The prisons and workhouses were designed to be as unpleasant an environment as possible, to dissuade prisoners and paupers in need from seeking help (being a cost to the state). One way to accomplish this was to require work - but work that was senseless. Doing work one feels is senseless creates a feeling of helplessness, and thus makes the worker feel defeated before the work is even begun. One such form of work consisted of pumping a fan that is clearly intended not to be useful. This form of labour was referred to as "grinding the wind".
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