What is a relatively inexpensive item that offers entertainment beyond it's intented usecase? (feddit.uk)

submitted 2 months ago by Iconoclast@feddit.uk to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I'm thinking stuff like a magnifying glass for roasting ants (don't actually do this) or those big hair-clip claws.

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[-] zxqwas@lemmy.world 32 points 2 months ago

Can't help playing with the splicing connectors at work.

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Fuckin love me some wagos, even if I can never remember the name! I just got a pack of these last week to fix my garage door opener, and I'm so happy I have extras sitting on my desk

[-] Gerudo@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 months ago

Up until 2 days ago I didn't even know these existed, and now I'm seeing them on Lemmy of all places. Seem super handy.

[-] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 27 points 2 months ago

When I was a kid: basic printer paper. Drawing is probably part of the intended usecase for a sheet of paper, but I'd also do a bunch of origami and use it to try to make models of airplanes

[-] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Growing up, our household had a giant roll of butcher paper. It was 2 ft (60cm) wide and about 1000 feet (300m) long roll. I have no idea why we had it, but as kids we were allowed to use as much as we wanted for whatever we wanted. It turned into a childhood of projects, games, costumes, banners, signs, crafts, wrappings, pranks, etc. Close to the beginning as kids, we'd asked for art supplies like markers, paint, pens, pencils, charcoal, etc to transform that boring cheap paper into different universes. We became creative because it was available.

Something about having an unlimited supply of something and infinite permissions was an unexpected freedom.

[-] Zer0_F0x@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago

If you're into fun technology stuff, a raspberry pi can be a million different things for you.

[-] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 2 months ago

Stick

[-] taiyang@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago

For what it's worth you can also use a magnifying glass to create designs in wood; it doesn't have to be for ant murder.

My add to this is a graphing calculator because you can put games on it and parents simply didn't (and probably still don't) know. You thought I was doing calculus? Ha level 19 in Tetris.

[-] otacon239@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Who needs to add games when you have Block Dude?

[-] Professorozone@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Or BOOBIES.

[-] IWW4@lemmy.zip 9 points 2 months ago

Pool Noodles
Sprinklers on a hot day
A couple of plastic swords
a beach ball

[-] Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io 7 points 2 months ago

The 'safety-seal' ring around the cap of a jug of ~~milk~~ (No sane person will ever drink milk, ever again, thanks RkJfr!), water, etc. Cats love them, and humans are amused by cats playing with them.

[-] bufalo1973@piefed.social 3 points 2 months ago

UHT milk has no problem.

[-] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Did I miss something? Is regular pasteurized milk not safe anymore? Did he do something to the pasteurization process?

[-] bufalo1973@piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago

UHT is kind of pasteurization 2.0.

[-] betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Cucumber.

[-] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago

PAIGE NO

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 3 points 2 months ago

And a model airplane with detachable wings.

What?

[-] 0ops@piefed.zip 6 points 2 months ago

Rubber bands are a classic

[-] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

Cardboard box.

[-] boeman@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

I seem my cat posts on Lenny

[-] sanguinepar@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Bubble wrap?

[-] feverin 5 points 2 months ago

A box. If you have a cat, at least.

[-] abominable_panda@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Sticky tack

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Inspired by my own post about that butane torch I seem to find endlessly fascinating.

[-] spittingimage@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Pens. Just check out the pen-spinning videos on youtube.

[-] Drusas@fedia.io 1 points 2 months ago

The tubes from empty paper towel rolls

this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2026

50 points (100.0% liked)

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