Written By: Miles Watts, Staff Writer
VALUE: The significance of a pencil or pen has long been overlooked despite many being exceptional in features and in quality.
Many people see a pencil as a simple and ordinary object. They take for granted the evolution of the humble writing tool as they do not realize the ineffectiveness of writing with a quill and ink and the messiness that comes with a fountain pen. They are often disregarded as disposable and humdrum. However, pencils and pens can be manufactured to have an abundance of features like led rotation or having multiple ink cartridges in one casing while being quality. The importance of a writing utensil has been long overlooked but the value it brings is vital in what we do.
Waste
Since most people use cheap and disposable pens and pencils, it causes unnecessary waste and adds to the seemingly worthlessness of the humble writing tool. Many popular brands like BiC produce mass amounts of cheap, plastic pens and pencils that can be bought in bulk for little money. Although these are useful as a cheap and easy way for many people to have a writing tool, they are disposable and contribute to littering and pollution in the world. They also feel cheap in the hands as one knows it is not worth much. Therefore, most are willing to just toss them out when their ink or lead depletes and grab a new one. This thinking discredits items that are quality products as people may group them into bulk pencils. However, having a quality pencil to write with not only reduces the amount of waste, it also feels much better in the hands and like a product worth taking care of and keeping. Take the Pentel GraphGear 1000 for example. A striking pencil, Its aluminum body with grooved and rubberized holding point exudes quality and that it is a pencil with a purpose. Although it is mainly used for drafting, it can be used for everyday writing or note-taking. Its metal body ensures that it will not be damaged and will be used for as long as it can. It is not a pencil one throws away but one that should be kept and taken care of. Using a higher quality pencil reduces waste by people being less likely to throw out their superior pencils and fewer disposable pencils are bought. The Pentel GraphGear 1000 exudes that it is a serious and quality pencil with an all-aluminum body and professional look.
Ergonomics and Variety
Furthermore, inexpensive pencils and pens tend to be a one-trick pony whilst those of quality tend to have more features and are more comfortable to hold. Take the Pilot Dr. Grip series as an example. Its silicone grip and thicker body make for a much more comfortable grip and writing experience when using one. On the other hand, cheap pencils typically do not have any sort of place for one’s hand to hold. This lack of a grip section creates fatigue and cramping faster than the aforementioned Dr. Grip line. Even the Graphgear 1000 has a specific section for the hand to hold the pencil and its rubber pads and grooved metal help to keep the hand comfortable and the pencil secure. But better ergonomics is just one advantage some tools have as there are a variety of different types of pencils and pens made that have a myriad of different features. Some low-cost pens can have multiple ink cartridges in them, but the Ohto Bloom 3 in 1 contains two ink colors and a pencil inside a much slimmer package. The famed Uni Kuru Toga pencil line automatically rotates the lead so that a chisel edge is not formed. Not to mention, these pencils and pens also tend to exude a higher quality and feel significantly better when writing with them. Almost all of these tend to have at least a grooved section for where the hand is supposed to be placed. They also tend to be more appealing to the eye as they stand out among the cheap, normal, plastic pencils and pens with odd body shapes or fun colors. Despite being more expensive, writing tools of a higher quality ensure that one writes comfortably, and is able to access many features with the convenience of a pencil or pen, all while it is stylish.
The Uni Kuru Toga became instantly popular in Japan when it was released in 2008 due to the mechanism inside that automatically rotates the lead as it is used.
Conclusion
In essence, pencils and pens can be tools that can be respected and worth taking care of despite cheap ones dominating schools and offices. Although these affordable options are good in some situations or as a backup, having a quality writing tool to rely on is a much better option. Having something to write with that one knows is a trustworthy and reliable tool feels better than using one that one knows is disposable and eventually trash. People learn and grow through using pencils and pens, and using a good writing utensil to gain knowledge is vital. Something that one will keep for months, potentially years, will create sentiment for it. It has been at their side helping them grow, and it has seen what no other thing can see: how the person thinks, writes, and who they are. If a pencil is an extension of oneself, it better be a quality extension.