It's well-known that Twitter likes to debate tough and heavily nuanced subjects, usually related in some way to politics or celebrity entertainment.
But perhaps nothing is as hard-hitting as the pen a person chooses to write with.
Surely while drafting out one of his big marketing plans, Sports Marketer for Penn State Chris Grosse wondered which pens the rest of Twitter liked.
Grosse asked the Twitterverse:
"OK, if you can only write with ONE type of pen for the rest of your life, which one are you picking?"
In the image, Grosse gave the following options, from left to right:
- Uni-Ball Vision Rollerball Fine Point
- Pilot Precise V-5
- Sharpie S-Gel
- Uni-Ball Vision Elite
- Pilot G-2 07
- Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip
- Bic Cristal Ballpoint Stick
You can see the tweet here:
\u201cOK, you can only write with ONE type of pen for the rest of your life, which one are you picking? (ignoring the ink color)\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
The survey immediately went viral, with nearly 17-thousand replies, as well as replies that came in the form of 47-thousand quoted retweets.
Some didn't want to spill the beans.
\u201c@StaplesStores Come on, just tell me, it will be our secret.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
But most were ready to loudly express their opinions.
Even Grosse shared his opinion, with his favorite being Option #5 (Pilot G-2 07) and Option #3 (Sharpie S-Gel) being a close second.
Most people skipped right over Option #1: the Uni-Ball Vision Rollerball Fine Point
\u201c@Chris_Grosse @redruby17 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\n\nHave one next to me right now - green fine tip...\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
Oh so many people voted for Option #2: the Pilot Precise V-5.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse I'm really a fountain pen user, but my non-fountain pen goto is #2 -- Pilot Precise V7 (blue). (as a child who started rock-n-roll on cassettes, I also have a few #7 around... just in case!) \ud83d\ude42\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse 2 and I've already chosen the ink color\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse #2 Precise V5 (Extra Fine), to be exact.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse I've inked almost every single art piece I've ever done with a #2, a Pilot Precise V5. Used it since middle school and I'll never change. Even included it into my logo. \ud83d\udd8a \ud83d\udcfa \ud83d\udc4a\ud83d\udca5\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
Option #3: the Sharpie S-Gel received shockingly little attention.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse I'm a recent convert to the Sharpie S-gel (3). No skipping from the start, smooth flow, and little smearing so far. I'll take a chance on it because all the others have done me dirty.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@WillyB60 @Chris_Grosse thank you, there isn't enough love for the s gel in these comments\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse Not enough love for #3 here.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
This Twitter user was in the minority by choosing Option #4: the Uni-Ball Vision Elite.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse #4 micro-line, blue-black ink, by the box, for life.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
There was a lot of love shown to Option #5: the Pilot G-2 07
\u201c@Chris_Grosse Number 5. Not only is that the only pen I use, I've been using the same physical pen for years. Getting the ink refills and so you don't have to buy and throw away pens all the time is the best. There's also a "B2" made out of recycled water bottles.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse This is easy, number 5. Clicky pens for liiife\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse Have a 20-pack of 5s on my desk. The only thing I can imagine 7 good for is an emergency tracheotomy(at least from what I've seen on TV). And don't get me started on people who use pencils... #Team5\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse #5 is the correct answer.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
Two Twitter users loved Option #6: the Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse A beautiful question with a clear answer. It's 6. Satisfying amount of resistance on the paper, works on matte and glossy surfaces, gives your signature the proper amount of gravitas. Ahhhh!\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@davidrisherWR @Chris_Grosse Seconded! 6 is the best pen.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
There were mixed reviews of Option #7: the Bic Cristal Ballpoint Stick.
\u201c@mimms @KFILE @Chris_Grosse 1, 2, 4 smear; 5 is unreliable and smears; I'm not sure about 3 and 6.\n\n7 is as reliable as a Honda Accord. You can count on even flow, without smearing, till every last drop of ink is used up.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@KFILE @Chris_Grosse The only pen allowed in prisons\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse 1. And I\u2019m really worried about anyone who picks 7.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
But there were other options that pen lovers couldn't help but give honorable mentions to.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse I\u2019m putting my vote in for 5 (but in blue ink). Could also survive with 2. But I still have a special place in my heart for these. The classic Meisterst\u00fcck.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse Used to be number two until I moved to Asia and discovered Uni ball Signo pens - they don\u2019t even bleed on fabric. Plus, the array of colors is staggering. I buy them off Amazon, and the color mix is different each time. They are super fine but write as smoothly as a thicker pen.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse For life? Sheaffer triumph imperial 444.\n\nGels and roller balls irritate me, and ballpoints make my hands hurt.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse They all write well I\u2019m sure, but doesn\u2019t capture attention like mine do\u2026 even comes in a white gold-like look\u2026for less than 12$ for all 3. #WhichPen @CP24Breakfast @CP24 #Trending\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse So close! My favorite pen is the Japanese made Uniball Micro (now just called the "Roller"\ud83d\ude44). Has a .5mm tip and is made from 80% post-consumer recycled electronics. I can't find them in ordinary stores anymore, so I usually buy a box at a time from an office supply store.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse Write-in candidate. Pilot Varsity fountain pen forever and ever amen.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse This pen is Amy Adams in Arrival\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@Chris_Grosse #8\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
One Twitter user had quite the journey with his pen choices.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse Pen Evolution\n7 in high school\n2 in Undergrad (although cheated on 2 with 1 a couple times)\nZebra (not pictured) for masters\n5 as a teacher\nTUL (pictured) is my current situation\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
And the '90s kids really came out of the woodwork with their love for multi-color pens.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse This is the only pen I need for life. Bic 4-color. Smooth writing, ink never smears, red, blue, and black at the ready. A nurse\u2019s or teacher\u2019s best friend.\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@vikingkim5 @Chris_Grosse Best ball point. I got the Star Wars one for my younger son, who did not want it, so I got to keep it!\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
\u201c@AdamSinger @Chris_Grosse you mean the pen that wrote once in each color then each color died...\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
And of course, we can depend on Stuffed Puffs to ask the important questions.
\u201c@Chris_Grosse But which one roasts marshmallows best?\u201d— \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a (@\ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude68 \ud835\ude42\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude5a) 1674610368
Leave it to choosing a favorite pen for things to get heated.
Next, people will be debating the best ways to eat a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
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