Multitasking During Orgasm? How Does THAT Work?

Complaints about partners who multitask during sex are abundant. Is it really a new problem? Most of us have watched TV during sex at least once. I defy anyone to watch Jon Stewart skewer the news without getting at least a little turned on. Couples report a wide range of activities they do while having sex - including talking on the phone, texting, thinking about bills, the kids, work problems, or even stuff like eating or deciding what color to repaint the bedroom. Receiving oral sex while driving (AKA "road head") has become so commonplace, even wholesome guys like Ron Howard include it in their family movies.

Current Multitasking and Sex Trends

One could argue that multitasking during sex has become almost an art. Actress Jennifer Connelly reportedly claimed to enjoy reading during sex. Personally, I think the sex would have to be pretty boring in order for me to reach for my Kindle. A survey from 2013 asserts that more than 20% of young adults report using smartphones during intercourse. After surveying a few friends, I learned that some of them have played iPad games during sex. Others have proofread papers, carried on lengthy phone conversations, smoked, or consumed alcohol during the act. When I asked if their partners were offended by this, most replied that they didn't care as long as the sex was on. A few said their partners preferred a more attentive, intimate experience, but most were pretty casual about the whole thing.

My first reaction to this was shock. People really are OK with multitasking during sex? I was sure I'd be offended if that were me. I was also sure that I'd never be so dismissive to my partner's efforts, so lacking in basic courtesy during what was supposed to be a tender and loving moment between (in my case) married people. I resolved that the next time I had sex, I'd make a mental note of how attentive I was.

And that's when I noticed that the mind can wander during sex … a lot. Without going into detail, I found myself thinking about the work I didn't get done that day, that I'd meant to start the dishwasher, and that the cat sounded like he was getting into something in the other room. I remembered I was supposed to make a hair appointment, and to call in a prescription refill. In short, despite my best efforts, I was guilty of engaging in activities during sex that had nothing to do with pleasure, or my partner. Suddenly, I felt like a terrible person.

You know, in some countries, multitasking during sex has become downright hilarious. In Japan, so-called "Killer Karaoke" takes sexual multitasking to a new and bizarre level. Contestants sing karaoke, as the name implies. The trick? While they sing contemporary hits, they're also being manually pleasured by game show models.

What strikes me most about this NSFW video, is the constant laughter of the audience. Granted, O-faces tend to be pretty funny. But turning the act of masturbating a virtual stranger into a hysterical party game is pretty much the antithesis of intimacy. We could probably argue all day about whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. I wouldn't engage in such a thing, but I did find myself laughing - especially at why they'd actually show the "money shot" while blurring the whole thing out.

Like most things sexual, it's really up to us to decide whether we think multitasking during sex is fine, a distraction, or an abomination. If you're OK with it, and your partner doesn't mind, go for it. But if you've watched the karaoke videos above, you probably aren't doing such a great job of the things you're trying to tackle while getting off either.