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RayF
22210
Apr 14, 2018
Stupid—fire the pen category leader!
slandau2002
14
Apr 14, 2018
RayFI disagree. You can’t get a Montegrappa for this low price and many people love Skulls! its part of being human.
RayF
22210
Apr 15, 2018
slandau2002I'm sorry, did I say "fire the pen category leader?" I meant to say: "Burn 'em at the stake!"
Damn shame what Montegrappa did to that pen; a cheesy attempt to market a somewhat stayed under-achiever by reupholstering it with tacky skull wallpaper. By extension, I suppose giving a Toyota Corolla the same treatment would somehow turn a boring, bottom of the lineup car into a sexy hotrod for the terminally-hip? I could just see Paris Hilton hocking her Bentley for the new Limited Edition, Skull Accord!
Here's the deal, kid--they saw you coming--you're part of a lemming-like demographic that tends to buy what you've been conditioned to believe is cool and acceptable to a given peer group. Doesn't require a lot of individualism, or even much thinking--just follow the crowd, and stay on the path right? Kinda gives you that safe and warm feeling all over doesn't it?
And just curious, were you telling me "Skulls" are "part of being a human"? Or wanting a pen with Skulls was human? 'Cause, you know, Sheep have skulls to right? And kidneys and livers are part of being human too, but I haven't seen a pen covered in organ either (fortunately). I'm fairly human too, and swear to you, I've never wanted a pen covered with skulls--especially after I saw the one Sly Stallone was hocking a few years ago:

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But I can see I'm never going to talk you out of this, so if you really have your heart set on a skull pen, at least get a "manly" one, not that girly-red one:
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This one's also a Montegrappa and will only set you back about $4,300.
Forget about Stalone's--his goes for a little north of $10k--proving once again, there is still no accounting for taste ;- )
slandau2002
14
Apr 15, 2018
RayFRay,
I thank you for your insights. I actually do own the Montegrappa Stallone Pen which I overpaid at $12,500, as well as many Krone and Visconti pens, such as the Krone Moses pen, Krone Duke Ellington, Krone Saint Patrick, Krone Abraham Lincoln (with his genuine DNA), Visconti Alchemy, and many others, most costing between $2,500 - $15,000. I also collect Audemars Piguet watches which have set me back between $50,000 - $225,000.
I’m 57 years old and once worked for Apple creating a product called the iPod and iTunes for the Baby Boomers (which I am), and then changed it around for the Gen-X and Millennials. So, I do understand your point.
I also collect many fossils. I actually have a genuine T-Rex foot and many other amazing pieces historically documenting the earth and universe, such as meteorites, etc. I also collect many metals, including tops from ForeverSpin.com, Damascus Steel knives, and metal skulls from many different species (fireandbone.com ), as well.
With that said, in many cultures and religions, which I study as I travel the globe regularly, skulls are not seen as a ”bad thing” but are part of celebration across the globe. However, others do view skulls in a very negative connotation.
I just think that you should open your mind as their are two sides to every story, as well as every item. I respect your opinion; however, that doesn’t mean the “Massdrop pen buyer” is incompetent, whatsoever. In this case you find this pen distasteful, which I understand. What I do not understand is why would you bother to have written your thoughts and opinion instead of just ignoring this product In the first place. I am sure you don’t walk up to strangers and tell them the shirt they are wearing is hideous.
I appreciate your your opinion as I have stated. I just think making note of something you personally do not like in a public forum and furthermore putting down a person, the “pen buyer” in this case, is quite hypocritical, when s/he is merely trying to appease people with all different tastes. I am hopeful you would now agree with me.
Yours Truly,
Steven L
RayF
22210
Apr 15, 2018
slandau2002I suppose if I had that much money to piss away, my distortion field might be as broad as yours—though I’d sure hope otherwise. We’ll never know for sure, but I’d guarantee you I’d never out myself with a laundry list like the one you posted above!
And I’d watch myself if I were you—I often point out hideous shirts to strangers on the street. ;- )
PS: nice work on the iPod.
slandau2002
14
Apr 15, 2018
RayFThanks ;-)
Unwisefool
480
Apr 18, 2018
RayF"Stayed"
So glad you dropped in to tell everyone else how stupid they are for liking skulls. You seem like an extra fun dude
RayF
22210
Apr 18, 2018
UnwisefoolIf the shoe fits, chew on it ;- ) Now that we know how I feel about Skull fetishes , perhaps you’d like to say a few words in defense of that particular me-too-ism? We’d all love to hear about it!
Unwisefool
480
Apr 18, 2018
RayFDon't need to, if people like them and it's not harming anyone, who cares
Also, please stop sounding like a wanna-be intellectual
RayF
22210
Apr 19, 2018
UnwisefoolEvidently YOU felt the need to, or you wouldn't have responded to my first comment--which by the way, you mistakenly thought applied to "everybody", when actually, I was specifically addressing you.
So if, as you say, people like them and it's not hurting anyone who cares?
That would be Me--or didn't I make that clear from the get go?
I'm not here to stop you from harming yourself (I suspect I'm too late for that, anyway)--but I was pointing out that you, and 90% of everyone else who seems to be caught up in the craze of putting skulls on everything they can get their hands on, has come to that point it their young life solely because they saw someone else doing it, and decided they wanted to do it too.
Kind of mindless don't you think? I mean what's the club? Obviously in this society, skulls have a certain connotation (death, poison, pirates, etc...). Whomever it was that thought up the idea, and it's purpose originally (a canibal headhunter from Borneo, maybe?), has long since left this earth. Leaving you, and a bunch of other skull adorned folk, mindlessly caught up the quest for more skulls and more stuff to put them on--without having a clue as to why! And now, evidently, we, as a civilization have reached the point where putting skulls on fountain pens (of all things) is now...accepted/desirable?
And along comes MD--because they're skull folks too? No, because they see you/them as fish in a barrel, or in their jargon: a demographic that will buy anything (shampoo, disposable diapers, boxer shorts?) with a skull on it. In other words, they are taking advantage of your issue. Another word might be exploiting your issue. It's not exactly the moral high ground is it? But a guy/girl has to make a living right? Kind of like selling candy to kids when their parents aren't around?
Anyway, I don't really give a shit what you spend you money on. My concern is the object here, a fountain pen to me, that's a RED LINE! It's a real "there goes the neighborhood" sort of thing in my mind. It's one thing to have Barbarians at the Gate, but to have them slobbering and drooling all over the doorknob to my study, is quite another ;- )
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Not too intellectual a point for you, was it, Lurch?
Unwisefool
480
Apr 19, 2018
RayFBro, you seem very agitated and a little unstable. I don't personally like the pen, nor do I have a lot objects with a skull motif. But I can tell you that after having been around the world a few times and digging up some ancient cities, skulls have been used throughout history for many reasons, so for centuries mankind has been fascinated by what they represent. Now go back to your pseudo-intellectual, self-masturbatory sad life and leave people alone. Go get help, take a Xanax or get a drink.
And stop using words you can't spell.
RayF
22210
Apr 19, 2018
UnwisefoolOh! An around-the-world, archaeologist, digging up skulls, Indiana Jones'n sort of fellow are you then?
Well, you should have said that at the outset! That might have lent a little more credibility to your defense of all things skully (as opposed to that bit about how they weren't hurting anyone). What a fascinating life expeierence you must have had--stomping around in those equatorial jungles! Did they let you keep the hat?
The cinematic examples you describe (from your all around-the-world, archaeologist, digging up skulls, Indiana Jones'n experience) all seem to involve ancient civilizations (and maybe a little cannibalism too?). But I'm speaking of the here and now--our civilization, our society, where the skulls you wear are very different than the ones you dig up (especially if you doing it in your backyard, or maybe the basement?).
Perhaps though, you're supporting the notion of retuning to those good old days? Maybe you're one of those who've grown uncomfortable in the modern world, and lately finds himself longing for life in another time (or world)? You know, when men were Men--and wore the skulls of their enemies around their necks--real "Conan the Barbarian shit", right?
I think there are rides at Disneyland you might enjoy--maybe even find therapeutic? Be careful if you decide to go--they don't allow big knives, and cannibalism is strictly prohibited!
PS: mind the dress-code too; you have to get into the place first...
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slandau2002
14
Apr 23, 2018
RayFWhen you stated, “...has come to that point it (in) their young life solely because they saw someone else doing it, and decided they wanted to do it too. Kind of mindless don't you think? I mean what's the club? Obviously in this society, skulls have a certain connotation (death, poison, pirates, etc...). Whomever it was that thought up the idea, and it's purpose originally (a canibal headhunter from Borneo, maybe?), has long since left this earth....”
So, I guess you also believe that people who wear crosses around their neck are also “mindless” as they are following a “club”, as you call it, from people who wore them and have long since left this earth too. Very interesting. There are billions of Christians who wear or posses crosses. I presume you are then an Atheist as it can be clearly deduced by your above comments.
Also, as I told you, I am a 57-year old “Baby Boomer”, yet you assumed I was a Millennial, “Here's the deal, kid--they saw you coming--you're part of a lemming-like demographic that tends to buy what you've been conditioned to believe is cool and acceptable to a given peer group. Doesn't require a lot of individualism, or even much thinking--just follow the crowd, and stay on the path right? Kinda gives you that safe and warm feeling all over doesn't it?”
With that said, and as the “Baby Boomers“ classification started in 1945, I must assume that you are older than 73 years old, as you categorically classify everyone you have written in this thoughtful public discussion as a “kid” or as being in a “young life” period of time. Therefore, as you must be between 74-100+, I now am beginning to understand why you are uncomfortable with the purported ‘skull infatuation’.
However, restating my aforementioned globally accepted concept of wearing a symbolic representation of a past religious demagogues, such as King David’s Star, or the cross of Jesus, why then are you so taken aback by a skull? What if I am of Mayan descent, or what if I am part of a group of people whom have a belief system that wear the objects you posted below in that photo which may be the religious garbs from an African Tribe or Aboriginal Tribe or Native American Tribe; are they not humans in your self-imposed righteousness?
You should be extremely ashamed if you are, in fact, a believer in God. Assuming you are, please look up the commandment in Devarim 6:13, which discusses “loshon hora” or “derogatory speech”, and as it is stated, “A person who speaks loshon hora is wasting one of the most precious commodities this world has to offer — TIME.”
I recommend you think in a more thoughtful manner prior to writing you strong words of your personal convictions, as you are being extremely xenophobic. However, if you are an Atheist Priest, then everything you have written to date makes sense As I would, in that case only, respect what you have written.
RayF
22210
Apr 23, 2018
slandau2002I am most certainly NO believer in any God! And had I smelled you coming from that direction, I would have crossed the street earlier.
And yes, I oppose religious symposium (for obvious reasons).
As to your age, remember: “You’re only pretty as you feel.”