Krystyn LambertJul 6, 2023
I’m sure a lot of us #fountainpens users have OPINIONS about ballpoints. I certainly do! But as someone who is also a cursive writer, I found this article in the Atlantic fascinating. Thought you would, too. Do you have any use for ballpoints? https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/08/ballpoint-pens-object-lesson-history-handwriting/402205/
How the Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive

Thicker ink meant it didn't smudge as easily as its predecessor, the fountain pen—but it also made writing by hand more physically demanding.

The Atlantic
Show threadSuspect-SimilarJul 7, 2023
@krystynlambert I'm not sure that it all can be attributed solely to ballpoints. Where I live, cursive is taught in schools and its use is required up to the 4th grade. From then on you can write in any way you want, but kids continue to use cursive and mix writing styles until they develop a personal calligraphy. Some people continue to use cursive for all their life.
If the school system doesn't insist in the use of cursive, people will default on something else. It's easy to blame ballpoints.
Show threadKrystyn Lambert
@Suspect_Similar this is very true. And don’t get me started on how a lot of schools aren’t even teaching cursive anymore! How are we supposed to read source material? But ballpoints certainly don’t help lol
Jul 7, 2023 at 4:53pmMastodon for iOS