Does Anyone Do This?

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Talk on a cellphone while shopping or doing something else? I used to answer my cellphone while otherwise busy, but it got really distracting to try to carry on a conversation while shopping or just out walking. I just couldn't multi-task. As for driving, forget it! Is anyone else able to talk on a cell phone at the same time as doing other things?

Sometimes I throw away things that I need while I am on the phone, or I eat or drink something.

This is a really complex subject for me. I really hate to talk on the phone when there are other people around me - but I also hate to let my phone ring if I'm around other people. So I will answer - but keep the conversation very short. If I'm driving, I might answer if I'm out of traffic (e.g. on the Interstate, driving between cities), but otherwise let it go to voicemail.

More to the point - I won't walk & talk on the phone at the same time (if I have to talk, I'll move to stand out of the way.) I agree that multitasking is pretty much out of the question.

i usually don't like to talk on the phone if i'm with other people.

I hate using phones anyway but I do find using one while doing anything else impossible. I tend to be unable to focus on the voice on the other end and it becomes like background noise and whatever else I was supposed to be doing gets forgotten too. I also hate it if I'm with someone and they answer their phone. I'd prefer nobody to have them but then my slightly paranoid side says some tragedy may happen where you need instant contact with someone so I have to have one just in case.

Nope, even if i try i just stop whatever else i'm doing.

Even holding a conversation with my wife i will stop doing the dishes or whatever else i'm doing and pay complete attention to the new task.

I have lots of memory and a huge hard drive and a really powerfull processor, but it's *very* single core

In New Zealand it's illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving unless you have a hands-free kit. It doesn't bother me though because I don't even have a car. I usually don't answer my phone when out shopping or in an otherwise public place because I'd have to stop walking to concentrate on the conversation and in places like supermarkets and shopping malls it's not very easy to just stop without having someone ask you to move out of the way and further distract you.

I don't talk on my cell phone when I'm driving. I usually stop at the next place and call them back. I use my phone for
other things so it can be noisy around me and usually I can tune out the noise or whatever.

I can do certain simple tasks when I talk on my cell phone. Like looking at the weather site, searching something simple (like a pen) but nothing that needs too much attention. I personally hate it when ppl are talking on there cell in the train it's quite irritating as the speak quite loud and it's hard to ignore/filter them. Most frustrating are those how do it in a silence-coach. And then the subjects, from family affairs to illnesses someone has and, of course, problems at work

Its illegal to talk on cell phone and driving where I live (Ontario, Canada), unless you have hands-free set I think. I rarely talk on cell phone so I don't remember if I do other stuff as well while I'm talking.

I don't like talking on the phone at all, except with husband, kids and sister. And usually we don't have long, drawn out conversations on the phone and are just exchanging information. We all live close together and so have plenty of opportunity to have conversations with each other in person.

If someone calls me on the cell and I'm out shopping or running errands I tell them I'm busy and that I'll call them back. I don't drive, so that's not a problem. I hate it when people have phone long, business or personal conversations in the supermarket aisles or other public places, and I really hate it when I have to listen to their personal business while I'm on the train. But to answer your question - I could talk on the phone and shop at the same time, I just find it really annoying so I refuse, but not because it would be impossible for me to do two things at once.

That's the same with me and I don't seem to understand why i don't function with a conversation on the phone when people are around but when I'm by myself, I tend to say as many words as I can.



Same with the UK rules apparently... The laws seem pretty strict on things like that, but people seem to get away with it as far as I know. kinda pointless having that as a law, however that's why there is a Bluetooth earpiece , now you can talk and drive without having to hold the phone in your ear.

I have a hard time talking at all and can rarely talk and do anything else at the same time.

I really hate it, when I am shopping and somebody blocks the aisle with a phone up to their ear, oblivious to their surroundings. Apparently, they are under the illusion that they are "multitasking."

I can't. I find it hard enough to listen to a passenger talking while I drive. My husband calls me from work before he comes home, asking if I need him to pick up anything from the store. I have a hard time coming up with a list of stuff while I'm on the phone. I just can't think.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people you see talking on a cell phone as they are pulling out of a parking lot. And that's not even taking into account the fact that it's illegal to talk on a handheld phone while driving. I'm just amazed at the fact that so many people are able to operate their vehicle--observing traffic, making the turn out of the parking lot and onto the road, checking for pedestrians--and talk on the phone at the same time. And, even more than that, it baffles me that they are choosing to do that, when just a few seconds ago they were parked. Why not just stay parked and make your call. Then, when you are done with the call, drive. Sure, you might save some time (assuming your reckless driving doesn't cause you to have to make a pit stop at the emergency room or the morgue), but if you can't spare a few minutes to make your call, then I see that as a sign that you need to manage your time better. (I'm saying "you" in the general sense.)

Digressing Rant Warning: In fact, I'm going to take it a step further, because this is something that really bugs me, and point out that I think the fact that everyone is driving and talking on the phone at the same time is a commentary on how utterly ridiculous our society has become. It's like you must be connected at all times. I find it disturbing, somehow.

I agree. It's something that I find to be very prevalent amongst NTs. Not to say that Aspies don't talk on the phone and drive, but I see this behavior as another symptom of Nts overwhelming social needy-ness.