• @[email protected]
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        1 day ago

        Not the person you asked, but I’m guessing it’s because it feels oddly empty and strange (notice how the back wall is a mirror that feels like a wrong and overly dark window, and the seats are odd). Essentially its a liminal space, which many people find unsettling.

        Edited to add: plus the steam in the room causes the light to seem strange and overly diffuse

        • th3dogcow
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          21 day ago

          Thanks for the insight. I think the back wall is actually glass, as you can see there is a door on the far right. It is pretty common to have an outdoor open air bathing section at hot springs, so I guess that is what is there.

          I guess if one has never been to a hot spring or bathhouse before then this image could appear odd.

          • @[email protected]
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            21 day ago

            I thought it might be a window, but it was so dark I wasn’t sure. Still very liminal.

            & i think maybe it might be creepier to someone who has been in those spaces before? Often people who find liminal spaces creepy it’s because they’re used to them in a different context than the photo. So usually the bathhouse would have people and it would probably be light outside, which isn’t the case here.

            I dunno definely interesting lol

            • th3dogcow
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              222 hours ago

              Thanks for being so patient with me. I wasn’t aware of the term liminal spaces, but looked into it. I guess I don’t have those feelings, but understand that some (many) people do.

              If anyone else stumbles across this, I found this page insightful.

              • @[email protected]
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                217 hours ago

                Ooo I’m glad I could introduce someone to the concept :) it’s one of those random things I’ve spent way too much time thinking about lol I find them so interesting