Comments on: The Multitasking Virus and the End of Learning? Part 2 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/05/26/the-multitasking-virus-and-the-end-of-learning-part-2/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:39:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Evan http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/05/26/the-multitasking-virus-and-the-end-of-learning-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-95912 Evan Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:47:08 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=359#comment-95912 I forgot where I read this, but I am a believer in the mind can only focus on one thing at a time. An experiment that was suggested in the reading was that if you are emotionally upset, close your eyes and try to stand on one leg. If you focus on the upset, you lose your balance, Focus on your balance and you temporarily forget your upset. I've used this little trick countless times to center myself and regain perspective when upset or aggravated and it has always worked for me. I forgot where I read this, but I am a believer in the mind can only focus on one thing at a time. An experiment that was suggested in the reading was that if you are emotionally upset, close your eyes and try to stand on one leg. If you focus on the upset, you lose your balance, Focus on your balance and you temporarily forget your upset.

I’ve used this little trick countless times to center myself and regain perspective when upset or aggravated and it has always worked for me.

]]> By: Evan http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/05/26/the-multitasking-virus-and-the-end-of-learning-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-95910 Evan Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:22:09 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=359#comment-95910 Re: Disengagement and video games and crackberries/laptops, etc. I made a funny observation the other day while sitting in the student lounge. The place was packed, but as I peered over the shoulders of crackberry users and laptop/wi fi users, a large number of them were on social networks or chatrooms. A roomful of living, breathing people not interacting... all on social networks 'e-socializing' while ignoring the 'live' people surrounding them. I mentioned it to someone next to me. He looked around, chuckled, and then went right back to his online chatting. End of our conversation. It was an eye-opening realization. Re: Disengagement and video games and crackberries/laptops, etc.

I made a funny observation the other day while sitting in the student lounge. The place was packed, but as I peered over the shoulders of crackberry users and laptop/wi fi users, a large number of them were on social networks or chatrooms.

A roomful of living, breathing people not interacting… all on social networks ‘e-socializing’ while ignoring the ‘live’ people surrounding them.

I mentioned it to someone next to me. He looked around, chuckled, and then went right back to his online chatting. End of our conversation.

It was an eye-opening realization.

]]> By: Rick http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/05/26/the-multitasking-virus-and-the-end-of-learning-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-80673 Rick Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:56:31 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=359#comment-80673 Multi-tasking has never really worked that well for me. I am much better off focusing on doing one task at a time. Multi-tasking has never really worked that well for me. I am much better off focusing on doing one task at a time.

]]> By: John Robert Marlow http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/05/26/the-multitasking-virus-and-the-end-of-learning-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79374 John Robert Marlow Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:05:15 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=359#comment-79374 Beneath that mild-mannered exterior, Josh is riveting. You continue to be a nexus of fascinating people with uncommon insights and vital information. I'm researching single vs multitasking now, and--as usual after reading a 4HWW post--I'm off in several promising new directions. See you on the flipside! Beneath that mild-mannered exterior, Josh is riveting. You continue to be a nexus of fascinating people with uncommon insights and vital information. I’m researching single vs multitasking now, and–as usual after reading a 4HWW post–I’m off in several promising new directions. See you on the flipside!

]]> By: Cara http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/05/26/the-multitasking-virus-and-the-end-of-learning-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-53530 Cara Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:18:44 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=359#comment-53530 Thanks for the great post! When I was in school, I would sigh at the bored, impassive faces of the students listening to a lecture. Learning is supposed to be fun, engaging, and fulfilling...not that I am too thrilled about going to school everyday, but there are just days when materials in a text or words in a lecture leaped out at me, leaving a dent in my mind. I would say "wow! this is very interesting! and it actually have something to do with me!" In fact, learning has everything to do with yourself. You are the one learning after all. You will make the choice of whether to make use of that knowledge. I could only nod at your observation of the two boys who played video games. It is true, and many many kids today are becoming addicted to different form of entertainment, whether it be TV, computers, gaming systems, MP3 players, cellphones etc. It annoys me to see teenagers listening to their Ipod or text messaging while their parents are talking to them. They are "disconnected" from their surroundings. I went to a private high school in northern California, in a small city called Ukiah. It is located inside a Buddhist monastery and the majority of the students lives in the dorm. The school, called Developing Virtue Secondary School, is famous for its strict codes. We cannot, at anytime during our stay in the school, have cellphones, mp3s, or computers. We can only use computers at home. We also have limited internet and only accessible on school computers. The internet blocks out facebook, myspace, youtube, and such sites used for socializing. The school wanted us to concentrate on our studies instead of playing games, listen to music, or chat with friends. For the four years I spent there, I realized there are so much more going on around me and so much to do when I'm not in front of my computer. WIth the long abstinence of internet, I can control my usage and overcome the addiction. I felt lucky to have gone to that school. I made me see how dependent most people are on their cellphones, computers, Ipods and gameboys. Without it, they would almost seem lost. We need to connect with each other more, have real conversations, send REAL mails, give hugs and kisses.... Thanks for the great post! When I was in school, I would sigh at the bored, impassive faces of the students listening to a lecture. Learning is supposed to be fun, engaging, and fulfilling…not that I am too thrilled about going to school everyday, but there are just days when materials in a text or words in a lecture leaped out at me, leaving a dent in my mind. I would say “wow! this is very interesting! and it actually have something to do with me!” In fact, learning has everything to do with yourself. You are the one learning after all. You will make the choice of whether to make use of that knowledge.

I could only nod at your observation of the two boys who played video games. It is true, and many many kids today are becoming addicted to different form of entertainment, whether it be TV, computers, gaming systems, MP3 players, cellphones etc. It annoys me to see teenagers listening to their Ipod or text messaging while their parents are talking to them. They are “disconnected” from their surroundings.

I went to a private high school in northern California, in a small city called Ukiah. It is located inside a Buddhist monastery and the majority of the students lives in the dorm. The school, called Developing Virtue Secondary School, is famous for its strict codes. We cannot, at anytime during our stay in the school, have cellphones, mp3s, or computers. We can only use computers at home. We also have limited internet and only accessible on school computers. The internet blocks out facebook, myspace, youtube, and such sites used for socializing. The school wanted us to concentrate on our studies instead of playing games, listen to music, or chat with friends. For the four years I spent there, I realized there are so much more going on around me and so much to do when I’m not in front of my computer. WIth the long abstinence of internet, I can control my usage and overcome the addiction.

I felt lucky to have gone to that school. I made me see how dependent most people are on their cellphones, computers, Ipods and gameboys. Without it, they would almost seem lost. We need to connect with each other more, have real conversations, send REAL mails, give hugs and kisses….

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