Whattya Wanna Do? Nothing?
Cool! Me too!
This week, Chuck Klosterman was on The Bill Simmons Podcast, talking about what he appeared to be describing as a daydream crisis, the elimination of empty time, and the loss of a mind’s idle wandering, in a time where there’s always something to fill the silence.
“I would say the greatest detriment to American culture right now, in terms of what we’re talking about—arts and entertainment (…) is the systematic elimination of daydreaming. People used to daydream all the time. You had to.”
— The Bill Simmons Podcast: The Power of Boredom (with Chuck Klosterman, Nov 11, 2025)
Airplanes, driving, even the shower were places that were boring, er, I mean opportunities for reflection. But now, they’re now filled with podcasts, short form video and playlists. Continual stimulation. Constant input.
Are we really in the midst of a boredom crisis? I guess that’s what I’m wondering. I hate making sweeping statements about the generations behind me. It’s a trap for a couple of reasons. Firs…
