Goofing off
Encyclopedia
Goofing off is a slang term in the United States for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected. Common obligations neglected in the course of goofing off include schoolwork, paid employment, social courtesies and the expectations of relations. Goofing off at school
is considered to be a regular behaviour, which is engaged in by all students at one time or another.
When goofing off occurs within the classroom, teachers can resolve the matter quickly by direct confrontation. Employers may use wage
premiums to discourage goofing off by their employees, although it is suggested that the effects of such incentive
s causes aging to have a negative effect upon earning
s sooner than would be otherwise expected. Goofing off has been shown to improve work or study in the right environments, and can relieve stress. It may be a form of creativity and experimentation, providing useful learning experiences and discoveries.
Some research has indicated that women tend to feel more guilt
than men about taking time for themselves and so use breaks to become more organized.
Perhaps the most famous example of goofing off is the tale reported by Suetonius
of Nero
fiddling while Rome
burned. Although commonly retold, it is untrue.
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
is considered to be a regular behaviour, which is engaged in by all students at one time or another.
When goofing off occurs within the classroom, teachers can resolve the matter quickly by direct confrontation. Employers may use wage
Wage
A wage is a compensation, usually financial, received by workers in exchange for their labor.Compensation in terms of wages is given to workers and compensation in terms of salary is given to employees...
premiums to discourage goofing off by their employees, although it is suggested that the effects of such incentive
Incentive
In economics and sociology, an incentive is any factor that enables or motivates a particular course of action, or counts as a reason for preferring one choice to the alternatives. It is an expectation that encourages people to behave in a certain way...
s causes aging to have a negative effect upon earning
Earning
Earning can refer to:*Labour *Earnings of a company*Merit...
s sooner than would be otherwise expected. Goofing off has been shown to improve work or study in the right environments, and can relieve stress. It may be a form of creativity and experimentation, providing useful learning experiences and discoveries.
Some research has indicated that women tend to feel more guilt
Guilt
Guilt is the state of being responsible for the commission of an offense. It is also a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person realizes or believes—accurately or not—that he or she has violated a moral standard, and bears significant responsibility for that...
than men about taking time for themselves and so use breaks to become more organized.
Perhaps the most famous example of goofing off is the tale reported by Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
of Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
fiddling while Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
burned. Although commonly retold, it is untrue.
External links
- Goofing Off; by Paul Roberts; Psychology Today; Jul/Aug 1995.
- GPS Devices Catch Workers Goofing Off; NPR; 16 Nov 2007.
- Goofing Off In The Computer Age: Some Employers Crack Down On Use Of Company Computers; by Patrik Jonsson; CBS News; 18 Mar 2005.
- More Time on Task, Less Goofing Off; by Fred Jones, Ph.D; Education World; 18 Aug 2003.
- Home Office: Need Help Goofing Off? Dopey videos, weird pictures, and giant bugs. By Steve Bass; PC World; 29 Dec 2004.