Whats_your_reasoning

This is the explanation I’ve seen. IIRC there’s a video where someone uses one of these to make fine gold threads.

I’m just too tired after work. When coworkers had a get-together after work recently for us to hang out with a former coworker, I got too tired after only an hour and left. It was fun, I like the people, I just spend so much energy at work that I have nothing left over when the work day ends. Then the weekend comes and it’s my one chance to actually rest, so I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything that isn’t related to keeping life going (like doing laundry, prepping meals, etc.)

Just three days ago I made a comment here on Lemmy:

“If I didn’t spend that [social] energy every day to work, I’d have more of it for fun things in my time off. But the way things are, I only get two days of the week to not have to put that effort in, to recharge my social battery. I cherish those days.”

This article is spot-on. Poverty doesn’t just mean “everything that costs money is out of reach,” but also, “we spend so much effort trying to afford life, we don’t have the energy to actually live it.”

If we need more fun social events for poor people to take part in, that sounds like a great way to start!

Exactly where my mind went

The potential applications for this research are worth a mention, too:

These findings contribute to discussions on how public spaces and social interventions can be designed to encourage kindness and cooperation. If unexpected yet non-threatening events can increase mindfulness and prosocial behavior, urban planners, policymakers, and psychologists may consider ways to integrate “positive disruptions” into daily life. This could range from artistic or theatrical interventions in public spaces to strategic messaging campaigns designed to momentarily break routine and engage individuals more deeply with their environment and community.

It sounds like more public art can lead to more pro-social behavior, especially if the art is changed periodically (to keep it “unexpected.”) There’s a lot to be explored with this idea.