However, what is beyond my reach is how readers understand what I had written. I will mention two examples, often repeated:
-- Years ago I wrote about how it was possible to exchange the nib of a Twsbi Diamond 530 —Twsbi’s first model— with a size 5 nib by Pilot.
A Twsbi Diamond 530 with a size 5 music nib by Pilot. There is an obvious color mismatch between the trim of the [pen and the nib.
Another example, this time with an M point of a Pilot's size 5 nib. Other nibs are possible: Sailor, Pelikan,...
I think my words were very precise: Twsbi Diamond 530 and size 5 Pilot nib. But both in written –on some fora—and through conversations, some people have complained about the problems they had faced. Well, the whole problem was that they were using other nibs and, more often, other pens—the Diamond 540, for instance. But I had said nothing about the Diamond 540!
-- The second example is about the Pilot’s size 10 “falcon” (FA) nib. I published several texts on the deficient performance of that nib—size 10 “falcon” (FA) nib (::1::, ::2::, ::3::). Then, several people replied that they had had no problem with the “falcon” nib… in size 15! Actually, I had also said that I had had no problem with the the size 15 falcon nib on the Pilot Custom 743 (::1::, ::2::). Some others insisted in mixing up the falcon nib with the Falcon (Elabo in Japan) model by Pilot.
Pilot's "falcon" (FA) nibs on sizes 10 and 15. These "falcon" have nothing to do with the Falcon model (Elabo in Japan).
I am well aware, though, of how much louder those who misread the texts are. These people do need to raise the voice on their different experiences, whereas those who read correctly usually keep silent or, at most, write a “thank you” comment.
Much worse is someone taking a picture from the blog—and that is unavoidable— but unable to read what those pictures say. These people, at least, show that the mistake were theirs and not mine. And I am innocent.
This nib is, obviously, a Pilot. Not yet a Namiki.
The conclusion of all this is obvious—I am responsible for what I write, but not for what others read.
Romillo Nervión – Sailor Iron-blue (original ink)
Bruno Taut
Nakano, August 2nd 2017
etiquetas: Pilot, Twsbi, metabitácora
Bruno Taut
Nakano, August 2nd 2017
etiquetas: Pilot, Twsbi, metabitácora
6 comments:
Those who can't understand what they read should first learn to do that and then jump to commenting and criticism. Sadly, that's the situation.
I have always been a strong supporter of your blog and the value it adds to our hobby. Please ignore those who can't "read" and keep up your great work!
Of course is easy write without mistakes if you only copy and paste from other sources... The difficult way is create new posts and write new information feeds. And for that reason we like this posts so much. Thanks B. T. For your fountain pen point of view.
Thanks, Pp and Nikos, for your words of encouragement.
Although my text might have sound as a rant, my major concern is to be taken as responsible for what other (miss)read. At times it is just tiring to justify what I had put in print and convince the other he had not understood my words. When someone does that in written as well I cannot help cringing.
Thanks again for your support.
BT
Nice post, Bruno; I don't know how to convince readers to stay on the road of precision, especially since I sometimes can't even get students to stay on track inside classroom environments.
I think that this lack of precision, or "approximately precise" way of looking at things around us, (and for many of us that's also cultural,) manifests in curious ways. For instance, sometimes I haven't had a watch/mobile on me and have approached people on the streets for the current time by asking (quite imprecisely), e.g., "Would you happen to know the current time, mister?" I don't recall anyone merely giving me a yes/no response (I would deserve that!) and carrying on --- they've always told me the current time after glancing at their watches/mobiles.
As long as the issues are not too grave, perhaps it's all right (not to mention convenient,) to be a bit imprecise; the crucial thing is where to draw the line. Incorrect citations are in a different category, and I agree that it's perfectly justified to be at least mildly miffed by such events.
Warm regards, and please continue your posts --- I believe that there's a large set of silent observers who appreciate your informative articles, and I belong to that set.
- Debasish.
Ha, ha, ha, I understand you. I am repeatedly cited as a strong supporter of oven cleaners for hard rubber blackening when I always said that it was a dangerous inappropriate procedure. As people keep on understanding it the other way round, I assume it and I quit.
Thanks, Debasish and Antolin2.0, for passing by and commenting. I am happy to know I am not alone and that my struggle for accuracy is understood and even appreciated.
Cheers,
BT
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