Have you ever been typing on your clicky keyboard, blissfully unaware and then it feels like it was all of a sudden firing on all cylinders (I think that is a saying)? Or like you started a spell and your thoughts were easier to flow through your fingers to the keyboard? Or you felt like you were typing quicker and working at ‘lightning’ speed? 

Such deception; such clever deception; such clever, tactile, believable deception. The punch line? You are not alone! 

I have done it too- banging out some keys on my old MX blue mechanical board and earning a sense of productivity from it-” this keyboard has me productivity (working) at warp speed,” I would say before testing it. Stopwatch and all. 

Want to know the outcome? I felt faster- however, I was not typing any faster.

The Problem: Our Brains Are Easily Fooled (Especially When Things Go Click)

Let’s be honest—clicky keyboards are seductive. That clack? That sharp tactile bump? It’s like your fingertips are high-fiving tiny robots with every press.

If you’ve ever typed on a mechanical switch like Cherry MX Blue, Kailh Box White, or even a gloriously loud buckling spring from an IBM Model M—then you know what I’m talking about.

You feel fast.

But that’s the thing—it’s a feeling, not a fact.

The sound, the feedback, the satisfying resistance—it tricks your brain into thinking you’re more efficient, more responsive, more on top of your game. Especially in Canada, where long winter nights mean we often romanticize our gear (I mean, who doesn’t want a cozy mechanical setup beside a cup of double-double while it’s -20 outside?).

But if you slow down and measure things, you’ll realize: that satisfying click is mostly placebo.

Agitate: So Why Is This a Problem?

Well, for starters—it messes with how we choose our gear.

Let’s say you’re buying a new keyboard for gaming, work, or just flexing your desk setup on Reddit. You test out some clicky switches at a store, and they feel awesome. Naturally, you buy the thing thinking, “Oh man, I’m gonna type 110 WPM and crank out spreadsheets like a demon.”

But then a few days in? Your fingers are sore. Your coworkers are annoyed. You’re not actually any more productive. And worst of all—you can’t tell whether it’s your muscle memory or your ego that made the decision.

We’ve confused feedback with performance.

And that’s not entirely your fault. The human brain loves sensory reinforcement. Every click feels like confirmation: “Yup, you pressed that key. Good job, champ.” It feels like progress. It feels like speed. But it’s not.

Solution: Let’s Break Down Why This Happens (And How to Fix It)

The Tactile Feedback Loop

Here’s what’s going on under the hood (don’t worry—I’ll keep it casual):

• Clicky switches have a tactile bump and an audible sound that aligns with the actuation point.
  
• This makes your brain think you’ve typed something successfully—even if your finger hasn’t bottomed out the key yet.
  
• Your mind registers that tactile “pop” as a completed action, even if, physically, you’re no faster.
  

It’s a bit like that illusion where you feel your phone vibrate in your pocket even when it hasn’t. Your body craves confirmation. Your fingers feel it. Your ears hear it. So your brain gives you a gold star and moves on.

But that doesn’t mean you’re actually typing faster.

In fact, for some people—especially those switching from quieter switches or laptop keyboards—clicky boards can actually slow you down.

A Little Anecdote from My Life (Because This Is Personal)

There was one winter—January—to be specific in Ottawa. Snow was piling up outside, and I was holed up inside, binge-working on freelance work while drinking way (WAY) too much Tim’s. 

I had just purchased a gorgeous, vintage-style mechanical keyboard—complete with Cherry MX Blues. This thing sang. I mean, every keystroke bounced back like an echoing 1940s typewriter. I was writing blog posts, emails, reports—feeling like Hemingway in a flannel hoodie the whole time. 

But after about a week? I did a little test using an online typing site, just to check. 

And? My speed was down 8 WPM, and my error rate was up. Not by a lot, but enough that it made me stop and think, “Wait… why do I feel faster when I’m actually slower?” 

The answer: tactile illusion.

Gamers, This One’s For You Too

If you’re into gaming—especially FPS titles like CS2, Valorant, or Apex—you might think clicky switches give you an edge.

You hear the click. You feel the press. You think your reaction time is god-tier.

But clicky switches often:

• Have a higher actuation force (meaning more pressure needed to register a key).
  
• Have longer travel distances (meaning more time between press and action).
  
• Create auditory delay that makes you think something happened before it actually did.
  

That’s why most competitive gamers use linear switches—like Cherry MX Reds, Gateron Yellows, or even optical switches. They’re quieter, smoother, and technically faster because they actuate earlier and without distraction.

But yeah, they don’t feel as “epic” when you press them. No dopamine hit from the click. No “you’re crushing it” feeling. Just raw performance.

And that, my friend, is the whole illusion.

How to Know What Works for You

Not everyone needs to ditch clicky keyboards. But here’s what I recommend:

Try This Little Experiment:

1. Visit a typing test site (like monkeytype or keybr).
   
2. Do three tests on your usual clicky keyboard.
   
3. Now borrow or test a linear or tactile board (without click).
   
4. Run the same three tests.
   

Compare results. Pay attention to:

• Typing speed (WPM)
  
• Accuracy (%)
  
• Fatigue after multiple rounds
  

You might be shocked. Or not. But either way, you’ll be measuring the truth instead of guessing.

Also, ask yourself: Is this keyboard making me feel good, or making me better?

Sometimes, it’s both. But often? It’s one or the other.

A Little Nod to My Canadian Friends

Let’s be honest: Many of us Canadians live far too much indoors (blame it on snowstorms). We treat our setups as our temples. Our keyboards have fused with our personalities. We brush keycaps like they are sacred objects during our daily rituals, and we debate switches on Discord like our lives depend on it.

And nothing is wrong with that.

But the next time you’re drawn to a clicky keyboard – just ask yourself, do I want this because it sounds fast, or do I want it because it is fast?

The Takeaway (Sharp & Simple)

Clicky keyboards feel faster. But most of the time?
They’re not.

It’s your brain, tricked by tactile feedback and sweet, satisfying noise.

If you’re all about the vibes, by all means—click away. But if speed, comfort, and accuracy are your goals? Maybe it’s time to go linear, go silent, or go smooth.

You don’t need your keyboard to scream at you to feel productive.

Sometimes, the quiet ones really get the job done.