Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves • Hacker News Board

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#11

Post by nwh » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:35 PM UTC

molbioguy wrote: post #5

I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…

I've shocked myself badly a few times and to me at least, I'd much rather wallow in self pity for a while than do it again.

Probably the worst was one I didn't expect, I slipped when opening a plastic case and caught my fingers over a fully charged high capacity 350v capacitor. The initial hit makes every muscle in your body hurt, then a wave of panic when you realize you could have died from the moment of stupidity.

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#12

Post by watwut » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:38 PM UTC

userbinator wrote: post #4

This is sad and a bit disturbing because it suggests that average people seem to dislike thinking . I'm quite the opposite, and 15 minutes of pure thinking for me would pass by quite easily - I feel like I can't get enough time to think more carefully about all the ideas that I have for the things I do, or want to. Then again, I'm introverted and definitely not representative of the average population. (Of course, I'…

I read somewhere that they used device with 9V battery. We used to lick both 4.5V and 9V batteries as kids. I found 4.5V hit to be quite pleasant and I would repeat the "experiment" a lot. Licking 9V battery was less pleasant, but not really too uncomfortable. I did that multiple times too even through my room was full of toys.

Their device could generate less pleasant feelings, sure. But I am kind of skeptical of big conclusions people take out of this study.

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#13

Post by encloser » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:44 PM UTC

This seems like a poor study to gauge peoples' desire/aversion to thinking. You put me in a room with nothing but a button I'll probably press it out of curiosity. Put me in a garden with a enjoyable drink and I'll happily contemplate whatever comes to mind until I want to get a refill.

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#14

Post by PeterGriffin » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:47 PM UTC

Many, many people willingly meditate ("alone with their thoughts") on their own will in order to focus and clear their mind, including me. And that's despite I do have traumatic events in my past that float up from time to time.

No thoughts of self-mutilation or electroshocking myself so far.

Either is this study flawed, or it was reported poorly (hey, what's new, right), but I'm so sick of shitty studies in popular media, I won't even try to figure out which one.

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#15

Post by coldtea » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:49 PM UTC

molbioguy wrote: post #5

I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…

"""I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant."""

All of these is beside the point.

An electric shock, mild, even pleasant is a BS diversion.

People prefered BS diversion (could be even clicking a button that did nothing at all) that spending a few minutes with their thoughts.

That's the real story -- not how bad the electricity was etc.

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#16

Post by alekratz » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:55 PM UTC

Think about the deeper implications of the experiment. Yes, people will shock themselves when there's nothing to do. However, that also means that when there's nothing to do, the majority of people will try to physically stimulate themselves because that's all there is TO do. To say that we're stupid because we would administer a painful shock to ourselves rather than sit in our own silence for 15 minutes is a very naiive way to approach the results. Come to a conclusion, dammit!

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#17

Post by shasta » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:55 PM UTC

> One person pressed the button 190 times.

New study finds researchers trolled by subjects.

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#18

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:56 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #15

molbioguy wrote: post #5

I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…

"""I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant.""" All of these is beside the point. An electric shock, mild, even pleasant is a BS diversion. People prefered BS diversion (could be even clicking a button that did nothing at all) that spending a few minutes with their thoughts.…

[deleted]

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#19

Post by thatjoist » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:58 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #15

molbioguy wrote: post #5

I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…

"""I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant.""" All of these is beside the point. An electric shock, mild, even pleasant is a BS diversion. People prefered BS diversion (could be even clicking a button that did nothing at all) that spending a few minutes with their thoughts.…

People can think anywhere. It's not often they're sat in a room with a little electric shock doodad. Humanities natural curiosity takes over.

Re: Study participants typically did not enjoy spending 15 minutes by themselves

#20

Post by watwut » Sat, Jul 05, 2014, 12:59 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #15

molbioguy wrote: post #5

I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant. For safety reasons, I'll assume the shock wasn't large enough to be harmful or create anything but a momentary sensation. People are curious, and it would seem a fairly safe environment. What's to stop them from simply experimenting…

"""I get the point that people may prefer external stimulation to internal thoughts. But I think the result of this study hinge on whether the electric shock was really all that unpleasant.""" All of these is beside the point. An electric shock, mild, even pleasant is a BS diversion. People prefered BS diversion (could be even clicking a button that did nothing at all) that spending a few minutes with their thoughts.…

Unless the 190 buzz guy was the norm, those people spent a lot of time not hitting themselves. Anyone who hit himself once did spent time thinking, then pressed button and then spent another time thinking.

The other thing is, I love spending time with thinking when I choose to and have something interesting to thing about. It does not mean that I will contemplate something cool at every random void moment or never get bored while waiting in queue.