Coal Mining as a hobby
Are these coal miners? Not exactly. They're coal-mining hobbyists, who spend their leisure time down in mines shoveling coal.
In her book Hedonizing Technologies: Paths to Pleasure in Hobbies and Leisure, historian Rachel Maines notes:
Translation: what is work for some, is a pleasure activity for others.
You can check out the website of the coal-mining hobbyists at undergroundminers.com.
In her book Hedonizing Technologies: Paths to Pleasure in Hobbies and Leisure, historian Rachel Maines notes:
Any technology that privileges the pleasures of production over the value and/or significance of the product can be a hedonizing technology. One would intuitively suppose that some technologies would resist hedonizing—coal mining and air traffic control, for example, and ironing and darning among domestic activities—but one would be wrong. All of these work algorithms have their counterparts among hedonized activites.
Translation: what is work for some, is a pleasure activity for others.
You can check out the website of the coal-mining hobbyists at undergroundminers.com.
Comments
While some of these "obsolete" activities are a bit on the (dare I say) wacky side, a number of them are done for more understandable reasons. For instance, consider the plethora of railroad museums: some actually operate steam trains and trolleys. The technology and equipment are at best obsolete. But it is done to preserve something that once was common.
Posted by John Myhre on 07/25/19 at 09:57 AM
I guess it’s not any more wacky than family vacations to working dude ranches. When you’re bored with Sandals resorts, you’re always on the lookout for new experiences.
Posted by Brian on 07/25/19 at 11:08 AM
Most things are pleasant to do if you can choose when to do it, there are no quotas, deadlines, or paperwork afterwards, and you're the one who judges the quality. Imposition of outside standards makes things onerous.
One of my hobbies is woodworking. A pair of cabinets I built last year ended up costing a little more than if I'd bought ones from a store. Besides the fact I made exactly what I want instead of a homogenized one-size-almost-fits-all version, there's pleasure in creation (and the smell of pine being cut is addictive).
One of my hobbies is woodworking. A pair of cabinets I built last year ended up costing a little more than if I'd bought ones from a store. Besides the fact I made exactly what I want instead of a homogenized one-size-almost-fits-all version, there's pleasure in creation (and the smell of pine being cut is addictive).
Posted by Phideaux on 07/25/19 at 11:40 AM
I'm going to choose a hobby that hopefully won't give me something like black lung disease.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 07/25/19 at 01:07 PM
I have a number of life events that would qualify as stereotypical hobbies. However, I am 'one with the universe' when I am painting a wall or installing ceramic tiles! I jump at opportunities to help family, friends, neighbours when they are planning to repaint the house or tile a floor or an entire bathroom.
agent j
agent j
Posted by agent j on 07/25/19 at 01:34 PM
Air traffic control?
Posted by ges on 07/25/19 at 04:39 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Hobbies and DIY