Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
The best idea since raw toast.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                                                             

Institute of Advanced Laziness Research

Entropy Sucks.
  (+6, -2)
(+6, -2)
  [vote for,
against]

A friend once told me that when the Greeks buried their citizens, they didn't reflect on what he/she contributed to society, but pondered on his/her Passion. Upon hearing that, I gazed at my friend, pondered for a few seconds then continued to eat my Cheetos.

Laziness (unlike Passion) is an oft-maligned and rarely celebrated instinct of the human condition. Next to self-preservation and procreation, I suggest that it may be one of the most important as well.

Some of the most amazing inventions of our time have been a result of the tendency to be lazy or the desire to be lazy (though the marketers among us will call them devices of 'convenience').

That incentive, coupled with the idea that the universe is slowly evolving into a very very cold, dark, energy-less, dreary dismal gray place, means we MUST study laziness for the better good. (okay, so the universe won't be cold, dark and energy less for at least 10^1500 years -- the estimated time until all matter decays to iron if the proton does not decay)

They say that the meek shall inherit the earth. It's the lazy that shall inherit the universe.

We MUSTstudy it.

Let's start NOW!!! ....

Okay, maybe next week sometime.

mahatma, Mar 10 2004

A book for you. When you get around to it. http://www.hunterho...howbook.asp?bid=194
[Native Dancer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       You're preaching to the choir, but that doesn't mean I like it.
Letsbuildafort, Mar 10 2004
  

       Too lazy to go into details as to how we'll study laziness?
yabba do yabba dabba, Mar 10 2004
  

       I needed that push.   

       It would have to start by inviting people to a superbowl party, and asking them all to bring something (food or drink).   

       Whoever shows up but doesn't bring anything specifically because they didn't get to the store are the right people. All others are dismissed (leaving their goodies behind)   

       Then we wo.....   

       yummmmm... CHEETOS !..
mahatma, Mar 10 2004
  

       When you're done with those, treat yourself to a stinkin' fishbone.
yabba do yabba dabba, Mar 10 2004
  

       check out despair.com -- too lazy to link it
theircompetitor, Mar 10 2004
  

       Not sure laziness will help much with the heat death of the universe, but the idea is still kind of interesting.   

       I'd kind of recomend either Space or Time by Stephen Baxter. Think its time. I'm not sure its worth it though. Interesting, but not a very gripping read is how I'm describing it. It features people? who think the same thoughts over and over again towards the end of the universe. (As that doesn't have to increase entropy).
RobertKidney, Mar 10 2004
  

       I'm not lazy, I'm entropically gifted.
hippo, Mar 10 2004
  

       // Institute of Advanced Laziness Research //   

       This name takes so long to say. Could someone make it shorter for me?
phundug, Mar 10 2004
  

       IALR. Actually, you can probably take out the "Advanced" bit, as chances are the study won't be that in-depth.   

       So - ILR.
lostdog, Mar 10 2004
  

       Don't remind me.
dpsyplc, Mar 10 2004
  

       I have no idea what this idea really involves, because I'm too lazy to read past the title. I'd bone it, but I'm too lazy to click the (-)
Freefall, Mar 10 2004
  

       Applied laziness is more useful - the whole "right first time" quality ethos can be sold as an applied laziness concept, as in "if you do it right, you won't have to do it over" and you can get back to the cheetos. If you want the easiest way of doing anything, get a really lazy person and a cattle prod.
unclepete, Mar 11 2004
  

       No pete, real laziness means doing the job in a fast sloppy way often enough that whoever wanted it doing eventually decides it is easier to do it themselves or get someone other than you to do it.
engineer1, Mar 11 2004
  

       Let me know what you come up with.
PeterSilly, Mar 11 2004
  

       For my fella, laziness is an art form and he is the Leonardo da Vinci of lounging. He sometimes *looks* as if he's occupied with a task but soon reverts to the horizontal.
squeak, Mar 11 2004
  

       Give a difficult job to a lazy man, and he'll find an easier way to do it.
Ling, Mar 11 2004
  

       //Laziness Institute of Advanced Research would be a better acronym//
Sorry, but Lexicon of Intentionally Ambiguous Recommendations (Book makes a lovely gift) already nailed L.I.A.R..
thumbwax, Mar 11 2004
  

      
PeterSilly, Mar 11 2004
  

       Then, how about Laziness Advanced Institute of Research? Makes an even better acronym, which fits in with the theme.
Saruman, Mar 11 2004
  

       The idea is that we accept laziness and learn to benefit from it, in creative ways. If we can separate the pure benefits of laziness, while eliminating the negative effects (shoddy results, intermittent prodding for initiating a project, etc) we might come up with something great. Then apply that learning as a parallel process to the development of larger projects and you might get something nice.   

       They already have "ergonomics" -- this may be a branch, but with a twist.   

       I would define "laziness" as a living organism's condition [perhaps instinct] which tends an organism to expend the least effort possible to accomplish a task, either passively or actively.   

       It's a very green concept, really.
mahatma, Mar 11 2004
  

       I would define laziness as someone deliberately not doing something that he/she is perfectly capable of doing. For example... two people are sitting on a couch, one wants a glass of milk. He asks the other to get it for him.   

       She then says no, and the two argue until the damn dog gets so pissed off that he goes and gets it...
kranedawg, Apr 10 2004
  

       That lazy dog.
yabba do yabba dabba, Apr 15 2004
  

       What [Ling] said. Laziness can be beneficial. My maths teacher used to say that a lazy mathematician was a good mathematician. Not quite sure what he meant, but its a motto I've tried to live by.
spacemoggy, Apr 15 2004
  

       Entronomics
BunsenHoneydew, Apr 16 2004
  

       Entr-whatever.
phundug, Apr 18 2004
  

       Could someone tie my hammock to the tree please?
Pac, Apr 19 2004
  

       I like to tell people I put the "pro" in procrastination, so I volunteer to be instant Past President of the Institute for Advanced, um, whatever.
Did someone say Cheetos? Got any Dr. Pepper?
Canuck, Apr 19 2004
  

       Yes! we MUST start N.... zzz
not_only_but_also, Oct 18 2004
  

       I couldn't be bothered to read all these annos. Do I qualify for the Institute?
imaginality, Apr 26 2006
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle