Matthew Hunter said: > On Tue, Nov 26, 2002 at 12:08:50AM -0800, Steven Brust > <skzb at dreamcafe.com> wrote: >> At 09:57 PM 11/25/2002 -0800, David Silberstein wrote: >> > "Listening to music while reading is like putting ketchup on >> steak." >> >What does that *mean*? I'm a vegetarian, so I don't really >> understand how ketchup affects steak. >> It means you are covering over the flavor of the steak, which is >> reasonable in the case of badly prepared steaks (although even then, >> you can certainly do better than ketchup). > > Ketchup is a very poor match for steak. Proper sauces can > contrast and combine with the flavor of the steak. Ketchup is > sufficiently strong and different to be jarring, dischordant, and > overwhelm the subtle flavorings. > >> >To the left, I do sometimes listen to music while reading, and I find >> that sometimes what I'm reading is so interesting that I start >> >ignoring the music, and sometimes the music is so compelling that I >> no longer give the text my full attention. >> Yes. Exactly. > > Sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts. It depends on how the > music complements the text, and how intrusive the music is. I > listen to very text-friendly music -- carefully chosen to occupy > a different part of my mental space than reading a book or > programming or writing does. Programming with music - Yes. Reading with music - No. A well-written work creates its own sort of background score in my head... it doesn't need any other music to compete with, if I'd even notice what was going on in the background. I'm known among my friends for not even hearing them speak (unless they're in my range of vision or speaking loudly) when I'm engrossed in a good book. Likewise, if something/someone creates enough of a distraction to actually make me notice it/them, I'm more likely to be mildly annoyed than pleased at the disturbance.* -Rick * Some methods of interruption are ALWAYS welcome, and left up to the reader.