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I'm glad you came to your senses on this one. You were probably never properly experiencing both things. Giving each your full attention should result in a high
by opan 5y ago
I'm glad you came to your senses on this one. You were probably never properly experiencing both things. Giving each your full attention should result in a higher quality and more meaningful experience. I think it's more respectful to the media you're watching to give it your proper attention as well.
In the past I watched shows with a friend occasionally, and he had a nasty habit of whipping out an iPad mid-episode to look something up. He didn't even pause. Sometimes he'd fall asleep as well. Then he had the nerve to say things about how the show didn't make sense or he thought there were plot holes. I didn't agree, and I assume he just missed major bits by splitting his attention. It's always bothered me when people put on shows (not broadcast TV, but things watched intentionally) in the background or on a second monitor and then claim later that they've "watched" it. The way I see it, if you don't want to really watch it, then don't. Go do that other thing that's on your mind. Come back to the show later. Or if it really can't hold your attention, don't make yourself watch it at all.
- esperent 5y ago> You were probably never properly experiencing both things. How can you make statements with such certainty about another person's experience?
- ASalazarMX 5y agoI read "probably" as implying uncertainty, but I concur with his assessment. When I was around 20-25 I used to program or game while watching TV while listening to music, and it felt good because my brain craved overstimulation during that period. In retrospective, my main focus was the computer, the distant second focus was the TV, and the background noise was the music. I wasn't gaining a lot by doing the three at once.
- Insanity 5y agoInterestingly, it was the same age range for me. I think the overstimulation with background noise is spot on.
- ASalazarMX 5y agoMaybe this is why most high-budget shows today are more visual and action oriented with superficial plots, so you can watch them while not devoting your full attention. It certainly makes them easier to follow in this age of distractions and notifications.
- drewcoo 5y agoHow can you judge what is the "more meaningful experience" for someone else? I think that's entirely disrespectful of people. And I honestly don't care about having respect for media being consumed. This reminds me of the (probably protestant-inspired) way that some people hold all books in reverence, afraid to scribble in them, dogear them, or rip any pages. Media is just stuff. The people are what matters.