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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by 1984@lemmy.today to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

Is this really true?

What do you guys on Lemmy say? Most of us are tech people so we are more used to being alone with our thoughts perhaps.

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[-] ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 23 points 1 year ago

It's not necessarily just being alone, it's being alone with zero mental stimulation. There are lots of people happy be to alone with a computer or TV or books. Nobody can be alone without anything for more than a few days.

It's kind of like saying "is it really true people have to sleep everyday?"

[-] 1984@lemmy.today 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

True, the article does specifically say people spent time doing nothing, and just thinking.

But this shocks me:

The researchers then decided to take the experiment a step further. For 15 minutes, the team left participants alone in a lab room in which they could push a button and shock themselves if they wanted to. The results were startling: Even though all participants had previously stated that they would pay money to avoid being shocked with electricity, 67% of men and 25% of women chose to inflict it on themselves rather than just sit there quietly and think, the team reports online today in Science.

Really a wtf moment for me. I take from this that most people think it's painful to meditate as well, because that's reflecting on your thoughts.

[-] ramble81@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago

I may be looking at it wrong but there's an odd flaw to me in the premise. I view "pay money to avoid being shocked" as something that is happening to you, out of your control. Pressing the button, regardless of the outcome, is something you are choosing to do and is most likely a result of curiosity and bordem.

I think a better approach would have been "if you push this button, the simulation is over and you loose", and then see what people do.

[-] ScrimbloBimblo@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Also, I think most people are curious. It's not often you get a chance to electrically shock yourself in a safe environment where you know you won't be injured.

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this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2023
21 points (67.2% liked)

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