Hey couch potatoes, Julian here for DNews.

嘿！沙發馬鈴薯們，這裡是 DNews 的 Julian。

Recently, we got a viewer question from presumable dark wizard, Voltrius, asking if there was a specific reason why people are lazy.

最近，我們收到一位可能是黑暗巫師 ，名叫 Voltrius 的觀眾提問說「人們懶惰是否有一個特定的原因？」

He said he was looking for an excuse next time someone leveled that accusation at him.

他說他在為下次有人指控他懶散時找藉口。

Well I have great news, Voltrius.

Voltrius，我有個好消息。

Turns out being lazy is a huge evolutionary advantage.

事實證明，偷懶是一個巨大的演化優勢。

Oh sure, "society" may not approve of laziness.

想當然爾，「社會」可能不會贊同懶惰這件事。

Inactive and unmotivated people are looked down upon, while driven workers are held in high esteem.

怠惰和缺乏動機的人會被瞧不起，而積極向上的工作者則備受景仰。

But have you ever considered the benefits of being lazy?

但你曾想過偷懶的好處嗎？

It turns out lazy is a derogatory word for efficient.

偷懶是有效率的貶義詞。

When we think lazy, we picture people laying on their couch, but laziness stems from a desire to be energy efficient.

當我們想到懶散時，我們想像人們躺在沙發上，但偷懶其實源自於人們對節能的渴望。

Evolution programs us to save energy, not expending it for no reason.

演化使我們計畫如何節能，而非胡亂使用它。

So, to some degree, all people have laziness built into their behavior.

因此，在某種程度上，所有人的行為都包含了惰性。

At least that's what Max Donelan of Simon Fraser University is proposing.

至少這是西門菲莎大學的 Max Donelan 所提出的想法。

He and other researchers designed an experiment where they had participants walk with a robotic exoskeleton on their legs.

他和其他研究者設計了一套實驗，他們在參加者的腿上裝上機械外骨骼，並要求他們行走。

If they walked normally, the researchers penalized them by making it harder for them to move their knees.

如果他們正常走路，研究者就會懲罰他們，讓他們更難移動膝蓋。

If they wanted to save some effort, they needed to get lazy, and adjust how they walked.

如果他們想要省力，就必須偷懶，並調整走路的方式。

That's a remarkable idea when you think about it.

當你仔細思考時，會發現這是一個了不起的想法。

Up to this point, these participants had taken millions and millions of steps over their lifetime and had done them all the same way.

到目前為止，這些參加者一生中，已經以相同的方式走了數百萬步。

Would they really change the way they walked to save a bit of effort?

他們真的會為了節省力氣，改變走路方式嗎？

Turns out, yes, they absolutely would.

事實證明，他們絕對會。

Within minutes, they had adjusted their gait even though walking normally would only cost them just 5 percent more energy.

在幾分鐘內，他們會調整自己的步伐，儘管正常走路只會多消耗他們 5%的能量。

So, yes, you are hardwired to "be lazy."

所以，沒錯，你的本能中原來就存有「懶惰」。

If we follow the cliche, "necessity is the mother of invention, then laziness is invention's dad."

如果我們遵循陳腔濫調，「需要乃發明之母」，那麼「怠惰乃發明之父」。

Sure, human beings invented clothes because we needed to stay warm.

人類發明衣服是為了保暖。

But we certainly didn't need smartphones.

但我們確實不需要智慧型手機啊！

And yet someone who needed money invented them and got rich because we are lazy enough to think it'd be kind of nice to watch a youtube video when our portable computers that already fit on our laps are all the way across the room.

然而，某個需要錢的人發明了這些東西並且致富了，因為我們很懶惰，僅管放在我們大腿上的筆電只是在房間另一頭，但我們還是認為有個能隨時觀看 YouTube 的裝置蠻好的。

The problem with laziness is it's short sighted.

而懶惰的問題在於目光如豆。

Sitting around and not exercising feels great for the moment.

坐著不運動讓你當下感覺很好。

Heart attacks and strokes 40 years later do not.

但 40 年後的心臟病發和中風並不。

Driving somewhere is much faster and easier than walking.

開車比走路更快更簡單。

And because of that we have automobile accidents and contribute to climate change.

但也因此會發生交通事故，且加速氣候變遷。

Like anything, Voltrius, there's a happy medium.

Voltrius，任何事都是有折衷方案的。

Yes, you are wired to be lazy.

沒錯，你的確本能中固有惰性。

And yes, being lazy demonstrates how clever you are.

而且，偷懶證明了你有多聰明。

But if you're really clever, you'll know when it's time to get off your backside and do work.

但如果你是真的聰明，就會知道什麼時候該起身做事和工作。

Speaking of smartphones, it looks like they could feed your laziness too.

說到智慧型手機，它們似乎也可以「養活」你的怠惰。

Trace explains here.

以下是 Trace 的解釋。

Let's say you're asked what actor was in that movie that one time, and intuitive thinker will immediately pull out their phone and search for it, even though they might know the answer.

假設你有次被問到哪位演員有出演那部電影，直覺型思考者會立刻拿出手機開始查，儘管他們可能早就知道答案。

And analytical thinker will search their memory for what they know and then maybe have an answer.

而分析型思考者會從記憶中搜尋他們所知的，然後可能會得出答案。

So with the benefits and costs of laziness in mind, what's your stance on lazy people?

那麼，考慮到懶散的優劣，你對於偷懶的人抱持著什麼想法？

Do they infuriate you?

他們會激怒你嗎？

Or are you a member of their noble ranks?

還是你也是他們之中的一員？

Let us know in the comments or on facebook or twitter, subscribe for more and I'll see you next time on DNews.

在下方、facebook 或 twitter 留言讓我們知道，還有記得訂閱我們來看更多影片，那麼我們下回在 DNews 再見。