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This article primes my confirmation bias. I used to think it was up to me to keep my son entertained or otherwise 'engaged'. One day it hit me that letting him

This article primes my confirmation bias. I used to think it was up to me to keep my son entertained or otherwise 'engaged'. One day it hit me that letting him experience boredom is probably a net positive since I won't always be around to keep things interesting and the boredom might force him to explore pursuits he otherwise wouldn't have. As he's grown older I've restricted screen time for the same reasons (although I could probably do more in that department). Having just read the other HN topic regarding the hikikomori, I wonder if a/the root cause isn't their use of technology to treat boredom. Perhaps not a blanket condemnation of technology - if I discover a new hobby online and can parlay that into a job/career that's a net positive - but there's certainly some aspects of tech that are going to keep someone isolated and socially atrophied.

c22 8y ago
When I was a kid I remember being bored all the time, but interestingly as an adult I am never bored. In retrospect I think a lot of it has to do with the opportunities available to me. Now if I have an idea of something I want to do or a project I want to work on I can just start doing it. When I was a kid I was limited since many of my ideas required some disposable income or a car to accomplish. Given this perspective perhaps it is somewhat your responsibility to keep your son "engaged".
- Nav_Panel 8y ago
  As an adult, I see my "boredom" more clearly as a psychological imperative "Do Something!" combined with an existential reply "Nothing Is Worth Doing!" The result is inaction, the fix is either identifying something, anything worthwhile (the state often points to some unresolved need), or acting anyway despite the meaninglessness (only tenable for short periods, better to rearrange one's environment to avoid such situations altogether).
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]

c22 8y ago

When I was a kid I remember being bored all the time, but interestingly as an adult I am never bored. In retrospect I think a lot of it has to do with the opportunities available to me. Now if I have an idea of something I want to do or a project I want to work on I can just start doing it. When I was a kid I was limited since many of my ideas required some disposable income or a car to accomplish. Given this perspective perhaps it is somewhat your responsibility to keep your son "engaged".

Nav_Panel 8y ago
As an adult, I see my "boredom" more clearly as a psychological imperative "Do Something!" combined with an existential reply "Nothing Is Worth Doing!" The result is inaction, the fix is either identifying something, anything worthwhile (the state often points to some unresolved need), or acting anyway despite the meaninglessness (only tenable for short periods, better to rearrange one's environment to avoid such situations altogether).
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]