if you're never bored you're not living

[newmistakes]

I firmly believe that our technology obsessed society robs children of something vitally important - boredom. I remember being excessively and repeated bored so many times during my childhood and adolescence. That boredom helped shape who I am. But these days no one is allowed to be bored (freak out alert: I just used the phrase “these days” - I am

Comments

[spiral_meter]

i think you don't have to be old to say "these days" these days.

i agree that it's important to be bored cuz it lets you come up with creative ways to cure it instead of just playing on your phone. you were really good at it and still are. i hope your love of boredom is with you always and forever.

AND!! i hope your boredom continues to spur you to make insightful observations.

b

[newmistakes]

You have given me tremendous "these days" comfort, b. Henceforth I shall always think of you as a benefactor.

Thank you, I hope that my love of boredom endures through many many boring occasions as well :) Haha I don't think I have much insight into anything, particularly myself, but I do like blathering on so I'm sure that will continue.

j

[spiral_meter]

your special brand of blather is always welcome on my friend page.

b

[newmistakes]

And for that I'm very grateful :) You and scowling_hermit were my first two LJ buddies on this journal, and I still miss her and her artistic creations on here - I feel very lucky you are still LJing because I think you are rad rad razors!

[ismoulder]

3 Questions:
What was the point in painting grass a different shade of green?
How many times have you hurt yourself as you pretend to be blind?
What were battle battles? Was it like fight club?

[newmistakes]

Merciful Zeus, three questions?! It almost feels like you want me to write you an essay! Sheesh!!
1. We just thought it would be funny and we giggled a lot while doing it. But if you want an actual point, there was none - and that remains true of everything you or I will do from birth to the grave. Still, I never let the pointlessness of everything stop me doing things.
2. It depends what you mean by "hurt". That's quite a subjective term. Do you mean bleeding, bruised or a momentary pain that subsides without any lasting ill effects?
3. Yes, it was exactly like Fight Club. Also, I've never actually seen Fight Club so when I say "yes it was exactly like Fight Club" I'm just guessing. Was Flight Club about a group of girls who would fake fight with the rolled cardboard tubes used in cling wrap containers and pretend they were swords or lasers? If so, then I reiterate that it was exactly like Fight Club.

[ismoulder]

You really believe everything is pointless?

I'm thinking more of bleeding or bruised than a momentary pain with no ill effects.

Yes that's exactly what Fight Club was about. You nailed it.

[newmistakes]

Ultimately sure. But that doesn't mean we don't decide on our own personal meaning/point.

Oh okay, thanks for clarifying. In that case, I can't count high enough to give you an accurate figure :P

Woo! I am going to use Fight Club references all over the place now I know what it was all about!

[zoefruitcake]

Yes, yes YES! Without boredom when I was younger I would never have read the thousands of books that are literally my profession. I also ran these long stories in my head for YEARS. If I was young now I'd never be offline and do anything else.

[newmistakes]

Yep, filling boredom time with books formed a huge part of my formative years too. And yes, then you had to go over them in your head, re-read your favourite passages - there was a whole post-book ruminating process :)

[masobelle]

Oh I agree wholeheartedly with you! My particular pet peeve is children with ipads. There are plenty of other quiet things for kids to do that don't involve screens - like making up little worlds and games and stories with your toys, or even in your own head.

Have you read Catch 22? I'm sure you have, I'm sure we've spoken about it at some stage. There was the guy trying to cultivate boredom, because he believed that time moved slower when you were bored so therefore the more bored you were, the longer you were living!

[newmistakes]

I can see how it would be easier and probably such a blessed relief to give a kid an ipad and shut them up for a while, like the way some parents used to use TV as a proverbial babysitter. But yeah I really think it does the kid a disservice in the long-run. Embracing boredom, that's the key!

I read Catch 22 soooo long ago it feels like I haven't read it now haha, even with your little plot reminders. I think I'm going to have to read it again now dammit!

Oh sure Bitch CLOSE the comments on this one eh

[adman]

I’ve been nudging a select but magnificent group of people on my LJ list, trying to irritate them into updating. While some may say that you catch more flies with honey than you do with a punch in the fly-balls, I’ve always thought that being kind of innocuously annoying was a better way to go.

I’ve had some success too, as a couple of dormant journalers have arisen from the dead and posted again. I’ve also had some failures, with some of my inactive friends list blatantly ignoring my attempts to irk, vex and bother them. I just want these journalers to know that I’m not giving up! I intend to keep nudging until I get what I want - reading material! Now that I’m back on here, it just seems very selfish of these non-updatey LJers not to entertain me. Lift your game, dormant journalers. Journaling isn’t all about you, you know - journaling is all about ME! I demand friends page satisfaction, so get to it! If not, more nudges will rain down upon you.

COMMENT BUTTON HERELemme guess Jen you were '"THAT Girl" in school too.. Oh sure you

RE: Oh sure Bitch CLOSE the comments on this one eh

[newmistakes]

Haha WRONG! I wasn't anything like "THAT Girl" :P I startled everyone by yelling at the mean ole teacher we all hated one day when he said something that I felt was a step too far, I'd give individually to worthy causes, but I was never the ra-ra motivate others type. So nerr. You had me pegged all wrong, buddy!

I know what you're trying to do by telling me what you imagine, Dave! You're trying to intimidate me into backing off with the nudges, but it won't work. I've known you were a sexually depraved lunatic for some time now so I'm not overly surprised to read what you think of the nudges haha :P Imagine whatever you like, you amusing nutty Canuck - I'm not going to be deterred!!