I’ve mentioned that I like to just sit back in my easy chair, put headphones on and just listen to music without doing anything else. People say this is weird and say they would fall asleep or go crazy from not doing anything. Am I weird for doing this?

  • folekaule@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    I do this if I get sleepy but it’s too early to go to bed. Put my noice cancelling headphones on, close my eyes, and usually nod off.

    I wish I could just meditate like you, but my mind is always racing if I’m not sleeping or focused on something.

    I just think you’re lucky to be able to tune everything out, not weird.

  • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    Depends. If it’s “normal” music, I’m doing something else while it plays in the background. If it’s some avante garde prog concept album, I can just sit and focus on the music and experience the complex subtleties.

  • sudoMakeUser@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    The Offspring recommended this method for listening to Smash

    Ah, it’s time to relax You know what that means A glass of wine, your favorite easy chair And of course, this compact disc Playing on your home stereo So, go on, and indulge yourself That’s right, kick off your shoes Put your feet up Lean back and just enjoy the melodies After all, music soothes even the savage beast

  • RBWells@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    Sometimes but never in headphones. In the living room right in the stereo spot on the couch. Mostly I listen and do, but sometimes just listen.

  • zlatiah@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    I do it sometimes, but mainly for music I really enjoy or have a keen interest in. Technically I also did it for a music competition a few months ago but that probably doesn’t count…

    There is research on this btw! I had to dig a bit, but this is a 2011 research article (might be paywalled, I can try & help if anyone is really interested in) on why people (psych undergrads, but still) listen to music. They identified 6 mostly independent factors, one of which (“personal identity”) may be more linked to ppl listening just for enjoyment; one of their experiments showed that 75.66% of participants listen to music as “background noise”. So music as primary activity is probably relatively uncommon (but not non-existent). Funnily enough I rarely use music as background distraction these days

  • bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    I do, since I have a dedicated listening setup, always have, even in small apartments.

    Sometimes I read while listening. Usually I’m more engaged in the music.

    Having an engaging stereo setup definitely helps. Am i sitting doing nothing listening on crappy airpods? Definitely not.

    Also people saying its werid must be zoomers or alphas. This is literally how we have enjoyed music for the past century. Do they know what a typewriter is? Or even a desktop computer nowadays I suppose. Man.

  • neidu3@sh.itjust.worksM
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    I think it’s not as common as it used to be. Now there are endless forms of distractions through small screens, and I think most use music as background entertainment while doing something else.
    I can listen to music while doing other things, but I prefer to actually listen while not distracted so I can fully take in the phonics and arrangements. Otherwise it’s merely hearing and not listening. I find that this distinction is more common with musically inclined people.

  • XeroxCool@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    I do it. I miss having linear, defined “playlists” we used to call listening to an album. So, duh, you can still do it. I play curated playlists when I’m driving. If something catches my attention, I go to that song’s album (please don’t be a single, please don’t be a single). If the album plays through well, I’ll probably give it a go at home.

    Granted, sitting still is not my strong suit, so it’s not all that common. Video games are my main TV/couch thing if solo. I always have some other chore or project nagging me. But damn, is it relaxing to lightly hit a thc vape and play deadmau5

  • melsaskca@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    Both. The distinction being when working I listen to albums or a stream, when listening only, it’s by the song.

  • lurker2718@lemmings.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    As many others have already said, you are definitely not weird for it. If thats what you enjoy, don’t let others take it from you just because they might consider it weird.

    For me personally, I do both. Sometimes I listen to background music while doing other things. As someone said above, its like elevator music. However, for me it improves the mood for some tasks.
    On the other hand, I sit down maybe three times a week just for listening to music. I fully follow the emotions and story of a song or album.
    The music is quite different between these two modes. For the background music I just need some good tunes. When listening fully, the song must have a text I like or be a really good instrumental song. Then I also need the right song and order of songs depending on mood. Mostly it’s a curated list from which i select song by song. If I hear a great song in background listening I add it to the list. Later I listen to a more songs of the album or artist with full attention and add the ones I enjoy to my list. Funnily there are songs which then have so much meaning for me, I cannot listen to them in background anymore. Either I skip them or i put my full attention to them.

  • Tiral@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    Both actually. BUT the type of music I listen to changes drastically depending on my activity.

  • Tedesche@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    5 months ago

    I have an over-active imagination and music stimulates it. There’s almost no time in which I’m listening to music and not imagining some emotion-stirring scenario in my head.