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Comment by WhrRTheBaboons

4 hours ago

>Most of my learning now is via audio books while I'm doing something else.

You're not actually learning anything then. Memorizing trivia, sure. But not actually learning.

That seems like a pretty controversial take. Why would you not be able to learn things orally?

  • You absolutely can learn orally, what I'd question is if you can do so without active listening. Listing to anything while doing, well anything, is pretty pointless to me, I tends to not listen and not absorb anything. I can barely listen to a podcast while working out, I miss huge gaps where my brain just isn't listening.

    • Maybe working out requires attention like a sport if you're trying to eploy proper technique and be observant of pains or signs, develop, etc.

      I miss nothing from listening to books while driving, doing the dishes, other houshold chores, puttering in the garage like working on a bike or car, even home repars that are somewhat technical, even electronics if only the solding/building part.

      The only time I can't listen to a book (and actually get anything out of it) is when my forground activity requires the same kinds of facilities. For instance with the electronics. Listening to a book while soldering a pcb is no problem at all. The two things don't conflict, and neither hurts the other. But I can't work on the design of that same pcb whilke listening to a book. In that case the schematic gets designed fine and the book is a blank like I slept through it. pcb layout is kinda half-way. It's more visual/spacial, which is almost like doing some ordinary manual task, but it does take more problem solving attention and the book loses out somewhat sometimes.

      But for all kinds of activities it's like two different things that don't impact each other at all.

      Even creative things as long as it's in a different domain like drawing vs having some politics explained.

      I can't listen to a book and write a song at the same time. Or code.

      Cad is like pcb layout kinda 50/50 so I might still put something on but just a podcast where I don't care if I miss something.

  • It’s the focus that’s important. If you’re listening while doing other things, you’re not really focusing on it.

  • You're not actually using your brain to do much, just as OP said, sort-of badly memorizing trivia.

With me (I have ADHD), I would never be able to listen to an audiobook alone, I would zone out and day dream one paragraph in. But If I'm playing a game on my phone, I can listen and pay attention for hours.