Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A Paean to the Pain of Multitasking

Multitasking.

I loathe the very word with its self-important, mutlisyllabic tut-tutting of schoolmistress- or drill-sergeant-inspired legalism; with its hidden "tit" and its phony "asking" and its stern "ulti"matum and its usurping pretender "king." And I despise the word's very origins, which describe the functions of a computer's central processing unit, as if we and our brains were no more than CPUs dressed up in so much flesh and neural wiring. And most of all I detest the reality of multitasking.

Quite simply, I ain't built for it. Call it ADHD, genetics, impatience, zen, Luddite Syndrome, or Old School, but it drives me to distraction. (Well, by definition, multitasking thrives on distraction, doesn't it? That's the secret fun of its legion of admirers.)

E-mails, phone calls, oral requests, written demands on real paper, taps on the shoulder, cellphone messages, electrodes attached to the cerebral cortex. Sort it all out. Prioritize (another loathsome word; why not rank?) it all. Do it all now. Do it all at once. Do it all perfectly.

At work we are besieged, inundated, swamped by multiple tasks competing for our attention and action. It's almost enough to send me packing, out the door, strolling off with a secret smile. Job ads clamor for candidates who excel at multitasking, as if proficiency in this were a badge of valor, an iconic medal of honor for those bloodied but unbowed in the mercantile wars.

I suppose so-called multitasking (also termed "engaging in polychronistic activities") has its place (you sex fiends out there will suggest soixante-neuf). I suppose real battlegrounds, ICUs, and homes may be suitable venues for multitasking ("honey, can you hold on that orgasm while I text back my boss on those merger numbers?").

But multitasking (hyphenated or not) is not for me.

Besides, does the pitcher pitch and bat simultaneously? Does the quarterback throw and receive at the same time? Does the pilot take off and land concurrently? Can a president (ahem, this president) successfully think and talk simultaneously? Should a soloist perform ensemble?

I say, do one thing and do it right, rather than five things simultaneously and shittily.

But that's little ol' me. Alas, I recognize I am sadly out of step with the modern world. (Or still haven't recovered from vacation.)

That's why I like the Latin phrase I suggest as an antidote for this current rage:

Age quod agis --

which means, "Do what you are doing" (and presumably, not something else at the same time).

Now, back to work, folks!

Laugh. Or....
Else.

12 comments:

azgoddess said...

awww...multi-tasking is what i'm best at......it's keeps my mind busy..and productive...

i do like the orgasm comment...precious!!

and yea - you got me laughing...

Pawlie Kokonuts said...

AZG,
OK. So we disagree . . . about everything except the O thing.
PK

Foofa said...

I am currently reading, typing, texting, and putting together file folders. However, if a project is anything approaching dificult I am all about one task at a time.

Pawlie Kokonuts said...

Natalie,
...and blogging too . . .
pk

Unknown said...

I am setting here trying to decide if I can comment and drink coffee at the same time.


Nope. Guess not.


Later Y'all

The Pretentious Ignoramus said...

Pawlie: multi tasking is a fetish--nothing more and nothing less--for those with the attention span of a gnat.

Pawlie Kokonuts said...

MC,
Wise choice.

BoSteed,
You've got me stumped: I have gnat-span attention but despise multitasking. My ever-present question: where do I fit in?

PK

Dafath said...

i'd like to get back to the rank
and
suggest that it is too bad that the soixante-neuf is much a rumor as angels
besides, we know what st. augustine said about sex
it abides between shit and piss
though part of the intrigue of certain sex is filth
i wonder
can we multitask this
shit & piss?

Pawlie Kokonuts said...

Dafath,
Did St. Augustine know French? I guess he did -- before he mended his ways.
PK

Dafath said...

he knew greek

Army said...

Preach on, P-Ko! Peko?

It's more dictates from The Corporation to mindsap, go lean, do less with more, and omnitask.

Yes, all the birds with one stone. In this arena, I say, fit not and be merry.

Anonymous said...

Just questioning if eBay enables you to market [url=http://www.ticketchoice.com.au]concert tickets[/url] online? Do you know if you will find any restrictions depending on what country you're in?

My parents have just known as me and asked if i could "get rid" of their two tickets to some concert as they wont be able to make it due to yet another family event.

Apart from asking buddies etc, i thought ebay would be an excellent place to market them.

But whats ebay's policy on marketing tickets? Ive heard alot about it about the news but ive forgotten what happened.

and if it matters, the concert is inside this coming month

Thanks ahead of time for the advice.

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