<story><title>Staring at a Wall: Embracing Deliberate Boredom</title><url>https://www.ch3ngl0rd.com/staring-at-a-wall/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>basisword</author><text>The options aren’t iPad or uncontrollable noise. I think you’re missing the third option - parenting the kids. Disciplining children (even just verbally) seems to be something nobody wants to do anymore. If I was told to be quiet as a kid I did it because I knew I’d get in trouble otherwise.</text></item><item><author>makeitdouble</author><text>&amp;gt;  In a restaurant they might even learn language and ideas from the adult conversation&lt;p&gt;Their parents will have their phone in hand while pushing the discussions.&lt;p&gt;On the general point: I remember a time smaller kids couldn&amp;#x27;t get into most restaurants at all because they would disturb the atmosphere (and I&amp;#x27;m sure there&amp;#x27;s still many shops that won&amp;#x27;t allow kids).&lt;p&gt;Also people are way more susceptible to kids being noisy. It might be because exposure to kids has been so low for the majority of adults, but parents will get an utter amount of flack for letting their kid cry or shout and not immediately cater to them.&lt;p&gt;It&amp;#x27;s hard to have it both ways, our modern society will need to be more open to kid noise and disturbance if we want parents to just let the kids be kids.</text></item><item><author>gizajob</author><text>I think it’s basically a crime against children and humanity for parents to put an iPad (flashing meaningless drivel) in front of their children while pushing them through a supermarket, or a park, or in a restaurant. It baffles me how frequently I see this done nowadays, like children need a constant flashing distraction to keep them from asking questions or being bored. I want to smash every iPad I see used like this. Let children be bored and have their own thoughts. It’s not painful for a child to have to sit in a trolley or a stroller while they’ve nothing to do. In a restaurant they might even learn language and ideas from the adult conversation no matter their age. In my eyes, if you’re a parent who does this, it’s a parenting &lt;i&gt;fail&lt;/i&gt; particularly given you managed to get through your own childhood without the same.</text></item><item><author>jader201</author><text>I believe smartphones have completely destroyed most people’s ability to be bored. Whenever anyone has an opportunity for boredom, they pick up their phone.&lt;p&gt;Oftentimes it has even moved up the priority above the bottom — boredom — and even taken precedence over other leisure activities like reading, TV, or just sitting and talking. For many, it’s even close to the top, trumping work and other responsibilities. So boredom certainly stands no chance.&lt;p&gt;If people actually try and sit with just their thoughts, staring out into nature or the walls of their home, they become anxious, like an addict that can’t get their fix.&lt;p&gt;I appreciate many of the modern conveniences that come with smartphones, but I often miss the days before them.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>makeitdouble</author><text>Some kids will behave with just a verbal cue. For the better or worse, most won&amp;#x27;t. That&amp;#x27;s one of the reason some restaurants have a play area, to deal with that tension.&lt;p&gt;&amp;gt; Disciplining children (even just verbally) seems to be something nobody wants to do anymore&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Parents these days&amp;quot; ?</text></comment>
<story><title>Staring at a Wall: Embracing Deliberate Boredom</title><url>https://www.ch3ngl0rd.com/staring-at-a-wall/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>basisword</author><text>The options aren’t iPad or uncontrollable noise. I think you’re missing the third option - parenting the kids. Disciplining children (even just verbally) seems to be something nobody wants to do anymore. If I was told to be quiet as a kid I did it because I knew I’d get in trouble otherwise.</text></item><item><author>makeitdouble</author><text>&amp;gt;  In a restaurant they might even learn language and ideas from the adult conversation&lt;p&gt;Their parents will have their phone in hand while pushing the discussions.&lt;p&gt;On the general point: I remember a time smaller kids couldn&amp;#x27;t get into most restaurants at all because they would disturb the atmosphere (and I&amp;#x27;m sure there&amp;#x27;s still many shops that won&amp;#x27;t allow kids).&lt;p&gt;Also people are way more susceptible to kids being noisy. It might be because exposure to kids has been so low for the majority of adults, but parents will get an utter amount of flack for letting their kid cry or shout and not immediately cater to them.&lt;p&gt;It&amp;#x27;s hard to have it both ways, our modern society will need to be more open to kid noise and disturbance if we want parents to just let the kids be kids.</text></item><item><author>gizajob</author><text>I think it’s basically a crime against children and humanity for parents to put an iPad (flashing meaningless drivel) in front of their children while pushing them through a supermarket, or a park, or in a restaurant. It baffles me how frequently I see this done nowadays, like children need a constant flashing distraction to keep them from asking questions or being bored. I want to smash every iPad I see used like this. Let children be bored and have their own thoughts. It’s not painful for a child to have to sit in a trolley or a stroller while they’ve nothing to do. In a restaurant they might even learn language and ideas from the adult conversation no matter their age. In my eyes, if you’re a parent who does this, it’s a parenting &lt;i&gt;fail&lt;/i&gt; particularly given you managed to get through your own childhood without the same.</text></item><item><author>jader201</author><text>I believe smartphones have completely destroyed most people’s ability to be bored. Whenever anyone has an opportunity for boredom, they pick up their phone.&lt;p&gt;Oftentimes it has even moved up the priority above the bottom — boredom — and even taken precedence over other leisure activities like reading, TV, or just sitting and talking. For many, it’s even close to the top, trumping work and other responsibilities. So boredom certainly stands no chance.&lt;p&gt;If people actually try and sit with just their thoughts, staring out into nature or the walls of their home, they become anxious, like an addict that can’t get their fix.&lt;p&gt;I appreciate many of the modern conveniences that come with smartphones, but I often miss the days before them.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>brvsft</author><text>Sometimes parenting the kid means precisely not giving a response to their annoying and noisy behavior.</text></comment>