You spend most of your life running around above ground, oblivious to the shiny things in your path because you’re staring at the clouds. After a while, you tire. You take a break.

Something on the ground catches your attention. You scratch around it but can’t pull it up. You think about it at night. You obsess over it.

Before you know it, you have shovel in hand and are attempting to dig it up. You dig and dig and dig. Finally, you get to a point where you realize what it is you’re digging. You stop.

You realize that you have a choice: you can keep digging or you can try to climb out of the hole and enjoy running around on the ground again. Either way, you’ve left an awful mess.

I’ve been doing some informal research in spaces where other people are using computers. It all came to a head last night when I was working on a screenplay at a coffeeshop that offers free wireless internet access.

Several other people there had laptops (50/50 split between Apple and PCs). I noticed one guy typing super loudly and rather quickly. Obviously, he wasn’t engaged in serious writing like myself. Based on my previous research, I guessed that he was involved in an IM session.

Stealing a glance while on my way to the bathroom, I proved correct. People typing in IM tend to have a particular rhthym to their typing, but, worst of all, they type louder than normal. I even notice it myself on those rare occassions when I use IM.

The speed of the IM session is the primary reason for the increase in decibels, but there is also something else going on. It’s similar when you speak louder than normal in a conversation in order to get your point across with a bit more impact. IM sessions tend to be like those conversations where you’re wanting your point heard clearly. A little extra oomph on the key stroke does just that.

All I ask is that when you are in a public spot and are using IM, notice how you are typing. Try typing softer and see how that changes your attitude toward your IM session. Does it make you feel less vocal?

(I’ve also noticed that some PC laptop keyboards tend to much louder than Apple laptop keyboards.)