Do Idle Hands Get You Into Trouble?

@wolfie34 (26771)
United Kingdom
May 17, 2009 11:17am CST
Have you ever found that you did something bad or got yourself into trouble in some respect because you had too much time on your hands, or that you were bored? Do you find yourself spending too much, whether it's going out or shopping online, do you find yourself gambling away the night to keep yourself occupied, or your eyes tied to the computer screen, video screen or tv screen because you haven't got anything better to do? Do you have a vice that is only kept under control if you are fully occupied and don't have the time to give in to your vice? Have you been bored that you decided to initiate a row with your partner or start to get on your partner's nerves because you were so restless? So do you get up to anything you shouldn't when you have nothing else to do?
3 people like this
17 responses
• United States
17 May 09
Long time no speaky. I hope you've been doing well, Wolfie. In answer to your question: YES! Idle hands can get me into big trouble. As a matter of fact, I do believe if I am remembering correctly, most of the azzwhippin's I received as a child were due to acts of mischief that I had gotten into due to boredom. Boredom is not a good thing for people with active minds. I've learned to keep occupied and if I have tasks I just don't want to do atm, I will go online and search for something to do. Good luck staying busy...unless you're trying to get an azzwhippin' out of it lol
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
17 May 09
Trying to keep myself busy my dear friend! I was an only child so I had to make up my own entertainment but that lead to doing some pranks that got me into trouble many a time, even as an adult I need to be kept busy otherwise I start to get maudlin, my problem is I tend to dwell on the past and then I get 'down' and I start to spend money I don't have to keep my mind off the past! Take care my good friend and it's always good to see you!
2 people like this
• United States
17 May 09
Sounds familiar. I was pretty much raised an only child, tho I have a half sister. We got into even more trouble when she came to spend a weekend here and there, lol. We got a real serious whippin once, and we had it coming. Crayon shavings in the carpet, glue on the paneling, and let's not forget the shaving cream all over the back yard. Anymore, I try to stay away from my family members when I get in the kind of mood you speak of. If I don't, I'm liable to start an argument over something petty.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
17 May 09
That is a reason why I prefer to live alone! I have a low toleration level for boredom and frustration so I have this 'leave me alone' face on! I think being an only child has spoilt me in that I prefer my own company and not good in relationships. I am far too selfish to share my time and space with others. C'est la vie!
1 person likes this
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
21 May 09
I think the internet has been the bane of my life, Wolfie! I turn on the computer every day, intending to work on my novel - but unfortunately, after I've read the online papers, checked my Facebook, answered my emails and had a look at myLot notifications, I find hours have passed and I've done nothing. I adore the internet - but I can't say it's contributed to me leading a productive life!
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
21 May 09
That sounds like me too! I used to read so much and even now I struggle to read because the internet takes all my time, I hardly ever go out much prefering the company of my computer than other people I am not really a social person so I guess I hide behind the internet rather than facing people in the outside world.
@balasri (26537)
• India
18 May 09
Tat is the good one Wolfie because I can very well relate to these kind of situations especially with the idle hands.Many a times I have confidentially and boldly ventured out to fix an appliance with whatever the tools I have in my hand to make the things worse and ultimately ended up calling the service people who are specially skilled for this kind of meddling and coming out successful.I always have to control the urge to mend things myself.
@balasri (26537)
• India
21 May 09
I win over you Wolfie in knowing how to change my car tyre.Yes I know how to change them and always have the right tools too.But I just cannot sit down and do it.That is my problem.Knowing a thing never helps you unless you apply it to practicality is the lesson I have learned.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
21 May 09
I am hopeless mending things so I leave them to the expert, don't laugh but I can't even change a car tyre either, so I'll call roadside out, because I know that if I do it I'll spend hours, get angry and frustrated and still be no better off! Sometimes it's knowing when to leave well enough alone.
@nannacroc (4049)
17 May 09
I do smoke too much if I'm bored and, of course, have a go at Mr Croc, that's part of the reason for keeping him. I do tend to annoy him because I wander around saying I'm bored and telling him all the things I should be doing. I've been very good so far this year though. I decided to do various craft projects and usually have 2 or 3 on the go at once, so no time to be bored. If I'm extremely bored though I find a film on tv and promptly fall asleep.
@nannacroc (4049)
17 May 09
Just remembered this poem, hope you like it. Boredom I can knit and I can crochet, I can read and I can write, I can use a computer, So, why am I bored tonight? There's plenty in the house That I could and should do. So why am I not doing it? Does this happen to you? There's gardening and cross stitch And photography to try But am I doing anything? Oh no, not I. I'm sitting here bemoanin' The fact that I am bored. Oh, look I wrote a poem! I think the poems finished. So I will have to go Right back to being bored And watch a TV show.
2 people like this
@nannacroc (4049)
17 May 09
He is and he does. Glad you liked the poem.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
17 May 09
I bet Mr Croc is relieved and probably encouraging you with the craft projects ;0) Enjoyed the poem, you are very creative dear friend.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
18 May 09
Hey wolfie! I sure do have a way to get myself into trouble! In fact, I couldn't sleep last night, or should I say early this morning and I got up and turned on the computer! And I was bored and not in the mood to mylot and had read most of the news online so I went to my "bad" place- "Bidz.com"! Now for me this is just as bad as gambling! It is a jewelry site were you bid on various items and the highest bidder "wins" when the time is up! Well, I am pretty good at finding items to bid on and at getting them at a decent price! But, I also have a bad habit that when I see something that I want and have to have I go crazy and can't stop myself! And I get into these bidding wars! Well, it happened this morning! There was a watch that I saw, didn't need, couldn't afford, but had to have! I got into a bidding war with someone for it! It was a "Baby Phat" watch which retailed for $95 and the bid went up to $70 when it sold! I lost, thankfully! But, then I got an email saying I got a "second chance" to have the watch too even though I didn't win the item. They do that every now and then. So I now have the chance to get the watch for $70! Great! I love this watch! It has the Baby Phat cat from the logo in it's face on a black background! I can't resist this site and I should know to stay away! That's what happens when I get bored!
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 09
I am always suspicious when you get an email for a second chance especially on Ebay you wonder if someone has helped the bidder by pushing the price up and then when they have won it accidentially they suddenly drop out. So I never go for second chances because to me it smells of deception, but that's just my paranoid stepping in! Enjoy your watch dear friend.
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
17 May 09
Hi wolfie34, I find when I have too much time on my hands, I find myself spending too much time on ebay. I find myself browsing the site looking for bargains and bidding on stuff that I do not really need but I just can't help myself sometimes. I then have to suffer at the end of the month when my credit card bill comes in
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
17 May 09
I use Ebay, not as much now, but I used to get addicted to bidding and the bidding would sometimes get out of control, you would see others bid and bid and bid just to become the winner and the price for the item would escalate so much that sometimes you could go out and buy the item brand new for cheaper! It's easy to get fixated to Ebay so I fully understand where you are coming from.
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
17 May 09
Yes, so very true. It is very easy to get hooked on it and you just have to win that item even if you end up paying over the odds for it.
• United States
14 Jun 09
When Im bored I paint pretty pictures on my walls from celing to floor. I'll rake then entire yard. Or I'll sit on my laptop and talk to people for fun. But I hate to clean. Im sure with all my free time I could have this place spotless and sparkling but no, I just let things pile up on my desk and go through my crap once every two months. Maybe if I cleaned I wouldnt be so bored.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 09
But cleaning is boring and I think a lot of us are guilty of putting it off because it's chores we don't want to do even when we are bored!
• Philippines
18 May 09
well, for the past 5 years now i dont feel bored coz of too much load of work. but whenever i feel idle, i just play computer games.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 09
It's good to let off steam and play computer games, we need to balance work with play to keep us happy.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
21 May 09
Yeah, I sometimes play vedio games. It is like I commit a crime! So, I promise myself and the whole world that I will never ever play vedio games. Oh, maybe once in a year or twice, or three times... hahaha
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 09
Nothing wrong with video games my friend, they can be quite stress relieving. I used to love playing video games until the computer came along and the internet took over which is not always a good thing!
@pree70 (525)
• India
18 May 09
oh..yes. most of the times i am idle, i tend to think in a very negative manner and also end up doing something which normally i would have not done. sometimes i just get stuck before the tv surfing channels for want of nothing better to do. i reach such a point that i am not able to get up and go away. ultimately i end up with a big headache. other times, i start surfing the net without any aim and by the time i realise it, two hours would have passed off in the most unconstructive manner. then, i also tend to wallow in self pity sometimes when i have lots of spare time in my hand. that ends up with a very depressing day.
• India
18 May 09
I'm a student, Idle brain is a big no-no at college :D. Unless offcourse you're taking a medication course. Which also, unfortunately, Our college doesnt teach.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
18 May 09
i am just the opposite. i have no time at all on my hands and too much to do. most days i just do not even know where to start. i am never bored. in fact most days i cannot get to all i need to or want to. i do not like being bored anyway and if i ever did get caught up i am sure i could find plenty of things to do to keep me occupied.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 09
I guess you are the kind of person who wishes there were more than 24 hours in a day! It's great not knowing boredom.
• Romania
7 Jul 09
YES, YES, YES, you are so right, good subject! I did that for more than one year, until I became stressed, nervous. But everything was OK when I found beyond all that boredom a purpose. All that time lost online has now materialized in a very small business on the Internet, all my crazy ideas that made my partner so desperate are part of the past - now, my passion for Second Life and his passion for writing work together and we even have a Second Life Magazine. So, WHO'S BAD? All that boredom was in fact a search and the transition to something different, new.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 09
I am glad your efforts paid off! Boredom therefore is not always a negative, thanks for sharing!
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
18 May 09
hmm not really i usually have my hands full but when i get idle lol i usually find ways to still make them usefull like when i am at home, i bake, i cook for my kids or i clean or read a book or sleep lol! is that useful? lol
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 09
Baking is very very useful indeed! and tasty too no doubt, I bet your kids love it when you bake! as I used to when mum used to bake, the smells from her baking mmmmm now my stomach is rumbling!!!
@harryt123 (327)
• United States
18 May 09
I believe that we can get ourselves into quite the trouble by being idle. Either by spending time watching tv and purchasing products on tv, going to the store and doing some shopping or by even going out with friends and spending quite a bit out of boredom that we wouldn't have done while being busy with tasks at hand. Another possibility is that one would also get into an argument with their partner over the silliest of things by notice the smallest details that they might have not by being busy. To answer your question fully, I do agree that not only do idle hands get us into trouble but also an idle mind can be quite dangerous as well.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Jul 09
Oh I definitely agree with you if my mind is idle I start to get irritable with things and people, I start to pick or get frustrated easily and my mind also tends to start dwelling on the past which is NOT a place I want to go, so I have to make sure that my mind is fully occupied otherwise it will slip into bad ways
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
17 May 09
I am a pathetic excuse for a human being, I never have "nothing else to do" I have way many more things to do than I have time for, and they are interesting and entertaining as well. Unfortunately they are not that active, so my body goes to wreck and ruin.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
17 May 09
So it's not having enough hours in the day vote for you my friend LOL! Your activities sounds like fun to me!
• Lithuania
17 May 09
omg.. so many times i was thinking about this.. when i am bored i am playing with my laptop.. when i start to think what i can do at home instead of chatting or etc without pc i find so many things.. but i do not want.. i have too much free time.. i start to make nervious other people because i am bored.. i have a child but i still feel like a have too much time or ..
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
17 May 09
And where there is a whole list of things to do, but they are so damn boring to do or think about! Know the feeling well, and I'm always on my computer winding away the hours of boredom.
17 May 09
lol, got bored decided to go out on my motorcycle around the woods got caught riding home and got my bike crushed