filed in Daily Life
Old School
I can’t remember the last time I used an eraser. Can you?
Image from Lisa Congdon
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12 comments for “Old School”
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I use one a couple of times per month. A Paper Mate Pink Pearl eraser. The ones at the ends of pencils tend not to work as well.
In what context do you use an eraser?
I might draw diagrams on exams or for homework assignments or even post diagrams online. I draw them in pencil first and erase any mistakes before going over them with a bolder writing implement.
Also, I often work out problems and derivations in pencil first, so the eraser comes in handy!
Yet another facet of the wonderful Petra!
Oh…the pink pearl eraser takes me back to school supply shopping as a child!
I agree. Such a vivid memory of school days.
I started using pencils in graduate school when I was doing a lot of translations and making a lot of mistakes. I’ve stuck with them. In fact, I have one on my desk at the moment with “Smash the Patriarchy” on it. It makes me smile.
That’s a very timely pencil.
I use an eraser daily! I love using freshly sharpened pencils to write class notes and/or to sketch diagrams or doodle around. So much more precise and satisfying than ink! (Although, honestly, I enjoy quality writing implements of all kinds.) The gum eraser is my current fav for utility, but the one that says “out, damn spot” gets the style points.
In what way is a pencil more precise than ink?
Oooh! Good question! A few things that come to mind:
1) sharp graphite gives a much finer point than even a 0.4 tip pen
2) errors disappear without a trace!
3) control of variable pressure/darkness/shading
4) there’s something visceral about the writing process — the act of making a mark transfers substance of the implement to the page (kind of like chalk)
A beautiful description. Thanks!