Multitasking = not doing anything well?

[mcgyver]

In this day and age when everyone seems to be trying to do more things all at the same time, I have to wonder what we have giving up in the trade.
People are talking on the phone and driving, doing neither 100% well. They are texting while in conversation with others. Watching TV while trying to visit with guests.
Mothers are eating and driving while the Kids eat happy meals watching videos in the back of a minivan.
I may be showing my age, or obsolescence here, but I was taught to concentrate on what I’m doing.
If you are concentrating on your task, you start to think of the collateral aspects of your task. You know, like consequences of a mistake, ways to do improve the process, and how to do a better job.
Let’s take parenting for example. Has any one read the headlines about needing to redesign the hotdog? It’s just not safe anymore.
OR, maybe the parents are not thinking about what they are throwing in front of junior to eat, and the consequences of not cutting it up for them. Maybe Junior needs to be old enough to know how to chew their food before they get a whole hot dog, and parents should be able to know when that is. … If they were paying attention and thinking about consequences.

I see zombie like people in every public place. Too busy talking or texting on the cell phone to notice anything, or anyone else around them. It is no wonder we need to be looked out for like children. Our attention span seems to be getting too short for a long-term, in-depth thoughts. We are loosing our ability to concentrate on the task, or life in front of us.

Maybe that is what we all find so appealing about bush craft. One task at a time, think about it, and do it well, or suffer consequence. There is great satisfaction in doing something to the best of your ability. I wish the concept were not slipping from our average population so easily.

Sorry for the long soapbox speech, but I feel better now.
Thanks

[hunter63]

Mc-g, you are probably correct on the multitasking, seem the more "labor saving stuff", we have only tends to lead us astray from actually doing anything.

I watch the hot dog thing, as well.
Darwin's Theory has already been threatened by 911, now it appears any attempt at Natural Selection will be legislated out of existence.

(small time out for a personal rant), If your kid is too stupid to eat a hot dog, with out dieing and needs the government to protect him, probably doesn't deserve to live anyway

I'm better now

[rwc1969]

Studies have shown that multitaskers do a lot of things at once, I saw the show too, but they do them all half assed. My recent work search shows companys want multitaskers.

Based on that I am left to assume the average employer is looking for half assed employees that can look busy. Maybe that's why I'm unemployed as I hate doing anything half assed and was never one to milk the cow. Put myself right outta work I did.

[2dumb2kwit]

Mc-g, you are probably correct on the multitasking, seem the more "labor saving stuff", we have only tends to lead us astray from actually doing anything.

I watch the hot dog thing, as well.
Darwin's Theory has already been threatened by 911, now it appears any attempt at Natural Selection will be legislated out of existence.

(small time out for a personal rant), If your kid is too stupid to eat a hot dog, with out dieing and needs the government to protect him, probably doesn't deserve to live anyway

I'm better now

See.......I've been saying for a while now, that we need to cull the herd!

[Winnie]

I agree with absolutely everything you've said McG. My old boss could never work out how I managed to finish in 2hrs what took my predecessor all afternoon. Easy, concentrate on one thing at a time and be organised!

BTW I can't believe the hotdog thing!

[hunter63]

Well, here ya go, I just kinda shook my head, walked away muttering to my self after seeing on the news:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Str...em%2C_Say_Docs

[Rick]

I completely disagree. Mankind was built to multi-task. It's the women we have to worry about....

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[aflineman]

Studies have shown that multitaskers do a lot of things at once, I saw the show too, but they do them all half assed. My recent work search shows companys want multitaskers.

Based on that I am left to assume the average employer is looking for half assed employees that can look busy. Maybe that's why I'm unemployed as I hate doing anything half assed and was never one to milk the cow. Put myself right outta work I did.

Kind of my experience at my last job. My boss told me when he hired me that he wanted me to do ONE thing, SELL!, and not get sidetracked from selling. Then he proceeded to get mad at me when I wouldn't so his little projects for him. Then he wanted me to handle technical support, construction management, product development, and design. Then I got laid-off because my sales numbers were down. I will have to say though, getting laid-off is probably one of the best things that could have happened. It helped to get me my degree.

[aflineman]

Well, here ya go, I just kinda shook my head, walked away muttering to my self after seeing on the news:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Str...em%2C_Say_Docs

My Wife and I were kind of like WTH when we heard that. My Daughter's comment was; "Well, just don't give them hotdogs until they are older. I like my hotdogs they way that they are. Why should I suffer because of some dumb parents?"

[BENESSE]

I completely disagree. Mankind was built to multi-task. It's the women we have to worry about....

If the men stepped up once in a while and made themselves more useful you wouldn't have to worry about the women now, would you?
They could multi-task in a way you might appreciate a little more.

[mcgyver]

Well, here ya go, I just kinda shook my head, walked away muttering to my self after seeing on the news:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Str...em%2C_Say_Docs

Did you read this...
"Stuffing large numbers of marshmallows in the mouth also may increase the risk of choking"???
We need a medical expert to explain that?

Some years ago, I read a book by a man by named Sun Bear called "Black Dawn Bright Day". In it, he warned that the great dog (earth) will shake off her fleas (us).
I'm starting to see it coming about real soon.

[mcgyver]

My Wife and I were kind of like WTH when we heard that. My Daughter's comment was; "Well, just don't give them hotdogs until they are older. I like my hotdogs they way that they are. Why should I suffer because of some dumb parents?"

Congratulations!!!!
You are doing a good job parenting.
I'm proud of your Daughter!!!

[preachtheWORD]

See.......I've been saying for a while now, that we need to cull the herd!

The thing is, most of the time people already do a pretty good job of culling themselves. Solomon said "Fools die for want of wisdom." (Proverbs 10:21) Often enough, that ends up being literal.

[cyc79]

In this day and age when everyone seems to be trying to do more things all at the same time, I have to wonder what we have giving up in the trade.
People are talking on the phone and driving, doing neither 100% well. They are texting while in conversation with others. Watching TV while trying to visit with guests.
Mothers are eating and driving while the Kids eat happy meals watching videos in the back of a minivan.
I may be showing my age, or obsolescence here, but I was taught to concentrate on what I’m doing.
If you are concentrating on your task, you start to think of the collateral aspects of your task. You know, like consequences of a mistake, ways to do improve the process, and how to do a better job.
Let’s take parenting for example. Has any one read the headlines about needing to redesign the hotdog? It’s just not safe anymore.
OR, maybe the parents are not thinking about what they are throwing in front of junior to eat, and the consequences of not cutting it up for them. Maybe Junior needs to be old enough to know how to chew their food before they get a whole hot dog, and parents should be able to know when that is. … If they were paying attention and thinking about consequences.

I see zombie like people in every public place. Too busy talking or texting on the cell phone to notice anything, or anyone else around them. It is no wonder we need to be looked out for like children. Our attention span seems to be getting too short for a long-term, in-depth thoughts. We are loosing our ability to concentrate on the task, or life in front of us.

Maybe that is what we all find so appealing about bush craft. One task at a time, think about it, and do it well, or suffer consequence. There is great satisfaction in doing something to the best of your ability. I wish the concept were not slipping from our average population so easily.

Sorry for the long soapbox speech, but I feel better now.
Thanks

One task at a time,yes,as I type away with my one finger.....
Seriously,I couldn't agree more.

[Winnie]

I completely disagree. Mankind was built to multi-task. It's the women we have to worry about....

I think the other ladies will agree with this.... Ask spouse/son/uncle/male friend to do something as well as what they were going to do, nope ain't going to happen.

[Rick]

I remember years ago the same criticism was leveled at hot dogs. At the time, they wanted to make hot dogs with a hollow center running through it so if a child did get a piece of hotdog lodged in their throat they would still be able to breath. No word on how that would work if it lodged sideways.

[Pal334]

Do one thing at a time, do it well. If you have to set it aside for more information or materials, so be it. You can move on to the next project.
I have managers that think it is important to have mutltiple tasks open just for the sake of having a cluttered desk. Work a little on one, close it, work a little on the next , close it, and so forth. I get chided constantly for not being a multi tasker. my response is that I am too much of a professional to play the college kid silly games. I deliver results and a finished product, not a cluttered desk and open projects.

SO my opinion is, multitasking is for clowns that do not have a good work habit or ethic

[BENESSE]

SO my opinion is, multitasking is for clowns that do not have a good work habit or ethic

Or it could be for people who are so loaded up in an understaffed work environment that they could work 24/7 and still not get everything done perfectly.
Doing one thing at a time and doing it well is a luxury that many of us can just dream about. That, and retiring with a gold watch after 30 years of employment by the same company.

[trax]

Well let me tell you people, you should try looking at the other side of the coin.Doing absolutely nothing is far more difficult than one might first assume. I'll keep struggling at it though

[Rick]

or being able to do more than one nothing at the same time. negative multi tasking. That's my goal.