My name is Brian Landon, and I believe there is one major problem plaguing our society: boredom. 

Since the emergence of modern-age creature comforts, billions of people have suffered through long hours of waiting, whether for a train to arrive or a destination to appear on the horizon. Many people desire to be freed from this boredom. 

To solve this great human dilemma, people have come up with many solutions. For example, personal entertainment devices, headphones, books, food, work and other attention occupiers have been implemented in order to keep people busy. Some have even resorted to simple human interaction for mental engagement, showing the lengths people will go to just to find something to spend their excess time on. 

But if a true solution exists, it does not lie among the aforementioned. In my research, I looked for a stimulating remedy that could capture the essence of human social experience while simultaneously allowing a person to enjoy media of their choice. I call this solution the ABPMSP (Anti-Boredom Public Media Sharing Program).

To avoid beating around the bush, let me explain. It is my wholehearted wish that people will begin to share their personal media audibly in public places, for both their enjoyment and the entertainment of others. Building on the idea of personal media usage for entertainment, people could just as easily remove their headphones and earbuds to let their audio fill the space they occupy. 

For example, someone in a subway car could easily have a phone conversation for everyone to hear. This allows them to take care of their personal business while simultaneously offering entertainment to the people around them. 

Similarly, people in an elevator could scroll through their social media aloud, allowing the other people who would otherwise be waiting wearily to enjoy comical audios. Although some may say that this would prevent meaningful conversation with strangers, I have found that it is much more socially effective to communicate through the audio you share aloud. 

Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with my research findings. Scholar John Johnson performed a study of the human mind detailing the effects of prolonged boredom on commuters. He and his colleagues realized that regular tedium ruins our attention spans–that is, boredom makes our attention spans longer by drawing us away from meaningless distractions and towards greater goals. Charlatans like Johnson argue that we need fewer distractions – not more. 

My peers may call my idea irrational, but I can see solutions that the masses simply cannot. I alone have been able to provide a realistic and easily applicable solution to the “great problem” of boredom. It is my belief that although some may react with confusion and even disdain for my idea, people will inevitably come around once they see the possibilities my creation has opened. Once dreadful places will be filled with endless entertainment! 

I do hope you follow along with the trend that will soon take place. Thanks for your time and attention.