Possessed Cursor - Mystery Solved.

[Wayne Mack]

The other day, when I was trying to do some editing, the mouse cursor started jumping all over the screen, seemingly on its own.

It was in the afternoon and I had been working outside in a t-shirt and shorts. I was still sweaty when I came inside and sat down on the couch with my computer in my lap. It started out fine, I opened the file, found the spot, and started to type. Now, the cursor started to move on its own. I kept using the mouse to find the point in the text where I wanted to enter something, but the cursor kept jumping to various points on the screen. I unplugged the mouse and the movement stopped.

I went to another computer (strange how no one thinks it odd to have multiple computers) and took the mouse from it. I plugged it in and got ready to edit some more. Again, the cursor started to move all over the screen. I unplugged the mouse and decided to use the touchpad and diagnose the issue later. But, before I even started, the mouse started jumping around the screen again. I looked down at the touchpad on the bottom the keyboard and saw the bottom of my t-shirt, still wet with sweat, was draped across the edge of the touchpad.

I changed into a dry shirt, replaced my original mouse, and the demon in the cursor was exorcised.

 

[CupofJoe]

Good safety tip!
I've had an experience that was somewhat similar. It is usually when I'm using a wireless mouse on a laptop and don't notice that my fingers are still resting on the touchpad.