Scientist: Minesweeper probably cost economy billions
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jan 13th 2007 at 11:25AM }
A Canadian study found that American procrastination is on the rise. The research was supposed to take five years to complete, but after 10 years the scientists are releasing the results -- who's procrastinating now? The study found that in 1978 about 5 percent of Americans thought of themselves as chronic procrastinators and now it's 26 percent.The tools for procrastination surround us -- "TVs in every room, online video, Web-surfing, cell phones, video games, iPods and BlackBerries." Is it procrastination or just cultural attention deficit disorder? Of course, even in this study, video games are pointed out as the culprits for the fall of western civilization. The scientist who is publishing the study, University of Calgary Professor Piers Steel, says, "That stupid game Minesweeper -- that probably has cost billions of dollars for the whole society."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Louis S. @ Jan 13th 2007 11:41AM
Well maybe if the fucking dead smiley face didn't ALWAYS come up, I'd get some work done sooner...
Doug @ Jan 13th 2007 11:41AM
So it took them ten years to survey a bunch of people? And since more people consider themselves procrastinators it's a major economic problem? If I tell a bunch of scientists that I'm the greatest gamer in the world does that make it true?
Ignatius @ Jan 13th 2007 11:45AM
I hate Minesweeper and all I do while I'm at my job is surf the Internet. Why? I answer telephones and we barely ever get calls. Lawl, oh, and I'm on the government paycheck, so all of you are paying me to sit on my arse and surf the Internet.
I just find that hilarious. Anyhoo, I'm not actually wasting all of that money, I only get paid $8 an hour to answer phones for irate teachers, so I'm not completely useless. :P
brainpan @ Jan 13th 2007 11:47AM
We might me chronic procrastinators but what are the statistics on the average hourly workweek compared to 20 years ago? I think I read that Amercians work anywhere from 10-20 hours more than they did 20 years ago. It sounds to me like were becoming overworked as well. Having and easy accessible source of entertainment and information (internet) doesnt hurt either though. :)
Korova @ Jan 13th 2007 11:47AM
I once almost missed a grad school exam because I was playing an MMO. Thank god I new the subject without studying, cause I didnt prepare either.
Tony @ Jan 13th 2007 11:49AM
I always think about this stuff and, honestly, given my history and work and those I've worked with at a few other jobs, a lot of this only happens because people feel a need to pace themselves and not get burned out. Sometimes staring at some document or design or whatever else you're working on for eight hours isn't exactly the most productive thing either.
I think maybe companies should look at this stuff and realize maybe the problem isn't that every one is completely lazy (although certainly many people are), but we're in an environment where many of us work too hard, too long and don't really get paid enough.
el chino @ Jan 13th 2007 11:59AM
"We might me chronic procrastinators but what are the statistics on the average hourly workweek compared to 20 years ago? I think I read that Amercians work anywhere from 10-20 hours more than they did 20 years ago."
That because the average American can't stop popping out a new kid every few years, has to buy a 3000 SQ home instead of a modest 1500Sq home, has to marry a money hungry girl because the frugal girl isn't as pretty, has to pay 600 for a console when a 400 console does the same thing (minus Hi-Def out of the box). So what I'm getting at is that the average American has to work 20 extra hours a week because he blows money on things that can either have cheaper alternative and/or really don't need(consumerism gone wild)!!!!!!!!!!
Tony @ Jan 13th 2007 12:17PM
Or it could be things like inflation, the fact that it took years for the minimum wage to increase and you're being largely ridiculous.
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 13th 2007 12:54PM
Minesweeper? I only played Solitaire, and on Win 3.1 - Pipe Dreams (bring it back, MS!)
driven2sin @ Jan 13th 2007 12:46PM
dude people been goofing off at work since the beginning of time.. hell.. God coulda made everything in 2 days but he sucked at minesweeper too
crusher @ Jan 13th 2007 12:59PM
For many of today's professions, those little breaks surfing the internet are necessary, in my opinion. As an engineer working on stress analysis and structural substantiation, I spend my days poring over drawings and technical documents on a computer. Those little breaks online are the equivalent of a mental walk around the block and are necessary in some professions to keep from burning out.
I think that a heavy-handed company that completely cracks down on internet use will find that for every little bit of productivity they gain from limiting online access, they will lose in unhappy and resentful employees. They may even risk losing some of the people and ideas that they need most.
MDV @ Jan 13th 2007 1:13PM
"I think I read that Amercians work anywhere from 10-20 hours more than they did 20 years ago."
You'd have to be a total moron to believe that, like el chino, for example. Simple math says we didn't double our workload in 20 years, it's ludicrous. Look at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_hours
But sure, go ahead and slanders Americans, we're all totally evil and the cause of all your problems. I'm off to go have more kids and buy overpriced consoles because of my consumeritis. See you around.
The ZeroCorpse @ Jan 13th 2007 1:12PM
Yeah. We'd better string up Will Shortz and all those responsible for Sudoku, crossword puzzles, word searches and the act of doodling, among other things.
This is a ridiculous study that is coming from a tainted starting point. If you took away all the gadgets, and paper, and pencils PEOPLE WOULD STILL PROCRASTINATE AT WORK. The researcher is starting from his own belief that the problem exists, and is merely compiling details to back up his hypothesis. He's not trying to disprove it, or experimenting with a control group, or anything. He's just saying "People goof off because of technology" and ignoring the fact that technology has nothing to do with it.
otakucode @ Jan 13th 2007 7:07PM
What is more important, a productive society or a happy society?
I'm about as harcore of a capitalist as you are ever likely to find, but worry about games 'costing' society 'billions of dollars' is to overlook the entire philosophy behind economics, its goals, and the goals of society as a whole.
NeverSage @ Jan 13th 2007 1:46PM
Uh... average American couple are having less kids than they used to. And far less than countries such as India and China. Also both the husband and wife work (unlike 20 years ago) so we can afford to buy a bigger house and nicer things. Yeah, so you're incorrect el chino. Though I did like your little jab at the PS3 :)
Brad Lee @ Jan 13th 2007 2:31PM
I think all this proves is that more people are being HONEST about their procastination.
And I can't help but find it ironic that a scientific study on procrastination took twice as long to complete as originally expected. Too much minesweeper for the scientists methinks.
And I agree with Crusher. Little breaks like these are absolutely necessary to keep your sanity. For example, I am typing this right now as a break from my homework. If I tried to do all my homework straight through, I'd stress the hell out. But taking breaks in-between projects helps "reset" my brain, so to speak, so I can begin the next project anew.
And whoever is saying Americans can stop making babies is a moron. We have one of the lowest birthrates of the entire world. If I'm not mistaken, the only one lower is Japan. The only reason why our population isn't dropping (like Japan's is) is because of all the immigration (and *cough* illegal immigration) happening every day.
Pikachelsea @ Jan 13th 2007 3:13PM
Gee, this is new.. Canadians trying their best to make Americans look stupid. lol. Hey retards, why don't you measure your OWN stupid "country" and its tendency towards procrastination. When is Canada going to realize nobody cares about it?
And way to be with the typical "Let's blame Minesweeper instead of the people who wasted their time playing it, and would've wasted their time doing something else if there was no Minesweeper" conclusion. Morons.
hurdt @ Jan 13th 2007 3:32PM
@16 "When is Canada going to realize nobody cares about it" haha!
You are talking about Canada like it's a person! "That Canada, always gettin' down on us Yanks." Come on! And you sound so uppity and righteous! Why all the hate?
Anyway, your post does more to confirm whatever supposed misconceptions Canadians have about stupid Americans than the study does.
Go Canucks go,
k
Zegim @ Jan 13th 2007 6:07PM
Very few works are really that satisfying to guarantee someone will work 8 hours a day and be happy to do it. Playing a quick game, surfing the web, messaging someone, etc, these are rough similes to "coffee breaks". I think without these things, the stress would be a lot higher, and that would result in less productivity anyway.
Of course, this doesn't mean that there aren't some people that spends most of their work time doing nothing for no good reason.
Psaakyrn @ Jan 13th 2007 5:03PM
Of cause, another study would be needed to confirm if procrastination is a bad thing to begin with. From what I know, it's a manner of relieving stress, and this may also provide intangable benifits not immediately obvious.
Fact is, a single-minded study only proves the extent of what it studies, and not anything it might relate to. This study, as far as I know, only proves that procrastination is becoming less taboo. Any other conclusions is based on assumptions which needs forther studies to prove.
Jim @ Jan 13th 2007 5:20PM
LOL, that's the age old question, namely:
What do you prefer?
a) Crumpy employees who work exactly 9 to 5 and aren't creative or productive because the never have a break or fun at work.
b) "Happy" employees who work maybe 30 minutes less due to internet surfing or playing a little game on the computer or reading a magazine BUT have fun with their work and are therefor more productive in their rest of work time.
Psaakyrn @ Jan 13th 2007 5:20PM
to #7 el chino
That jab at PS3 is unjustified, since there are more Americans with XBox 360 than PS3. Also, just wanted to note that nearly 50% of the population is female. (ok, so I dislike gender-biased statements)
to #13 MDV
Simple maths state you don't know what they're talking about, since they didn't state the 10-20 hours is per day, week, month, year, or lifespan.
KnuxSonic @ Jan 14th 2007 1:56AM
I'll post my thoughts on this later. Now back to Minesweeping.
mmx @ Jan 13th 2007 11:56PM
I have no trouble believing that things like Minesweeper and Solitaire have led to increased procrastination. However, I believe the money lost due to it is MORE than made up in the increased productivity allowed by the computer.
Amos @ Jan 14th 2007 1:13AM
Wow, that quote wasn't biased at all...it sounds like the guy lost one too many games of minesweeper is on a vendetta ;).
Super Fat Man @ Jan 14th 2007 2:18PM
Americans are angry retards. The world stopped caring about how you choose to destroy yourselves 6 years ago. Thanks for the Xbox 360, though.
Killer Instinct @ Jan 14th 2007 4:23PM
Solitaire probably cost them quite a bit also
but I bet websurfing has cost them more :p
madato @ Jan 15th 2007 1:44AM
It's not really a disorder if your mind wants to do (and often does) things that are more productive, fun and engaging than typing up a list of names in excel.
There would have to be something wrong with you to NOT procrastinate and let yourself become a corporate consumer zombie slave.