Idle 1211612 224204216 2008-07-07T20:08:25Z Squids and Chips 2947772 Disambiguate [[Work]] to [[Work (thermodynamics)]] using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]] :''For other meanings, including people named Idle, see [[Idle (disambiguation)]].'' '''Idle''' is a term which generally refers to a lack of motion and/or energy. == Uses == In describing a person or machine, idle means the act of doing nothing or no work (for example: John Smith is an idle person). This a person who spends his days doing nothing of relative importance could be said to be "idly passing his days." A [[computer processor]] or [[communication circuit]] is described as idle when it is not being used by any [[computer program|program]], application or message. See [[available line]]. Similarly, an [[engine]] of an [[automobile]] may be described as idle when it is running only to sustain its running (not doing any useful [[Work (thermodynamics)|work]]), this is also called tickover (See [[idle speed]]). In Canada you can get a fine for idleing in your car for a certain amount of time, depending on the city you are in. Occupying a [[chat room]] while performing another activity and saying little or nothing is known as '''idling'''. The word idle is also used on the program [[AIM]] describing the status of buddies not showing any activity at their computer. Idle is also a small village in West Yorkshire with the Famous Idle working Men's Club of which Michael Jackson is a member. Idle can also be used when calling someone "Idle" in a different manner to the first definition. Many people have described idleness as "multiple emotions combining, anger, boredom etc, to make one Idle." == Idleness as dependent upon cultural norms == Typically, when one describes a machine as idle, it is an objective statement regarding its current state. However, when used to describe a person, idle typically carries a negative [[connotation]], with the assumption that the person is wasting their time by doing nothing of value. Such a view is reflected in the [[proverb]] "an idle mind is the devil´s workshop". This interpretation of idleness is not universal - it is more typically associated with Western cultures. Other cultures believe that simply being (doing nothing) has its own value, and they may also reject the West's definition of what is [[nothing]] and what is not. == Books on Idleness == The state of being idle is sometimes even celebrated with a few books on the subject of Idleness. ''How to Be Idle'' by [[Tom Hodgkinson]] is one such example from an author who is also known for his [[magazine]] - "[[The Idler (1993)|''The Idler'']]", devoted to promoting its ethos of "idle living". [[Nobel Laureate]] [[Bertrand Russell]]'s ''In Praise of Idleness; And other essays'' [http://www.zpub.com/notes/idle.html] is another book that explores the virtues of being idle in the modern society. Mitchell Stevens has published a small mini-series magazine entitled "How idle are you?" which goes over basic idle concepts. (Source: North Shore Times Advertiser) Mark Slouka published his essay, "Quitting the Paint Factory: The Virtues of Idleness" [http://adamantine.wordpress.com/stuff/quitting-the-paint-factory-by-mark-slouka/] in the November 2004 [[Harper's Magazine]], hinting at a [[post-scarcity]] economy, and linking conscious busy-ness with antidemocratic and [[fascist]] tendencies. ==See also== *[[Eric Idle]] *[[Laziness]] *[[Inert]] *[[Idle (Music label)]] [[Category:English language]] [[de:Müßiggang]] <!-- [[de:Idle]] only describes computer science term --> [[fr:Oisiveté]] <!-- [[fr:Idle]] only describes computer science term --> [[ja:アイドリング]] [[nl:Idle time]]