- This 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.
- 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
- > 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.
- 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
- The follow-up article is lovely too: https://macleans.ca/news/canada/passing-the-headlamp-the-tor...
And this one later in 2015 that speaks to his use of the fundraiser money: https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/york-u-s-mystery-tunnel...
- Mentioned in passing in a recent Practical Engineering video on tunnels. https://youtu.be/Ssw5bdx1HKw?si=DfOLWszK4erDPe3n
- Got The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle vibes from the story.
- (2015)
