Boredom, My Old Friend...
For the Grizzly Gazette Bearblog Carnival - February 2026 "Boredom" hosted by winther
I am a ’96 baby. That only gives me 4 years of the 90's to remember existing in, and unfortunately being a barely aware squishy blob for about 2 of those years doesn’t really account for much remembering. The latter half, however, there are bits & pieces I can mash together to form some sort of coherent memory.
One thing in particular? No computers.
Those of you lucky enough to be from the 1900's (ha) might be thinking “What do you mean ‘no computers’? I had a computer!” I’m sure you did, but say that again.
You had a computer.
One.
The screen was the size of a fridge and it took 7 working days to boot up.
If you wanted to use it, it was because you had a reason to. It wasn’t something you could access quickly and if you were in a rush that seemed to make it run even slower, like it could sense your frustration or something…
Growing up, I was allowed 2 hours of computer time every Saturday. I would spend my short hours after school planning what I would use that time for. Most of the time it was stories and/or houses for The Sims, a habit that has stuck with me 30 years later. Besides that, it would also be for things like research. I was quite a curious child and I fondly remember spending my weekend computer allowance on PowerPoint making a full production slideshow on whatever topic had piqued my interest that week. Fellow autistics might be familiar with the “trains or boats?” question; well for me it was the Romans.
And also trains.
The ‘good’ memories I have of my childhood are few and far between, but I can recall (with fondness) presenting these slideshows to my father with great pride and him showing genuine interest. For all his faults, he is a learned man and appreciates the importance of knowledge. At least he used to.
I digress; what is my point here? How does this relate to boredom? I promise my tangent is relevant.
Computers are too damn accessible.
I suppose to an extent I’m talking about the internet, but it’s difficult to access one without the other.
I wake up because the alarm on my pocket computer says so. I have to turn that alarm off, which means putting that computer in my hand. Big mistake, now I’m walking to the bathroom with it my hand scrolling through some useless feed that doesn’t really tell me any information of consequence. I do my business. I sit at my desk to do my make-up, and there’s my £3,000 gaming PC set up. A whole other computer. I drive to work, the tiny pocket computer is responsible for todays 30 minute soundtrack. I arrive at work. I spend 9 hours sat in front of a different computer. That’s 3. I look at my tiny pocket computer every 10 minutes anyway. I go home. Pocket computer soundtrack resumes. The TV gets turned on, the little silver computer streams something for a few hours. That’s 4. Maybe I do some writing on my slightly larger ‘pocket’ computer. That’s 5. Pocket computer alarm resumes. I sleep.
I AM SURROUNDED BY COMPUTERS.
BOREDOM HAS BEEN ERADICATED.
In fact, I don’t believe I actually know how to be bored anymore. It’s gotten to a point that there are so many options that are so abundantly available to me that I get stuck in choice paralysis. Even more of my time is wasted.
I think my Mum was right all along. It really is that damn phone.
So what happens now? That’s one hell of an epiphany, right? I think a few people here have come to the same conclusion. Especially considering the recent resurgence of ‘dumb tech’ (better than calling something from the early 2000’s vintage, I suppose), it’s clear I’m not the first person to have these thoughts. That is more of a comment on technology though, instead of one on boredom itself.
6 or so years ago I moved into one of those “built with a prayer and a fart” new homes that seem to be plaguing the UK at the moment. This home was so new, in fact, that the ground-lines for any sort of internet hadn’t even been laid yet. We wouldn’t be getting internet for at least 2 months. Try telling that to a chronically online 20-something year old. Big time yikes. But let you tell me something; those two months? Probably the most creative I’ve ever been. All because I had nothing better to do.
I’m going on holiday in a few weeks. We were gifted a long weekend package to an adult-only spa resort abroad. The circumstances that lead to us being gifted said holiday were a bit shitty but I can’t lie and say I’m not looking forward to it.
During these 4 days, I intend to completely abandon my phone. Well, not completely. I will have it with me in case of emergencies and what-not, but in terms of everything else? That brick is dead to me. I will be taking a drawing pad, a few pencils, maybe one of those scenario sticker books, and I think we have travel chess somewhere...
And if I get bored?
I will be thankful for it.