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My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

polygon.com

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Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#41

Post by DocG »

Insanity wrote: post #4

I used to have a double monitor setup and would program / play games / browse around on primary while watching a series on my secondary. But since some years ago I noticed that I can't do both at the same time anymore. Definitely programming while a series is on the background is a no-go, but if I play games I also just entirely miss the series (or vice versa). Not sure if it has to do with getting older, or my prima…

I still prefer strongly two monitors over one big for work and programming but! The content must be one. It's either result in one screen and code in other or reference email in one and code in other etc. Two monitors is a way to go, if the content is the same.

No messengers/YouTubes or anything unrelated open in any screens constantly. Phone behind monitor or somewhere away where I can't see it.

Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#42

Post by ASalazarMX »

opan wrote: post #31
Insanity wrote: post #4

I used to have a double monitor setup and would program / play games / browse around on primary while watching a series on my secondary. But since some years ago I noticed that I can't do both at the same time anymore. Definitely programming while a series is on the background is a no-go, but if I play games I also just entirely miss the series (or vice versa). Not sure if it has to do with getting older, or my prima…

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…

Maybe 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.

Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#43

Post by ASalazarMX »

esperent wrote: post #40
opan wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> You were probably never properly experiencing both things. How can you make statements with such certainty about another person's experience?

I 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.

Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#46

Post by Insanity »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #43
esperent wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You were probably never properly experiencing both things. How can you make statements with such certainty about another person's experience?

I 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…

Interestingly, it was the same age range for me. I think the overstimulation with background noise is spot on.

Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#47

Post by drewcoo »

orev wrote: post #29
Insanity wrote: post #4

I used to have a double monitor setup and would program / play games / browse around on primary while watching a series on my secondary. But since some years ago I noticed that I can't do both at the same time anymore. Definitely programming while a series is on the background is a no-go, but if I play games I also just entirely miss the series (or vice versa). Not sure if it has to do with getting older, or my prima…

It’s physically impossible for the human brain to multitask like this (multiple streams that both require cognitive attention), and studies have shown that people who try to do this actually end up with long term damage to their ability to focus. It’s very likely that you never were able to do this, and at some point just hit a threshold of damage to your focus that you finally realized it. Also, the same study showe…

I often tell people that, too. Because they usually claim to be multitasking to be more efficient.

But is this actually multitasking? When I did data entry, I could "read" forms and type them in while I listened to books on tape because I wasn't actually thinking about the data in the forms. How much cognitive load do the games take? Or the movies?

Further, if this is a pleasant experience, who gives a damn whether or not it's multitasking or real multitasking or optimal behavior? It's supposed to be enjoyable, so if we're going to measure anything, measure that.

Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#48

Post by drewcoo »

opan wrote: post #31
Insanity wrote: post #4

I used to have a double monitor setup and would program / play games / browse around on primary while watching a series on my secondary. But since some years ago I noticed that I can't do both at the same time anymore. Definitely programming while a series is on the background is a no-go, but if I play games I also just entirely miss the series (or vice versa). Not sure if it has to do with getting older, or my prima…

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…

How 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.

Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#49

Post by drewcoo »

ptero wrote: post #12
foxyv wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, there is occasionally something magical about a living room with a television that brings a group of friends together. Especially for a new movie we all get excited about. It's too bad that is so rare.

Yes, but a room with two TVs on which two family members can play their own games is, to me, a step in the wrong direction :(.

Then if you're in that situation, consider counseling or divorce.

Otherwise, shut up.

Re: My living room still has 3 TVs but I have regrets

#50

Post by homonculus1 »

stagger87 wrote: post #33
homonculus1 wrote: post #25

Try guessing the author's appearance based on his attitude. Then click on his name to see a photo of him. Did you get it right? I did.

This is not an appropriate comment for this forum.

Au contrair. Tech has psychosocial ramifications that are strong enough to yield predictive power. Such is the bread and butter of HN.
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