Are all men unable to multi task?

[Emma_Marie]

Just wondering here, i've noticed that men are unable to do two things at once. My best mate (who i live with at uni and who is also a guy) drives me mental with his sheer inability to listen to me and play xbox(live! )/text/watch tv etc....are all men like this??? i do be sitting there chatting away, only to ask his opinion and he hasn't a clue what i'm talking about!!!

And no, i REALLY don't talk that much.................

[jayuk]

Hmmm...I can multi task...selectively!

[Andrew MacLean]

My daughtr and son were crossing the road in Glasgow. I was ust ahead of them, we were on our way to a restaurant for dinner.

Peter to Jane, "Phone Alister and ask if he is going kayaking tomorrow".

Jane responds "I'll do that when we are over the road".

Peter retorts, "but you are a woman, you are supposed to be able to do everything at once."

Jane objects, "Just how many things do you think I ought to be able to do at the same time".

Peter, triumphantly "MULTI"

Jane objected to me, Peter appealed for arbitartion, but I pretended to be unaware of their previous conversation.

Now what was I going to do next ...

[Michael P]

I am hopeless at multi tasking.

When I used to work in an office if I was on the phone people could have jumped on my desk and danced around naked and I wouldn't have noticed. I don't think they did though, at least as far as I know!

[Andrew MacLean]

Right, now, while there are none of the wimmin listening, let me say to the men. At all costs we have got to keep alive the illusion that men cannot multi task. Michael, thank you for your contribution to this. If we let slip for a momen that we can chew gum and walk at the same time, there is no knowing what we'll be expected to do.

Sshhh

Andrew

[Michael P]

You are absolutely right Andrew.

My wife was looking over my shoulder when i submitted my post. All I was really trying to do was to maintain the illusion!

I am very glad you were able to read between the lines. It's a knack we men have isn't it.

[Andrew MacLean]

Spot on, and thank you for continuing to make the effort.

Andrew

[Michael P]

Thanks Andrew,

There is no doubt that we must stick together. Whilst we are winning the odd battle we still have to win the war.

I am getting so good at deception, my wife even thinks i've got KC.

I must say that it is great to have such friendly cross border relations and I hope that we can find other suitable causes for future co-operation.

[Andrew MacLean]

[Knight]

Actually, erm, the whole idea that people can multitask and the comparison to computers is ... not entirely correct... I could say wrong but I don't wish to be blunt about it, although, consider that a sneaky way to slip in it there

I wont bore everyone with the research, but multi tasking in the brain isn't possible in the terms that it is applied or how we use or perceive it as such. The brain, generally, will prioritise tasks, and research does prove, that attempting to multi task if anything, achieves no better results and usually each task will suffer as we try to divide time and attention between both.

Multi tasking isn't so much about doing two tasks at once but about motor functions and the ability to do both at the same time, one is automatic the other a conscious effort; eg patting your head and rubbing your stomach, while talking, is multi-tasking. Trying to listen to two conversations at once, would be true multi-tasking, but generally isn't possible. Like pain, the brain can only process one set of information at only one time.
Usually, also, women, cannot read a map and talk at the same time, but men can although women can listen to and follow directions while talking at the same time, men can't, it's to do with the processes involved and how each brain can process the information as a set of instructions as opposed to it being an automatic process.
Thats why if I'm trying to watch something and my girlfriend is chittering away and suddenly asks my opinion I default to a brain-stall and have conditioned myself to reply with a general compliment followed by a quick general question causing her a brain-stall - therefore an automatic response giving the appearance of attention so she can chitter away while I enjoy my show.