this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2025

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Anybody remember the brief era when kids would steal school computer mouse balls? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

95 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Dunno what made me think of this just now. When I worked for IT in a school district way back in the 90s, a librarian told me she kept a supply of mouse balls in her desk because kids would steal them out of the school computers. What I remember about those balls was they picked up dust and crud off surfaces. Pretty soon optical mice came along and they were history.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days ago (1 children)

and super gross when you think about it..

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

The gunk is just compacted dust from the desk surfaces.

Perhaps a bit gross, but it's mostly stuff you're breathing in daily, just now visible due to being compacted.

Super gross to me would imply something like bodily fluids or other biohazard.

Am I missing something?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The majority of dust particles on the surface of your desk is dead human skin cells. That's the part you're missing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

So touching dead skin cells with my skin is supposed to be a biohazard?

First time I hear that.

I guess I also shouldn't shake hands anymore.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

i think you're missing the part where a lot of that gunk is exactly bodily fluids and other biohazards lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

How so? I'm not coughing or spitting on the desk.

Dead skin cells, sure, but that's not a biohazard.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

you're gonna be REALLY grossed out when you find out what's on your toothbrush..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTojTHjUckA

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

That's why I don't keep my brushes in the same room as my toilet.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

i miss your old poop hair, sweetie