When I try to explain this to people, they usually don’t listen, and I suspect, don’t really care. They are more interested in bulldozing their own personal perspectives through, looking for acquiescence, and not interested in anything that might differ.

On Listening And Hopefully Understanding

There’s a trick to audio learning. I didn’t invent it, but stumbled on to it early on, as I discovered that my memory access and retention was quicker and more lasting from audio input, as opposed to the visual, based on my poor visual acuity as a young child.

The trick is to control your urge to: but why, but, but, or how or what about…
Since I learned best by listening, I soon discovered that every time I let my mind interrupt the flow of information that I was absorbing, the more of it I lost and was unable to remember at crucial moments, like quizzes and tests. So, I learned to quash my involuntary questions until the information broadcast was completed. Then, I’d raise my questions.

To this day, I have a hard time listening to exposition while those around me are constantly throwing out comments and questions, that if they wait until the end, answers to most of the questions reside in the completed exposition itself.

Now, don’t get me wrong. When someone is meandering, obviously lying, or just plain bloviating, I don’t listen until the end, I just tune out or walk out.

So, if you can, listen until the end. Then, decide on the value of the exposition relative to your particular issues, whether it was ‘worth it’ or not.