Thread drift? How else you going to cover the history of the union, current contract issues, discussing religion, politics and sex, while maintaining sterile cockpit while in a 45 minute domestic leg in an MD88 performing navigation by ded rekoning, responding to altitude queries from ATC and running multiple QRH items while eating a yummy Biscoff cookies?
If on of the pilots is currently getting a divorce or is under subpoena, it is going to take longer than 45 minutes to get that done. Thus the criteria is easy ... lead a simple life, you attend whatever church at least 2 out of the three people on the panel attend and don't get divorced or subpoenaed. Try to keep the MD88 within + or - 300 feet of assigned altitude and turn somewhere in the vicinity of the fix (abeam Stone Mountain works).
Don't ask questions you really don't want to know the answers to. Whatever you do, don't start researching the certification basis for the MD jets. Just nod your head at the appropriate times, say "Yes Sir" and "no, that's not a problem." Not a problem will have to expand to engines, brakes, the wing, hydraulic system(s - if more than one if operational), flight controls, trim, FMC, standby instruments, primary instruments and the APU. The autothrottles work pretty well and you'll be amazed at just how much work they do when you try to simply go straight and level without them.
Multi tasking is part of being a pilot, no matter where you are.