Aren’t most distractions ones that you can put as much or as little thought into as you want? To use your example, playing the guitar can be passive as well—just playing songs you already know or jamming along randomly/improv (assuming you have sufficient skill). Conversely, a lot of people completely shut off their brain while watching TV, or are so engrossed in the drama that they do not ruminate on whatever distress they are experiencing. I would guess that the distinction between distraction ‘kinds’ as you described it is not tied to the activity but to the mindset of individual.
Anecdotally, I find this especially applies to exercise/sports. When I run, I can be either deep in thought or completely engrossed in my muscle movements—it really depends on my mood.
Sometimes it depends on a person’s mood, and sometimes it depends on the person or the specifics around the activity. There are movies and shows I would only watch if I wanted to zone out, but a mystery or thriller isn’t one of them, and it would be hard to get totally engrossed in something I’d seen a few times because I know what’s happening next. But for music, it’s been long enough since I’d played that I wouldn’t be able to use that as a passive distraction—even for a relatively simple piece.
Aren’t most distractions ones that you can put as much or as little thought into as you want? To use your example, playing the guitar can be passive as well—just playing songs you already know or jamming along randomly/improv (assuming you have sufficient skill). Conversely, a lot of people completely shut off their brain while watching TV, or are so engrossed in the drama that they do not ruminate on whatever distress they are experiencing. I would guess that the distinction between distraction ‘kinds’ as you described it is not tied to the activity but to the mindset of individual.
Anecdotally, I find this especially applies to exercise/sports. When I run, I can be either deep in thought or completely engrossed in my muscle movements—it really depends on my mood.
Sometimes it depends on a person’s mood, and sometimes it depends on the person or the specifics around the activity. There are movies and shows I would only watch if I wanted to zone out, but a mystery or thriller isn’t one of them, and it would be hard to get totally engrossed in something I’d seen a few times because I know what’s happening next. But for music, it’s been long enough since I’d played that I wouldn’t be able to use that as a passive distraction—even for a relatively simple piece.