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Culture & Religion —

In Praise of Boredom

“When we learn to tolerate boredom, we find out who we really are,” said one speaker at a recent conference on boredom who lamented our over-stimulated culture.
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Boring 2010 is the handiwork of James Ward, 29 years old, who works for a DVD distribution and production company. In his other life, as the envoy of ennui, Mr. Ward edits a blog called “I Like Boring Things.” He is also co-founder of the Stationery Club, whose 45 members meet occasionally to discuss pens, paper clips and Post-it Notes. Boredom has become a serious subject for scientific inquiry. For example, a 25-year study of British civil servants published earlier this year found that some people really can be bored to death.

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