A Hell of Boredom

Somewhere I have read that boredom is the torment of hell that Dante forgot.–Albert Speer, Spandau: The Secret Diaries

Some people claim never to have been bored. They lie. One cannot be human without at some time or other having known boredom. Even animals know boredom, we are told, though they are deprived of the ability to complain directly about it. Some of us are more afflicted with boredom than others. Psychologists make the distinction between ordinary and pathological boredom; the latter doesn’t cause serious mental problems but is associated with them.

 

 Another distinction is that between situational boredom and existential boredom. Situational boredom is caused by the temporary tedium everyone at one time or another encounters: the dull sermon, the longueur-laden novel, the pompous gent extolling his prowess at the used-tire business. Existential boredom is thought to be the result of existence itself, caused by modern culture and therefore inescapable. Boredom even has some class standing, and was once felt to be an aristocratic attribute.

 

 I will add that in writing the piece I read a bit of existential philosophy that touched on the subject. And doing so made boredom seem a lot less amusing to me and on some level, really, deeply depressing. The notion, proposed by some (Pascal, maybe? I can’t recall) that life is a series of distractions to avoid confronting our existential state was a real downer (even if I don’t necessarily agree). I hadn’t expected that little philosophical journey at all. But I suppose I’m the wiser for it.

A natural response to persistent boredom is to try to make it go away. The next time you’re bored, stroll over to the psychology section of your library. Or google “boredom cure.” You’ll find a number of helpful suggestions. For example, you could go to a party, or find a hobby. You could exercise, or make some new friends. Getting a job tends to help. Studies show the best thing to do is to attain flow.