The latest edition of the London Review of Books has an article with a tantalizing title: The Most Boring Country on Earth. Before turning to the article I thought what would I regard as the most boring country on Earth? It immediately gets you caught up in criteria - some countries are truly boring but make up for it with spectacular scenery - New Zealand and Canada come to mind. Other countries are definitely not boring but have a little too much excitement: I wouldn't call either Iraq or Afghanistan boring but I wouldn't want to live there. Is boredom just one of these very personal things?
When I turned to the article it transpired the author was discussing Britain between 1952 and 1957. On that basis Britain had best get in the queue - the world generally was quite boring - but what do OLO posters think? Which country would get your vote? Is living in a boring place a good thing?

I maintain that boring is good. It means you're not frantic, stressed out, needing to kill snakes and put out fires; and you have time and energy left over for furthering your higher goals. Most of the people in non-boring countries, like Iraq, would prefer to live in boring countries, like Switzerland; not usually the other way around. Down with excitement! More strength to the boringists!

Dear BAYGON,

I've never been bored while travelling
to other countries. That's part of the fun
of experiencing a whole range of different
experiences. For me every country around
the world has its pros and cons -
it depends what you're
looking for. It's always best to do
your homework on the ins and outs,
and what the country has to offer.
Boredom after all is a state of mind
rather then something to do with the
country in which you're visiting and,
or, living in.

If your mind isn't stimulated enough
then maybe, just maybe, you're not
getting out enough and getting to know the
region, local culture and local people?

Also, which country did you leave?
If you went from cosmopolitan Paris or
London to the Sahara Desert - you can't
expect the same sort of stimulus that
you had in large urban cities. For example,
my husband would never move to a small country
town, he'd go nuts, preferring the big cities
and all the hussle and bustle they entail.
Whereas, being a country-girl, I'd love to
eventually retire to a small town - but I guess
there's no chance of that happening ever.
So I make do and cope as best as I can. At
least in Melbourne there's plenty of parks to
choose from - so it's great!

Anywhere can be boring. How we live our lives is what makes life worth living whether we may be moved by simply watching a sunset or dancing the night away at a rave.

I used to ride motorcycles - had a great need for that adrenalin rush. I still love to travel, but now I return to a modest timber home in bushland where the greatest noise is generated by cockatoos instead of industrial strength grunge rock.

Boredom is a state of mind, not a state or a nation.

Yeah, I'm with Jardine. Depends on your definition of boring.

Maybe countries that have extended winters up the top could be argued as boring as you spend much of the year inside doing ... well ... whatever. Much, MUCH more time for ... ummm ... interpersonal relations ... let's say, so that may not fit others idea of boring.

People from war torn countries would kill - 'cuse the bad taste pun - for 'boring'.

Much like life, I reckon your location is what you make of it, but going to someone's elses place and calling it boring really would make you an ... ummm ... hole in a donkey. So to speak.

I have always loved any country i have travelled to. While on my travels though i have always been amazed to find other tourists that hate some country or are bored with where they are. Almost always after talking with them i found that the problem was them, they were without question always the boring ones.