this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2025
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Playing videogames, working, solving a puzzle?

all 50 comments
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[–] WhyAUsername_1@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Nope. I watch movies /TV Shows with focus. If I need to do something (example attend a phone call), I will pause the movie.

I can't do parallel work while watching.

[–] 200ok@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Same. I was gifted a book called the "myth of multitasking"... I feel like I don't need to read it to get the gist.

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I read everything I watch with subtitles. If it's on in the background, I am not paying attention at all. Music is background sound, not tv. The only time I let something roll while I'm not paying attention, is when it's something I've already seen multiple times and am just comfort seeking.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 19 points 2 weeks ago

I usually sit.

If a show isn't worth paying my full (visusl) attention to, it's not worth watching at all.

[–] Usernameblankface@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago

If I want to watch something, I'm going to sit down and only watch the thing.

[–] remon@ani.social 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Smoke weed and drink beer.

Most TV and cinema I try to appreciate and analyse as a medium. Its a visual medium and constantly changing.

Needs attention for analysis.

Now i do sometimes watch some braindead TV or movies too although you can always take away something from them too, they require a lil less attention.

  • So 90% of the time no distractions.
  • 10% of the time I might use my phone, or if I'm watching smth on my phone walk to my kitchen or talk to someone I'm with etc.
[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago

I'm not interested in movies/tv shows that you can follow without paying attention, so no.

[–] viking@infosec.pub 6 points 2 weeks ago

No. If I lose focus or get distracted, it means whatever I'm watching isn't worth it, and I'll switch to something else.

[–] Toes@ani.social 6 points 2 weeks ago

I try not to do that.

But sometimes the scene is really dry or too cringe for me.

I'll catch myself texting people or browsing image galleries.

[–] toomanypancakes@piefed.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Depends how much I care about what I'm watching. If I'm invested it has all my interest, otherwise it's probably background noise for whatever else I'm doing. Usually browsing the fediverse, chatting with friends, or shopping for shit I don't need

[–] otacon239@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

Heavily depends on what I’m watching. Some shows, I need full attention, others, I’ll do programming and have it on in the background and still be able to follow.

Depends on how the show was written and who the original audience was. I enjoy a lot of sitcom writing, but often find the pacing to be a bit slow, so those are perfect for putting on in the background.

[–] Perspectivist@feddit.uk 5 points 2 weeks ago

Other than eat, no. I never got into short form media so I still have a relatively normal attention span. There's nothing interesting on my phone anyway.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

No.

But if you ask instead, Do you watch movies/tv shows while doing something else? Then answer is yes, all the time. Mostly during chores like cleaning dishes or ironing but sometimes also doing puzzles, origami or whatever.

[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Exactly this. If I'm watching something good,I don't want distractions. But if I'm doing something that doesn't require a lot of attention, especially if it's tedious, I welcome a distraction.

[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago

There are some shows my wife picks that don't require full attention to get something from. Sometimes I do chess puzzles or play a 5 min game while they get to the point.

The more predictable of those kinds of shows you can literally just skip like 3/4 of the episode cough Dr pimple Popper cough.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 3 points 2 weeks ago

Go away. Batin'.

[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

Yep. I have Bluetooth headphones so I can wander the house freely. Tidying up, cooking, hobby projects here and there, picking out the dead leaves and buds on houseplants.

Some TV shows warrant full attention, but some I just listen to half of it. Some I rewatch as a comfort.

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

All the time. I sometimes read my phone, sometimes play games, often I'm doing chores (cooking, cleaning etc). Pretty much the only time I watch something 100% is if I go to the cinema, but if I'm at home I can't resist the distractions.

It also influences what I watch. I definitely prefer shows and films that don't require constant attention, so subtitles or minimal dialogue are not ideal. If it's a film that I really want to try and engage with as much as possible, I watch it first thing in the morning, as I'm still waking up. When my brain is still sluggish, just drinking a pot of coffee is enough to keep me busy while I watch. (and yeah, I've got adhd...)

[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I knit, especially easier designs that don’t require much attention.

[–] BOFH666@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Compiling..

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You probably have ADHD, OP

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I don't know. Everyone I know with ADHD gets too sucked into the TV too do anything else.

[–] DirigibleProtein@aussie.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sometimes I build chain mail while watching.

[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I assume butted chain, not riveted?

[–] DirigibleProtein@aussie.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Hopefully cosmetic or for boffers?

[–] DirigibleProtein@aussie.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

Cosplay or jewellery usually. This is what I’m working on at the moment:

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

When watching something on my TV I usually have an rtsp stream of my 3d printer on my PC, just so I can catch any spaghetti being printed before I waste too much time and plastic.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

If I want to watch something, I'll watch it.

That being said, there's always something playing on the TV, so I'm often playing on my phone while listening to whatever it is.

[–] CharlesReed@fedia.io 2 points 2 weeks ago

If I'm by myself, I'm either eating or knitting. But if I'm with someone or in a theater, then nothing.

[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Sometimes something mindless like folding laundry.

[–] sheridan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If it's a fictional show, not usually. But I'll often play reality shows like Shark Tank or Naked & Afraid or a crime documentary while I do chores.

[–] calliope@retrolemmy.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

I love a good crime documentary for chores!

[–] Sparkles@fedia.io 2 points 2 weeks ago

I play sudoku, get distracted, rewind. Keeps me busy.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Almost always. As others have said its sorta the opposite. I throw things on in the background while doing other stuff. When I have the rare thing of something I really want to watch which like most of the time involves me and my wife watching together. Then its just the show. Most of the time the show or movie we really want to see ends in disappointment (the dog in superman to us was the only good thing and fantastic four was rather disappointing outside of some special effects)

[–] breb@piefed.social 1 points 2 weeks ago

yeah really wanted fantastic four cgi

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

Reflect on childhood PTSD, sometimes the parallels are too similar and I cry.

If it gets too boring, change VLC setting to 1.25 or 1.5

[–] RodgeGrabTheCat@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

I play a game on an old android tablet. Usually Sudoku or Fruitty Game.

[–] amelia@feddit.org 1 points 2 weeks ago

I think the only time I ever properly watched something while doing something else was when I had to do incredibly monotonous measurements in the lab, holding a little sensor to random positions on an object, for hours, so I watched LOL while doing that. Since both activities required less than half of my brain, it was fine.

Sometimes I watch YouTube videos while doing something else like playing a game that doesn't always require full attention, or editing photos. But only if there isn't much going on visually anyway and I'm mostly listening.

I would never watch a movie and do something else simultaneously. Movies are a main focus thing.

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Sometimes I play Clash Royale. It's a slow enough game that I can place down my troops without using too much of my brain

[–] AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Usually I try to just watch without being distracted by something else. Otherwise, if I'm working on something like an essay for college or sometimes other work that isn't college related, I will sometimes have a show onnmy external hard drive playing to keep me going.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] urheber@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

the only right answer.

@twakyr@feddit.org

[–] DudenessBoy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

I play 2048

[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Write code. Whatever side-project happens to be capturing my attention at the moment.

Occasionally play video games. Or Lemmy.

[–] vortexal@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago

I usually just eat when I watch tv shows and movies. I don't see a reason to anything else, outside of "those" types, and I can't just sit and watch things because, especially with movies, I tend to fall asleep while trying to watch them.