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This is not uncommon. There have been dozens of reports of people who just dig because they find it peaceful and comforting. It’s probably beneficial behaviora
by tim-tday 8mo ago
This is not uncommon. There have been dozens of reports of people who just dig because they find it peaceful and comforting.
It’s probably beneficial behavioral survival mechanism. As humans we like to think we’re immune to natural or inherited instincts, but that’s probably not true. If we slow down and listen we would probably hear a lot more of them.
Having a member of your tribe who likes to spend their free time digging tunnels turns out to be a beneficial survival trait in a lot of unexpected but lethal eventualities.
- vizzier 8mo agoI feel like it would be remiss not to mention there are some people who go ahead and broadcast this instinct: https://www.instagram.com/engineerkala/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/engineerkala/?hl=en
- WalterGR 8mo agoHobby tunneling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby_tunneling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby_tunneling 13 comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36885802 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36885802 6 comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28257515 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28257515 Also https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39245893 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39245893 - The underground world of hobby tunneling (bloomberg.com) 272 points by robinhouston on Feb 3, 2024 | 164 comments
- Aurornis 8mo ago> As humans we like to think we’re immune to natural or inherited instincts, but that’s probably not true. I more often hear people claim the opposite: That their genes or instincts are driving their behavior. For example, with over eating because eating all available food was a survival instinct in the past.
- morkalork 8mo agoHoarder tenancies and familial history of poverty is another. Epigenetics is wild
- Aurornis 8mo agoEpigenetic inheritance of traits like that in humans is very much on the theoretical side of the spectrum right now. However plain old genetic inheritance can and does influence behavioral traits. As does learned behaviors passed down from parent to child through child raising.
- mojomark 8mo agoHa, so true. I'm a total scavenger. I always scan the ground closely when I'm walking. Oddly, for whatever reason, I'm either just looking for interesting things or specifically for diamonds. I've found 3 diamonds in my life just laying on the ground - only one of which was real:P It is a rush though. I could totally see myself metal detecting.
- Loughla 8mo agoMetal detecting is awesome. You'll find all kinds of cool stuff in my experience. Everything from small screws and nails to larger screws and nails. Or even bolts. It's like the options of things I find are limitless (as long as limitless is roughly 3 things).
- b112 8mo agoYou should make metal detecting soles for your shoes.
- OptionOfT 8mo agoMe too. I'm always in the lookout for ... stuff. Last thing I spotted was a rattlesnake. Which I did not pick up. I always scan patterns.
- entangledqubit 8mo agoAmusingly, I recently learned that Seymour Cray was a hobby tunneler. https://web.archive.org/web/20080521163217/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967095,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080521163217/http://www.time.c...
- djmips 8mo agoThat's a fantastic tie-in. Wow!
- mcphage 8mo agoMaybe we do yearn for the mines after all…