Has it gotten to the point where simply being temporarily bored is unacceptable?

“what do you do to pass the time?”

That’s depressing. All we have is time – and very little of it. Many people are afraid of silence and stillness because (I believe) it brings up some troubling existential questions, thoughts, and feelings.

I can’t say that I have ever looked back at time I spent with my wife and wished I had spent it doing something “to pass the time”.

I think the biggest problem with this is there’s apparently a partner involved but they’re simply lumped in with “being on your phone” or “knitting”...

@nerdgirl578 I assume it’s the drive time this person was complaining about, because they list themselves as a “passenger.” In that case the partner really needs to keep most of his or her attention on the road.

I can’t help but think that it wouldn’t have occurred to anyone to even ask this question 10 years ago.

I don’t get bored much as an adult, I think it partly is because I have been through enough pain that I appreciate just being comfortable and the luxury of doing nothing. Maybe part of it also is because now we have the internet to occupy us.

However, I do admit that I do not enjoy long rides. It’s not boredom, it’s having to pay attention to the road, and worrying about the trip. I don’t really relax on long drives. I’m not in a constant state of stress and anxiety, but I am paying attention. In some ways it feels like a waste of time, and that is sort of like boredom I guess. I much prefer a boat, train, or flight if the trip is over 5 hours, but my cut off is usually more like if it is over 6 hours. When my husband was racing we would drive 12 hours to tracks, and that was even worse, because we were hauling our race car, and more apprehensive about the drive.

When I was younger I was less willing to drive as far as I do know. Back then flying was easier, show up an hour before a flight and get right on.

Yes. Flying is easier and a LOT more expensive. But for some people, money is no object.

As a passenger you’ve got it made. You can catch up on your reading, your sleep, and even extensive conversation with the driver.

According to the OP that just wasn’t enough.

Some people apparently have no catching up to do. I guess that really IS boredom.

I don’t tend to get bored easily. There is always reading I can do, music I can listen to, even writing I can work on. If anything I feel that I don’t have time to do all that I want to. I feel bad for people who are bored easily and need constant stimulation from electronic devices. One thing that I really enjoy is hiking or mountain biking, no electronics, just enjoying nature and my thoughts.

I agree that for some people, their thoughts may quickly go to dark places, so they don’t want to be alone with them. I have OCD so I understand thoughts going bad. But it doesn’t prevent me from enjoying the peaceful silent times, especially since I don’t get a lot of them anymore.

If I’m a passenger in a car, I don’t mind sitting and looking out the window, combined with occasionally looking at my phone, having a snack, and chatting with whoever is driving.

If I were at something serene like a campsite, I’d be happy laying on a chaise lounge reading a magazine (which is my favorite thing to do on my deck in the nice weather). I like to have a glass of water or diet soda and just hang out with the magazine, computer and looking at the sky. Is that doing “something” or relaxing, I don’t know.

Maybe the person was asking the question in the FB group in order to make friends, as a “get to know you” type of thing, like “this is what I do, what do YOU do?” That gives people the opportunity to say they like to do crafts (what kind of crafts do you like to do?), or go fishing (what kind of fish do you fish for? Where do you go fishing?), or taking a hike (serious hiking or casual hiking? Where are good hiking spots? Do you look at animals when you hike? What kind of animals do you look for? Do you take photos of the animals? Do you bring your dog along with you? Post a photo of your dog!).

Passing time as a passenger? Easy!You play the license plate game. Or the billboard alphabet game.

Or, you sing along with the radio. Or listen to a ball game.

It is the passenger’s utmost duty to appropriately curate the music!

No, that was the full question @jca2. I just edited out a bit of the first part because it wasn’t necessary.
I don’t get bored easily, either. I will read anything I can get my hands on. Once we left to drive the 2.5 hours to Rick’s hometown, when I realized I hadn’t brought anything to read!! So I read the big road atlas we had under the seat, cover to cover. Learned cool little trivia things about every state.

@Dutchess_III: I realize you wrote the question as it was in the group. I’m just saying that oftentimes, people will post these questions as a way to get to know each other, and then inquire about each other’s habits and hobbies.

Oh, I see. Maybe that’s why, then.

Relevant

@Dutchess_III Flying isn’t always more expensive. It depends on the situation. If it is a family of 4, then most likely flying is more expensive. If it is just you, or you and one more person, sometimes flying is cheaper. If it is a very long trip where you have to stay overnight in a hotel, plus the price of gas is high, then the ground travel adds up, plus you get wear and tear on your car. Since you live out west, most likely your flights are more expensive than what we can get up and down the eastern seaboard. When I lived in Memphis a flight to Detroit was $400 round trip, from Ft. Laud to Detroit was $250. Memphis to Detroit is half the distance, so the plane uses less fuel. Memphis has Southwest now, so it might be cheaper.

NYC is 18 hours driving, about 1,100 miles. I think that would be about $250 in gas round trip. If I stay in a hotel one night that is another $130. If there are tolls might be another $40. God forbid the car breaks down during the trip. The big savings is if you need the car at the destination, which I don’t for NYC, because then you have to add renting a car. It is nice to have ones own car instead of a rental.

It’s nice to drive if it is part of the vacation, if you can stop and see sights along the way. My husband isn’t very good at doing that. Sometimes I can talk him into it. He let me stop in Charleston for 3 hours the last time we traveled up I95 after asking him 3 times before over 10 years. I must have driven by the Charleston exit 10 times during our marriage though.

@Dutchess_III
Oh you’re right, I didn’t see that. Still, talking a bit with your partner wouldn’t hurt even if they have to focus on the road. :)