The Thrill of Boredom
Santino, a 33-year-old chimp, likes to collect rocks before the Furuvik Zoo in Sweden opens and pile them up on the visitor side of his island. He greets the 300 less hirsute primates who crowd around his enclosure every day with missiles hurled from his cache. Indignation? Bad temper? Or is Santino so bored with his captivity that he’s taken to seeking relief — and entertainment — by throwing rocks at those on the outside?
Boredom, as I like to think Santino illustrates, is a pretty straightforward emotion. It’s a product of predictability and of unavoidable and unchanging circumstances. And if there’s no break from the boredom, it can easily spill over into anger and even violence.… Seguir leyendo »