There is a psychological phenomenon called echolalia (repetition of sounds) and a digital cousin called keyboard glissando—the act of dragging fingers across keys to produce a ribbon of characters. People type iiiiuu when they are:
But the inclusion of “better” signals a pivot. The user is emerging from the noise. They are declaring that something (perhaps clarity, perhaps a specific solution) is superior to the mess they just typed. iiiiuu ii better
In therapeutic terms, iiiiuu is the problem state; “better” is the goal state. But the inclusion of “better” signals a pivot
In software development, never trust raw user input. If a user submits iiiiuu, your form should say: “Please enter a valid response.” Sanitize, filter, constrain. Constraints are better than chaos. iiiiuu is the problem state
Before hitting send on an email or a Slack message, read it aloud. If you hear “iiiiuu” (hesitation, filler), rewrite. Use the BLUF standard (Bottom Line Up Front). State your conclusion first, then provide evidence.