Psychology behind playing with your MT

[magentus]

Go sit on the naughty step and think about what you've done.

[DazMechanical]

 

[Lynn LeFey]

When I was in programming, I had a little lego car with a minifig driver sitting on my desk. While trying to think through tough bits of code, I'd run the car around my desk, or take it apart and reassemble it.

I find myself at times doing something similar with an MT on my desk while thinking other things through.

Some people need music to concentrate better. I find I concentrate better while I have something 'distracting' my hands. I need something to 'fiddle with'. I hate to say something so deep sounding as it being meditative, but it kind of is. It shackles a part of my brain, thereby freeing another part.

I wouldn't argue the notion of MTs being a sort of talisman against all of life's uncertainties. For some folks, it might very well work like that. I don't think that's why I play with them.

There might also be something of the 'Transformers' thing with these. It's a little metal block. No! It's a pair of pliers! Now it's a saw! There might be a bit of 'grown up toy' to them as well. We look silly if we carry around a plastic toy, but not when you carry a SAK or Leatherman.

Just throwing out some of my thoughts on this. I really like the subject. 

[CanadianLMfan]

They should really put MTs in the toy aisle.

[kkokkolis]

So it is normal for MTO fans to play with their tools. But I think that certain elements of satisfaction (brain reward) are more universal. People like metals, especially clean and shiny ones. People like metal noises. People like symmetry, movement, fitting,  functionalities, tools in general. We easily see the cultural significance of tools, humanity civilized through the use of them and made a revolutionary transition from stone to metals that defined our growth ages and the step from prehistory to history.  So metal was valuable (still our jewels are mostly metallic) and metallic features such as metallic noise and glossiness gave brain reward. Although it seems unnatural to be attracted by edgy cold and hard materials that feel opposite to our mother's and our mate's curved, soft and warm body towards which we show the first manifested appeal. 
The same might be with mechanics of motion. There we have our limbs as protypes ofcourse.
Mechanics and metals have little if any significance for animals, they still live in a wood and stone enviroment as we did untill almost 10000 years ago.
About the how I guess there's no surprise. Dopaminergic release in the reward circuit of the brain (from Ventral Tegmental area to Nucleus Accubens and projections to the Prefrontal Cortex).
But is this a hereditary or learned response? The time scale is too short to effect our genes (or maybe not, this is no natural selection but artificial, that works faster) and the presence of metals that are articulated and move nicely is abundant from our first baby steps to explore the world. It might be that most tool and multitool fiddling behaviour is learned.
Remember the ape scenes from Space Odyssey 2001? What would happen if, instead of a big black monolith they encountered a shiny red Swisschamp?

[kirk13]

They should really put MTs in the toy aisle.

You mean the Multitool aisle isn't the toy aisle?!

[av8r1]

I think I'm siding with NateJ, it's somewhere along the lines of breaking in the tool and building muscle memory, especially if it's gonna be a carry tool.  If the tool is new, there's quite a bit of learning where things are and measuring the quality.  "Do I trust this to turn a bolt?"  "How sharp/sharpenable is this blade?"

The fiddle factor is there as well.  It's like you have to give your hands something to do here in the real world to free your mind to go wandering in the land of hope, dreams and accomplished goals.  Multitools often fall to hand for that job, but virtually anything with a complicated shape or moving parts will do.

The safety blanket factor is less about having the tool in my hands as having it on my person.  Without a multitool on me I get a pretty serious case of whatifosis. 

[mechtec]

So does this chime with anyone else?

I have pontificated brilliantly on this in the past.    There is a powerful connection between our toys and our psychology.  To one degree or another, each of us has a train wreck between our ears.  In order to anesthetize ourselves, we turn to golf, booze, drugs, porn, gambling, shopping, hoarding or whatever.   Some of us turn to MTs and knives for the distraction.  The internet browsing, the hunt, the purchase, the anticipation, the staring at the mailbox, the opening and the using all distract us from our inner demons.  When that distraction wears off, we do it again.  Its why I have 100+ knives, as many flashlights, and many dozens of MTs and SAKs.  It is almost surely a mental illness, but I am okay with that.  There are certainly other neuroses at play here, but distraction and anesthesia are its foundation.


I can stop whenever I want.

I can see some of this in myself, when I get fixated on getting a certain knife, MT, tools, flashlight, meters or backup soldering iron to keep in the Jeep with spare butane of course 

But on the other hand I go between a farm and a job in a plant as a mechanic and I now that their is a good likelihood that things will go south at the most inopportune times.
Maybe we just think or are wired different, maybe more logically although I'll admit to somewhat extremes.
I for the life of me can't comprehend people who think that nothings going to break or the lights aren't going to go out.

And on being wired a little different. Before I was old enough to have a knife, I knew I wanted one. I would sharpen popsicle sticks on the front porch and carry them in my belt.
I've never figured that one out.

[Monrogue]

I would also agree with the feeling of security I get from having one on me.  If I somehow forgot to pocket a usual MT/SAK combo, I would likely feel anxiety to some degree.  I feel relieved once I put one in my pocket

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[nate j]

They should really put MTs in the toy aisle.

You mean the Multitool aisle isn't the toy aisle?!

It most definitely is.  It is the big boy/girl toy aisle...

[RT1969]

I say kkokkolis is on a good track talking about the appeal of metal.

For me, the joy comes from the solid materials, the weight, or better the density that oozes confidence and strength.
I also like the mechanics, the 'Transformer' ability as well as the feel and sound of the spring-powered 'clack'.

In our world of plastics and semiconductors, these are things that will prevail, that ground us. 

[sawman]

I would also agree with the feeling of security I get from having one on me.  If I somehow forgot to pocket a usual MT/SAK combo, I would likely feel anxiety to some degree.  I feel relieved once I put one in my pocket

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I also have some separation anxiety when I don't have a desired MT on me. Yesterday, I carried my new OG-Wave along with my new version Wave and they both got fondling time...

[dork]

We easily see the cultural significance of tools, humanity civilized through the use of them and made a revolutionary transition from stone to metals that defined our growth ages and the step from prehistory to history.

This gets to the heart of the matter for me. I see tools, especially multitools, as a defining aspect of my humanity. I don't fiddle much, but always have several nearby and jump at the chance to use them. I feel privileged to do so. By the way, I'm also a linguist and see language as another defining aspect of my humanity. Language and multitools = mind and body = satisfaction.


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[pfrsantos]

I don't know about you, but for me it's...

[pfrsantos]

So does this chime with anyone else?

I have pontificated brilliantly on this in the past.    There is a powerful connection between our toys and our psychology.  To one degree or another, each of us has a train wreck between our ears.  In order to anesthetize ourselves, we turn to golf, booze, drugs, porn, gambling, shopping, hoarding or whatever.   Some of us turn to MTs and knives for the distraction.  The internet browsing, the hunt, the purchase, the anticipation, the staring at the mailbox, the opening and the using all distract us from our inner demons.  When that distraction wears off, we do it again.  Its why I have 100+ knives, as many flashlights, and many dozens of MTs and SAKs.  It is almost surely a mental illness, but I am okay with that.  There are certainly other neuroses at play here, but distraction and anesthesia are its foundation.


I can stop whenever I want.

Am I the only one who looked at this pic and went:
"Oh, look. A Douk-Douk!"

 



"Where's Wally, now available in Knife"

[RT1969]

I have to say yes, I thought:
Oh, an Opinel!

But such is the appeal of metal: You recognized the metal handle more than all the synthetic handles!

[ironraven]

Mechanics and metals have little if any significance for animals, they still live in a wood and stone enviroment as we did untill almost 10000 years ago.

Uhm... this is the only part of this that I can understand with how my brain feels right now. Early humans created tools; tools create modern humans. In turn, modern humans are creating future tools. We evolve together.

[greenbear]

This is really interesting stuff folks 

I see it as a comfort thing - fiddle with them it provides comfort, store them away you have the comfort of knowing they are there. I do a bit of both. I often (every couple of days) find myself opening my "man drawer" and taking out my SwissTool and opening it up.  I do have a couple of NIB tools tucked away that have not seen sunlight since I looked at them immediately after purchase.  It's a kin of "new toy" fascination for me and certainly goes back to my childhood (you know the new Dinky truck that was received at Christmas that was almost too nice to play with) 

The missus and nipper are unaware of this peculiar trait of mine although I imagine they would find it somewhat less disturbing, if they were aware,  than if I were getting my "gentleman's extension" out and playing with that on such a regular basis   

[claws42]

For me its either boredom or nervousness, just something to do with my hands I guess.

Was at grabbing food at McDonalds with a few friends, yea dreadful food I know but oh well. Chatting in the entrance, then one of the goes 'you know you're playing with a knife right?' - I was just flicking open and closed the saw on my SAK. Honestly didn't even know I was doing it!

[kkokkolis]

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After that I also put my Endura on my Skinth and now I play with that frequently also. I hope nobody calls the police. If I disappear suddenly from here, you'll know that I'll be where a multitool would be the most valuable possession, but "verboten".

[kirk13]

For me its either boredom or nervousness, just something to do with my hands I guess.

Was at grabbing food at McDonalds with a few friends, yea dreadful food I know but oh well. Chatting in the entrance, then one of the goes 'you know you're playing with a knife right?' - I was just flicking open and closed the saw on my SAK. Honestly didn't even know I was doing it!

You needed a fish scaler for the fries

[jerseydevil]

For me its either boredom or nervousness, just something to do with my hands I guess.

Was at grabbing food at McDonalds with a few friends, yea dreadful food I know but oh well. Chatting in the entrance, then one of the goes 'you know you're playing with a knife right?' - I was just flicking open and closed the saw on my SAK. Honestly didn't even know I was doing it!

You needed a fish scaler for the fries

Absolutely!  When it's lunchtime, the scaler just might be the most important tool on a SAK.  Especially if a friend or co-worker got fries and you didn't.......

[claws42]

For me its either boredom or nervousness, just something to do with my hands I guess.

Was at grabbing food at McDonalds with a few friends, yea dreadful food I know but oh well. Chatting in the entrance, then one of the goes 'you know you're playing with a knife right?' - I was just flicking open and closed the saw on my SAK. Honestly didn't even know I was doing it!

You needed a fish scaler for the fries