Subj : RE: multi vs single tasking and whether you are on the spectrum
To   : k9zw
From : hyjinx
Date : Sat Aug 09 2025 15:10:17

 k9> On 04 May 2025, hyjinx said the following...
 k9>  hy> PC is that modern OS's are multi-tasking. There are so many
 k9>  hy> pop-ups/notifications, other shit on the screen that vie for my
 k9>  hy> attention. I'm growing more and more aware that I might be at least a
 k9>  hy> bit ADHD or something on the spectrum and staying focussed on looking
 k9>  hy> an MRC chat with other things vying for my attention is quite hard. B
 k9>  hy> on a DOS machine, it's single tasking pretty much, which makes me sto
 k9>  hy> and pay attention. I love it!- Let me know if you have similar feels
 k9>  hy> about multi vs single tasking and whether you are on the spectrum or
 k9>  hy> not. I'd genuinely love to hear from you.
 k9> Hey Hyjinx - it benefits to have a single-thread to one's engagement, but 
 k9> of what you are seeing is common and natural.
 k9> 
 k9> Seems that everyone is on the spectrum, whether slightly or something more
 k9> noticed.  

Well, I got so convinced of it, I reached out to family and friends, and basically they all said that I am 'ADHD as F8*k'. So since this original mail back in May, I went to a clinical psych, paid a lot of money, and got evaluated properly. Turns out, yes, yes I am :) As a middle-aged-ish man, this explains a lot of my youth and some of my more unorthodox decisions and way of life. I took this information positively, so I'm making some changes already. 

 k9> Similarly the capabilities to multi-task change, often for the simpler, ov
 k9> one's life.
 k9> 
 k9> A way you can simulate this is to compare your personal effectiveness betw
 k9> state of well rested and well fed/watered contrasting with a greater than 
 k9> spent moment while hungry and thirsty.  
 k9> 
 k9> When in the highly challenged mode you will have a highly different
 k9> effectiveness compared to the times when you are "up on all measures."
 k9> 
 k9> We also see this when people are unwell.  Their world gets smaller and the
 k9> perhaps deal with a single task, rather than their usual.
 k9> 
 k9> Afraid Age also does some of this to us.
 k9> 
 k9> And I also think we mentally give up on wasting so much energy multi-taski
 k9> low efficiency, maybe barely on some of the task-threads and develop a
 k9> preference to do less tasks but to do them well.
 k9> 
 k9> Some say the cumulative accumulation of life toxins plays a role too.
 k9> 
 k9> All good stuff to know!

You certainly sound like a wise person! Everything you said makes sense and I agree with it all. I am writing this on my XT, enjoying my single tasking for now!

Cheers,
Al


hyjinx // Alistair Ross
Author of 'Back to the BBS' Documentary: https://bit.ly/3tRINeL (YouTube)
alsgeeklab.com

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