Comments on: Too much time on their hands?

By: Jack of all trades? — The Endeavour

Jack of all trades? — The Endeavour — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:35:15 +0000

[...] Too much time on their hands ? X [...]

By: The Wednesday List | Live. Work. Play.

The Wednesday List | Live. Work. Play. — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:17:27 +0000

[...] Saying someone has too much time on their hands is often just a way to get out of feeling bad for how they spent their time when compared to what we’ve done with the same number of hours. [...]

By: Free time – what are you going to do with it?

Free time – what are you going to do with it? — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:12:25 +0000

[...] Too much time on your hands means you have an idea, you create it and someone criticizes you. Thant ok, even admirable. The real problem is culture, of people being told to watch TV, do their work and shut up. [...]

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:04:02 +0000

aimed at me, that is… (sorry for the double post)

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:03:29 +0000

Thanks, John. That was perfect timing after hearing that phrase aimed all week long…

By: Michael Nielsen

Michael Nielsen — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:58:20 +0000

Cory Doctorow has a fantastic rant on exactly this subject:

http://boingboing.net/2002/02/03/too-much-time-on-his.html

One of my all-time favourite short internet rants.

By: Philippe Beaudoin

Philippe Beaudoin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:15:38 +0000

To me, “You have to much time on your hand” can usually be replaced by either:
- We don’t have the same priorities ; or
- I wish I had enough willpower/energy/self-discipline to execute on similar things.
The second one is the “sour grape” version you mention, and is probably the most frequent usage. The first one is simply a slightly obnoxious way to mention a divergence of opinion. For example, I think somebody who is spending his week-end in front of the TV has too much time on his hands.

I don’t see a direct relationship with creativity — although creativity is probably one of the human traits that fuel willpower. (i.e. A creative person finds it more rewarding to execute on something that looks too tiring for another individual.)

By: alex land

alex land — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:53:35 +0000

@ JD : that’s where self-discipline comes in. So often, I desperately want to do something like build a manned spacecraft out of popsicle sticks, or an Empire Sate Bldg out of spaghetti (using cooked spaghetti though, not the dry stuff like that lazy ass on succeed.com used)– even though what i really need is a (another) beer or a nap, or frankly, both. So when i’m hit with these impulses to “succeed”, it’s only through extraordinary exexrcize of willpower that i somehow force myself to keep my ass glued to the sofa and watch the second half of the game.

By: JD Long

JD Long — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:04:58 +0000

very self aware and insightful post. When I say TMTOTH what I think I mean, is “if I had that much time I would do something else with it.” Which is a pretty judgmental thing for a guy like me to say. I’m usually choosing between another beer and a nap.

By: Jason Adams

Jason Adams — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:46:21 +0000

Sorry for the double comment, but I just noticed on your weekend miscellany a link to succeed blog, which is a site teeming with “too much time on their hands” examples. Seen in a different light, the creativity and dedication necessary to do things like creating a penny pyramid is quite remarkable.

By: Jason Adams

Jason Adams — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:41:08 +0000

Excellent point! I will never say that phrase again, unless it has to do with polka music.

By: John Moeller

John Moeller — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:51:58 +0000

Great post, John.