Is life more boring than it used to be?

[Miss Chicken]

When I was growing up we only had radio and TV. There was and only two TV stations where I lived and they didn't boradcast 24 hours a day. Yet people found ways to pass their time. Sometimes they did complain about boredom.

Nowadays despite the internet, DVDs, 24 hour TV, video games etc people are still complaining of boredom.

In the past people often had to work from sunrise to suinset. I wonder if that stopped them from being bored? I wonder iif our hunter-gatherers ancestors sat around complaining about being bored?

So people do you think that life is more boring now, or was it more boring in the past.

 

[RoJoHen]

In the past people often had to work from sunrise to suinset. I wonder if that stopped them from being bored? I wonder iif our hunter-gatherers ancestors sat around complaining about being bored?

I think this has a lot to do with it. If I worked 12 hour days, I would be a lot less bored because I would have less free time to squeeze in what I want.

I think a lot more people live on their own these days, as well, whereas in the past families tended to live together for longer periods of time. It's a lot easier to be bored when you're alone with nobody around to help you pass the time.

 

[Pingfah]

I never used to have a TV at all, and I lived in a house with 5 musicians and no TV. We were never bored. We would cook, get high, play music, read, exercise, play games etc etc etc.

People aren't bored despite the internet and TV, they are bored because of it. It's the easy way out, one which I take myself all too regularly.

 

[ThankQ]

I think it's the speed with which we're used to everything coming now.

I mean, have you ever seen someone standing next to a microwave, rolling his eyes and tapping his toes as he grumbles "come on, COME ON!" as he waits all of 90 seconds for a full, warm meal.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

I don't think that there's less to do. It's just thaat as most of us age our responsibilities increase and the time we have for fun or non-work interests diminishes. In that respect it's more boring.

 

[Kestra]

I'm sure people were bored before, and there are people that are bored now. In the past, maybe people just didn't think about it or think to complain about it as much. There's definitely a sense of entitlement now in terms of expecting to be entertained and diverted. And just about life being enjoyable, in general.

As people have already noted, people did work long hours before and there were probably less people living on their own, but I'm wary of making too many generalizations. Plenty of people work just as long hours now, and work just as hard if not in the same manner exactly.

Personally, I've never understood people who seem to be bored quite often. We all have moments, of course, but I can't fathom boredom as anything more than fleeting.

 

[ThankQ]

We all have moments, of course, but I can't fathom boredom as anything more than fleeting.

That's because you have breasts.

to be me.

 

[RoJoHen]

As people have already noted, people did work long hours before and there were probably less people living on their own, but I'm wary of making too many generalizations. Plenty of people work just as long hours now, and work just as hard if not in the same manner exactly.

I imagine there also used to be more work to do once you got back home. Things like making dinner probably took more time (whereas now I'm sure a lot of people just go through a drive-thru on their way home).

 

[Kestra]

We all have moments, of course, but I can't fathom boredom as anything more than fleeting.

That's because you have breasts.

to be me.

You have a point. Actually I think sex is a great way to get rid of boredom.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

We all have moments, of course, but I can't fathom boredom as anything more than fleeting.

That's because you have breasts.

to be me.

You have a point. Actually I think sex is a great way to get rid of boredom.

Nine months later, you'll be far from bored.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I definitely think that Pop Culture has gotten more boring, having lost most of its entertainment value to hyperstimulation and pretentious nihilism.

I'm not bored, though; I wouldn't have enough time to do the things I want to do if I didn't have to work or sleep.

 

[BenRoethig]

Its not more boring. Everyone just appreciates things less.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

I would be bored working longer hours. I find any kind of work boring. Any time I'm directly under someone else's authority instead of doing exactly what it is I want to be doing at that moment, I'm bored.

 

[Mr Awe]

No, I don't think life is more boring. I think it has changed since you were younger. The changes may not grip you as much. The only thing I can suggest is to embrace the change and find things that you like. We have more things to do than ever before.

Personally, the biggest advanaged for me for living now than an earlier age are the scientific advances. We've answered lots of big questions about how humans came to be, the universe, physical laws, how things work, etc. Things that our ancestors could not know and had to invent stories about. We know what those points of light are in the sky at night, how they work, etc. So, I learn in the little spare time that I have.

The next 3 years should be very exciting astronomy-wise. We should be able to detect Earth like planets and determine if they have Earth like conditions. We should find somewhere and Earth twin. Now that's exciting! Along with uncovering an extreme diversity of the types of worlds which is equally as exciting.

No, things are not dull at all.

Oh, and one little nit about this:

In the past people often had to work from sunrise to suinset. I wonder if that stopped them from being bored? I wonder iif our hunter-gatherers ancestors sat around complaining about being bored?

Hunter-gatherers actually work fewer hours than agricultural societies. Switching to agriculture requires addition work but it is more stable. Anthropologists have studied this in detail, the amount of work required for the different lifestyles. It may be surprising but hunter-gatherers had more time on their hands. They were also more likely to be hungry and wondering about their next meal!


Mr Awe

 

[John Picard]

When I was growing up we only had radio and TV. There was and only two TV stations where I lived and they didn't boradcast 24 hours a day. Yet people found ways to pass their time. Sometimes they did complain about boredom.

Nowadays despite the internet, DVDs, 24 hour TV, video games etc people are still complaining of boredom.

In the past people often had to work from sunrise to suinset. I wonder if that stopped them from being bored? I wonder iif our hunter-gatherers ancestors sat around complaining about being bored?

So people do you think that life is more boring now, or was it more boring in the past.

Just typical of Western Society. We have more, yet are not "happy". A couple of years ago, I read of a research survey that scoured the globe and rated the grassland tribes of Africa are the happiest, because their emphasis on life is living and family. Americans, overall, are not happy because we're conditioned to strive for one-upmanship -- who has the biggest house; fanciest car; best clothing; the latest high-tech gizmo, etc. The current Recession is proof positive of this, because the people who were living large in the boom time are now having to eat crow and humble pie. Those they criticized for living thrifty lives don't look so ridiculous now.

If people are bored, it's their own fault. They have no purpose, sense of direction, or sense of self in life.

 

[Mr Awe]

^^ You're projecting vindictiveness and animosity that I disagree with. However, I agree with the sentiment that people should not be bored and that it's within their abilities to find something that prevents them from being bored. Agree that that "something" won't be more posssessions.

Mr Awe

 

[John Picard]

^^ You're projecting vindictiveness and animosity that I disagree with. However, I agree with the sentiment that people should not be bored and that it's within their abilities to find something that prevents them from being bored. Agree that that "something" won't be more possessions.

Mr Awe

Hardly. I have always lived simple and even now don't have digital TV--just Netflix. I don't feel the need to be constantly entertained as do people I observe. Just read the news and observe people. I rather pity them, to be honest.

 

[Mr Awe]

^^ Well, like I said, I agree with your conclusion.

 

[Mike Farley]

It may be surprising but hunter-gatherers had more time on their hands. They were also more likely to be hungry and wondering about their next meal!
Mr Awe

Also more likely to be eaten by something large, furry, and saber-toothed. That keeps life interesting.

 

[Count Zero]

I think that, actually, life is much more exciting than it used to be. Just look at us, having instantaneous conversations over 1000s of miles, most of the world's knowledge at the tip of our fingers. There's really an awful lot to explore. Sometimes I can't help but marvel at the way things have changed this way, even within my own, relatively short life time.
In my opinion, it's the ability to tolerate boredom that has diminished, mainly because we have all these possibilities of being entertained/occupied, now. We're so used to doing multiple things at once that we experience perfectly normal situations as boring. People used to be content just going for a walk, nowadays you have to at least listen to music while you're walking so that it won't be perceived as boring.
I've made these observations about myself, though I retain a high tolerance of boredom, thankfully.