this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2024
19 points (75.7% liked)

Explain Like I'm Five

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Simplifying Complexity, One Answer at a Time!

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[–] anewbeginning 45 points 10 months ago

Because throwing a paper ball into the bin( or the near floor) is far easier than a flat piece of paper.

[–] jafo 37 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Because it's too hard to crumple a sheet of paper into a cube.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Big brain moment

[–] CM400 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

IANAL, but I think it’s because balls are fun to play with.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

No reason you can’t do both

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

When I'm building a fire I crumple the newspaper into a ball because it increases the surface area and density of the fuel, so it will burn longer and hopefully catch the wood on fire

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Doesn't that make it less energy efficient. Ofc it burns longer but with less powerrr ig so

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I'm just using it to start a fire, so the efficiency isn't really important. What I need is a couple minutes of hot flame that will light other things on fire.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Reasonable🗿

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago
[–] morphballganon 9 points 10 months ago (2 children)

It serves two purposes; easier to throw, and harder to read. You do it to things you don't need anyone to read.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

it also ruins the piece of paper, so you can't make revisions and keep working with it.. nothing can be done with what's on that page.. it's all garbage!

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago

Ohh yeaahhh This is a good one🧠

[–] themeatbridge 7 points 10 months ago

Easier to make the three point shot to win regional.

[–] kaitco 5 points 10 months ago

The human hand naturally curves into a circular shape when closed.

Squeezing anything in a hand will naturally form a ball shape. This will occur with anything, but paper is more readily available and crumples easily.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You have been deceived. People always crumple paper into a flat disc shape. All evidence showing ball-shaped paper must have been fabricated.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

I believe aliens contacted the ancient Egyptians and taught them the ways of crumpling paper into flat discs

[–] MrJameGumb 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Crumpling things tends with your hands to result in said things becoming ball shaped. What shape do you recommend I crumple paper into?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Not to crumple and it will be easily managable

[–] MrJameGumb 1 points 10 months ago

But I'm done with that piece and I don't want it to get mixed back in with my other papers.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If you get frustrated by something you're writing, crumpling it into a ball gets out frustration by destroying the work and then it's easier to toss into a garbage can.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

I organize tasks with post-it notes on a wall, partly for the satisfaction of crumpling it into a ball when I get something done.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

"Frustration" (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻