Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Childers.Paula AT epamail.epa.gov]

I think it's a personality thing, not a gender thing.

I enjoy having multiple things happening at once, don't mind talking to two
people, one on the phone, one in the office; like Laura, I read several
books at once, etc. However, my g/f is like David, and gets mad if I try to
speak to her while she's on the phone, even if the conversation involves
something in which it would be valuable to have my input. She'd rather hang
up, talk to me, then call the other person back.  What a waste of time! :-)

I think people are starting to bring up this "partial
attention"/multitasking as an "issue" because, since it's such a *useful*
skill to have in today's fast-paced economy, people who don't have this
multitasking ability are trying to perform as if they do: this makes them
grumpy, stressed, and probably forgetful. Maybe those "wired" people who
are losing their memory are really suffering from strained multitaskors. ;
-)

PC



i remember reading a while back that women are more skilled at
multi-tasking than men and that this was proven scientifically. can
anyone back this up?

wouldn't surprise me. for instance, while talking to someone on the
phone, my g/f can simultaneously answer questions that i might throw
her way. personally, i find the prospect of trying to put up with
someone asking me questions while i'm speaking to someone else on the
phone abhorrent.
--
- david demers