5 ms·

I've been typing without any signs of RSI until I started using vim. Vim forced me to switch from my 'custom/natural' hand position* , which uses just 3-4 finge

I've been typing without any signs of RSI until I started using vim. Vim forced me to switch from my 'custom/natural' hand position* , which uses just 3-4 fingers of the right hand, to the home row position, which uses all five. This put too much strain on my ring finger which is much weaker than the other fingers, and that I believe led to RSI. Maybe I'm an outlier with atypical anatomy, or maybe we should challenge the notion that there is only one correct hand position. * Interestingly my peak typing speed is 500 CPM in the 'incorrect' position and 470 CPM in the 'correct' position.

atemerev 6y ago
In my observations, this is quite common. Most people who complained about RSI in my environment were heavy vim or emacs users.
- NateEag 6y ago
  When I switched to vim keybindings, my RSI got noticeably better. People are different, and there are few general rules in ergonomics.
saurik 6y ago
I have always used vim and I have a "custom/natural hand position" and am not at all sure how or why you are feeling the need to use all five fingers... I find vim extremely effective even on an iPhone pecking with my thumbs.
- GrantZvolsky 6y ago
  That's a good point, it was an overstatement to say I was forced to switch. The reason I did is because I naturally rest my right hand with my index finger at the gap between the i/o/9 or o/p/0 keys and the rest of the hand stretched comfortably, but all the vim tutorials I'd read suggest you should rest your hand at the home row. If I rest my hand like that, it forces me to use the touch typing technique that I diligently studied and practised at school but never found comfortable.
  - saurik 6y ago
    Yeah... just ignore those people. I appreciate why they say that, but they probably say that about typing in general or something. You do you, and vim will still be your friend at the end of the day.
CarelessExpert 6y ago
Huh, I had the opposite experience. Around... 15 years ago? I switched away from Emacs to Vim because of dreaded Emacs Finger. Of course, I could've tried other solutions: actually using the right hand Ctrl and Alt (my typing form is... good but not great), or swapping Ctrl and and Capslocks. But I opted to switch to Vim, and lo and behold, my problems evaporated when I no longer had to constantly chord. I'm now 41 with no significant RSI issues. Or: YMMV!

atemerev 6y ago

In my observations, this is quite common. Most people who complained about RSI in my environment were heavy vim or emacs users.

NateEag 6y ago
When I switched to vim keybindings, my RSI got noticeably better. People are different, and there are few general rules in ergonomics.

saurik 6y ago

I have always used vim and I have a "custom/natural hand position" and am not at all sure how or why you are feeling the need to use all five fingers... I find vim extremely effective even on an iPhone pecking with my thumbs.

GrantZvolsky 6y ago
That's a good point, it was an overstatement to say I was forced to switch. The reason I did is because I naturally rest my right hand with my index finger at the gap between the i/o/9 or o/p/0 keys and the rest of the hand stretched comfortably, but all the vim tutorials I'd read suggest you should rest your hand at the home row. If I rest my hand like that, it forces me to use the touch typing technique that I diligently studied and practised at school but never found comfortable.
- saurik 6y ago
  Yeah... just ignore those people. I appreciate why they say that, but they probably say that about typing in general or something. You do you, and vim will still be your friend at the end of the day.

CarelessExpert 6y ago

Huh, I had the opposite experience. Around... 15 years ago? I switched away from Emacs to Vim because of dreaded Emacs Finger. Of course, I could've tried other solutions: actually using the right hand Ctrl and Alt (my typing form is... good but not great), or swapping Ctrl and and Capslocks. But I opted to switch to Vim, and lo and behold, my problems evaporated when I no longer had to constantly chord. I'm now 41 with no significant RSI issues. Or: YMMV!