Things people say when they find out that I have a Filofax (or two)
- Why would you use one of them, don't you have a smartphone?
- Haha, isn't that what Yuppies used in the 80s?
- Oh, you're like Del Boy from Only Fools And Horses!
- You went up to London for the day to meet other Filofax owners? (they found that one very amusing)
- You saddo (my response was that I preferred 'quirky', thank you very much)
- Are you a technophobe?
- I think my Dad used to have one of those
- Hang on a sec, I think I've got my old one in the cupboard (only happened the once unfortunately)
- Wow, that's beautiful, please can I open it?
- The diary is so much easier to read than on my iPhone
- I prefer a paper diary really and all those pockets look really useful
- That's very cool in a retro sort of way
- What a beautiful clutch bag (when I've been using it as my wallet)
- Would you buy me one as I'm not sure where to start?
LOL Unlike you, I'm sure, I get... "Ohhhh look at all the colorful pages!!"... and "That's to much for me to carry around!" (I use a personal to carry).. oh and.. "OMG, use your PHONE!!!!"
ReplyDeleteOh I hated only fools and horses, cannot watch it! I've had the my dad had one & haven't you hot a phone comments but mostly people are very interested. I usrdoto carry my personal but I now have a gorgeous A5! It's rather ridiculously huge but I love it :)
ReplyDeleteOne work mate whose the quintessential uber-geek (loves his gadgets) had a bit of diary envy when he saw my Filofax. He even overcame his usual cynical self to say "That's a cool organiser!"
ReplyDeleteiPads and smartphones are a dime a dozen :P
This is a *really* good point.....anyone can carry a smartphone (although not everyone knows how to use it), but carrying a Filofax shows you have made a decision to 'go your own wy', and that you take your organisation seriously........
DeleteI totally agree with you David. What I love about filofax, they don't need charging and one false move doesn't delete precious 'data'. SOO much easier than having to learn a new system with each new version of gadgets!
DeleteI think its time (for us all generally) to make the point that carrying (and using) a Filofax isn't just due to anachronistic tendencies....they actually work *better* as personal organisation tools in many (not all) ways, than a smartphone, or a connected digital system such as Google or MS Office 365, both of which I've trialled for my own organisation. I belong to a GTD oriented group on LinkedIn, and the convoluted combinations of software people are using is just beyond belief, and I'm sure detracts from their productivity in the name of 'worshipping at the digital altar'. For me, pencil/pen and paper 'just works' for *most* things (I generally keep y contacts in my phone like most people), doesn't run out of battery, doesn't delete/duplicate/triplicate my data, and doesn't require an advanced degree in technology to understand. I no longer think we're lagging behind the times, deliberately or otherwise - I think we've got the best tool there is.
DeleteI get "what a fantastic idea" when I turn up to courses and conferences with just one binder in my hand. Other teachers will have a bound diary, a notebook, various bits and pieces of paper loosely contained within, and a pencil case.
ReplyDeleteI am seeing more Filofaxes at meetings these days, (plus iPads) as well.
I'm still waiting to see a Pennybridge placed onto a table with quiet efficiency.
I like the positive ones at the end :) I've seen 3 of them now in my office, and it takes a lot of effort for me not to geek out around them :D :D
ReplyDeleteFor me it's, "Wow, you are so organized!" Glad people think that way of me.
ReplyDeleteI was very amused when I started a new job to discover that two of my immediate colleagues have lovely, much-used, over-stuffed leather Filofaxes!
ReplyDeleteI'm in America, so I usually get "What's a Filofax?"
ReplyDeleteI'm in the States and usually get the arguement about how old fashioned I am aka You are so 80s!!! and how great iPhones are.... My answer is what do you do when they die on you???
ReplyDeletePeople usually grin and say, "Ahh, I remember those..." as you can see their mind working to dredge up memories from the dawn of time. I also get, "My dad/ grandpa had one of those."
ReplyDeleteMy family and friends are split into paper diary and phone/tablet users so I'm covered on both fronts. The people closest to me though are as obssessed with paper planning which makes me a happy camper. They 'understand'.
ReplyDeleteI get "... you spent HOW MUCH on a planner????!!!"
ReplyDeleteMes enfants notent tout sur leur téléphone, mais ils m'ont toujours vu écrire dans un agenda, leur grande question a été pourquoi un filofax à ton âge, le tien était très bien ainsi que tous tes cahiers et tous tes morceaux de papiers. Je ne suis pas encore sortie, ni montrer mon filofax aux connaissances donc pour le moment pas de réflexions. Mon père a eu un filofax pendant des années, à sa mort, j'ai voulu le prendre mais une personne de la dite famille était passée avant moi.
ReplyDeleteI especially love comment number 4, since people around me (Bonn, Germany) cannot understand *at all* that I did it - even less than they would understand my obsession for stationery! Though most of them think it's cool in some way ;-)
ReplyDeleteRegards, Thomas
"Is that your bible?", from a smiling coworker who's a very organized single mom and totally gets it.
ReplyDeleteA prostitute on my street thought that my filofax (a personal Domino, carried in my hand) was a bible. Asked me if I was on my way home from bible study. Was truly bizarre. (and yes, my neighborhood is apparently the red light district of my city... prostitutes walking the street constantly).
Delete"You hipster." That was the worst. I gasped, but as usual, I couldn't think of a comeback for it. So I just sat there clutching my Finsbury. When I finally muttered "Namecalling is so mainstream" I was sitting alone on the table and the waiters where trying to pry me out of the chair so they could close the coffee-shop.
ReplyDeleteI would like to publicly say a HUGE thank you to Laura Geyer, a fellow Philofaxer today, and Egon, the sewing sloth!! Such true kindness of heart has meant such a lot to me today especially,as it has been a trying day to say the least!!!! The philofaxy community, sense of friendship, sharing and kindness, has never ceased to amaze me. It is a wonderful, creative and useful hobby.... keeps me organised... and I have made so many online pals, pen pals almost, from around the globe. Thank you, doesn't quite seem adequate enough, but thank you from my heart and soul Philofaxy pals. xxxx
ReplyDeleteI usually get, "but your so into technology" with a confused look...
ReplyDeleteMs Kendall, me too!!! But I love the fact that paper is so tactile.... and does not break down. A diary on a small i- phone screen, or even i-pad, is just so frustratingly small!!!
ReplyDelete"Wow, that's beautiful, please can I open it?" oh, eh~~ Can I say no?
ReplyDeleteLOL
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ReplyDeletePeople just look at me funny like "why can't you just carry a moleskine or a normal pad like everyone else?" Although one co-worker nicknamed it my encyclopedia because I keep on referring to it whenever I'm asked a question. I found that amusing.
ReplyDelete