rant: OP chara in fiction being motivated by boredom is so ugh

[ThrillingHuman]

Boredom is really a disease. Once it hits you, it becomes the default state of mind. You can distract yourself from it but it will be back.
Boredom is something one ought to cure themselves from, because once you have it, it is almost like the end of your life.
That's why I have recently grown to dislike characters in fiction being motivated by boredom. Sure, it can be done well. Like the Witches in Umineko, or Ryuk from Death Note. But that is done intentionally and it is made to fit their themes.
But many times I see characters who are motivated by boredom just because and it irks me. "Look guys, I came up with this design: Gods were bored so they made the world" - fuck you, you soulless nihilistic hedonist.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Yes.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Seconded.

 

[LilRora]

And it's funny how many alternatives there are that are not much different in essence, but read completely different and have so much more potential. Seeking amusement, fear of nothingness, guilt that pushes forward, and probably much more I haven't thought about in these few minutes I spent pondering this issue.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Author bored, character bored, boredom

Actually, boredom is a good thing to be motivated by. I agree that it is a bit overdone, but even in real life tons of things were made just because boredom. It is a bit weird that gods are making planets just because boredom, but on the other hand, what else are they going to do when they are eternal. I do see your point though. Imagine if there was an MC who was isekaid from being a doctor, and in the new world they make medicines out of boredom, instead of trying to save people.

 

[ShmawWig]

Honestly, I understand the sentiment of an op character coming across as boring and uninteresting. Though I believe it could greatly highlight the wants and motivations of a character more clearly (or lack thereof if that's what your aiming for). Leaving the vacancy of the character's needs and sacrifices they must undergo to succeed, emotionally or physically to meaningfully propel the plot forward, which at times makes for more compelling, complex characters who can tackle more conflicting themes. Ultimately, It would depend on how their power is integrated in the story tbh.

 

[TASTYLEADPAINT]

Seconded.

Thirded

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

So the problem isn't boredom itself, but because the boredom is stay constant even after lots of interesting stuff happening.

Like, you won't be that much bored after such things happened due to your actions. You will be interested, surprised, excited, and maybe disappointed and your mood can even be ruined if your expectations is too high. After so much effort, the boredom is already forgotten and now it leaves obsession and attachment, or even love and hate, non romantic of course.

For everything that happens after the boredom, it's no longer fueled by boredom itself as it's fueled by other ranges of emotions. It's just the portrayal of those multiple emotion is quite hard.

Boredom is simply a temporary state of mind before another state of mind takes over.

 

[Zinless]

Thirded

Fourthed

 

[Rhaps]

Fourthed

Fifthed

 

[Vnator]

The way you describe it, I can see it working for villain motivations, because it shows how fucked up they are if boredom is going to make them do something drastic, which makes them feel less and less human.

But for an overpowered protagonist, definitely not a good idea.

 

[georgelee5786]

Fifthed

sixthed

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

sixthed

Seven'd

 

[RepresentingThree]

I saw the title and thought you meant Chara Undertale.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Seven'd

Nth'd

 

[melchi]

n+1

 

[TheEldritchGod]

I'm bored.
bored bored bored bored bored bored bored bored bored bored bored bored bored.

Because I feel down.
down down down down down down down down down down down down down
down down down down down down down down down down down down down
down down down down down down down down down down down down down
down down down down down down down down down down down down down
coma down down down down down down down down down down down down
coma coma down down down down down down down down down down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Breaking up is hard to do

Don't take your love away from me
Don't you leave my heart in misery
If you go then I'll be blue
'Cause breaking up is hard to do

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Boredom is the seed of all creativity. It's what motivates little kids to engage in pretend play when the television is off.

 

[Sola-sama]

Boredom is the seed of all creativity. It's what motivates little kids to engage in pretend play when the television is off.

Seconded.

Boredom is also the motivation for me to write (or read). As Envy-sama had said, a lot of things have been made out of sheer boredom, but that doesn't make the thing generally great. Yes, there are some which are good, but they are mostly not.

The way you describe it, I can see it working for villain motivations, because it shows how fucked up they are if boredom is going to make them do something drastic, which makes them feel less and less human.

But for an overpowered protagonist, definitely not a good idea.

Completely agree with this. Op protag with boredom motivation feels bland.

 

[aattss]

My problem with boredom as a motivation is that it's just an excuse for the author to be lazy and not have to come up with fleshed out characterization and actual values and motivations. Why do they do what they do? Because why not. And things end up happening just because rather than because of any sort of cause and effect.