(Not a) Trackpad Issue

I don't know what to call this issue and it's a sort of trackpad issue but not really. When I rest my palm on the sides of the computer off of the trackpad (no my thumb and no part of my hand is on the trackpad) I can still select things as if I were using the trackpad or as if I hit ctrl-select. I can even do it one fingered.
The real problem arises when in the middle of typing my hand hits on those areas because it will sometimes select whole pieces of text and then I'll hit a letter or space and it will wipe it all out. I had this problem when I first got it but I assumed it was because I wasn't used to such a wide trackpad. Others have had this problem when using my mac but I've chalked it up to new mac users. However after the problem getting worse recently I realized it's not me.
The trackpad isn't fabulous in general and I can't always get this straightened out. I couldn't get an appointment with the genius bar until Friday and the people at the Apple Store thought I was crazy and kept asking if I had some part of my hand on the trackpad. I happened to experiment when I was in Best Buy and it appears their model does it too but isn't nearly as sensitive as mine is.
I would love to know if others have this and if you've found fixes (don't want to give up my laptop, I need it, for a repair). Also what would I search for for others with similar problems.

P.S. I can't move the arrow around the screen with the areas not on the trackpad I can only select in these area.

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