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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Apparently I type too loudly

186 replies

Tabsicle · 23/03/2017 08:14

So, I work in an office. Normal open plan.

Apparently one of my colleagues has put in a complaint about me. She says I type too loudly. I do, to be fair, type quickly (90 wpm) and that means I tend to bounce around the keyboard rapidly, and other people have said I type as if I'm in a bad mood (I'm not. I just type at thinking speed).

Nothing else - I don't eat at my desk, I don't really talk much, I don't wear heavy perfume. My boss has been very nice about it and said I'm doing nothing wrong but would it be OK to get me a quieter keyboard, and if that doesn't work, colleague will have to live with it.

AIBU in how I type? Is she? This feels really petty and while I know we don't get on (she's been really ratty and competitive with me recently, which I think it because we work in a target based environment and I've had some very good results lately) I'm a bit thrown that she has actually put in a formal complaint. It seems rather weird too. MN jury?

OP posts:
Kerberos · 23/03/2017 08:47

If she's complained there probably is a problem. And you might find she's supported by others in the office too. So now you know, do something about it.

maddiemookins16mum · 23/03/2017 08:47

I had a colleague like this, it was like he was playing the piano, literally banging the keys plus he was fast, darn fast. It was intentional, but changing his key board made a huge difference.

TheCakes · 23/03/2017 08:49

I work in court a lot. I got told off by the judge about my loud typing. I have had to quieten down, which means slowing down. It's a PITA.

BitOutOfPractice · 23/03/2017 08:49

I think you should get an old manual typewriter, complete with a "ding" when you get to the end of a line and a manual carriage return and see how she likes them apples Grin

IHeartDodo · 23/03/2017 08:50

Haha I'll chime in and agree she is over sensitive, but I can kind of understand. I work from 2 different offices, in one I have a pc with an old style high profile keyboard, which makes a hell of a racket once I get going. In the other I use my laptop, with very soft low profile keys, which is very quiet. I do think I use it differently - I tend to keep my wrists up and just use my fingers gently, rather than punching down with the weight of my whole hand.
Incidentally my office mate told me off for using my calculator too loudly - I tend to leave it on the desk and punch numbers in with one hand rather than picking it up. She just told me to stop doing that and I did though! :)

rightsofwomen · 23/03/2017 08:52

Do you have a soft keyboard? I type at speed and don't make much noise at all. Likewise, Macbooks are very quiet.

I know what it's like to sit with loud typists. I cannot be doing your hands any good at all.

Colleague should have spoken to you first though.

I have this Cherry one

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 23/03/2017 08:52

I used to work with a loud typed. It is really really annoying and yes it does stop you from concentrating on your own work.

Now you know there is a problem, surely the polite thing to do is get a new keyboard and learn to hit the keys with less force. The obnoxious thing to do would be to tell her to suck it up.

I'm sure if something was irritating you to the extent you felt the need to speak to your line manager you'd want it dealt with.

yorkshirepuddingandroastbeef · 23/03/2017 08:52

Yes, I had a colleague who used to do this. Was a very fast typist but absolutely bashed the living hell out of her keyboard. It was very distracting and made it hard to concentrate.

Try the new keyboard.

SailAwaySailAwaySailAway · 23/03/2017 08:52

Bit Grin

DevelopingDetritus · 23/03/2017 08:53

Spineless for not having a chat to you about it first.

chocatoo · 23/03/2017 08:54

That's ridiculous...try a different keyboard and if it does the trick, great but really I don't think that you should have to change the way you type!

AChickenCalledKorma · 23/03/2017 08:55

We've just had an office refurbishment and everybody has new, low profile, soft touch keyboards. The difference in noise level is astounding and very welcome. Give it a try.

RaspberryOverloadsOnChilli · 23/03/2017 08:55

Get the quieter keyboard and then just get on with typing at your normal speed. Your boss has your back here, so don't let your productivity slow you down.

Rachel0Greep · 23/03/2017 08:56

I used to sit opposite a guy who typed as if he was intent on bashing the keyboard down through the desk. Omg it was very irritating. And it wasn't speed typing, more like 'bash your fists on the keyboard' typing.

However, this is very petty on the part of your colleague. I'm surprised that a manager would even get involved tbh. Open plan offices are a pain, but unless something is really bad, no way should such complaints be entertained.

What next will the petty colleague decide to complain about! Your breathing, maybe? The colour of the top you are wearing, being too hard on her eyes? The angle at which you hang up your coat... Hmm

shirleycartersaidso · 23/03/2017 08:56

It is really annoying. Have you got a soft touch keyboard - they are much better? Since we've gone properly open plan and 'agile working' outs are all being replaced.

TastyTub · 23/03/2017 08:57

I got a quieter keyboard and honestly it's awesome! I share an office with one person only and sometimes I could tell it was irritating if they were on the phone.

Also you kind of have to adjust your wrist angle so that you spread your fingers more to reach the keys rather than move your hands. So resting your wrists on a gel support in front of the space bar and you should be able to reach everything

I learnt on a typewriter too

ImFuckingSpartacus · 23/03/2017 08:58

I used to sit next to an extremely loud typer. I used to fantasise about bashing her skull with her keyboard, it was that bad. All day long, bang bang bang click click bang, it was incessant and like chinese water torture.

daisychain01 · 23/03/2017 08:58

People should wear earphones if they can't cope with keyboards and people breathing!

I remember a person in my office used to beat the living daylights out of her laptop. I was worried the keys were going to shatter Grin
I think it was to show she was very important and doing lots of very important work.

IamFriedSpam · 23/03/2017 08:58

I don't really see what the big deal is with getting a quieter keyboard Obviously it bothers her and if there's a simple solution why not go for it?

remoaniac · 23/03/2017 08:59

YANBU, your colleague is. I type loudly too and like you it would slow me down massively to type differently - I don't have long nails so they don't hit the keyboard, it's just the speed that does it. If it upsets someone so much they can either move desks or use headphones, or both.

People stand around the office chatting or leave their phones on loudspeaker when waiting to join a conference call. That annoys me. But: working in an open plan office demands tolerance.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 23/03/2017 09:00

I'd type even louder tbh

ImFuckingSpartacus · 23/03/2017 09:01

I'd type even louder tbh

Some people just go out of their way to be dicks.

gigglingHyena · 23/03/2017 09:04

DH is a loud typist, always has been and no doubt always will be. Some keyboards, particularly older ones are worse for it than others.

The thing that's made the biggest difference is putting little silicone feet on the bottom of the keyboard. The silicone dots that you tend to find on kitchen doors to stop them banging have worked well.

Stripeymug · 23/03/2017 09:05

I am sure that there is nothing in an HR manual about volume of typing but maybe look at a soft touch keyboard and maybe practise lighter typing, like Jellybean has.

In the long term it may help prevent RSI, aching joints etc, constant battering of joints can cause medical problems,

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 23/03/2017 09:08

I type at a similar speed but I don't hammer the keys - there's no need. I'm pretty tolerant in the office but that would drive me batshit! You don't have to slow down, just adjust your technique.

If people have said that you type as if you are angry, it's not just one person being sensitive.

And those saying the colleague should have spoken to you first, if the situation had been reversed, the colleague would have been advised to speak to management