309]

Dear Preston, Raphael and everyone at the Gentleman's Gazette HQ. Thank you so much for making this video. You might find this interesting to read but will be quite long. My handwriting hasn't been good since school. I am told that it was pretty good when I wrote with my left hand but was then asked to write with my right by tutors and others and I had just started to do so when there was a huge gap in between my daily practice. Of course I don't remember any of it, do remember the time when I faced humiliation at school because of it time and time again. Have become better at it since then but after watching this, I see Penmenship as something I should pursue because mastering this, is an added virtue. While mastering it will take time and consistency, It will be another accomplishment and one of the many significant changes I made in my life. I'm 19 right now and have done that with several areas but somehow never touched upon this. Maybe because of the reasons mentioned in the video like increased use of technology and it not getting as much importance. Was taught to write Cursive but it was more of filling the book rather than mastering it. No one to blame for that. Let this day, this comment be the beginning to me adding another great skill to my skill set Which, by the way, would be rare to find as the years would go by so this comment here could age very well. 9 March 2021 is the date let's see how well this would age. Once again, thank you so much for this video. You guys have been of tremendous help.

[@simeonking2910]

I a fellow user encourage you to strongly hone your handwriting skills though today’s society drifts us to use our digital tech you ‘will’ agree there’s nothing better than to droop your thoughts on paper seeing the strokes you hand muscles produce with a tactile instrument that demonstrates the gliding of your expressions..... I lost myself in thought... excuse me I have a couple of entries to write as a part of my daily regimen to always write something. Best wishes to you and your writing journey. The man and the fountain pen form an illustrious and formidable team against keeping silent; where your expressions are to be shared with self and or other - ANONYMOUS

[@stephtros9029]

This comment makes me want to relearn this even more

[@utkarshchourasiya5309]

@@simeonking2910 couldn't say it the way you did. Writing down your thoughts ot your goals on paper have an impact like bo other. Have already started since writing my initial comment. I look forward to master this skill. Will try to come back to this comment section time and time again. Cheers

[@utkarshchourasiya5309]

@@stephtros9029 I'm glad that it did. Let's make it happen

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Utkarsh, I hope you have a GREAT time writing in cursive and developing your own personal style of writing. Writing by hand, whether with a fountain pen or gel pen or ballpoint is is one of the pleasures of my life. I hope that will happen for you too!

[@jeffreyimminga1991]

One of the most beautiful cursive scripts to learn is, in my opinion, Spencerian. It is not easy and it takes a lot of time. But it is a fun and inexpensive way to distinguish yourself as a gentleman ✍🏻

[@newmoneymarcus]

I’m going to check it out

[@chrisblanc663]

I’ve been working on my Spencerian. It’s challenging, but very gratifying when you get the slant just right.

[@kingquinn3897]

English Roundhand Copperplate any day of the week.

[@Calkaos]

I'm going to have to search that up.

[@chrisblanc663]

@@kingquinn3897 I like copperplate too. I’m not familiar with English round hand. I’ll look it up.

[@Dragonmage967]

I do feel that typing is a very important skill for students to learn, especially when pertaining to touch typing but I was highly disappointed when I discovered penmanship classes had fallen by the wayside. I never became very accomplished in my own penmanship while in grade school but those skills were invaluable in my ability to take notes in my post secondary pursuits. And I can only speak to personal experience and vague references to studies I've seen, but I retain far more information when I choose to write by hand than I am ever able to recall when typing notes onto a screen.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

When I go through work-related training it takes me much longer than my co-workers because I hand-write MILES of notes. I have no intention of changing.

[@nictheartist]

Apparently, this has also been found in studies, because we use different parts of the brain when writing cursive.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

@@nictheartist I've also heard about cursive writing and the brain. Not teach children---or adults---cursive is to do them a disservice. You might be interested in the You Tube video "Why write? Penmanship for the 21st Century/ Jake Weidemann/TedxMile High" . He's an excellent speaker along with being brilliant at writing by hand and is an artist and craftsman as well.

[@謝宗祐-j2x]

I'm an elementary school teacher, I deeply agree that students need to practice how to write appropriately. Whenever I received a poor written homework, it is always a.... like what Raphael said, pain in th a**

[@justjoe5373]

In my schoolworks I loved my horrible handwriting. The teacher is gonna make me write an original story 4 times a year knowing that my creativity level is -4 on 1-10 scale, I'm gonna make it as hard for her to read it as she made it hard for me to write it lol on the serious note, is it really true that some places don't teach cursive? Our schoolworks had to be written in cursive (well not the english ones thank god) and 2-4 grade elem we had to write in cursive pretty much exclusively, it's strange to me that people would just ditch it

[@wilhelmtaylor9863]

Is there an equivalent to cursive/block writing in Taiwanese? I imagine the nature of the characters forces students to be more disciplined in their writing.

[@plantboy6249]

@@justjoe5373 for me when i got into secondary school it became optional. A lot of people ditch it because its harder to make it look good, and for essays its very important for it to be readable.

[@BethBurns68]

I am not a gentleman, I am a lady, but I think these videos on how to be a gentleman are wonderful. Thank you for your videos as they will benefit young men (and men of any age) and are very interesting for everyone to watch. :) Very classy.

[@CVH2311]

I found a lot of old notebooks of my great-grandmother in which she had written many, many lines of handwriting-lessons. It's so beautiful to look at!

[@Anton_the_Vampire]

My father taught me to handwrite with a fountain pen, & I was quite good as a child; but slow. A particular "teacher" at middle school, who saw no need for my "excessively loopy" style, put so much pressure on me to speed up that she ruined my handwriting for around 35 years! This year I picked up a fountain pen again (including some I've had since school & college) & retrained myself to writer properly. I'm a left-hander so had the additional issue of learning to under-write again. I've now achieved this & couldn't be happier. Incidentally, may I ask Preston what fountain pens he owns, & what inks he prefers? I know that Rafael uses Mont-blanc (a 149 & Irish green ink) but I'm curious if Preston's choices are different.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

That's wonderful how you re-gained your writing style!

[@Anton_the_Vampire]

@@andrewbrendan1579 thanks. I'm very glad that I did.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

I highly, _highly_ appreciate the fair but objective exposé of why ballpoint pens are not suited for penmanship, Preston. The part about fatigue and cramps due to the higher viscosity of the ink was especially clarifying. So from a fanatic of cursive writing, thank you! I'll keep an eye out for a good entry-level set of fountain pen and ink. EDIT: No fortune thus far, but I did find something good for those unwilling to go full fountain: Linc's ballpoint pens have amazing ink nowadays. They roll excellently with a quill-light touch on paper. I've been using a 3-color set of their fine point Scrit pens, and they punch _far_ above their class.

[@JC-kr8xu]

You guys do a wonderful job of paying homage to the beautiful and elegant aspects of civilized life. Thank you!!!

[@stephtros9029]

Literally started looking into calligraphy yesterday and then you guys post this. Very nice

[@STScott-qo4pw]

be careful! using quills and fountain pens can be addictive. a buddy is a calligrapher as a much-loved hobby. several years ago he and co-workers noticed he was using hand-writing normally reserved for his hobby in his work (school teacher). everyone loves to watch him write on a board and write assignments for the kids.

[@randomessentialproductions1994]

Great video Preston. A gentleman always carries a quality pen with him. I love all of the content on this channel.

[@aquilad.perera9683]

I just started to Write with my Fountain pen again today! This video was perfect and perfectly well timed! Amazing!!

[@STScott-qo4pw]

Keep. Going. Fountain pens are subtle and seductive in their own way. Have fun!

[@aquilad.perera9683]

@@STScott-qo4pw I have been writing with fountain pens for around 3 years at this point...you can never go back to a regular ball point after using a four train pen, that's for sure

[@macnadoodle]

At the age of nearly 60, I've re-discovered the two cheap fountain pens I used at school. They still work, and I have started journalling. I think handwriting is far superior to any keyboard based system, as it proves that my thoughts form better being forced to slow down for my hand to write correctly. This is a feedback loop which makes both the thinking process, the handwriting and the resultant content all better.

[@jakublulek3261]

It is true that fountain pen is less practical but for me it is very emotional experience to write with it, much more comfortable and satisfying. I was taught to write with it since 1st grade of elementary school, and stuck with it ever since. Even the finest ballpoint cannot come close to it, purely for that emotional bond. I write for a living, and still do every manuscript by hand before retyping it. I feel that penmanship is like painting, expression of yourself, small isle of calm elegance and creativity that everybody could join in.

[@truthreigns7]

Mr. Preston, once again you have made a excellent video. I do appreciate this. You have taught me greatly.

[@vishnuramesh1562]

I was really sad about the growing trends of typing and I supported writing. I am still in school and writing is a big part here. I use fountain pens to write class notes and went far more old fashioned way and use dip pens to write out long letters. I do write letters. I would also like to thank gentleman's gazette for doing this video. It has really bought my spirit back.

[@BelStan80]

My kids learned hiw to write with a fountain pen in school, just as I did. My youngest will learn this next year. Even to this day 'schoonschrift', (beautifull handwriting) is a part of education in schools here in Belgium. It doesn't have the importance that it used to have though.

[@Spiderblaze-pw7bz]

Am I the only one not listening’?

[@UniversalEngineer]

How nice. How soothing. 😀

[@jks8224]

Thats not a casual outfit 😂😂

[@williamvasquez4857]

And in Africa? Schools teach both print and cursive.

[@LydiaKrow]

I actually didn't realize people were no longer being taught cursive until about three years ago... actually because of KZbin when someone said they couldn't read the (English) writing in a video. This makes me sad. I actually used to receive praise from people I wrote notes to in the course of my job, and I didn't realize it was because they considered written notes to be rare. One of my customers called me just to tell me how beautiful my handwriting was, and while I was quite flattered by this, I was also puzzled as it was just my normal writing, nothing special. It took me 10 more years to figure out what was going on. :D

[@DFMoray]

Is this guy a reptilian?

[@TheGavrael]

In the B-roll of writing in the journal, seen a few times, but here is one 14:09, does he write "Dear Dairy"? I've definitely never done that

[@cferracini]

A Platinum Preppy can be bought for about $5. Not much more than gel pens and it's my favorite fountain pen. I have a Lamy Safari and have tested Pilot Pemenship, Preppy is my favorite. If you like fine tip pens, Preppy is the best way to go. The 0.2 may riquite some twicking so the 0.3 is more beginner friendly. If you like M nib, the 0.5 is best. I like 0.3 gel pens so the 0.2 Preppy is my choice and I find it worth it the bit of twicking I do the 1st time I use it.

[@OnlyCitrus]

What a beautiful presentation!

[@johnhenson4054]

Someone in this video was definitely not taught penmanship, as seen in how they hold the pen and even how they are stooping while writing. I would have had a ruler slapped over my knuckles and the back of my head.

[@brycegeorge37]

I'm gonna be honest, if I had learned they still existed years ago, I would have already switched, I used to be very sickly and I was looking for something that would improve my handwriting, and it worked, of course due to supernatural experiences I was healed of that ailment, so my handwriting even with a ballpoint got instantly better and is still improving by the day, but I still use my fountain pens every day, and even give them away in thanks for what was done for me

[@supratikghoshal5561]

Penmanship won't die. Writing any article which needs ponder over needs pen as writing on paper with a pen creates necessary mood and a flow of thought. Computer or mobile is limited to official or casual purpose.

[@dscott1524]

Another severe problem is the paper quality required to use a fountain pen. Fountain pen inks bleed mercilessly through most paper. Cheers.

[@Sabinex5]

I have been teaching my son to write in cursive for a while now as he is in elementary school and they don’t teach it anymore. He uses a fountain pen made for kids that he really likes and he looks forward to trying a different ink color every time we refill it. No other kid in his class knows how to write in cursive, unfortunately, but I believe it holds many benefits.

[@lizmariposa1]

Frankly, one doesn't even need to spend as much as one would with a Metropolitan. There are Preppies and Varsities which are about $4 a pen, and just as much quality -- retaining the disposability and lack of having to fiddle with ink refilling. But, if being kinder to the environment is what we want, we can get a Jinhao -- which many of their models are quite elegant and smooth writers, as well as being around $5 in cost, and you can pretend to people you spent a pretty penny. The pens feel pretty hefty to the hand, so they are very kind to your wrists and arms if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. I have a few which I love and value as much as my Montblanc 149 or my vintage Sheaffer. There are a lot of unique and good fountain pens out there for just about any budget. In fact, I use a lot of my Varsities to "pen-able" people who are used to using regular rollerball or ballpoint pens.

[@outtabubblegum7034]

2:20 - That's an AWFUL posture and pen holding.

[@sevurueva5138]

Just came to comment about the thumbnail pic. That grip looks so uncomfortable and very bad for writing.

[@asoloma]

But the way you hold the fountain pen in the video is horrible.

[@Yarnooee]

you should try pilot's acro-ball series and juice up pens. they are incredibly smooth and the same time, consistent. those are one of best ballpoint pen ever made.

[@wadsworth2351]

I find this guy to be awkwardly cringey. I am a teacher at the secondary school level and i write almost exclusively by hand. I can honestly say that his handwriting is iffy at best...

[@chriscoburn6614]

I LOVE WRITING WITH MY FOUNTAIN PENS ! MY DOWNFALL IS MY SPELLING! OOPS!!!

[@SoulfulSmokie]

I really liked this video from the dive into penmanship to the sharp comfortable style you presented. I am a woman who loves the atmosphere of a gentleman.

[@maximilianschwab9668]

It is much better to write with the arm than the hand ... you can write faster and causes less fatigue. By the way, the constitutional states are almost gone, so if you want to keep some privacy, paper and a fountain pen are better companions that a computer with access to the Cloud ... 😕

[@joebaker5421]

I disagree strongly the arguments presented regarding the ballpoint pen and your conclusions of it. The point you make about legibility being reliant on the use of a fountain pen is absurd. Writing with a fountain pen is more artistic and beautiful when done correctly. Being gifted with left hand dominance, I can tell you that I’ll take a fine ballpoint over a fountain pen any day. Being a pen collector, I am jealous of the higher quality versions that are only made in fountain pen versions. And that a really nice and expensive ballpoint has the same refill as a cheap one. A more expensive fountain pen typically has a better nib and thus writes better but the same is not true for ballpoints. My best writing pen costs 5 euro.

[@jericojopio1713]

Interestingly, despite the popularity of digital devices like smartphones, the D'Nealian script is still taught in private and public elementary schools here in the Philippines-although most students used ballpoint pens and pencils. However, cursive penmanship is no longer given emphasis in high school.😐

[@themuskratianempire]

This channel produces very entertaining content! Since I was a very young child, I always talked in a dignified, gentlemanly manner. Personally, I do enjoy the revival of old fashioned traditions through this channel. Also, how dare you disrespect my beloved ballpoint pen, haha! Keep up the good work!

[@a.z.c.681]

Excellent video. But! Don't pat yourself on the shoulders. Those socks absolutely don't harmonize with anything! In other words, they are horrible :)

[@chrisblanc663]

I purchased my first ever fountain pen when I was 19 as an LDS missionary in Santiago Chile. I knew nothing about fountain pens, and once I figured out I needed to puncture the cartridge into the pen, I thought it should work right away. Of course it didn’t. But once it did, I didn’t know which side to write with and used them enter changeably. I liked the feel, even if very unfamiliar, and used it for a a couple of days, until the ink dried in the nib since I didn’t know I needed to keep it capped when not in use. I ended up throwing the pen away. Then about 15 years later during Covid I saw a KZbin video about fountain pens, and learned the does and don’ts . Have been loving the hobby ever since!!

[@mogroot5790]

what is that type of tie called?

[@Afzaaldrawing]

Good 👌👌

[@meaninglessname123]

Fountain pens can be fun, but they come with real disadvantages, too. In many pens, the ink can evaporate inside within a matter of weeks even if unused, leaving you with an empty pen. The ink also tends to run, or "feather" on cheap paper such as we all use. Ink can easily get on your fingertips. The ink tends to take a while to dry, and it tends to show through the other side of that cheap paper I mentioned. I think for *everyday* use, a gel pen combines the best of fountain pens (bright ink that can be fade resistant and write clean lines, low required pressure against paper which prevents cramps) with the best of ballpoints (reliable, fairly long lasting ink supply, will never spill ink).

[@WendyCornrows]

the pikachu fountain pen is the highest quality fountain pen.

[@alex_1036]

As someone with a writing disability, writing is something that I have always struggled with but I’ve always wished I could write elegantly. Alas, at least I have an excuse for having illegible handwriting.

[@carassiq5386]

When I was a student (which was not so long ago), we all were using pens and handwriting, because it is much easier to take notes and do serious math this way. It is very painful to do calculus, statistics, etc. without a pen and a paper, I can imagine that in other sciences like chemistry and biology the situation is similar, so handwriting won't die for sure.

[@natepolidoro4565]

This channel is almost too gentlemanly.

[@MadwomanGaming]

Not a gentleman, but I watch these videos because I think everyone benefits from a bit of class. Penmanship is definitely a dying art, I'm learning the Spencerian script & having fun!! Helps to write faster too when laptops are banned in class.

[@triciadukes9201]

I still can’t believe cursive isn’t being taught in schools!

[@spiritbird2247]

I’m the youngest person I know who learnt cursive in school it really is a dying art

[@r.mercado9737]

Outstanding commentary. Semper Fi

[@brihmendiola4347]

I have various types of handwriting. It was not intentional. It evolved through time. At a very young age of 7, I first learned how to write long hand in pencil! Our teacher emphasized the discipline behind it. At age 7, I switched to pens. At age 8, our teacher introduced the fountain pen. Age 9, I was already expert in calligraphy. It's in high school that I decided to try print letters as opposed to long hand. My mom wasn't pleased with it. She said I will destroy my long hand techniques, which according to her is the classic way of writing. I chose the print style of writing because it's speed. I could write faster with it. It took me a while to do long hand again, but I never lost it. These days, I write print or short hand, depending on my mood. I always write long hand with love letters. That's a no-brainer.

[@MakerTom2022]

New subscriber here. I've just watched a few of your videos about writing with fountain pens, and have decided to take up the hobby. I don't have many people to whom I can write letters or post cards, but will definitely write a journal, with therapeutic benefit. I have probably made over a couple thousand rollerball pens from kits, turned on a wood lathe, but have never really taken interest in writing with fountain pens. Time to savor some good quality handwriting now, and unplug from all this online pollution. Thank you for your very inspirational channel!

[@MrWheelchairPreacher]

Your note to Raphael is hilarious.

[@adrianmoreno7617]

handwritten script is still a used and efficient tool in the majority of militaries and similar jobs alike

[@israelarellano5293]

My Grandfather Don Juan Arellano Salazar Only went to second grade in school Yet He had the most beautiful and elegant handwriting. When I came to The United 🇺🇲 of America I was forced to learn handwriting in second and third grade. 1998 west palm beach Not until later did I get the message I always wanted and am just like Him and I got a free degree on handwriting. although I still am like Him My personality forces Me to be a dude who Wishes to wants to work with a shovel Finish co Concrete use an axe and rake, But I believe that one has to do things with Style and elegantly proud show off somewhat crude but clean and happy When people see my signature..... I can get any job. I copied.the letter I from an airplane Lufthansa airlines at Newark Airport. I love the way people know the basic rules of dancing or punching in the third round of boxing But I want to be able to punch someone Specially Tyson But with Style Similar to figure skating

[@FrilledMayfly_AmberlyFerrule]

While handwriting is no longer as common as bygone days, diaries, sketchbooks, and journals still very much exist. One of the reasons I wanna get better handwriting is to turn my long ramblings in my sketchbook from a purely "I gotta get my ideas onto paper as fast as possible" into a hopefully more elegant moments. It's only yesterday that I found that improving my penmanship is an art form in of itself and that the act of writing doesn't have to be purely utilitarian in function

[@user-gu9yq5sj7c]

And calligraphy and writing cards.

[@thoughtful_criticiser]

I always use a fountain pen, my Mont Blanc Meisterstuck being my go to instrument. That changed when I tried to replace my ink. The permanent ink was no longer available, I tried Registrar's document ink. It worked well for a while but started clogging. I bought a couple of mid range pens and have had reasonable results. The positive side of this comes from not having to risk permanent damage to the Mont Blanc during the pandemic. The lacquer would not stand upto disinfection on the wards, my principal use is writing patient notes on ward rounds.

[@matthewpering8091]

The note with the Oscar Wilde quote was hilarious.

[@RealSergiob466]

Handwriting is not dead

[@TheGrinbery]

It's all well and good, but how about the art of pencil holding? I mean I do still use a pencil when I need to scribble something real fast in my pocket notebook

[@seiko9361]

Everyone says me to write with ballpoint as it is cheap but i admire fountain pens only mostly japanese !!

[@2021-j2d]

I’m so happy to see these type videos. Thank you.

[@fastwalker128]

An avid fountain pen user myself. I have about 40 of them already. Just got my Pelikan M1000 delivered by mail yesterday. A beauty to write with. But Montblanc is still my all time favourite fountain pen maker. I have 15 of them.

[@corwinchristensen260]

Another thing worth mentioning is that handwritten cursive documents require some level of skill to read. Without being able to read these things (pretty much every record before 1950) our history is being lost. And this includes very important documents like census records, death/birth certificates and even up to the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights as well as the letters and commentary that were made concerning these documents.

[@user-gu9yq5sj7c]

Aren't lots of documents converted to typed and online? Also, just cause people have bad handwriting or doesn't do it much doesn't mean they can't read hand written words.

[@Wolverine3660]

Thanks for this most instructive video. I grew up in India, learning to write using fountain pens, and now that I am in the USA, I have continued using and collecting fountain pens.

[@Wolverine3660]

I learnt cursive in school using the Vere Foster method, used the Vere Foster workbooks starting in 2nd Grade.

[@danaschoen432]

As always, informative, interesting, and a pleasure to watch. As a bonus I discovered I share my birth year with the iconic (although somewhat pedestrian, Bic Crystal). Unlike yours truly, it doesn't appear that item will retire any time soon. Once again thank you for your work on this channel.

[@duaneleach9675]

Thank you very much I could not agree more.. I love handwriting and fountain pens are my favorite. I've been into writing for 50 years and I and I love it and it will always be part of my life. It is so important and more personal to write somebody a letter. It means more to put forth the effort. Thank you so very much for your programs

[@BlackRainbows1123]

Just purchased my first fountain pen (since elementary school) last week!

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Have a great time with the new pen!

[@BlackRainbows1123]

@@andrewbrendan1579 thank you!

[@ollie1704]

They still taught cursive in the UK when I was in primary in the mid 2000s and made us use ball point pens so it probably explains why my handwriting has always been atrocious. I've switched to a twisby go and my handwriting has improved leaps and bounds over the last few months since I've gotten it. Someone actually complemented how neat my writing was the other day, I was so happy I almost cried as no one has ever said anything nice about my writing.

[@kamuix2056]

I bought a Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen about a year ago because of the video your channel made about entry-level fountain pens.

[@lkreinmiller-author]

I used to love writing with a fountain pen. I currently hand write most of my notes from my reading etc, but I write on an electronic devise. I will admit, one of the apps I use has a “fountain pen” and it is my favorite to write with.

[@Raven_Leblanc]

As a biologist, we were demanded to produce and ddeliver a herbarium. The classic rules were: when your plants was too long, fold it into a V or W. Flowers, fruiting bodies and seeds, leaves and stems are required. The label has to be put into the lower right corner with the right data there. Of course, it was accepted to print out the labels, but I went the extra mile and got to work. I made labels with a calygraphers pen and tried my best to produce handwritten labels (It's hard since I'm left handed and thus prone to smears... To my chagrin...). It worked out and the professor was very pleased with the plants as well as the labels. In the end, I passed. Edit: I'm from Belgium, and on the topic of learning to use a fountain pen... That was the ONLY writing utensil allowed on school property until 12 years of age, after which you could choose. We were supposed to write perfectly without smears or puddles and each year, we were required to produce a formal letter fully written in cursive. (I hated it, because, as said, I'm left handed so I've singlehandedly destroyed entire trees worth of paper...) However, in the end I'm grateful for the skills I learned because of it.

[@CrystalRuizEnriquez]

His voice is so soothing.

[@raffisandoval9103]

Not only was the letter addressed to me but it had a caustic message too

[@Gerry1of1]

Schools no longer teach cursive writing so my friend taught is 11 year old son himself. His ex-wife took him to court for "Forcing" the kid to learn things unnecessary. She lost. People are crazy. Penmanship matters and we have a generation that can't read cursive or script writing. Documents only 15 years old are a different language to them.

[@Blumenkatze]

She took him to court? You are joking, right? o.O I think this could only be possible in the US. Here in Germany it's normal that the children write with a fountain pen and cursive during the first school years ^^

[@murdelabop]

While in large part I agree, I am currently doing genealogy on my father's side of my family, and I have come to curse legal documents written in cursive, especially when that cursive is _bad_. One thing that has not changed in the past couple of centuries is that doctors' handwriting is almost always illegible!

[@geneajenkins5450]

@@Blumenkatze They are still teaching cursive in Germany?

[@Blumenkatze]

@@geneajenkins5450 Yes, this is how children in the 1st grade mainly learn to write in Germany. And they write in cursiv in the 2nd, 3rd and mostly 4th grade. From the 5th grade the children mostly can decide how they wanna write.

[@andysandoval4572]

What about people who know Latin. No one speaks it anymore, but it's used in Biology Science and Law!!!!

[@aylith663320]

Well you've convinced me. Not used a fountain pen since I was around 10 years old. That won't stop me learning to use one with proper penmanship.

[@43pages55]

I am in the process of teaching myself Spencerian and Copperplate script. I too use a fountain pen every day. I prefer vintage Waterman pens, I find the nibs extremely expressive.

[@paulgonzalez5957]

Great video…thank you! I’ve been looking for information on how our Founding Fathers learned to write so beautifully. The two books that you mentioned at the beginning of this video are still in print and available. This is exactly what I needed and very much appreciate your work!