5 thoughts on “The Solitaire Solon”

  1. Whether it does or doesn’t, it’s a good indication of what’s wrong with this nation.

    Another thought occurred to me, but I’d have to issue a smut alert if I shared it, so I’ll abstain.

  2. While I agree with you Rand, how different is this than when senators and congressmen give speeches to an empty chamber? Even more apt perhaps would be what if anything differentiates this behavior from high absenteeism by representatives (missed votes etc.)?

    All to say, this isnt a new phenomenon, only that the source of distraction is newer.

  3. how different is this than when senators and congressmen give speeches to an empty chamber?

    Speeches delivered to an empty chamber still get published in the Congressional Record, so there’s that.

    Yeah, on the whole I think I’d rather they were playing solitaire, but even better would be that they’re not on the public’s dime to begin with.

  4. I’ve got solitaire on my phone, and I’ve found it to be a boon in meetings where I might otherwise start dozing. It takes minimal mental focus to plug through game after game of solitaire, but it keeps me actively awake and actively listening (if I’m not currently an active participant in the immediate discussion). Its a crutch to keep me from zoning out.

    Its akin to wiggling my mouse to keep my computer from going to sleep mode/screensaver.

    I think one of the reasons smartphone/blackberry devices are so popular is because they area great crutch at keeping people actively awake in meetings. Solitaire is great because it doesn’t demand your attention, i.e. there are no adverse effects of changing your focus of attention from it to something else and coming back to it later.

    Or maybe I need to get more sleep.

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