General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,339 posts)

13. Great Idea!

Mon Apr 6, 2026, 09:56 AM

Monday

I made my living as a writer for over 50 years. At the beginning, there were no computers, so I had to type the articles I was writing to submit them to publishers. Personally, I hated typing anything twice, so I wrote my words very carefully in my mind before typing them. Over the years, typing things only once improved both the quality of my writing as well as the thought processes that came before putting words on paper.

It also made me a better user of keyboards, since making errors in typing also meant retyping something. Did I say I hated typing anything more than once?

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RockCreek Attilatheblond Talitha Wednesdays oberle

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Highlight:

AI Forces College Professor to Get Typewriters for Entire Class [View all] HAB911 Monday OP

Very groovy... wcmagumba Monday #1

Seems like a pen and paper might be easier. But I do think reversion to analog skills might soon Scrivener7 Monday #2

much cheaper for sure HAB911 Monday #3

pretty sure u can get used typewriters cheap. mopinko Monday #4

The ones I've seen for sale online are hundreds of dollars. highplainsdem Monday #5

There Are Plenty Free Models ProfessorGAC Monday #24

But they're typewriters. They don't fit in a purse or a pocket very well. Scrivener7 Monday #38

Because newspapers are so reliable? SocialDemocrat61 Monday #22

More than the places where most get their news online. Scrivener7 Monday #39

No source is completely reliable SocialDemocrat61 Monday #40

Obviously. Scrivener7 Monday #41

Quote from a student: "This might sound bad, but I was forced to actually think about the problem on my own instead of highplainsdem Monday #6

Omg! Having to think on their own? 😱 SheltieLover Monday #8

OMG! 2naSalit Monday #19

I love this! SheltieLover Monday #7

They simply need to get AI out of classrooms. Which is unfortunately impossible with remote learning. highplainsdem Monday #9

Yes, they do need to get ai out of classrooms! SheltieLover Monday #10

I posted about typewriters a couple of months ago - DURHAM D Monday #11

Where do you find typewriter ribbons? mainer Monday #12

Ummm, ask AI??? yagotme Monday #18

Online, or some office supply stores. highplainsdem Monday #21

Try here radical noodle Monday #23

That's why I jettisoned my beloved Selectric III LSparkle Monday #25

I kick myself HAB911 Monday #28

Great Idea! MineralMan Monday #13

Some profs and colleges (and even high schools) are going to oral exams only. TygrBright Monday #14

Bring back blue books! Scrivener7 Tuesday #42

Wait - you can still buy typewriters? n/t SpankMe Monday #15

In about 1983 the company I worked for bought an IBM Selectric with erase key. Cost $1,200. twodogsbarking Monday #16

I remember that behemoth machine. Had Selectric envy for a bit of time. Attilatheblond Monday #27

I remember my grandfather running his finger down Scrivener7 Tuesday #43

The headline is misleading nuxvomica Monday #17

AI equals brain rot. Lonestarblue Monday #20

My big brother got me a portable Olivetti typewriter when I was 10. Kept it until I was 40 Attilatheblond Monday #26

That's what I have! A portable Olivetti Lettera mainer Monday #30

I could see AI being used to address these issues. David__77 Monday #29

I remember taking typing back in High School LetMyPeopleVote Monday #31

I wanted to graduate early, so..... HAB911 Monday #32

I'm so glad I took typing class in HS at the start of the personal computer age... wcmagumba Monday #33

funny how things work out HAB911 Monday #34

The word processor Wifes husband Monday #35

Exactly right. DavidDvorkin Monday #37

The advent of the word processor gave me two careers. Intractable Tuesday #44

Now they too can go get ribbons off the electronic bay! Initech Monday #36