Study: Two-Thirds of Men Prefer Electric Shock to Being Alone With Thoughts

[kael013]

Were they allowed a notepad? I love being alone with my thoughts as I'm a very creative and philosophical individual, but I'll admit I'd spend the allotted time shocking myself if I wasn't able to write my ideas down (they're like clay pigeons; there for a quick flight, then vaporized so the next one can take off).

 

[Genocidicles]

I'd rather be alone than shocked.

I don't think it's about being alone. It's about being bored.

And honestly, if I was locked in a room with nothing to do but give myself an electric shock, I'd probably shock myself too. It's something to do I guess. Better than nothing.

 

[FalloutJack]

Two words: Skewed study.

Actually, people do their best thinking alone. It's in packs that they are - and I quote Tommy Lee Jones - "dumb, panicky animals".

 

[LazyAza]

Holy christ this has to be some messed up error. What the effing hell I don't and can't believe this to be true, it has to be false. I looooove thinking to myself, its the core of my very being of having ideas to turn in to creative things like my art or my writing or even the things I do in games. How can a human being possibly LIVE without the ability to enjoy ones own thoughts, just no.

 

[gridsleep]

So glad to be part of the minority that enjoy thinking. I suppose people who gravitate toward web sites like the Escapist are the more thoughtful type.

 

[gridsleep]

Holy christ this has to be some messed up error. What the effing hell I don't and can't believe this to be true, it has to be false. I looooove thinking to myself, its the core of my very being of having ideas to turn in to creative things like my art or my writing or even the things I do in games. How can a human being possibly LIVE without the ability to enjoy ones own thoughts, just no.

Obviously, you never met any of my relatives.

 

[Saetha]

I wanted to post something meaningful about extroverts being the majority of the population... than I saw the sampple size. The study included 18 men and 24 women. Don't think it says that much, then.

Yeah, as bizarre as the study is, I can't help but think that the sample size might've skewed the results. They should probably try to study again with a lot more people. If they get the same results, then... that's just weird. I actively seek out time to sit and ponder my thoughts. That we might live in a society where so many would rather suffer physical pain rather than sit with themselves for a few minutes is... discouraging. How do people live without constant stimulation?

 

[C.S.Strowbridge]

Test subjects, both in a controlled environment and at their homes, were asked to sit by themselves and think for 6 to 15 minutes, and many reported that they cheated and whipped out a cell phone or started listening to music before that time elapsed.

I would cheat almost immediately, but I have tinnitus, so sitting quietly is impossible. I would much rather have music in the background than a buzzing sound. Also, I would probably shock myself repeatedly, because the shock from a 9-volt battery only gives me a pleasant tingling sensation.

 

[sumanoskae]

That's bizarre; I've never found the prospect of being alone with my thoughts to be unpleasant, I pace around my apartment doing nothing but thinking all the time, it helps me come up with new ideas.

Does anyone here have an issue with this? If so, what makes it so unpleasant?

 

[sumanoskae]

Introverts enjoy their own thoughts. Extroverts- not so much.

Sadly 70% of the planet falls into the latter category.

I wonder what that says about extroverts.

 

[Arawn]

This is something I find shocking, but at the same time not surprising. I know that's a confusing statement, but it's something I've suspected. People don't like to think. No one likes to take a moment to sit and be alone with their own thoughts. Left alone we analyze ourselves. That's not something people like to do. Questioning their motives and overall life style. Really I think some would realize how boring they really are if that had to listen to their own thoughts. But it could also be like telling a 4 yr old to sit still. They need something/anything to do other than sit.

 

[BoogieManFL]

The shock was a distraction and a goal of something to think of, something to pass the time.

I'm surprised so many people found that difficult. While I would rarely choose to spend my time in a such a way, I wouldn't have much problem doing so. On nights where I've had trouble sleeping I've found that mentally creating events and situations, some of them surprisingly elaborate. can help me fall asleep faster. Instead of focusing on things grounded in reality which kept me awake longer. I've even chosen to stay awake longer to finish a train of thought. It's been a great help to me, as since I was little I always found it difficult to fall asleep on most nights.

 

[RicoADF]

That's depressing. Best ideas are born out of sitting alone and just thinking about stuff. How could losing yourself in thoughts be considered boring? You can do anything you want in your mind. I often hear that 70% of the population is extroverted. Could that have something with this?

There's something wrong with those people, there's been many times I've just layed in bed and let my mind wander and use it's imagination. Tis quite fun actually.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

It's more terrifying than boring for me.

It is literally impossible for me to understand this. I am far more comfortable being alone with my thoughts than being around other people.

Well then I guess you're quite happy with yourself. I'm not.

If I'm being honest, that's not the case. It's that I can distract myself pretty easily with my imagination.

 

[Hero of Lime]

I love having a few moments of just thinking about stuff myself. That is a bit odd, I can understand being bored can be awful, but if you can just sit around and think about stuff, it feels good. I even do it while I am running too, thinking can be incredibly entertaining if you think about the right stuff.

It probably helps that I don't have a smart phone for example, I am content to sit around doing nothing in public while others simply need stimulus via their phones.

 

[Baresark]

Eh: hardly worth commenting on. I put in way too much thought on something that is not even a really legitimate, newsworthy, or journal worthy. It's too small, it should not have been published. Or at least, the Post should not be taking articles from a journal that is meant for the scientifically literate. The work had to be published, so the people do scientific studies can then successfully seek more funding for the better, larger, and more controlled study.

 

[JET1971]

Sounds like the test subjects have no imagination to me. I can sit for hours and just daydream if there's no other stimulation. kinda like lucid dreaming minus the sleep... what we all did as a kid in one class or another at school or as adults in a waiting room before cellphones and none of the magazines are interesting enough to flip through and at the least just look at the pictures much less the articles. I still do it all the time and just sit and let my mind run amuck and conjure some fantasy usually dealing with something going on in my life at the time. It's relaxing and if it is a stressful subject I usually am less stressed about it after and better to deal with it.

 

[moggett88]

Sample size people! 18 men and 24 women? At that point it's still basically an anecdote rather than a study.

 

[RionP]

I hope that the results are drastically skewed by the small sample size. Still, as someone can spend (and have spent) several hours doing nothing but thinking, the results are a little bit frightening. Even taking the small sample size into account.

 

[the doom cannon]

Gonna have to say im introverted and hate thinking to myself. Whenever I spend more than a minute or two thinking to myself my mind tends to always converge on everything i've done wrong in life. That's not exactly fun, so I just preoccupy myself at all times with video games or random other things.