There was a study on boredom that found people who did NOT want to be shocked. They put them in a room with nothing to do for 15 minutes, and if I recall, about half or the people voluntarily shocked themselves for something to do.
This post will definitely reveal my age a bit. The easiest way to earn tickets at an arcade I used to go to as a kid was to play an Adams Family themed game that featured uncle fester. It had 2 knobs you had to hold as it would shock you and give you tickets for lasting long enough as it increased intensity. Eventually Sega bought the arcade and the machine was removed, but it makes me laugh to think on how I would willingly get shocked weekly just to “win” stupid little plastic rings, candy, and slap bracelets.
No, you willingly got shocked weekly to win a tiny TV for your room! It was aspirational! Except the max payout for most games was like 50 tickets and the TV cost 80,000 tickets, so all you could buy at the end of the 2 hours with your 243 tickets was some bouncy balls and gum.
I remember 15 years ago being in a club in Acapulco and there was this old Mexican guy just going around with a modified car battery and two handles. He’d offer the handles to you then turn this big knob that controlled the voltage. And then he’d ask for a tip! It was so stupid.
That’s the one I remember, back when the Metro Centre had an arcade. I’m pretty sure the handles just vibrated at increasing intensity until you let go rather than providing an actual electric shock though
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
I’m reminded of being in the army years ago, one weekend we were doing taser gun training. Part of the training required everyone get shot with the thing at least once, that way you knew how it felt and what you’d be doing to someone if you had to use it. So that was our morning.
In the afternoon training was done by 1 when they expected it to take until 4 or so. So we ended up just sitting around for three hours. Fifty soldiers. Not allowed to leave early. Bored out of their minds. In a facility with taser guns, a couple hundred cartridges meant for training, and no supervision. Perfect recipe for hijinks.
Ended up being a memorable afternoon tbh. Lot of laughs.
Coffee doesn’t work on the long run, you will end up feeling actually more tired when you wake up and having to drink coffee to feel normal and other stuff cuz your brain adapts.
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There was a study on boredom that found people who did NOT want to be shocked. They put them in a room with nothing to do for 15 minutes, and if I recall, about half or the people voluntarily shocked themselves for something to do.
I might do it once to see how strong it was. But I’d do it immediately, out of principle. I’m in here spiders georging up your data.
I’d sit on it until I pass out. How do you like THAT data, nerds!?
me:
*couple minutes in*: ow!
*couple more minutes in*: ow!
*30 seconds later*: ow!
*30 more seconds later*: how long can i hold it…? ooooooow!
the researchers:
🤦♀️
Fifteen minutes? Those are rookie numbers.
Indeed, must be old research; current day would be more like 15 seconds and that is just perfect for a tiktok short or something.
Vsauce’s Isolation - Mind Field (Ep 1)
I would 100% touch it lol
Sign me up!
This post will definitely reveal my age a bit. The easiest way to earn tickets at an arcade I used to go to as a kid was to play an Adams Family themed game that featured uncle fester. It had 2 knobs you had to hold as it would shock you and give you tickets for lasting long enough as it increased intensity. Eventually Sega bought the arcade and the machine was removed, but it makes me laugh to think on how I would willingly get shocked weekly just to “win” stupid little plastic rings, candy, and slap bracelets.
No, you willingly got shocked weekly to win a tiny TV for your room! It was aspirational! Except the max payout for most games was like 50 tickets and the TV cost 80,000 tickets, so all you could buy at the end of the 2 hours with your 243 tickets was some bouncy balls and gum.
You know what is also unpleasant and totally free? Taking off your shoes, pissing in them, then putting them back on.
Oddly specific
rmuk went camping with Bear Grylls.
Pffft, like Bear would waste good sippin’ piss on his shoes!
You spelled shitting wrong..
Listen, I don’t piss on your hobbies, you don’t shit on mine, got it?
These were actually a thing. Search for “shockers” here:
https://penny-arcade.info/the-strange-the-unusual
(Note: not Penny Arcade the comic; aren’t domain names fun?)
I remember 15 years ago being in a club in Acapulco and there was this old Mexican guy just going around with a modified car battery and two handles. He’d offer the handles to you then turn this big knob that controlled the voltage. And then he’d ask for a tip! It was so stupid.
Well, if you don’t tip, he just cranks up the car battery and chases you. Smart business model, honestly.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9d/b9/d7/9db9d78c2d5404819040f36511ab9ac9.jpg
That’s the one I remember, back when the Metro Centre had an arcade. I’m pretty sure the handles just vibrated at increasing intensity until you let go rather than providing an actual electric shock though
This machine would make money every single day if you placed it somewhere public.
Some people would try to over-volt it to commit suicide (or because they thought it would be kinky).
There are a non-zero number of buttholes that have been pressed against that electrode.
About 7 years ago in Berlin at the Computerspielemuseum I played the PainStation against a stranger.
It is a pong-like video game that has a flat horizontal stainless steel panel where you place one hand and play with the other.
The panel can deliver non-damaging levels of heat, cold, and electricity when you start losing at the pong game.
Lot’s of fun. For the record, the other guy conceded with a smile.
Computerspielemuseum means Computer Game Museum.
Whats in the box(tm)?
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
That is pretty cheap. I think I’d have a go.
Nice try, cenobite artifact…
I’m reminded of being in the army years ago, one weekend we were doing taser gun training. Part of the training required everyone get shot with the thing at least once, that way you knew how it felt and what you’d be doing to someone if you had to use it. So that was our morning.
In the afternoon training was done by 1 when they expected it to take until 4 or so. So we ended up just sitting around for three hours. Fifty soldiers. Not allowed to leave early. Bored out of their minds. In a facility with taser guns, a couple hundred cartridges meant for training, and no supervision. Perfect recipe for hijinks.
Ended up being a memorable afternoon tbh. Lot of laughs.
Clean pain? But it’s more fun when it’s at least a bit dirty.
A penny for your thoughts
this is how i wake myself up every morning before work. cheaper than coffee.
Coffee doesn’t work on the long run, you will end up feeling actually more tired when you wake up and having to drink coffee to feel normal and other stuff cuz your brain adapts.
i’m already using the machine, why are you trying to convince me more?
I wasn’t trying to, sorry.
Being serious: would this be legal?
Asking because smokers are paying up to fifteen bucks a pack to decrease their lifespans and raise risks of serious disease.
Honestly — little finger shocker is SAFER than smoking.
I want this concession sooooo bad.