3 ms·

I got a bit of a "yikes" at reading the parent comment as well but how is it actually any different from listening to the radio, which has been a thing drivers

I got a bit of a "yikes" at reading the parent comment as well but how is it actually any different from listening to the radio, which has been a thing drivers have done ever since we put radios in automobiles? Unlike "handsfree phones", listening to a podcast doesn't require interaction and full attention (although it does sound like GP is giving too much of theirs).

jacquesm 7y ago
An audiobook is an immersive experience, it engages your imagination (if the audiobook is any good at all), listening to the radio (assuming they don't read well written full length books on the radio) is not.
- TillE 7y ago
  Radio dramas have been extremely popular in many places since forever. So have "books on tape". It's utterly bizarre to make these kinds of accusations.
  - jacquesm 7y ago
    What's bizarre about it? Driving is a full-time occupation, not a part-time occupation. If you have to do it do it responsibly. In complex situations listening to audiobooks is a dangerous affair, in simple situations it may improve attention but simple situations can turn complex in a hurry in a moving vehicle. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29223795 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29223795
usrusr 7y ago
Radio shows are almost universally made to be randomly tuned in and out, whereas books are written under the assumption that you never skip a line, pausing and even re-reading as necessary. Audiobooks are sitting in an awkward position between them, carrying over all the assumptions of the printed book into a medium of forced time. This is very similar to how talking to someone in the car is much less distracting than taking on hands-free: even the worst passenger will take more cues from the traffic situation about when it's ok to talk, when not to expect an immediate reply and so on than someone behind a phone line. Sure, an audiobook is less bad than many other driving distractions, but still a whole different league than radio (and also many podcasts I guess).

jacquesm 7y ago

An audiobook is an immersive experience, it engages your imagination (if the audiobook is any good at all), listening to the radio (assuming they don't read well written full length books on the radio) is not.

TillE 7y ago
Radio dramas have been extremely popular in many places since forever. So have "books on tape". It's utterly bizarre to make these kinds of accusations.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  What's bizarre about it? Driving is a full-time occupation, not a part-time occupation. If you have to do it do it responsibly. In complex situations listening to audiobooks is a dangerous affair, in simple situations it may improve attention but simple situations can turn complex in a hurry in a moving vehicle. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29223795 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29223795

usrusr 7y ago

Radio shows are almost universally made to be randomly tuned in and out, whereas books are written under the assumption that you never skip a line, pausing and even re-reading as necessary. Audiobooks are sitting in an awkward position between them, carrying over all the assumptions of the printed book into a medium of forced time. This is very similar to how talking to someone in the car is much less distracting than taking on hands-free: even the worst passenger will take more cues from the traffic situation about when it's ok to talk, when not to expect an immediate reply and so on than someone behind a phone line. Sure, an audiobook is less bad than many other driving distractions, but still a whole different league than radio (and also many podcasts I guess).