Do you get bored?

[Rev. Rye]

To me, at least by this point, where I usually have at least one device able to access the Internet at all times, true boredom is something that has to be inflicted on me. I'd have to lose access to my phone (or iPad, or whatever book I've brought with me, because I never leave my home without at least one of those things), and whoever's in charge would have to go out of their way to keep me from getting access to what Hannibal called my "Mind Palace."

At this point, boredom seems to be little more than a momentary feeling, one that's only a small decision away from ending, whether it's what book I should read, what movie I should watch, or what video I should watch on what platform. These days, the closest thing I get to a prolonged feeling of boredom is when I'm watching something for the Deep Hurting Project and the movie in question is simply dull. And even then, that's just me subjecting that feeling to myself.

As for Ten coming out as being on the Spectrum, well, just watch this video and replace "gay" with "Autistic":

[paulpablo]

First, how do you define "bored"? 

I always thought it was a feeling of wanting to be occupied but not having anything with which to occupy oneself and having a lack of ideas.

I cannot relate. AT ALL. I am definitely coming to terms with the fact that I am probably on the spectrum and I have no difficulty at any time either 1. Entertaining myself with internal storytelling, reliving memories, going through scenarios that may or may not happen, and general problem solving ideas to myself within my own head and 2. Bringing up an automatic feeling from within that simply answers the question: "what do I desire to do now/next?" Like the question doesn't even get a chance to be formulated or asked of myself. I just HAVE stuff I want to do. Always. I always have ideas and this feeling of what I most want to do next to occupy myself. Sometimes more than one thing fills that spot and so I have several things to choose from at any given moment.

Someone recently said to me "I'm BORED!" and it brought up again this feeling of wonder, fear, and pity for the person who would be plagued so. Are you among the unfortunate people who come by this affliction of boredom? What is bored to you? How do you cope with a head empty like that?

I define bored as having a lack of brain stimulation. 

Yeh I get bored quite easily.  I've got a very easy low skilled job where I literally could spend all day thinking thoughts and doing nothing. 

I've come up with loads of stuff to pass the time, drawing, chess, I've even brought my guitar and a skipping rope into work before.  I've developed a skill for keeping people going in conversation on the phone to me when I'm bored too.  

Self improvement is good for entertainment in total solitude but like most people I crave social stimulation.  I've always organized random competitions, races, push up competitions, I won the competition of who can bicep curl and lift overhead the watercooler bottle with one arm.  

There's definitely times when I just do pointless braindead type stuff to pass time aswell, I'm guilty of that.  Scrolling through instagram or tiktok. Computer games and so on. I mean, some might say the other stuff I mentioned is pointless and braindead but they seem slightly more productive.

[arewethereyet]

^I think it's good to have times when you are on autopilot. Just cruising along doing braindead stuff gives your brain a rest and can reset you. I play simple Solitaire type games online and let my mind wander or just be still.

[Fireball]

When I want to Zen out, I do woodcarving. I'm not bored, I'm focused on what I am forming, and I do it with hand tools, which make very little noise. I do have tools that require a mallet, but even then it's not that loud (I use mallets with a phenolic head wrapping), and I'm creating something.

[arewethereyet]

When I want to Zen out, I do woodcarving. I'm not bored, I'm focused on what I am forming, and I do it with hand tools, which make very little noise. I do have tools that require a mallet, but even then it's not that loud (I use mallets with a phenolic head wrapping), and I'm creating something.

Since I have been sewing again I usually have more than one project in the works.  Sometimes I have a batch of fabric that needs to be ironed which I do either in quiet or listening to a book or music.  Or I decide to cut out a whole quilt worth of fabric.  Same thing as far as background goes.  It depends on my mood which step in the process I am in the mood for.  The cutting part does require some focus so I don't lose a finger but since I already know in my head what I need, it's pretty automatic.

[Fireball]

When I want to Zen out, I do woodcarving. I'm not bored, I'm focused on what I am forming, and I do it with hand tools, which make very little noise. I do have tools that require a mallet, but even then it's not that loud (I use mallets with a phenolic head wrapping), and I'm creating something.

Since I have been sewing again I usually have more than one project in the works.  Sometimes I have a batch of fabric that needs to be ironed which I do either in quiet or listening to a book or music.  Or I decide to cut out a whole quilt worth of fabric.  Same thing as far as background goes.  It depends on my mood which step in the process I am in the mood for.  The cutting part does require some focus so I don't lose a finger but since I already know in my head what I need, it's pretty automatic.

Well, the carving stuff does require focus, or I'd bleed even more than I already have. I have a Kevlar glove that I bought many years ago, when I first got into carving. But I've learned to just keep my digits behind the sharp edges, and haven't used that glove in years. My wife quilts, and has set ways to run her rotary cutter that don't endanger her digits. A lot of her friends get cut a lot by not paying attention.

[Angrboda]

I have a set list of things I do on the computer. I read the new posts on the forums, read the news, read the deals of the day on two sites, and check my email. But once I'm done, I tend to keep at it even though there's nothing new to read and I could be doing other things. That is a bit boring, but I have trouble disconnecting.

[Astreja]

Bored? Not very often at all. I do have days when, after working on something for a while, mental weariness sets in. That's when I spend a lot of time surfing the Net or playing games, but usually I stop after an hour or two and go do something different like read a book.

[Thumpalumpacus]

A life of the mind isn't really boring so long as I keep my mind active. And it's a lot easier now, with the Internet, than it was 40 years ago.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'm too old to get bored. I prepare for down/dull time.