I’m a print addict. I print everything except the most ethereal e-mail. When I write a story, I proof it in print before sending it to my editor. When I edit a story, I print out the writer’s initial draft and mark it with pen and ink first. If I need to read a 20-page market research report in a PDF, I’ll print it out. If someone sends me a PowerPoint deck that has 40 slides, all with solid black backgrounds that will suck every last drop from that $30 HP inkjet cartridge, I’ll print it.
Ten, even five, years ago, this habit was not a problem. Lots of people printed stuff out; in fact it was prudent to keep a hard copy in case your hard disk crashed. But today, prolific printing from your PC is no longer, well, PC. Faith in electronic copies has increased, environmental stewardship is the trend and thrift is in. Now I’m not just old fashioned. I’m a selfish, wasteful, gluttonous slob for printing stuff. I get e-mail that pleads: “Please think before you print.” I feel like the paper police might show up at my door at any moment.
I tuck away used ink cartridges in drawers out of sight, like an alcoholic trying to hide bottles. There’s no hiding my shame, however, when I lug my bag of cartridges to Staples for recycling. I feel like a bag lady coming in to redeem empty bottles and cans.
I’ve tried to stop, but that urge to click “print,” to hear my decrepit inkjet printer groan and grind, to see it spit out a white sheet with crisp type . . .
Anyone out there interested in starting a support group?