[s1artibartfast]

I think the platitude is geared towards people who are chronically or continuously bored.

The subtext is that when motivated and engaged people feel bored they find something to do. They recognize that the emotion they experience does not indicate that the world is devoid of engaging activities and ideas.

[user_7832]

While true perhaps for some people, this still risks labelling folks with eg depression/dysthymia/chronic fatigue as boring. Lacking (mental) energy can prevent one from doing a lot of things.

[purple-leafy]

Which is a shame, but that probably does make someone more boring at face value. I’ve suffered depression many times, I would say while depressed I was pretty boring to be around. Which is a shame, but probably true

[user_7832]

In that context, would you say being boring/interesting is a fundamental aspect of a person or a temporary state (like emotions)? Because if antidepressants (or alcohol etc) can make one less/not depressed or turn a sober person into someone “fun”, was the person boring or were they just in a boring state of mind (whatever that may mean)?

[s1artibartfast]

I don’t think there is much of a meaningful distinction to be made.

Someone may be boring within a situational context, but that context may persist throughout someone’s entire life.

Most people have some contexts within which they are engaged or exciting, and some where they are not.

[s1artibartfast]

Exactly, depression isn’t known for its fun and exciting side effects.

[s1artibartfast]

Speaking as someone who has struggled with some of those things, those people generally ARE more boring.

Lacking mental energy to engage and not doing things has real consequences. It doesn’t mean they are bad people, but it is just realistic to acknowledge those consequences, like saying quadriplegics are usually bad at marathons.

[user_7832]

I partially agree, but at least for me, it’s much easier to do something if someone else is doing it. I may be bored/tired by myself but if someone’s going for a hike or discussing fun technology I’ll likely try and join them and may not come across as boring.