Bored!

There's been a little chatter about BOREDOM! and 2006 is still young!

"Boredom is the root of all evil -- the despairing refusal to be one's self." -- Kierkegaard

Chuck Gallozzi writes:

Boredom may be a boring subject, but it’s an important one because it is the source of much misery. You see, it is accompanied by, or leads to, feelings of loneliness, emptiness, helplessness, inadequacy, sadness, despair, and even depression. When allowed to spin out of control, there can be serious repercussions. more here

But Mark Cuban offers a suggested end for boredom:

Portable media devices, whether Ipods, portable gaming devices, phones with all their features, or whatever have solved what has been a generations old nuisance for all of us, boredom.

We have our little devices and now we are never bored. We dont find ourselves staring off into space unoccupied, wondering what to do. We dont find ourselves muttering about how bored we are sitting on the train, or on a plane, trying to do anything to make the time go by more quickly.

Our little mobile devices are so popular because they are the ultimate, continuous distraction. They are the easiest cure for boredom.

The secret of avoiding boredom? meaningful activity. (Don't confuse activity with accomplishment!) I think with the lack of deep friendships / relationships, we are forcing ourselves into boredom. Certainly cocooning ourselves in our houses or automobiles and with iPods entranced in our ears, is it any wonder that we are at the least distancing ourselves from relationships?

more on boredom here from wikipedia

For the sake of humor, If you're REALLY REALLY BORED....

Push your eyes for interesting light show
(Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes)
See a variety of blobs, stars and flashes. Try to make out things your subconscious is trying to send you a message? Can you control what you see by pressing different areas with different forces? Would it be possible to somehow see the same effects on TV?

Watch TV, repeat everything said in Italian accent
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Sort of entertaining. Include flamboyant shoulder shrugs for added impact, or go for a Marlon Brando set of grunts.

Pick up a dog so it can see things from your point of view
(Amusement Potential: 3-5 minutes)
Think about it: your dog has only seen the house from a viewpoint from 6" to 2' high (15 to 60 cm for all you metric fans). It's never seen the tops of counters, what you keep on your desk, the tops of shelves, etc. Try looking at things from its point of view, too.

MUCH MUCH MORE here!