Americans are the worst fountain pen people

[cashew]

Every time I happen on an obnoxious fountain pen person claiming a knock-off is a "counterfeit" (for those who are genuinely confused, a knock-off is a cheaper copy of something more expensive under a different brand; a counterfeit is a cheaper copy that's trying to pass as the genuine article — knock-offs are legal, counterfeits are illegal) they're inevitably American.

So no, they're not misusing the words because English is a foreign language, they're intentionally misusing the words to portray the, inevitably Chinese, company in a poor light.

Sinophobia is so fucking rampant in the fountain pen community. I need to take a break from this entire BS for my own mental health.

Comments

[conuly]

Are you sure they aren't just using the word "counterfeit" differently than you do? English doesn't have to be a foreign language for them to think that the word is synonymous with "knock-off" even if you would never use it that way.

[cashew]

I don't use the words this way. These are dictionary definitions.

Counterfeit - made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive

Knockoff - a copy that sells for less than the original

[conuly]

Dictionaries describe speech - they don't prescribe it. The ultimate authority is the speakers, as MW would be the first to tell you. Given that you felt you had to start your post off by defining the words, can you really be certain that these people use those words the same way you do?

[cashew]

Given that these people are the ones who are deliberately using "knockoff" when it's an Eastern European company and "counterfeit" when it's a Chinese company, the answer to your question is YES.

The fountain pen community is one that is perfectly aware of the differences between those two words. I'm defining it here on DW because I'm talking to a non-hobbyist audience who are not immersed in the culture.

[tanithryudo]

Or they could just be ignorant that there is a legal distinction. I'd lean more towards that.

[cashew]

I would give them the benefit of a doubt if they didn't use the word "knock-off" for other brands that aren't Chinese. =.=

[tanithryudo]

The same people? Ah, in that case, yeah, obvious double standard.

[cashew]

I swear that community drives me fucking nuts with their obtuse BS.