Do you socialise better when preoccupied (e.g. video games)?

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Not sure if this is more of an ADD thing, but I found strangely that whenever I was focused on something more low-key, like playing a shooting game, I was better in conversation with people that were in the room.
The minute this stimulus was removed, there were problems.

You guys notice anything similar?

Nope. It's the opposite. If I'm preoccupied I can't socialize at all.

^ I agree with the above poster. I'm the same way. I can't socialize at all if I am preoccupied. It's so bad that if my mom tries to talk to me, I end up screaming at her. :x She doesn't really get how hard it is for me though either.

It depends on the activity for me. For some things, particularly when I'm reading or working on something, I find that if people pester me and try to interact, it annoys the hell out of me, and I won't be able to complete whatever activity it is I am working on. If it's something that doesn't require my undivided attention, that I can just sort of do on "auto pilot", like playing Call of Duty splitscreen, then I can socialize while I'm doing it. It's all about A. how much attention an activity requires, B. how much I'm used to doing said activity with other people, and C. how much fun the activity is.

But does doing an activity make me socialize better? Eh, I dunno, but I'd rather go to a LAN party where there are computer games to play, than a normal party where there's just loud music, drunkenness, and people trying to get laid.

Opposite for me. If I am in a position to socialise, If anything, I tend to start doing something to stabilise myself and take my focus away from the stress of being around other people. I cannot multitask very well so I would not be able to play a game or read or do my puzzles at the same time as talking to someone.

Fishing yes.

Coordinating yes.

When I'm in the zone, heck no.

This. If I'm playing a game, or doing anything else, I can't focus on a conversation at all. For the most part I'm way too into what I'm doing and I can't multitask at all. And TBH I don't want to either. When I'm lost in something I enjoy myself thoroughly, and the last thing I want is intrusion.
If I'm playing a board game I can make very light comments, but that's it.

I can only do one of them (not that conversations ever come easily to me; I usually don't have much to say).

I find it is hard for me to talk and do things at the same time, but activities like video games can help break the ice for me in a social setting. They just have to be the type of activities that don't require intense amounts of concentration. If I'm trying to fix my computer or write a paper, for instance, and someone comes along and tries to chat me up, usually I tell them to go away.

It improves ten fold, and it's because of social anxiety. When I'm pre-occupied, I'm worried about whatever occupies me at the time and that alone, when I'm attempting to be social I lose my damn mind.

How do you end up screaming?

I have ADD & my anxiety is better when I'm distracted but I have a harder time focusing & engaging in conversation due to my attention being on something else.

I can't carry on a conversation very well while I'm doing something else at the same time. That seems to be the most fundamental problem I have with communicating. It's kind of like verbalizing and putting things into words takes so much brain power that it demands ALL my attention. And likewise sometimes doing a really simple task takes so much concentration that I have nothing left over for talking.

Even just posting things online, I can't concentrate on writing something unless the room is absolutely quiet and nothing is distracting me.

If I'm doing something that really puts me "in the zone" like playing a video game...NO WAY is socializing going to happen. I might as well be in another universe at that point.

I have found that to be very true. I like games and Im pretty good at most of them. For example, I moved to the tropics in the early 90's and down there they love dominoes. I got good at the game and it really made life easier for me.

At times it helps to have distractions. The focus isn't as directly on you. When it comes to games though I would often play games without saying much at all. Same as I do while watching shows and movies with another person.

Me either. Not that I can really socialize when I'm not preoccupied. I go into my own little world when I'm preoccupied with something and don't even hear when someone is talking to me.

It's exactly the same for me (with any type of writing), and the same goes for reading too.


Ah... One of the best feelings in the world!