alt Hacker NewsThis 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.
Replies
Amusingly, I recently learned that Seymour Cray was a hobby tunneler.
https://web.archive.org/web/20080521163217/http://www.time.c...
Ha, 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.
I 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
> 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.
Hobby tunneling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby_tunneling
13 comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36885802
6 comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28257515
Also 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