I don't think the it's about disengaging from politics as such -- everyone has whole areas they just don't bother following (until fairly recently, US politics was one of mine -- George W Bush marked literally the first time I could confidently state the party affiliation of the US president).

I think it's about disengaging from politics but then having forceful political opinions anyway. That's not having one's strengths in other areas, that's just closed-mindedness.

If someone tries to tell me that Chelsea are better footballers than Manchester United, I don't argue back. I'm well aware that I have no idea which team is stronger; sport is something I'm completely disengaged from. The fact that I once lived near Manchester, and have never lived in Chelsea, doesn't cause me to adopt an attitude devoid of critical thinking.

Peter