"I was bored so I made this." The Ultimate Cop Out

Greg

How many times have yead read the titular phrase on the internet? Be it YouTube, a fanfic, fanart or a blog, how many times have you seen that phrase?

It pisses me straight off.

Why? Because if you write that, then people criticize you, you can always fall back on:

shrugs I was bored so it doesn't really matter.

Wow, what a spineless wuss. Take pride in your work. Embrace criticism. And I mean REAL criticism. People seem to use that because they're afraid of some asshole coming in and posting, "HAHAHAHA! THAT'S SO BAD! I could have done way better with my hands tied around my wanker!" That's not criticism. That's a jealous motherfucker.

If someone tells you, "Wow, that's really bad. You might want to try X Y Z", that's honest criticism and comments like that should help make you stronger instead of being a WUSS and shrugging everything off with, "I was bored HERP DERP!"

"So what if people really were bored Greg!? HUH SMARTYPANTS!!?"

Uh….I don't give a FUCK if you're bored. Does anyone else? Do you need to know if aniMeGRRRL432 was bored or not? Did we really need that?

You don't need to justify shit. You did what you did because you wanted to make something. It doesn't matter how, it doesn't matter why, you just did. Put it out there with pride. Listen to your critics and learn from them. Don't become some freakin' slug that's 'bored' everytime they scan something or throw together a movie.

The opposite case is, "I MADE THIS DEDICATION TO (insert pop culture figure) BECAUSE hE'S TOttally AWEOSME N JUNK!", so there are two very clear ends of the spectrum really.

DartG

Actually a friend of mine does the same exact thing whenever I criticize his artwork. He always complains to me on how "Oh I suck" or "I'm not getting better" but I still convince him to keep going as I'd like to work with him one day. But, when it comes time that he actually throws something in the scanner to show me, and I point out the faults and give tips to make it better… it's always "meh/bleh I didn't even try". Or, "I did it for the lulz"

When this happens I am now granted the ability to mentally and physically combust on sight.

Laffitte

This post is deleted!

Moria

why again did this need to be a thread

Zkaiser

Greg, you're wrong and retarded.

I could've made a wittier post, but I'm tired.

Malintex_Terek

I see it from time to time, but it doesn't really bother me. If it's a good video or project, it seems arrogant, but if it's a bad video/project it makes the creator seem like a moron.

Greg

Greg, you're wrong and retarded.

Zkaiser you're a gentleman and a scholar.

I could have made a meaner post but I'm too fly.

why again did this need to be a thread

Because I couldn't find the "Random Ass Shit That Bothers The Fuck Out of You Thread". I tried the Search function but alas…

If it's a good video or project, it seems arrogant, but if it's a bad video/project it makes the creator seem like a moron.

I know exactly what you mean. When you see some mind-blowing project that the person OBVIOUSLY spent hours of work on, it's just like….WHAT!? If you did that when you're BORED what are you saying about lesser work? Then again some people REALLY think their work sucks which is just....there's something going on there.

Moria

probably because the
"what pisses you off thread" got closed three times

this thread is it's deformed baby brother
kill it before it gets out of hand

Greg

probably because the
"what pisses you off thread" got closed three times

See? And now it's more directed.

this thread is it's deformed baby brother
kill it before it gets out of hand

This thread is its f'n sick baby brother that went to Harvard and got a job as Secretary General of Awesome.

Seriously though it seems I'm not alone in this observation. I just saw it in a thread here and something snapped. It's not meant as a random mental dropping and rather as a cheer for people that don't have confidence in their abilities. TO THAT END THOUGH in retrospect I should have posted this in the Fanart section. I just never think about that place.

TakinawaTonfa

Lets make this thread about spaghetti.

I'm only hijacking this thread cause I'm bored.

igetownd

Anyone who says they make something because they're bored is a born loser.

I'm not sure if forum posts are an exception, since most posts seem to contain some amount of boredom.

Equally aggravating is a work that's done out of greed for money and attention.

Captain Shmeckie

Or maybe, just maybe, they were bored, and decided to alleviate said boredom by doing something halfway constructive. For instance, due to the need to cure my own boredom, I have made things like

, or written comedicly angry articles for a comedy site.

Sometimes, it just so happens that people will do things because they are bored.

Greg

@Captain:

Or maybe, just maybe, they were bored, and decided to alleviate said boredom by doing something halfway constructive. For instance, due to the need to cure my own boredom, I have made things like
, or written comedicly angry articles for a comedy site.

Sometimes, it just so happens that people will do things because they are bored.

I ask with no sarcasm. Did you read my post?

"So what if people really were bored Greg!? HUH SMARTYPANTS!!?"

Uh….I don't give a FUCK if you're bored. Does anyone else? Do you need to know if aniMeGRRRL432 was bored or not? Did we really need that?

Also, if a mod would relocate this to the Creativity Forum that would be super. I'm sorry for posting it here when it's intended for that kind of section which didn't even come to mind.

Captain Shmeckie

So then what do you want them to say, Greg? Why the hell do you even care? If one makes something out of boredom, are they supposed to lie and tell a story of trials and tribulations so you don't wig out over it?!

I mean, damn, don't ever watch Death Note… You'll be yelling at the Ryuk character within a matter of minutes...

igetownd

Actually, Ryuk had a certain amount of pride in his actions. He didn't just leave his notebook out because he was bored. He really desired to create controversy. He was truly delighted to see Light and L duke it out.

Captain Shmeckie

He didn't really have pride, per se. His world was boring as hell, so he dropped a Death Note in the middle of nowhere and decided to see what happened. What he got was an entertaining show for himself. Good god, that cocky bastard!

Strohhut-Ruffy

Hm, I understand what Greg meant. But this is a way bigger problem than just the "I was bored/Please don't hurt me"-thing. People on the internet are acting crazy, and the real a**holes are those who judge them wrong because they met so much other people who did the same thing with other reasons.

But there also are too much attention-whores, which are able to make YOU SO MAD BECAUSE THEY ARE SO ANNOYING WITH THEIR USELESS THREADS AND WORK NOBODY CARES @|30UT!!!!1

DR. OCTOGONAPUS! BLARRRGHHH!!!

By the way - Possibly the thread goes all GREG VS. _____
So, Greg made his point (man, you must be really angry) and I think he's right in some cases.

igetownd

@Captain:

He didn't really have pride, per se. His world was boring as hell, so he dropped a Death Note in the middle of nowhere and decided to see what happened. What he got was an entertaining show for himself. Good god, that cocky bastard!

Have you read the pilot chapter for Death Note? Although it's arguable that Ryuk in that chapter is the same Ryuk in the actual series, Ryuk was ridiculed because he kept on losing his notebook. He replies to a critic that it's "just his style".

Captain Shmeckie

Dude, the pilot is different stuff. That's how all manga works. The pilot is a prototype. Ever read the Berserk pilot, for example?! Chapter 1 is the beginning of the real thing.

igetownd

@Captain:

Dude, the pilot is different stuff. That's how all manga works. The pilot is a prototype. Ever read the Berserk pilot, for example?! Chapter 1 is the beginning of the real thing.

Ryuk in the pilot was pretty much the same as in the real deal. Character-wise, he has pride in his methods of racking up deaths on his notebook.

Greg

Hm, I understand what Greg meant. But this is a way bigger problem than just the "I was bored/Please don't hurt me"-thing. People on the internet are acting crazy, and the real a**holes are those who judge them wrong because they met so much other people who did the same thing with other reasons.

Agreed. But that isn't something that's going to change anytime soon. People are just nasty sob's like that. John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory is true. What you can do is make people feel better about themselves and their work and, if possible, even use that BS criticism (which isn't real criticism anyway) to their advantage. For many of us it's a simple concept but there are a lot of seriously insecure people out there acting like fools when they should be confident and proud of their work. But not so proud that they come off like Terek suggested.

"Oh yeah I spent like 2 months and 500 man-hours creating this sculpture from marble." sniffs and wipes nose on index finger "But whatever, it's a piece of shit I was bored so ya know."

Right-o.

The Iceman

I undertstand what you mean but I think your taking it too far. I mean at least they are being honest about their work. I mean if your bored your bored, do we really need to know it? No but at least they are telling you straight foward. Did this need to be a thread? No.

eerie

I agree with this.

I often see it with many of the AMV makers I follow. It's sad though because some of them say it with every one they make.

Either way, it's like. Okay. You made an AMV because you were bored. It's much more likely for someone to do that than create one because they were trying to impress a chick. It's such a shameless cop out and everyone can see through it anyway.

Greg

No but at least they are telling you straight foward.

But that's actually my point. Obviously I can't speak for every person ever, but making a creative work is not something you normally do when you're 'bored'. You're sitting down and actively thinking about what you're working on. Your neurons are firing and you're assembling things. When you complete it, regardless of what the end result is, you should be proud of it, even if it sucks. Creating is not a symptom of boredom, it's a sign of inspiration and creativity.

You might say, "Hey I threw some shit together.", but saying, "I was bored so I made this", is like asking someone to kick you in the ass. It's a weak self-defense mechanism.

It's sad though because some of them say it with every one they make.

Exactly.

Nobodyman

I was bored so I made this

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1831427/1/Teen_Titans_Jeopardy

And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

Now, I can't speak for other artists, but I can assure you that I did not make this out of sheer boredom. I made it because I had a desire, ill-placed or not, to create a story (or really this is more of a skit) that, I thought, would be pretty amusing and make people laugh. I also have something of a passion for making creative works and thought I'd try bringing this one to life through a certain outlet.

Seriously, do you think Stephen King wrote Carrie because he was bored? Light Yagami became Kira and a psychotic mass-murderer because he was bored. As they say "idle hands are the devil's workshop" (sorry, it's hard to make sense at 4:00 AM)

Anyway, I would definitely not use a "I was bored so I made this" excuse if someone didn't like my work. I really don't understand how someone cannot like what they write/create unless they're like forced to because they're under a strict deadline or something and have no choice. But if someone doesn't like what I write, then oh well. I can't please everyone. Even if a lot of people don't like something I write than that's still okay. Perhaps I had a lapse of judgment or just honestly, but incorrectly, thought that people would enjoy it, but I still liked it. And I'm certainly not going to pass it off as some kind of fluke. That's my schpiel.

Oh, and sorry. Didn't mean to advertise my own work. I'm just trying to prove a point is all. ^_^;

Zkaiser

@Greg:

Zkaiser you're a gentleman and a scholar.

I could have made a meaner post but I'm too fly.

No need for sarcasm, Greg. I just made that post because I was bored ^_~

Gekko135

I understand the sentiments greg. People sometimes act too cool for their shoes. Especially in an age where indifference seems to be the safest way of expressing oneself.

Not to say that creativity always has to have a story. But sometimes people are that afraid of criticism, i've seen it.

But you mostly just find that on the internet. The classes i spent time in at collage (especially art), I don't think there was anyone who really said "cause i was bored". And if they did, then they were just trying to be funny. But I almost ALWAYS see the behavior that you made this thread about soley on the internet.

Maybe it's cause some people are just used to most things being turned into a commodity online these days.

But then again.. sometimes people are just being modest. I've had plenty of inspirations from being bored… and i'm proud of some of those that turned into accomplishments.

nothing wrong with a little modesty.

Greg

No need for sarcasm, Greg.

There was no sarcasm Zkaiser. I….I love you. blushes

I've had plenty of inspirations from being bored… and i'm proud of some of those that turned into accomplishments.

Okay, explain this to me please because I cannot speak for you or talk for you and I don't want to influence your answer one way or the other by saying what I think, but how did being bored inspire you to do something? I'm not patronizing you I'd like to hear your opinion on it.

Yoska

Heh. Since I'm currently unemployed I have lots extra time in my hands and I kill time doing stuff I normally wouldn't do otherwise. Usually without actually accomplishing anything too, quitting half-way throught or so. It's a funny thing really. The more time I have the less I get done. Anyway, so yeah lately I have done lots of stuff because I was bored.

The Iceman

@Greg:

but making a creative work is not something you normally do when you're 'bored'.

See I disagree 110% here. Why is it that one can't do a creative work when your bored? Whenever I'm bored I sketch and write. I never plan for it or make time for it, it's just something I do when I'm bored.

By putting "I was bored so I made this" all your saying is that this is what you do to cure your boredom.

Again though I think your taking this far, and making a big deal out of nothing.

Deltron 3030

This is the stupidest fucking thread topic.

Deltron 3030

It's like a goddamned Bill Cosby routine.

Deltron 3030

Dontya Hate It When They Do The Thing, With The Whatchamacualit???!!!!?!?!?

TakinawaTonfa

@Deltron:

This is the stupidest fucking thread topic.

. .

Deltron 3030

I mean seriously.

Deltron 3030

XBqY6cJD3CE&showinfo=0

Deltron 3030

Greg

Anyway, so yeah lately I have done lots of stuff because I was bored.

But if you're really just 'bored' you're being a lump on a log doing nothing. The fact that you're doing something shows some inspiration and active thinking.

I'm not talking about playing paper football or reading some obscure blog, I mean people that create incredible stuff.

You mentioned quitting halfway through. In that case I totally agree. It's something you did because you were bored and you seriously don't care what anyone thinks about it.

But people who make something with a purpose, then take the time to put it online for people to see and judge, but tag on, "I wuz bored so I made this…" They're creating a shield against any negative criticism and asking for people with lesser abilities to go, "OMIGOD THAT'S WHAT U DID WHEN U WERE BORED!?"

See I disagree 110% here. Why is it that one can't do a creative work when your bored? Whenever I'm bored I sketch and write. I never plan for it or make time for it, it's just something I do when I'm bored.

Because you don't spend hours on something when you're 'bored'. I doodle shit all the time during meetings. I don't scan it and put it on DA:

flips back hair over one eye "Um hey….I was bored out of my mind during a meeting so I drew these unrecognizable amorphous figures. Yeah they're shit I know so no h8trz n' stuff."

And even if I did, as I originally posted, who gives a FUCK if you were bored or not? Art is art. There's no reason for a qualifier unless you're feeling timid about your work or you WANT to be praised.

It's like e1n posting his TB spread and going, "Oh I was bored so I created this work that Oda might have drawn himself." What does being bored have to do with it? He wasn't bored WHILE creating it.

Again though I think your taking this far, and making a big deal out of nothing.

Gosh there's no need to be mean n' junk. I just made it cause I was bored.

MagneticMonkey

Why would it bother me if someone says "i was bored so i made this". Are you exaggerating? I mean common… Why would i be pissed off from things like that. There are 1million other things in the world to worry about.... I won't take the internet so seriously...
If you want to critic something just do it. If you're afraid people will don't take it seriously don't do it :) It's simple but to be pissed off is a little too much... (imo)

Greg

It's simple but to be pissed off is a little too much… (imo)

It says a lot about a person's attitude and evidently I'm not the only one who thinks so. Pissed off? It certainly doesn't seriously piss me off, but it does induce a real facepalm. It's an excuse that wasn't asked for and whenever you (and by that I mean myself in the past as well) try to add pointers, it's met with, "Whatever! I was just bored so it's no big deal!"

Where's that attitude from? Like other posters mention it's popping up more and more especially on creative forums of exchange and it's such a sad form of defiance and/or avoidance.

ABSMr.Prince

I find greg to be the most amusing guy on AP he is opinionated passionate and smart this is all because I'm bored.

Gekko135

thanks for the sage-like chunk of wisdom there Deltron. We'll forgive you since you were bored…

@Greg:

Okay, explain this to me please because I cannot speak for you or talk for you and I don't want to influence your answer one way or the other by saying what I think, but how did being bored inspire you to do something? I'm not patronizing you I'd like to hear your opinion on it.

Often times when I'm bored I simply play around with ideas during my computer loitering. Like Yoska had mentioned, much of this amounts to nothing… or half-nothings.. or whatever.

You see, much of my creativity is built off my mistakes. For example, if I was to begin a project.. nothing will be the way I perfectly planned it. So instead of starting over, I simply build off of the mistakes I make, and it changes and could be something completely different from what I intended.

But getting back to my point.. often times an idea or thought of mine won't come into fruition from direct planning... that's why a lot of my good work has come from my boredom.. so I suppose that it eventually ceases being actual "boredom" after a point. My best explanation to your question would be that boredom itself has inspired me to create because I seek a means to end such boredom. Or perhaps in my bored state, I think up ideas that I would never have thought of if I were attempting to come up with a specific concept or idea. I hope that helps answer your question.

But you are right about there being more to making something than "I was bored".

I think the aspect that would piss me off the most of the "because i was bored" excuse, would have to be the person's attitude about it more than the means to an end.

Bored people create things all the time to alleviate their condition. Or perhaps they use the ideas one finds while being bored (people think in many different ways depending on what they do).

But in my opinion, when THE ONLY thing someone has to say is "I made this because I was bored" then they really aren't taking their work seriously… and neither should I...

It's hardly professional. Not to say that they have to be professional per say... I'll just regard their work with much less interest. If it's really good... then i'll ask them if they have more to say on it. In fact... i'd rather have someone say nothing at all than "Because I was bored". That way I can admire it and even ponder how they came about the idea... but not when they don't show that they care much for what they do... then I just observe and forget..

Being modest is completely fine.

If it's a cop out to avoid criticism. Then they are only hurting themselves and their work.

the "Because I was bored" attitude is a very apathetic way of thinking and certainly would never land that person any kind of jobs in the real world.

shinpanman

Well, I don't know about anyone else but if I get bored and doodle something and then proceed to post it on DA because I find it amusing, I will usually put an "I was bored" qualifier in the description. This only serves to let people know that it was not a serious artistic effort and that I don't expect any serious critique, while it's still welcome.

The point isn't always to show what you can pull off while bored and make people feel bad, nor is it always to hide behind that excuse when you're insecure about your work. Art isn't always serious business, and a lot of people, including myself, consider it a form of entertainment. And what's wrong with entertaining yourself while you're bored and then letting people know? If I work really hard on something for a long time I'll also state that in my descriptions so I don't see why the opposite is unacceptable.

Greg, I think your issue with this sort of comment might be that you see what you perceive as great work accompanying it and you expect the creator to be proud, or you see them as arrogant. What you may not understand is that it's a completely relative matter and a lot of great artists are their own worst critics, but that's what helps them improve and strive for even greater things. It's difficult to account for other people's tastes and perceptions, so the creator mostly has to to depend on their own standard of accomplishment, and if that doesn't correspond with yours, tough! That's just how it is. That doesn't mean you can't compliment them on their work and try to help them see what you like about it.

You're right, a lot of people use the phrase in frustrating and cowardly ways, but people aren't always going to be satisfied with what they do and they're not always going to care what people think of it.

brennen.exe

@Greg:

Uh….I don't give a FUCK if you're bored. Does anyone else? Do you need to know if aniMeGRRRL432 was bored or not? Did we really need that?

I don't think this is a fair assessment. Basically you are coming down on everyone because of what a select few might do. While this whole thread is under the guise of pushing that underdog out of his cage so that he takes pride in his/her work, the majority of the opening post and the thread title make it seem more aimed at your personal disgruntlement of the phrase itself rather than the positive side of things. Anyway, the point is that you are lumping everyone who uses a particular verb to describe their state of mind into a single barrel of disgust. See, if you ban the phrase entirely because you don't like the select few who use it as a shield, then what of the rest? "I don't give a FUCK if you're bored or not. Do we really need <to know="">that <you are="" bored="">?". But Greg, people are taught to use verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in school to help express, expand, and/or relate to our given subject; do you not teach this in Japan? If we are to sensor ourselves on one side of the spectrum, why not the others? Are you not a victim of that yourself? I know you are quite excited to be a fan of One Piece right now. "Greg, I do not give a FUCK if you're excited or not."

While I understand the point, I simply don't find it to be a fair assessment given some of us just naturally use that verb to describe our true state of mind. For instance, I usually have a good 30 minutes before I leave work everyday where I am pretty free – I leave later than everyone else -- and I tend to get bored. True story. Sometimes during that "boredom", I will work on a little project of mine. Likely if someone were to criticize what I "made" during that time some of the blame could go to my lack of effort or time restrictions, but surely I didn't spend that time in any other state of mind than "bored", and if I did then it spawned from said boredom, so why search for another explanation? I tend to keep silent or just say I didn't have enough time. No shield, just the truth of the matter. How about instead of condemning the line, offer an alternative? Something more positive, but still true to the element? "In an attempt to cure my boredom…" or simply "I made this in my free time." In any case, you will not cure those who do use it as a shield no matter what you offer. Just trying to be fair here; no offense meant or sarcasm mixed in here…

Edit: By the way, is this where it all started?</you></to>

Zkaiser

@Greg:

Gosh there's no need to be mean n' junk. I just made it cause I was bored.

Well that makes sense. We forgive you for making such a whiney topic.

MiniLuffy

I was bored, so I decided to reply to this thread (and also join the "Oh, the irony" club).

OK, so I why is all the commotion? I admit, I've been annoyed by such people too, but I.. I don't really give a blasted fuck. Greg, you know what helps? Criticize the bastard, just to make him feel bad on the inside.

Hrmph, inb4 shitsto- ah, too late. There are all sorts of people and that's the absolute truth. Get over it already, please.

.. or not? Nah, nevermind. You may continue the arguing.

Mister_Anbu

E-drama ftw.

Protip: if a topic bores you, don't read it and don't respond. LOGIC IS HARD, I KNOW.

meowR___

if it's on the internets, dont take it seriously. srsli, if it wasn't for boredum, i wouldn't even be here! hAHhaHahA pwnt.

animegirl_117

@Greg:

Uh….I don't give a FUCK if you're bored. Does anyone else? Do you need to know if aniMeGRRRL432 was bored or not? Did we really need that?

I'm offended ;-;

But, in all seriousness, I totally agree with you. My one friend, she tells me "Heh, I was bored." when she shows me this really crappy drawing…. ANd when I try to tell her how she can do better liike, distinguishing elbow from forearm, she just pouts and ignores what I say. She says she wants to get better, but if she keeps doing that she's just gonna keep drawing like a 3 year old.

captain usopp

i think you are right and you are wrong greg. I think it depends on the situation and the person. I do however know exactly where you are coming from. I got a bunch of friends who graduated with illustration degrees.

2 of them are doing awesome. going places with their career. making a ton of money. Then we have our other friend. She is just as talented at drawing as the other 2. There is no reason she can't be successfull too. Except her self esteem problems. She is an AWESOME artist, and she thinks she sucks. no matter what she draws or paints. it sucks or she did bad. It is really frustrating to see such a waste of talent. We love her, but we all feel like strangling her when she talks about her art.

I couldn't even get into illustration. you have to be able to draw just to get in.