Why do you think people get bored?

~~Odyshape~~ · 11-21-2011, 06:59 PM

This may sound like a strange question but why do you think people get bored . I suppose it could be linked to the fact they we are so used to adapting to new things that we are unable to be satisfied by the same things. I honestly have no clue though. It doesn't seem to serve much of a purpose from an evolutionary stand point in itself though.

Whaddya guys think. Why do people get bored?

Sneer · 11-21-2011, 07:06 PM

Because life is empty and meaningless.

~~Odyshape~~ · 11-21-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

Because life is empty and meaningless.

But that doesn't stop it from being fun sometimes

Sneer · 11-21-2011, 07:29 PM

Boredom is a core construct in existentialist thought, it's the essential human condition. When one is 'bored', they are confronting the nothingness of being. Life can be fun, and often is, but only because people are actively pursuing activities and interests, expending their energies, in the attempt to steer clear of the anxiety and dread that accompanies the realisation that everything's meaningless.

Of course, if you do not subscribe to existentialism, I'm sure you'll have another explanation for it.

~~Odyshape~~ · 11-21-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

Boredom is a core construct in existentialist thought, it's the essential human condition. When one is 'bored', they are confronting the nothingness of being. Life can be fun, and often is, but only because people are actively pursuing activities and interests, expending their energies, in the attempt to steer clear of the anxiety and dread that accompanies the realisation that everything's meaningless.

Of course, if you do not subscribe to existentialism, I'm sure you'll have another explanation for it.

I definitely feel like that. I take a fairly optimistic way of looking at it though. Like I have faith in myself that I won't be bored but I definitely see it as an active pursuit as you describe it.

Paedantic Basterd · 11-21-2011, 07:31 PM

When I grow truly bored, I develop a headache.

s_k · 11-22-2011, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

When I grow truly bored, I develop a headache.

Keeps you occupied?

I think boredome is a state of mind. There's never nothing to do. You just don't feel like doing anything.
I read somewhere that being bored is actually developing the brain.
Hence the headache

~~Odyshape~~ · 11-22-2011, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_k

Keeps you occupied?

I think boredome is a state of mind. There's never nothing to do. You just don't feel like doing anything.
I read somewhere that being bored is actually developing the brain.
Hence the headache

Its hard though some days its easy to see this and some days it feels like everything is meaningless. At least its like that for me. I sometimes can go a whole day and just not feel or experience anything and be totally numb. Today was like that for me which was bad because for 3 hours of it this girl I knew was talking to me and never really caught on I wasn't all that interested and zoned out for a very significant portion of it.

sonar1 · 11-21-2011, 07:49 PM

We seem to need constant stimulation to stay in the present moment.

When there is no stimulation from outside ourselves we think we have attained stasis between threats perceived and dealt with.

For some reason fear then gives way to doldrums.

Instead of appreciating serenity we instead turn within and project catastrophies into the future, based upon past experiences. This inner dialogue creates stress, which has no outlet if we do not actively process it through some kind of movement.

Stress saps strength, without any sense of satisfaction in doing something productive to "better our circumstances."

Fear turned outward is anger.

Fear turned inward is depression.

Depression saps motivation. We languish in the doldrums of inactivity, and miss the hungry years when we found meaning through successfully negotiating challenges.

We seek Rx through retail therapy (AKA G.A.S.).

That will be $25.
I'll invoice ya.

~~Odyshape~~ · 11-21-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonar1

We seem to need constant stimulation to stay in the present moment.

When there is no stimulation from outside ourselves we think we have attained stasis between threats perceived and dealt with.

For some reason fear then gives way to doldrums.

Instead of appreciating serenity we instead turn within and project catastrophies into the future, based upon past experiences. This inner dialogue creates stress, which has no outlet if we do not actively process it through some kind of movement.

Stress saps strength, without any sense of satisfaction in doing something productive to "better our circumstances."

Fear turned outward is anger.

Fear turned inward is depression.

Depression saps motivation. We languish in the doldrums of inactivity, and miss the hungry years when we found meaning through successfully negotiating challenges.

We seek Rx through retail therapy (AKA G.A.S.).

That will be $25.
I'll invoice ya.

Can you explain what you mean by this?

11-21-2011, 06:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
~~Odyshape~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 526	Why do you think people get bored? This may sound like a strange question but why do you think people get bored . I suppose it could be linked to the fact they we are so used to adapting to new things that we are unable to be satisfied by the same things. I honestly have no clue though. It doesn't seem to serve much of a purpose from an evolutionary stand point in itself though. Whaddya guys think. Why do people get bored?

11-21-2011, 07:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	Because life is empty and meaningless. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

11-21-2011, 07:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	Boredom is a core construct in existentialist thought, it's the essential human condition. When one is 'bored', they are confronting the nothingness of being. Life can be fun, and often is, but only because people are actively pursuing activities and interests, expending their energies, in the attempt to steer clear of the anxiety and dread that accompanies the realisation that everything's meaningless. Of course, if you do not subscribe to existentialism, I'm sure you'll have another explanation for it. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

11-21-2011, 07:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	When I grow truly bored, I develop a headache.

11-21-2011, 07:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
sonar1 Groupie Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: West Coast U.S. Posts: 26	We seem to need constant stimulation to stay in the present moment. When there is no stimulation from outside ourselves we think we have attained stasis between threats perceived and dealt with. For some reason fear then gives way to doldrums. Instead of appreciating serenity we instead turn within and project catastrophies into the future, based upon past experiences. This inner dialogue creates stress, which has no outlet if we do not actively process it through some kind of movement. Stress saps strength, without any sense of satisfaction in doing something productive to "better our circumstances." Fear turned outward is anger. Fear turned inward is depression. Depression saps motivation. We languish in the doldrums of inactivity, and miss the hungry years when we found meaning through successfully negotiating challenges. We seek Rx through retail therapy (AKA G.A.S.). That will be $25. I'll invoice ya.