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When I was younger, my mom had a house with a large house full of oak trees. We had to rake the leaves, because, if they were allowed to decay on the ground, i

When I was younger, my mom had a house with a large house full of oak trees. We had to rake the leaves, because, if they were allowed to decay on the ground, it would kill most the other plants. There was a leaf blower, but we didn't use it for long - personally, I thought the rakes got the job done more quickly and thoroughly, even with that obnoxiously large yard. But then, I suppose I wasn't doing it professionally. Maybe with practice I'd have gotten better at it. The leaf blower was new; rakes are something I grew up with. It was certainly more work to use a rake. I see that as an upside, though - it's always struck me as odd that people will spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to make it so everyday tasks require minimal physical effort, and then spend even more money on home fitness equipment and gym memberships in order to artificially replace all the physical activity they were ostensibly trying to avoid in the first place. Again, though, that's personal use, not professional.

koolba 8y ago
> it's always struck me as odd that people will spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to make it so everyday tasks require minimal physical effort, and then spend even more money on home fitness equipment and gym memberships in order to artificially replace all the physical activity they were ostensibly trying to avoid in the first place. A few days ago as I was doing some basic yard work when a friend stopped by and suggested I hire someone to do it instead. I told him exactly that, “If I pay someone to do this, I’ve got to pay for a gym memebership too.” It’s also a nice change of pace to do something that not only doesn’t involve a computer, it doesn’t have any moving parts or machines at all. Very relaxing.
- Nasrudith 8y ago
  There is one additional perk to exercise as opposed to tasks. Work tends to involve straining physical repetitive labor. Dedicated exercise can be more targeted and fits differing constraints. Of course vanity is part of the reason for that optimization - just like a full body tan is more 'fashionable' than a farmer's tan working out can focus more on 'mirror muscles' than practicality. Just look at Olympic weightlifters - they tend to look plump but they certainly are well strong as Olympic weightlifters.
  - goldenkey 8y ago
    "Just look at Olympic weightlifters - they tend to look plump but they certainly are well strong as Olympic weightlifters" Did you mean powerlifters?
abraae 8y ago
> it's always struck me as odd that people will spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to make it so everyday tasks require minimal physical effort, and then spend even more money on home fitness equipment and gym memberships in order to artificially replace all the physical activity they were ostensibly trying to avoid in the first place. There must be a name for this strange human condition. I marvel at people who spend ridiculius sums of money to get the latest, lightest carbon fiber paddle for their stand up paddle board. a) you're trying to get exercise,a heavier paddle will give you more b) if your goal is to go faster then almost anything will do it - try a kayak
- ezconnect 8y ago
  It's the same reasoning used by computer enthusiast on why RGB led on any peripheral are now profitable. The same reasoning for accessorizing cars to look like UFO.

koolba 8y ago

> it's always struck me as odd that people will spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to make it so everyday tasks require minimal physical effort, and then spend even more money on home fitness equipment and gym memberships in order to artificially replace all the physical activity they were ostensibly trying to avoid in the first place. A few days ago as I was doing some basic yard work when a friend stopped by and suggested I hire someone to do it instead. I told him exactly that, “If I pay someone to do this, I’ve got to pay for a gym memebership too.” It’s also a nice change of pace to do something that not only doesn’t involve a computer, it doesn’t have any moving parts or machines at all. Very relaxing.

Nasrudith 8y ago
There is one additional perk to exercise as opposed to tasks. Work tends to involve straining physical repetitive labor. Dedicated exercise can be more targeted and fits differing constraints. Of course vanity is part of the reason for that optimization - just like a full body tan is more 'fashionable' than a farmer's tan working out can focus more on 'mirror muscles' than practicality. Just look at Olympic weightlifters - they tend to look plump but they certainly are well strong as Olympic weightlifters.
- goldenkey 8y ago
  "Just look at Olympic weightlifters - they tend to look plump but they certainly are well strong as Olympic weightlifters" Did you mean powerlifters?

abraae 8y ago

> it's always struck me as odd that people will spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to make it so everyday tasks require minimal physical effort, and then spend even more money on home fitness equipment and gym memberships in order to artificially replace all the physical activity they were ostensibly trying to avoid in the first place. There must be a name for this strange human condition. I marvel at people who spend ridiculius sums of money to get the latest, lightest carbon fiber paddle for their stand up paddle board. a) you're trying to get exercise,a heavier paddle will give you more b) if your goal is to go faster then almost anything will do it - try a kayak

ezconnect 8y ago
It's the same reasoning used by computer enthusiast on why RGB led on any peripheral are now profitable. The same reasoning for accessorizing cars to look like UFO.