this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2025
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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] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Never heard of that - does it mean gluing the ball in place or what? Also why (the fuck) would you?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

one of my first gigs was working for a school district. just gluing the little door closed so kids couldnt steal the ball.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

My god, the lint build-up!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My school used to actually glue them, as in glue the part you would remove to get access to the ball. So the mouse still worked, until enough gunk got in there that it didn't any more, then someone has a fun time trying to find the right solvent to dissolve the glue without killing the mouse.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Ahh, ok now we're getting into supervillain territory!

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

I assume that he's keeping people from opening the mice to steal the ball. Would also make it hard to clean the rollers, though...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

LOL I assumed it was some sort of weird prank.