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Чемпионат по ничегонеделованию
https://www.elitereaders.com/space-out-competition-south-korea/

The Space Out Competition, held in South Korea every year, is a contest to see
who can stare off into space the longest without losing focus or dozing off.

A few weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, about 70 people gathered at Ichon

Hangang Park in Seoul, South Korea, to do absolutely nothing. There was not
a smartphone in sight, no texting or taking selfies, and no one rushing to get
anywhere.

The crowd was taking part in South Korea's annual Space Out Competition, a
contest to see who can stare off into space the longest without losing focus.
WoopsYang, the visual artist who created the event in 2014, said it's designed
to highlight how much people have been overworking their brains and how
much they stand to gain by taking a break.

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"I was suffering from burnout syndrome at the time, but would feel extremely
anxious if I was sitting around doing nothing, not being productive in one way
or another," she told VICE. Eventually, she realized she wasn't alone. "I
thought to myself, We would all feel better about doing nothing if we did
nothing together as a group."

Since the first competition was held two years ago, it's evolved into a full-on
pageant with a panel of judges and a set of strict rules—no phones, no talking,
no checking your watch, no dozing off. WoopsYang said more than 2,000
people signed up for the 70 contestant slots this year, and she had to hold
qualifying rounds to select the best candidates.

During the 90-minute-long event, contestants are banned from doing

anything other than spacing out. If you fall asleep, start laughing, or use
technology, you're disqualified. Contestants' heart rates are checked every 15
minutes to ensure that they are in a state of chill; the person with the most
stable heart rate wins. There's a live sportscaster who narrates the event to
onlookers. If contestants feel discomfort—say, if someone gets thirsty or needs
to use the bathroom—they can hold up one of several cards to make a request.

This year, Shin Hyo-Seob, a local rapper who goes by Crush, took the gold. He
was among the last remaining competitors and had the steadiest heart rate of
them all, making him the most spaced-out. "I was really determined to win,"
he told VICE. "I practiced at home."
"We would all feel better about doing nothing if we did nothing together as a
group." — WoopsYang

The competition is part of a larger conversation about the importance of rest—

not just in South Korea, but around the world. Research has consistently
shown that the brain needs downtime in order to process
information and create memories, but also to mitigate the stress and
burnout that comes from being constantly connected to both our work and
social lives. South Korea, in particular, has one of the most stressed-
out populations in the world, which the New York Times once described as
"on the verge of a national nervous breakdown."

Problems associated with stress, anxiety, and overworked brains are not
unique to Seoul, so WoopsYang hopes to eventually expand the competition
worldwide. Last year, there was an international Space Out Competition held
in Beijing, which had roughly 80 chilled-out contestants.

Besides the competitive element, WoopsYang says she also sees the event as a
piece of performance art. The competition is held during a busy part of the day
(this year, it was on a Monday morning) in a busy part of the city (the first one
was held in Seoul's city hall; this year, in a large public park) to highlight the
contrast between a group of people doing absolutely nothing and the chaos of
the city surrounding them. "The best way to view this competition is from one
of the surrounding tall buildings, looking down," said WoopsYang. "You'll be
able to see a small patch of stillness amidst all the hectic movement."

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WoopsYang also encourages contestants to come wearing outfits that
represent their vocation—suits or lab coats or uniforms—so that the group of
people gathered together looks like "a miniature version of the entire city," she
said. The point is to demonstrate how burnout can affect anyone, but everyone
can benefit from spacing out. "I also try my best to choose the most diverse
pool of people possible during the final stages of the qualifying rounds, in the
hopes that it'll allow every group in the city to be represented," she said.

Not everyone sees it as "art," but WoopsYang isn't bothered by that. "I'm
content with it being a form of entertainment," she said. "I think I've provided
an entertainment option that doesn't involve technology or money"—or, really,
doing anything at all.

Let’s enjoy just thinking nothing!

With that announcement, the third annual “Space-Out
Competition” took place recently in Seoul, South Korea, to find the
person who could sit with a blank stare the longest while maintaining
a slow but discernible heartbeat – dead and comatose individuals not
eligible.

Before you dismiss it as a frivolity, this was a serious competition

with qualifying rounds to weed out the 60 best (out of 1,500 entrants)
at being completely relaxed and stone-faced for 90 minutes. The
rules are tough – no dozing off or falling asleep; no checking cell
phones or even watches; no talking whatsoever. Qualified medical
experts visited the participants every 15 minutes to measure their
heartbeats. The winner would be the person who followed all of the
rules, remained spaced out for the full 90 minutes and sustained the
steadiest heartbeat.

The winners of the qualifying rounds received their numbers and sat
on the grass in a park. Temperatures reached 30C (86F) in bright
sunlight so they were allowed to hold parasols or have someone hold
it if they were too spaced-out to grip the handle.

The finalists ranged in age from an elementary school student to an

elderly man and included a businesswoman, a graduate student
researcher in cardiology and a singer. Place your bets now.

The “Space-Out Competition” was started in 2014 by an artist named

Ms. Oops who conceived it as both a contest and a way to show the
creative benefits of zoning out.

Modern day people who use smartphones 24/7 are overworking their
brains. I wanted this competition to be a public performance that
shows resting our brains or being spaced-out is not just a waste of
time but can also result in something more productive.
Who won? Who won? You need to chill out.

South Korea seems like the perfect place to hold this type of chill -out
contest. It’s considered to be one of the world’s most wired countries
– studies have found that people there average four hours a day on
their phones and 15% are considered to be smartphone addicts.

Who was chosen Superstar of Spaced-Outedness? Shin Hyo-Seob, a

local R&B rapper who performs as Crush, won the coveted glass
trophy. Here’s part of his acceptance speech:
I was so exhausted physically and mentally while preparing an album,
so I just wanted to relax for a while. This event is highly
recommended for those who have migraines or complicated thoughts.

Do you know anyone who might challenge Crush in the international

spaced-out competition?

If this spaced-out contest was held in the U.S., it would have to be

called American Idle.

не психуй сиди кайфуй.

Чемпионат ничегонеделования?

ln most instances, spacing out isn't encouraged. Zoning out during meetings. get-
togethers, or lectures can definitely get you in trouble. But not in South Korea's
annual Space-Out Competition. which actually requires its participants to shut off and,
well, do nothing.

The yearly event is а project of performance artist WoopsYang. lt might sound

ridiculous at first, but the reason behind the contest actually makes loads of sense. The
idea is to just pause in а world where everything moves too fast.

Spacing out is the goal in this annual contest in South Korea.

For 90 minutes, at а public park in Seoul, contestants stare into space and are not
allowed to do anything. They cannot talk. look at their watch. check their phones,
read, laugh. stretch, sing. dance. and even fall asleep. Doesn't sound so easy now, does
it?

At the end of 90 minutes. the contestants' heart rates are checked. The one with the
most stable heart rate wins. receives а trophy, and moves on to compete in the
lnternational Space-Out Competition. Yes, you read that right - international.

The опе with the most stable heart rate at the end of the competition wins.

One of the participants in the 2016 competition. when asked why she joined. simply
answered:

Because I a/ways used to space out.

Last year's winner, well-known local rapper Shin Hyo-Seob, aka Crush, bested 60
others contestants. He told The Guardian:

I, was so exhausted physically and mentally while preparing аn a/bum, so / just

wanted to relax tor а while. This event is highly recommended tor those who have
migraines or complicated thoughts.
Last year's winner was well-known local rapper Shin Hyo-Seob, aka Crush.

The Space-Out Competition started in 2014 as an art installation. With the support of
the Seoul city council, the event continued and now draws thousands of applications
yearly from people of all backgrounds.

The winner gets а trophy and moves оn to the lnternational Space-Out Competition.

This year's Space-Out competition is on April 30, and application is already closed. lt
might Ье an interesting event to check out. though. if you happen to bе in South Korea
then.