Umarell | Hacker News Reader

Umarell

en.wikipedia.org

161 pointspaganel37 comments

In 2015, the city of Riccione, approximately 130 kilometres (80 miles) southeast of Bologna, allocated an €11,000 budget to pay a wage to umarells to oversee worksites in the city – counting the number of trucks in and out to ensure materials were delivered/removed according to the receipts, and guarding against theft when the site was otherwise unattended.

This is brilliant. We should do more stuff like this -- acknowledge that it adds value, slip the person a few bucks.

Not to mention involving older people in active duties is great for their mental health.

True (I upvoted). The downside though in terms of being near a construction site is that particulate matter [0][1] (and even road based noise pollution [2]), is linked with cognitive decline.

[0] https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-11-forest-cars-power-fac...

[1] https://www.studyfinds.org/young-people-brains-air-pollution...

[2] https://www.studyfinds.org/busy-roads-alzheimers-risk/

Seinfeld did this bit back in the 90's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbPqWI90maA

You can also buy a 3d printed desktop Umarell here: https://www.superstuff.it/prodotto/umarell/?lang=en

Fun!

We have the same thing in Turkey, although without an exclusive name or word for it. I guess similar mediterranean cultures, perception of elderly etc. and many other factors create this phenomena.

But yeah, no idea why this has popped up on HN :D

Actually watching construction in Italy may seem very interesting. Where else in the world can you watch buildings from 300 A.D. close to classical and gothic architecture combined with modern engineering techniques?

Greece, France, Spain? Even some places in Germany, I think.

According to the OP, an umarell is someone who watches others doing work and offers unwanted advice.

I suspect there are quite a few umarells on HN ;-)

There's a great Seinfeld cold open about the magnetism men feel toward construction work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP8vExQYxus

This is also how my two year old likes to spend his time. What a charming idea, and how wonderful to see them embrace it in a productive way.

Old school youtube...like letsdig18 and dirt perfect

https://www.youtube.com/user/torbjornahman

The best part is to buy one of them that look at you building your code everyday: https://www.amazon.it/Superstuff-Umarell-Arancione/dp/B07TWH...

I find the concept amazing.

Personally, I stay away from construction sites. Besides dangerous, they're loud and dusty.

Who wouldn't want to watch construction? It's the same drive that has me watch hours of machine shop videos, or other how it's made stuff. If it wasn't dangerous, and there were a machine shop with a picture window, I bet those same men would go watch the machinists when the weather was poor.

Or the baker, candlestick maker, etc.

I'm left wondering, why is this here? Why was it translated in English, even.

I think because it's a consistent pattern, so its causes may reveal something interesting about human nature or society.

because it's hilarious

Not the first time that I've looked for an article about Italian culture, and there's articles in multiple languages but not Italian.

I think that umarells are an interesting phenomenon. They sound like they were annoying construction workers (bikeshedding) but rather than treat them as a nuisance (loitering->fines or jail), a purpose was found: they get paid an honorarium for "jobs" most of us would find eyewateringly boring but provide value for the construction companies.

Well, they don't annoy workers, not that much. They may exchange some word, probably opinions on what's the best way to do the job, but they are mostly quiet and observing.

Because often software teams have one or two Umarells among the members.

It isn't rare to have teams consist exclusively of Umarells. Usually this is the result of evaporative cooling.

This explains why YouTube channels like Andrew Camarata's [0] have a million plus subs. Something about watching people work is fascinating.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/c/AndrewCamarata/featured

Andrew does a special kind of work to be fair.

For the curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4De2tMjPRCE

I'd argue that this is an exception not the rule. Normally he's very practical and pragmatic. I aspire to be like him.

To attract lurker.

If you're lucky it elicites even some self-referential Statler and Waldorf comments.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statler_and_Waldorf

haha, it's crazy to see this on HN!! we really are in the best timeline.

So this is a global phenomenon? It's definitely a thing in my country.

Where are you from ?

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