Good Creative People are Never Bored(heywhipple.com)
heywhipple.com
Good Creative People are Never Bored
http://www.heywhipple.com/2012/01/08/good-creative-people-are-never-bored-or-what-i-learned-at-the-george-w-bush-presidential-li-berry/
21 comments
Holmes was never bored. Every smudge told volumes. Innumerable books were there for the reading. And when "bored" nonetheless he dove inside his own mind and explored its behavior under various pharmacological abuses. (Surely you don't expect his hypothetical "trips" were akin to a common doper's?)
BTW: the article is just 487 words long. You spent more time informing us that you didn't read it than you would have spent doing so. ...and I'm so easily not bored I found it interesting to find the word count.
BTW: the article is just 487 words long. You spent more time informing us that you didn't read it than you would have spent doing so. ...and I'm so easily not bored I found it interesting to find the word count.
Homes was constantly doing lots of stimulants as well as other drugs
Saying he was never bored is a bit of a stretch for non drug abusers
Saying he was never bored is a bit of a stretch for non drug abusers
I don't use any illegal drugs, but that sort of experimation looks to me like exactly that: experimentation. And, in the context of the article, he looked at the universe in all its interesting attributes and chose "I wanna try this!" something related to, and inside the universe. As defined by the article, that's not boredom.
I am not saying "Because he had drugs as an option, he wasn't bored". I'm saying "He was constantly amped up on something, so he wasn't bored".
S02E02 can prove that.
There's an unnecessary swipe at GW Bush there, unfortunately, but I think the article's point is nonetheless excellent.
Ah, but it worked for me! :-)
Perhaps it was an "extra", but it did serve as a well known example of the incurious.
Perhaps it was an "extra", but it did serve as a well known example of the incurious.
See also "How to be more interesting"
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3423017
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3423017
There's another interesting article in the same spirit: http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/2006/11/how_to_be_...
HN discussion: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3279190
Nice! I love learning about this stuff. This is what interests me
I'm usually excited when I have nothing to do because I can finally spend ANY time on my own projects.
However, I'm often bored of doing particular tasks. Perhaps I'm boring at doing those tasks.
However, I'm often bored of doing particular tasks. Perhaps I'm boring at doing those tasks.
That's what I feel too.
I'm bored when doing home chores, when working on un-interesting projects, when stuck in transit, when waiting for things/people, and etc etc.
Man, I must be a really boring person!
I'm bored when doing home chores, when working on un-interesting projects, when stuck in transit, when waiting for things/people, and etc etc.
Man, I must be a really boring person!
Not that sure if I should agree the author's statement. I think that energy management is key and that it should be "allowed" for people to be bored. Every engine needs to cool down sometimes and instead of giving some lengthy explanation about "relaxing, regrouping, thinking without a specific purpose" (at least I) describe this time as "boring".
Maybe I'm not like all the rest, but I've never used that definition of 'being bored'.
To me, it's not about not knowing anything to do, but about not wanting to do anything. When I feel bored, I don't want to read, to watch, to listen, or do anything else that requires my attention or effort. I don't think I've ever felt like "today, I want to do something! But sadly I don't know anything to do."
To me, it's not about not knowing anything to do, but about not wanting to do anything. When I feel bored, I don't want to read, to watch, to listen, or do anything else that requires my attention or effort. I don't think I've ever felt like "today, I want to do something! But sadly I don't know anything to do."
What you're describing sounds more like temporary depression instead of being bored. Actually, I wonder if the state of boredom is actually a form of depression?
I get this too, generally on weekends when I don't have any obligations.
I don't think I would call it depression though. There's no sadness involved. It's more like nothing seems interesting enough to motivate me to action.
I don't think I would call it depression though. There's no sadness involved. It's more like nothing seems interesting enough to motivate me to action.
That's a classic description of depression. Seriously. Talk to your doctor about this and hit the gym/physical activity a bit more, especially if the episodes increase in length or intensity.
That sounds more like depression or ahedonia than "being bored".
Yea, the author really means creative and motivated people.
This is trivially refuted by the fact that "good creative people" with concentration/motivation defects, depression etc. exist.
The whole article is a non-sequitur.
The whole article is a non-sequitur.
I think your definition of “bored” is closer to my definition of “motivated”. I consider the two different things. As ctdonath points out above, the definition of “bored” I think this article is using (and the one I'm applying to it) is “I don't know what to do”, not “I don't want to do anything”. So if we talk about the latter, you're completely correct. I think if we talk about the former, the author/article makes a better point.
Seems there are differing definitions of "bored" here. Methinks the more common is "I have no idea what to do".
I'm not bored ever, as the universe provides an infinite array of things to observe or do - and that's assuming I've gotten thru my "to do" list, which I start every few months and soon give up on because it grows so long so fast there is no point in so much as prioritizing it (even top priority items will be so numerous as to take the whole foreseeable future). To the contrary, sometimes I find the plethora of options paralyzing.
I'm not bored ever, as the universe provides an infinite array of things to observe or do - and that's assuming I've gotten thru my "to do" list, which I start every few months and soon give up on because it grows so long so fast there is no point in so much as prioritizing it (even top priority items will be so numerous as to take the whole foreseeable future). To the contrary, sometimes I find the plethora of options paralyzing.
Heh, I find myself doing almost exactly that. Funny thing is I usually browse HN for posts about task management. I really get satisfaction from checking things off and definitely benefit from prioritizing myself, but does anyone here have any tips on how to manage things in such a way as to not want to trash everything and start from scratch pretty regularly?
Keep very detailed notes on everything you do, and if you ever decide to start something new then archive your notes, digitize them if possible and keep them until one day you decide to return to it. If you never decide to do that then give them to your children, (or the world if you think it's that good) etc.
As far as doing something and trying not to get to that point at all, focus on the one project until it's finished.
As far as doing something and trying not to get to that point at all, focus on the one project until it's finished.
No one can be "on" all the time. I would even go so far as to say that a creative person who doesn't periodically crash and burn isn't trying hard enough.
Many creative people are even prone to varying degrees of hypomania, cycling between periods of despondency and fits of irrepressible energy.
Many creative people are even prone to varying degrees of hypomania, cycling between periods of despondency and fits of irrepressible energy.
Is there a paper or article you know of I could read relations between creativity and hypomania/other psychological things? It interests me.
Never mind, found one
http://my.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/33524/person...
Never mind, found one
http://my.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/33524/person...
We all shall replace reality with fantasy so not-so-bright people can be able to write about it.
Not to yank my own cock too hard, but I'm pretty awesome at never being bored. I can always find new exciting shit to read online and new projects and ideas to tinker with. Whereas most people seem to check their Facebook and their daily allotment of funny Youtube vids, after which they need someone to tell them what to do with their day.
I think the upside for the normals is that they get more enjoyment out of everyday stuff, though. My constant info-stimjunkie behavior is probably pica for something deeper being broken. Kind of like constantly trying to figure out the universe by reading and tinkering incessantly. Instead of just sitting back and smelling the flowers.
http://lesswrong.com/lw/15w/experiential_pica/
Introspective and metacognitive abilities, they are bitches... :(
I think the upside for the normals is that they get more enjoyment out of everyday stuff, though. My constant info-stimjunkie behavior is probably pica for something deeper being broken. Kind of like constantly trying to figure out the universe by reading and tinkering incessantly. Instead of just sitting back and smelling the flowers.
http://lesswrong.com/lw/15w/experiential_pica/
Introspective and metacognitive abilities, they are bitches... :(
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"Error establishing a database connection"
BORING!
BORING!
""I am bored" generally means "I am boring.""
Well, the site seems to be overloaded now, and I can't read it, but that won't stop me from spouting an opinion:
There seems to be a strange interpretation of 'bored' going on here. The best definition I can find of bored or boredom is, essentially: a general feeling of malaise and disinterest brought about by tedium.
Now, personally, I've been bored more than I've been engaged in my professional career. Since losing my job and spending all of my time pursuing things that interest me, I've found that I complete fewer tasks, but I'm much more engaged and happier overall. I'm constantly pursuing one interest or another.
Currently, I have three ongoing projects that might have commercial value (and about 15 more that are purely to satisfy personal curiosity). Unfortunately, one of the three projects has reached the stage of development where it becomes tedious to complete. So, there's the catch. If you want to complete things, you inevitably have to deal with tedious details, which means you're almost certainly going to spend time feeling bored.
One other observation: it's easier to get bored when writing code than when digging a ditch. The latter will tire you physically, but the freedom of thought is quite mentally stimulating. If you don't have any hobbies that involve repeatable physical activity, give it a try.
There seems to be a strange interpretation of 'bored' going on here. The best definition I can find of bored or boredom is, essentially: a general feeling of malaise and disinterest brought about by tedium.
Now, personally, I've been bored more than I've been engaged in my professional career. Since losing my job and spending all of my time pursuing things that interest me, I've found that I complete fewer tasks, but I'm much more engaged and happier overall. I'm constantly pursuing one interest or another.
Currently, I have three ongoing projects that might have commercial value (and about 15 more that are purely to satisfy personal curiosity). Unfortunately, one of the three projects has reached the stage of development where it becomes tedious to complete. So, there's the catch. If you want to complete things, you inevitably have to deal with tedious details, which means you're almost certainly going to spend time feeling bored.
One other observation: it's easier to get bored when writing code than when digging a ditch. The latter will tire you physically, but the freedom of thought is quite mentally stimulating. If you don't have any hobbies that involve repeatable physical activity, give it a try.
"Saying “I’m bored” suggests you’ve in fact seen and thought of every interesting thing in the universe, read every book, been down every street, looked into every window, talked to all 7 billion people and that until some NEW material comes along, frankly, you’re not at fault for mopin’ around the house and draggin’ your knuckles a little bit. “Sorry, but there’s nuthin’ ta DO.”
... I'm not sure I agree. I think "bored" may simply be a state of mind that people sometimes just have to cycle through.
Like, if you say "I'm depressed", I'm not going to claim that you've gone through every conceivable solution to every problem the world might have and that you've concluded every one of them is hopeless. You might be depressed about something, or you might have found something to be depressed about. I'm not sure which one is the cart and which one is the horse.
I think plenty of creative people get bored, and I don't think it's always because of an absence of things to be interested in, any more than depression is always caused by an absence of things to feel optimistic about.
... I'm not sure I agree. I think "bored" may simply be a state of mind that people sometimes just have to cycle through.
Like, if you say "I'm depressed", I'm not going to claim that you've gone through every conceivable solution to every problem the world might have and that you've concluded every one of them is hopeless. You might be depressed about something, or you might have found something to be depressed about. I'm not sure which one is the cart and which one is the horse.
I think plenty of creative people get bored, and I don't think it's always because of an absence of things to be interested in, any more than depression is always caused by an absence of things to feel optimistic about.
Boredom is your subconscious telling you to strive for better.
The author of this article is taking the statement too literally.
When someone tells you they're bored they're most likely saying "let's go do something together". That kid probably just wanted to play with her mother.
If a someone can find time now to actually be bored, it means they have a healthy disconnect with technology. It means they still have the itch to be social without going to Facebook, watching the Kardashians or texting white noise.
When someone tells you they're bored they're most likely saying "let's go do something together". That kid probably just wanted to play with her mother.
If a someone can find time now to actually be bored, it means they have a healthy disconnect with technology. It means they still have the itch to be social without going to Facebook, watching the Kardashians or texting white noise.
Far be it from me to disagree with an ad blogger.
However, many of those we think of when we consider creativity seem to go through periods of something close to depression.
However, many of those we think of when we consider creativity seem to go through periods of something close to depression.
This is incredibly harsh. And wonderful. I'm so tired of people soft-pedaling their ideas. Make a statement and stand by it. Stand tall and be ready to be knocked down if you're wrong.
I dont know how "bored" feels like. Ever since i started working as a developer, i must have lost that feeling. I am constantly working or learning new concepts. When i leave the office i walk for like 5 minutes to the train. Then i start reading my RSS Feeds. When i arrive home, i eat and start coding for fun.
I am the perfect candidate for a burn-out. I know this for sure. And my doctor too.
I am the perfect candidate for a burn-out. I know this for sure. And my doctor too.
'Course I haven't read the article so I might be off base.