Bricklayer’s speedy and precise work goes viral for being so “Oddly Satisfying”
Did you ever find something mundane oddly satisfying at the same time? Like, say, a group of things arranged in perfect order or a video of someone frosting a cake with blissful accuracy?
If so, we highly recommend checking out the subreddit r/Oddly Satisfying, dedicated to “those little things that are inexplicably satisfying,” or simply looking through the #oddlysatisfying hashtag on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.
And you’re not alone in your love of order or symmetry or the desire to watch a professional do what they do best, such as write calligraphy – in fact, our brains can even find things like watching people smoosh goo or cut things into perfect pieces relaxing.
For example, isn’t this…well, oddly satisfying?
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The human brain gets a real kick out of this stuff. In fact, it produces the same pleasure chemicals – serotonin and dopamine – as it does if we were to engage in the activity itself. At least it does in some of us – not all of us are satisfied or mesmerized by this stuff.
But this “microtherapeutic” response is pretty common, and it’s part of the reason we find it so easy to fall down the rabbit hole of videos (and sometimes, simply photos) with the #oddlysatisfying hashtag. If you lose the next 15-30 minutes or more of your life watching these, we apologize in advance.
One video truly captivated imaginations back when this trend was starting to get big in 2015. And it simply involved a man laying a brick driveway.
That’s right – millions of people couldn’t stop watching a random guy (or, more accurately, a guy named Kyaal from Essex) – lay 154 bricks. On one viral YouTube channel alone his efforts have received over 6 million views.
Now, we’ll grant you that watching a young, sweaty man work hard is part of the appeal for some people. No judgment.
In just one minute and forty seconds, he powers through his fast-paced project and never misses a beat.
It’s the repetition, the perfect order, and the impressive strength it takes to never even take a break that makes most people watch.
Here’s a peek:
Of course, commenters were concerned about the shape his back would be in both later that day and later in his life, but we don’t know if this is a daily thing or just a one-time speed challenge.
Most people were just oddly satisfied:
“This was very satisfying and felt oddly relaxing. I love seeing something being made efficiently. Guy’s a pro. Whatever they are paying him, they need to double it!” said one commenter.
Then, of course, there were the armchair professionals that made all sorts of snarky criticisms to make themselves look like the real bricklaying pros despite the fact they’re just sitting there behind a computer screen. (The comments are NEVER satisfying, so we recommend sticking to the video.)
And if you’re into bricks, here’s another oddly satisfying gif:
If you don’t find yourself hypnotized by straight edges and speedy construction, you can always find entire accounts dedicated to things like mixing paint, which seems silly, but is…you guessed it, oddly satisfying.
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But before you fall down the rabbit hole, be sure to scroll down below to watch the whole viral video.
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Source: Wired, Lemonade, Viral Hog via YouTube, Daily Mail, New York Times (Opinion)