# What are your computing bad habits? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 24, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226 "2009-04-24T15:41:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/21 "2009-04-24T18:39:52Z")
I use “ctrl - mousewheel” to quickly zoom in and out in most applications. Wait, you say, that’s not a bad habit! Well, it’s bad because I have to suppress the urge to render, maim, and destroy whenever I watch someone in Excel or Word manually click on that “100%” pull down tab and start entering zoom levels by trial and error. “145%…no that’s not quite right, let’s try 115%…no, bear with me folks, we’ll get it…135%…um, no…123%…” _raging blood-vessel bursting pulse pounding teeth gnashing ensues_ ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/22 "2009-04-24T18:53:28Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I do the bin thing as well. In fact, ever since I discovered shift+del, I dispense with it entirely. A full bin is just untidy, isn’t it ? Instead of messing around with shift-del then, you can not use the Recycle Bin (right-click on it, go to properties and check “Do not move files to the Recycle Bin…”). ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/23 "2009-04-24T18:58:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I don’t think that’s a bad habit. I deliberately use the keyboard as much as possible, because it’s often faster and because, if I find myself with a non-functioning trackpad or mouse, I’ll be used to it and thus better able to deal with the problem. Oh, yeah. I’m all about keystrokes. Having those memorized saved me from a couple of broken mouses a while back. Sticking to the keyboard is lighting fast, and besides which I don’t get mouse elbow that way. It was a sad day when OCLC changed from my beloved Passport to the new mouse-clicky pain-in-my-ass, this-is-so-much-slower!!! interface. Library cataloging nerds will know what I mean. Yeah, so anyway… my bad habit is saving compulsively. I type a couple of sentences. Save. Copy and paste a few lines. Save. Get up to go to the bathroom. Save. Type a few more lines. The phone rings. Save. Get the phone… etc. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/24 "2009-04-24T19:02:15Z")
> [@rivulus](#): > > Yeah, so anyway… my bad habit is saving compulsively. I type a couple of sentences. Save. Copy and paste a few lines. Save. Get up to go to the bathroom. Save. Type a few more lines. The phone rings. Save. Get the phone… etc. How is THAT a bad habit? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/25 "2009-04-24T19:39:55Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > How is THAT a bad habit? It’s not. But every time you save in MS Word, it doesn’t actually save the file. It saves an additional file with only the changes. Save a bunch of times in one session, and you get a bunch of files. Once you close the document, it’s all put back together again. The world is still a safe place for democracy. But move files off to other drives, email them, or save as to other folders, and you’ve got problems. Close first, then move the file. I hope that saves someone a bit of grief in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/26 "2009-04-24T19:45:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > It’s not. But every time you save in MS Word, it doesn’t actually save the file. It saves an additional file with only the changes. Save a bunch of times in one session, and you get a bunch of files. Once you close the document, it’s all put back together again. The world is still a safe place for democracy. But move files off to other drives, email them, or save as to other folders, and you’ve got problems. > > Close first, then move the file. I hope that saves someone a bit of grief in the future. I already do that, but only because I’m anal. I also periodically exit Word & start it up again. I had a reason once but no longer remember what it is; you probably just reminded me. (I also reboot the laptop once or twice during a work day because I have an ap which randomly changes the wallpaper when the computer reboots and I like being surprised. I was just (nearly) embarassed because the new picture was a nude girly pic my wife drew.) ---
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/27 "2009-04-24T19:49:44Z")
I used to be bad at backups until I lost 3 months worth of work to a backup. Nothing important, just hobbyist 3d models/animations, but still annoying. Now I have a weekly backup regimen. My most annoying computer habit is my desktop, which has, at present, only 1/4 of its surface remaining uncluttered. And god help me if the icons get moved around in some fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/28 "2009-04-24T19:56:53Z")
Slight hi-jack, but I think the default delete settings for Windows is incredibly stupid. It defaults to a confirmation dialog (“Are you sure you want to delete?”) PLUS putting everything in the recycle bin where it can be undeleted? Shouldn’t it be, you know…one or the other? Was there really someone at one time who accidentally deleted something and then said “Arrggh, I didn’t mean to delete that! Now I need to move my mouse all the way to the recycle bin to undelete it! If only there had been a confirmation when I hit delete!!” ---
**Author:** ![ashenRiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/65b543/32.png) [@ashenRiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashenRiot)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/29 "2009-04-24T20:41:22Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > But the Bin being full that way just looks untidy, and I am compulsive about that sort of thing. I am forever reminding myself not to empty the Bin for no good reason. If seeing the full Bin drives you nuts, just swap the icons! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/30 "2009-04-24T20:41:50Z")
My e-mail inbox currently contains 1,267 messages. I’ll get an e-mail about some upcoming event, and I’ll decide to hold onto it until the event, in case I need to double-check the day or time. By the time the event actually occurs, it’s buried under dozens of other messages, and I never get around to deleting it. Or I don’t have time to look into something more deeply when I get a message, so save it for later, and forget about it. Or I actively want to keep some particular message, but don’t know where to organize it, so just leave it where it is. It’d be much worse, too, except that last year I was reading my e-mail on a lab computer and accidentally set “Leave read messages on server” to no, and lost about 3,000 messages (which oddly didn’t seem to lose anything of any real value). I understand that GMail is actually _designed_ to work this way, and I really ought to see about getting a GMail account. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/31 "2009-04-24T20:51:54Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I constantly click the screen and highlight things at random when I’m reading. I mean, _constantly_. I hardly notice myself doing it\*, but it drives people reading over my shoulder crazy. > > I suspect it’s a symptom of my undiagnosed ADD. > > - Excapt when reading the New York Times. The bastards. Oh my FREAKING GOD. My boyfriend does that and it drives me absolutely batty. When we’re reading things together! Stop it at once! Also, I don’t back up. I mean to, I just never get around to it. One day this will be self-punishing. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/32 "2009-04-24T20:59:59Z")
> [@ashenRiot](#): > > If seeing the full Bin drives you nuts, just swap the icons! 🙂 That would only make it worse. I would STILL KNOW, and that knowledg would be compounded by knowing the icons were wrong. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/33 "2009-04-24T23:00:00Z")
I may not be the only one, but the reason I always empty the recycle bin is that there are sometimes files in there that I don’t want anyone to ever see again. Same reason when I delete emails, I make sure to delete them from the trash portion of the email program. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/34 "2009-04-24T23:29:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > That would only make it worse. I would STILL KNOW, and that knowledg would be compounded by knowing the icons were wrong. Agreed. They just don’t understand, buddy. They’re not parents. (D&R) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/35 "2009-04-24T23:31:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > My e-mail inbox currently contains 1,267 messages. I’ll get an e-mail about some upcoming event, and I’ll decide to hold onto it until the event, in case I need to double-check the day or time. By the time the event actually occurs, it’s buried under dozens of other messages, and I never get around to deleting it. Or I don’t have time to look into something more deeply when I get a message, so save it for later, and forget about it. Or I actively want to keep some particular message, but don’t know where to organize it, so just leave it where it is. It’d be much worse, too, except that last year I was reading my e-mail on a lab computer and accidentally set “Leave read messages on server” to no, and lost about 3,000 messages (which oddly didn’t seem to lose anything of any real value). > > I understand that GMail is actually _designed_ to work this way, and I really ought to see about getting a GMail account. Ah, yes, that. Well, it’s not really computer related - you (general you) just don’t throw stuff away. Period. You never know when it’s going to be useful, or you want to go on a stroll through memory lane, or… something. Why, yes, I still have that string of 1997 emails about where we were going to meet up before the concert, why do you ask ? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/36 "2009-04-24T23:55:26Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Agreed. They just don’t understand, buddy. They’re not parents. > > (D&R) I’m tired, and my feet hurt. If we can just _pretend_ I made the usual bombastic threats, that would be great. I don’t think I even particpated in that thread, damn it! ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/37 "2009-04-25T01:07:03Z")
Eating and drinking near the laptop. I’ve slowly migrated the surfing locale from the office -\> bar counter -\> kitchen counter-\> the kitchen table. Nearly had a fatal exception with a glass of wine last week. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/38 "2009-04-25T01:21:34Z")
> [@Alastair\_Moonsong](#): > > That makes three of us. Four. 'S why I hate using a wireless mouse. Eats batteries like nobody’s business. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/39 "2009-04-25T01:55:37Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Ah, yes, that. Well, it’s not really computer related - you (general you) just don’t throw stuff away. Period. You never know when it’s going to be useful, or you want to go on a stroll through memory lane, or… something. Why, yes, I still have that string of 1997 emails about where we were going to meet up before the concert, why do you ask ? I’ve almost started\* a pit thread entitled “Stop deleting your emails!” I don’t know how many times people have asked me for information that was emailed to them but unnecessarily deleted. I’ve looked up stuff from years ago and am glad I can do so. It doesn’t take up much space at all if you’re not flinging around a lot of attachments. I’m also guilty of poor back-up habits. I’ve almost started\* a thread asking about the best way to back up my computers. \*Are we seeing another bad habit? Perhaps I should start these and other threads. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226/40 "2009-04-25T05:26:54Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I constantly click the screen and highlight things at random when I’m reading. I mean, _constantly_. I hardly notice myself doing it\*, but it drives people reading over my shoulder crazy. > > I suspect it’s a symptom of my undiagnosed ADD. > > - Excapt when reading the New York Times. The bastards. Count me in this club, too. And you’re right about the NY Times being bastards re: this habit. Dear NY Times, Next time I want to look up what a word means, I will go to [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com). Please remove your stupid “helpful” software and let me click on everything compulsively without filling my screen with popups. Thanks! Me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-computing-bad-habits/494226.md?page=3)