Can You Tune Out Distractions While Reading?

[Chris]

I find tv distracting, and music - especially when there's singing. I do however like music in the background though - classical or something chilled. Dead silence is distracting strangely enough - when it's really quiet all I can hear are gentle chiming and ringing sounds in my ears (mild tinnitus). Could be worse!

[Bonnie]

I guess through the years of riding the TTC (my transit system) I've grown accustomed to blocking disruptive noise out. I've also learned that pretending to read on the subway is a great way to avoid eye contact with the mentally ill. Nothing ruins my mornings more then having a homeless person yell at me. (the joys of city life :( )

[Mary]

If I'm reading something really good I can tune out almost anything. Tonight however I was sitting on the sofa trying to read a book that is not captivating me and my stepson was watching Fool's Gold on TV (why???) and even though I have a strong loathing for Matthew McConnaughey, I couldn't stop looking up at the screen instead of concentrating on the page.

[Kallie]

For me, mostly it depends on the book. If I am really enjoying the book, virtually nothing can distract me (hearing my own name always catches my attention) but if I'm not really liking the book I'm reading, my level of distractability goes way up.

[RandomAnthony]

Welcome to TC, Kallie!

[Rannie]

BunWat wrote: "Oh talking your way out of tickets stories!! Those are always fun. Here's my best one.

I was stopped for speeding. I was in a bad mood. The cop said to me "what's the hurry?" and because I wa..."

perfect - I'll have to remember that one!

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

Bun you didn't!

[Heidi]

THAT is an awesome story. So were you really late to pick up your husband?

[Ashley]

Nope. Not at all. Sometimes even listening to music will distract me like crazy.

[Anthony]

My employer, in its wisdom, decided to put its staff in an open-plan office. My work, which consisted largely of reading and writing, had therefore to take place amidst crowds of people arguing, telephoning, gossiping, snoring, shouting. Some people, when they telephone, announce their conversation as though from a pulpit. Others have voices like razors. Yet others spend hour after hour over every conversation. For years, groups of people would gather to gossip by my desk.
Thankfully, they eventually banished smoking from the office, but for several years a colleague at the next desk would light up one cigarette while another still burned in her ashtray. The smoke that billowed over my desk saved me the substantial cost of buying cigarettes for myself.
The result? I can now read and write anywhere, on a clothes-line if necessary.

[Ann]

I have always thought that I was pretty good at tuning out distractions while reading (growing up in a huge family will do that for ya). To avoid the mis-communication issue with the husband, I just turned him into a reader. Now we both know to double check that the person we're talking to is in the conversation, not in the book.

I got my confirmation about my book focus two weeks ago, when I read during the entire course of my first (and most likely only) tattoo. :) My dad always said that having something else to focus on helps with pain. Turns out he's right!

[Kevin]

my wife can prob answer this better than i can as to whether or not i can tune things out while reading

[Jbs]

I am Ann's husband and let me tell you. I just dealt with a two-year-old full blown kicking screaming fall-on-the-floor tantum not 10 feet from Ann and she didn't hear a thing. *Shocker!* Oh well at least it's books that distract her and not other things.

[ms.petra]

sounds like the makings of a strong relationship :)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome to TC Ann's husband (Jbs)

[L.J.]

I used to be able to read and write novels with three young boys playing Nintendo five feet away. Now I that I have a lot more quiet, I like it and I need it to concentrate.
L.J.

The Sex Club
Secrets to Die for

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

I am driven crazy (batshit crazy) by gum popping, gum chewing, and sibilant voices. Have to use headphones on public transportation or I would become homicidal. At home, I can read through music and usually TV, but find conversations and the noise of skateboards on the sidewalk extremely distracting.

Noise that is appealing to read to: the Vienna Boys Choir, about 75 yards distant; silence; nightingales.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

I hear stuff but it takes time to sink in. So I'll respond to something I hear several minutes later. It drives my family nuts.

[BK]

I'd like to think I am pretty good at tuning things out, considering I have cats and all. I will zone in on a book or whatever it is that I'm reading, and not even realize that someone is talking to me.

Repetitive noises, especially beeps, drive me crazy though.

And flies. >:(

[Kristi]

I can tune just about everything out. Especially the kids, tv, music, etc.

I agree with BonFire on the repetitive noises though. They will pop the bubble the quickest & irritate me the most.

However, like Kelly, I can tune the entire household out, but all does sink through the "spere" eventually meaning that I do respond to the family just in a delayed way. This drives my husband absolutely NUTS, and my kids look at me as if I'M nuts.

This also serves to keep them on their toes as they don't know if I'm thinking about it, the bubble hasn't popped yet, or if they need to repeat themselves in case the bubble is still intact. Us parents must take our entertainment where we can.

[Sally, la reina]

Here's what I hate: my WT neighbors have a remote control car they like to vroom around the neighborhood in the afternoons. The sound of that high pitched motor up and down back and forth drives me apeshit.

[Carol]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that used to be able to tune out everything to read. I do a lot of sighing in annoyance when interrupted. My swing (which I call a cabana) is perfect for reading...as long as everyone doesn't try to join me.
Heck, I have a hard time watching CNN because the crawl is so hypnotizing!

[Sally, la reina]

Hah! Me too, Carol! I can't hear what they're saying b/c I can't stop reading the crawl! Thank goodness I"m not the only one. :D

[Kira]

Well, thanks goodness, now I can put up with almost all kinds of distractions while reading and am able to read while people are talking, the TV is on, etc, and follow the subject perfectly well. The only thing is that I probably read slower...

[Mona]

L.J.: I can sometimes read with the TV in the background but I prefer quiet. I also find it difficult to read if hubby and my 5-yr-old are talking right next to me even if they're not talking to me. Video game noise really irritates me.

I clicked on the links you posted because the titles looked interesting and now they are both on my to-read list.