Study Shows You Can Really Be Bored to Death

Study Shows You Can Really Be Bored to Death

www.telegraph.co.uk

People who complain of “high levels” of boredom in their lives are at double the risk of dying from from heart disease or a stroke than those who find life entertaining, researchers at University College London found
People who are bored are more likely to turn to unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking, which can cut their life-expectancy, the scientists said.

Specialists from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London, studied the responses of 7,524 civil servants aged between 35 and 55 who were interviewed about their levels of boredom in the mi

(visit the link for the full news article)

This is rather alarming.
Maybe depressing thoughts really do play a part into our deaths.
Wasn't there that thing to do with Noetic Science - how thoughts have mass.

Well to be honest, being bored can apparently lead to depression and eventually lead to people picking up bad habits.

People who are bored are more likely to turn to unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking, which can cut their life-expectancy, the scientists said.

Martin Shipley, who co-wrote the report to be published in the International Journal of Epidemiology this week, said: “The findings on heart disease show there was sufficient evidence to say there is a link with boredom.

“It is important that people who have dull jobs find outside interests to keep boredom at bay, rather than turn to drinking or smoking.”

www.telegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by BlackPoison94


Does it say anything about dying from ennui?
Because I feel like I'm getting close to that...

Well, something similar.

Being discontented and having a lack of interest if you mean?

Graham Price, a psychologist, said those who are bored should lift their spirits by thinking more about the needs of others.

“From being all me, me, me, they should be thinking, what can I do for my family, my friends, my colleagues, even my boss,” he said.

Its been my opinion that the government of the UK tried to kill my generation with boredom at school. By removing all possibility of self respect, dignity , and self determination, they basicaly turned alot of my old class mates into mindless drones, incapable and unwilling to think for themselves or do anything apart from enter the rat race at the bottom, and settle for less in life than they are really worth.
Bastards have been trying to kill me by boredom for two damned decades !

I wouldn't doubt how true this is about being bored to death. It would seem natural. Why would people want to allow themselves to naturally be all the same with no changes and no uniqueness to bring anything new to life.

Business as usual, while effective, can also effectively bore.

reply to post by BlackPoison94



I don't agree with this bit:

People who are bored are more likely to turn to unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking, which can cut their life-expectancy, the scientists said.

True. But. It's also well known that mental states affect the kind and level of chemicals created and released in the brain - some of these chemicals lead to better health, some trigger depression, heart attack and stroke. ...Not everyone who is "bored" turns to drinking and smoking - and if they do, it's likely to counteract the effects of the chemicals created and released in the brain. [So the egg came first, in this case.]

MY QUESTION:

Why do TPTB constantly cover up real health impacts, misinform the public and misdirect blame to individuals' lifestyle "choices" and "personal responsibility in health"?

...This world is killing people in almost every way - bad air, bad water, bad food, bad environments that are contaminated chemically, socially and spiritually - but the people are responsible for bad lifestyle choices and making themselves sick?!?

...I don't think so.




Good thread tho.

Life is the process of finding something fun. Whatever activity chosen, it is constantly changing.

One month you might like video games. Next movies. Next friends.

Some people can stay occupied all their life with one thing (possibly a spouse, kids).

IMO, our goal is to constantly find something addicting and fun.

When we stop liking something or can not find anything to like, that area is depression. A period where nothing matters and you enjoy nothing.

One just has to remember that it is ultimately YOU who has to find the gems in life because they are not handed to you.

So my conclusion...Bored = You don't like anything. Kind of obvious but I went into a bit more detail

reply to post by soficrow


A little further into that, it seems the report at first hints that the test conducted literally found the people suicidal, even though the report doesn't mention that find in such terms. It kinda stood out to me such test was done until to report also noted the testers came back to find out what the real results were based on the earlier test.

Suicidal prediction? No more questions like "are you having any or had any suicidal thought?" Now, you just take a test.

Despite that, the report ended with the usual "get over it" expectation (which is actually hurtful)

Graham Price, a psychologist, said those who are bored should lift their spirits by thinking more about the needs of others.

“From being all me, me, me, they should be thinking, what can I do for my family, my friends, my colleagues, even my boss,” he said.

It's hurtful to those that cannot just "get over it" no matter what physical or psychological change they try to make. Maybe someone stood out at work and pleaded for help, yet "family, friends, colleagues, and even [the] boss" chose to ignore it when help was really needed. Then, it was to late.

Boredom would set in when eventually the realization of the attempts to ask for help then would have actually helped "get over" the realization now if they helped. So why help in return? (A question just to stir the controversy of the test itself).

I do not agree with the article

they'll probably develop a vaccine for this next thing you know

people in 3rd world countries have access to way less entertainment options than you do and they are fine.

One thing I hate is when I go into someone's house and I see no books.
We should all have books in the house, what kind of culture do you have if you don't even have books in the house.

I think this electronic age is making people always wanting to be entertained.

Originally posted by ModernAcademia
people in 3rd world countries have access to way less entertainment options than you do and they are fine.

One thing I hate is when I go into someone's house and I see no books.
We should all have books in the house, what kind of culture do you have if you don't even have books in the house.

They are fine!?! You actually think third world countries are fine...I bet they would give up everything they have (except family) to live in a ghetto here in the U.S.

And why do you think "everyone should have books"? What kind of culture is it when people dictate to each other how to live - oh dictatorship, silly me.

You put books in my house and I will become bored to death. I would rather be outside or reading up on the latest current events than reading some book.

I mean if you think about it, books are just an "escape from reality" like video games and movies.

So I think everyone should have video games and movies in their house!

when i was young and i would tell my mom i was bored she would tell me that people only get bored because they weren't intelligent enough to find something to do with their time. i think she was onto something....
as far as being literally bored to death, i firmly believe that alot that goes on with the body is directly connected to the mind, and that a person could bring themselves down so low mentally that their body would suffer.
i also agree that there is so much crap in the air and water that is slowly killing our bodies, and so much crap on tv that is slowly eroding our minds.
depressing as it might be, we should all look on the bright side of life and keep an active body and mind.
and to the people in this world who feel that they may bore themselves to death...have a little poke around on ATS, you'll never be bored again!

Originally posted by FritosBBQTwist
They are fine!?! You actually think third world countries are fine...I bet they would give up everything they have (except family) to live in a ghetto here in the U.S.

A common misconception in the U.S.
You are thinking everyone is poor in 3rd world countries
This is not the case

You don't understand life there
America isn't 3rd world but life here is more stressful than 3rd world countries in some cases.

Here everyone is a slave, that's not the case in 3rd world countries, the average person is happy there, here everyone is stressed about work and bills and family. It's not like that overseas.

Originally posted by FritosBBQTwist
I mean if you think about it, books are just an "escape from reality" like video games and movies.

So I think everyone should have video games and movies in their house!

hahaha
I wasn't neccesarily talking about novels bro
Maybe science books, history, philosophy and such things.

In my house I have many books, I have the celestine prophecy, I have Gandhi's bio, atlas shrugged, science books, history, philosophy books, the prophet by kalil gibran, and much more.

You NEED books in the house!
The act of reading is NOT comparable to the act of staring at light playing video games or watching movies.
And yes I have those too.

I agree with soficrow who said:

Not everyone who is "bored" turns to drinking and smoking

Its not even close to a causative relationship

Furthermore, in the article it says

women more than twice as likely to suffer (of boredom) than men.

Does this also mean that women are also twice as inclined to drink and smoke?

This study just looks like it was an excuse to throw around research money to show that they are doing something, albeit nothing useful.

As someone who lives alone and works at home alone and has virtually no family or social circle boredom more than anything represents a challenge.

The challenge is how to engage your mind in interactive ways with what does exist around you in there here and now.

Like most stages in life it’s very important to learn how to define yourself by what you are instead of what you aren’t.

When you think in terms of I am not rich, I am not involved with someone, I am not socially popular, I am not this, and not that, and don’t have this or that, is what leads to depression and self destructive behavior.

When you think in terms of what you are though and define yourself by that, I am independent, I am good at my job, I am good at providing advice to and helping others, I have a good sense of humor, I take good care of myself, then you start thinking and seeing things in a positive light, and do positive and constructive and healthy things.

Boredom like everything else is simply a choice and a determination to focus on something in particular of your own freewill.

Conversely whether you are in a crowded post Academy Award party surrounded by the rich and famous or stuck on a deserted Island you are only bored in fact when you choose to be.

Originally posted by ModernAcademia

Originally posted by FritosBBQTwist
They are fine!?! You actually think third world countries are fine...I bet they would give up everything they have (except family) to live in a ghetto here in the U.S.

A common misconception in the U.S.
You are thinking everyone is poor in 3rd world countries
This is not the case

Ah e.g. India can be considered as a 3rd world country. Nearly 1/4 of the population (from what I've heard) are millionaires.

And yes, I believe that being bored is obviously human caused. If we busied ourselves into matters of concern, or for others - obviously your not being bored. I just feel that the generation today have become very independent and unsocial.

Following to ProtoplasmicTraveler's post:

Boredom like everything else is simply a choice and a determination to focus on something in particular of your own freewill.

I agree with that.

The title of this thread is ripe with snappy verbal possibilities.

For instance, "Now that it has been scientifically proven that a person can be bored to death, _"

a.) it turns out you are more dangerous than I thought, and therefore in the interest of my own safety, I can not go out on a date with you.

b.) I have come to realize my priorities may need to be re-evaluated. Therefore, I really shouldn't _(write this paper/read that book/attend that class)_ until I have consulted with a doctor.

c.) participating in this argument really doesn't seem like the best idea anymore.

anyone want to play along?

[edit on 8-2-2010 by AmethystSD]

reply to post by BlackPoison94


I agree with the article... you can get so bored sometimes that you may contemplate suicide... no joke!

Mind you i think you are less likely to get bored if you have a job you enjoy doing and if you have an actual person to chat to instead of a computer!!

Originally posted by BlackPoison94


And yes, I believe that being bored is obviously human caused. If we busied ourselves into matters of concern, or for others - obviously your not being bored. I just feel that the generation today have become very independent and unsocial.

Has it occured to you that we have become less Sociable because of the Age Of Technology?

Originally posted by TruthxIsxInxThexMist
Mind you i think you are less likely to get bored if you have a job you enjoy doing and if you have an actual person to chat to instead of a computer!!

I just asked someone to set me up on the 14th. I said "anybody."

Someone else may feel bored on the 14th.

Someone else may feel compelled to say bored to death leads to suicide.

At least I know how bored I'm am and maybe... just maybe... there will be somebody real there just to do anything no so boring as being alone on the 14th.