can't copy and paste

[977]

hi all

can you please help

i'm trying to do the simplest thing in the world (copy and paste in gimp 2.10.18)

it won't do it (i've done it before so i know how to do it

let me prove it
i select the rectangle select tool
i chose the section
control c
control v
nothing happens

i noticed at the bottom it says; "unable to cut or copy because the selected region is empty"

what could i be doing wrong

sorry to bother you with such a stupid question

thx