Page 5 | To dislike a work colleague because.....

Original poster

ChocolateSqueezyyogurts · 05/07/2026 07:34

Ive just googled touch typing because I was intrigued.... thats just normal typing. Its not that, I think shes just invented her own style 🤣

OP posts:

evilharpy · 05/07/2026 10:18

Charlize43 · 04/07/2026 18:46

I had a manager once who used to touch type while talking to you. It was really impressive and the rest of us had talked about it behind her back because we were in such awe (I was about 26 at the time).

One of the times that she'd summoned me into her office for something or other and she was simultaneously typing away while taking to me, someone knocked on her door as a client had fallen down some stairs and she was suddenly called away.

As I sat there, I was suddenly compelled to get up go around her desk and look at her screen to see what she was typing. It looked like this; lhhdsl;flfndhfdvcsfxlsu;d/;jn cmd/ipkb asns;aD vkn'j'phjvnlfebih'wd eqkslslx xlxsx'
lines and lines of this stuff. I couldn't resist calling some of my co-workers in to have a look at her screen. It had all been an act! 😂

That is hilarious! I do touch type (was a PA in a previous life), I still type about 100wpm and can type away during conversations so always have detailed meeting notes, but now I'm wondering if people think I'm faking it!

Olive123456 · 05/07/2026 11:33

Is this a joke?

Charlize43 · 05/07/2026 13:43

evilharpy · 05/07/2026 10:18

That is hilarious! I do touch type (was a PA in a previous life), I still type about 100wpm and can type away during conversations so always have detailed meeting notes, but now I'm wondering if people think I'm faking it!

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I'm close to retirement now and another memorable colleague was a Manager (not my department) who would open every meeting she was at with a small yawn and 'Sorry. I was up at 5am and ran 8K this morning.' It amused me as she was a rather large lady and not athletic looking at all... I worked there for three years and heard her say this over a dozen times... and during those three years her weight remained the same. 😂

CoffeeCantata · 05/07/2026 14:03

Ohthisheat · 02/07/2026 18:12

Touch typing is wonderful. Best thing I ever learned.

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Me too! I went to an academic school long ago and only the bottom groups did typing. I always wanted to learn.

After my degree I did a quick secretarial course and loved it - the shorthand! The touch-typing! Fabulous. In those days a lot of people got jobs in desirable organisations - such as the BBC - as typists and worked their way up. I think lots of famous women started through that route and went into writing, production, presenting etc.

But in my day (late 70s/early 80s) it was frowned on from a feminist pov - young women were told NOT to learn to type, or to admit they could type, for fear of being bunged behind a typewriter despite more academic skills.

This was in the days before computers and I have always been so glad that I can touch-type. I love the keyboard!

Sadly my handwriting is appalling these days - I rarely write more than my name.

Touch-typing is brilliant - I recommend it to everyone. I never worked as a Secretary but my typing speed has always helped in all my jobs - as has the shorthand.

Ohthisheat · 05/07/2026 15:15

CoffeeCantata · 05/07/2026 14:03

Me too! I went to an academic school long ago and only the bottom groups did typing. I always wanted to learn.

After my degree I did a quick secretarial course and loved it - the shorthand! The touch-typing! Fabulous. In those days a lot of people got jobs in desirable organisations - such as the BBC - as typists and worked their way up. I think lots of famous women started through that route and went into writing, production, presenting etc.

But in my day (late 70s/early 80s) it was frowned on from a feminist pov - young women were told NOT to learn to type, or to admit they could type, for fear of being bunged behind a typewriter despite more academic skills.

This was in the days before computers and I have always been so glad that I can touch-type. I love the keyboard!

Sadly my handwriting is appalling these days - I rarely write more than my name.

Touch-typing is brilliant - I recommend it to everyone. I never worked as a Secretary but my typing speed has always helped in all my jobs - as has the shorthand.

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Hear, hear.
I am a similar age and also went to an academic school , but my mum obviously didn't know about the 'typewriter trap' because she booked me (without asking!) on a short Pitmans course during the summer before university.
Being able to type fast and accurately without looking at the keyboard has been good for my posture as well as my performance in every job since. I wish more people would learn now, especially when very young, at the stage when you absorb new skills so fast and then the techniques stay in your muscle memory for life.
Love seeing it described at 'typing like playing the piano'!

Ohthisheat · 05/07/2026 15:23

ChocolateSqueezyyogurts · 05/07/2026 07:34

Ive just googled touch typing because I was intrigued.... thats just normal typing. Its not that, I think shes just invented her own style 🤣

How intriguing, what does she do exactly? Lift her hands with a flourish and take a bow after a stream of rhythmic key-tapping?

Sheeparemyfriends · 05/07/2026 15:33

ChocolateSqueezyyogurts · 02/07/2026 13:05

She types like shes playing a piano! Its so irritating but I dont know why. Its the most random way of typing Ive ever seen.

This is probably me, I can't touch type. Tried to learn years ago, but could never pick up the coordination required!

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 05/07/2026 16:25

I love bashing my keyboard 😳 clickerty clack, whack,

Grendel7 · 05/07/2026 19:36

BarefootAndDancing · 02/07/2026 13:10

I know I'm not your colleague as I work alone in my home office - however, I type exactly as you describe. Sorry OP, but if it's any comfort she's not the only one! 😂

Loads of people type like that ffs!

Grendel7 · 05/07/2026 19:38

IReallyNeedATimeMachine · 02/07/2026 13:54

I get where you're coming from. I am currently sitting here listing to a colleague who types really loudly. There are 8 other people in the office & they can manage to type quietly. I can't even get away from it at home because my husband works at home in our spare bedroom & when I'm downstairs, it sounds like baby elephants tap dancing on the keyboard!

Why are you reading mumsnet when you should be working? Mmm?

BigAnne · 05/07/2026 20:38

Ohpleeeease · 02/07/2026 18:53

Altogether now A.S.D.F., A.S.D.F.,…

:LKJ

BarefootAndDancing · 06/07/2026 10:51

Grendel7 · 05/07/2026 19:36

Loads of people type like that ffs!

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Well, the OP found it noteworthy enough to start a whole thread about it ....

I personally couldn't care less how people type.