TV Issue

LegacyUser

Any time I want to watch something on TV that my boyfriend isnt particularly interested in or doesnt really fancy watching he leaves the room.
I just want to know how normal this is because it seems weird to me.
Dont people sometimes sit through the odd show with their partner because they like it?
I often sit with him while he watches the football or other shows that I dont particularly like, it doesnt bother me to the extent of having to leave just because its not something I picked.
Is he being moody, or am I being unrealistic?

qwertytlk

Hes being moody. If its just the odd show then th should sit with you. My partner hates home and away, i like it. Its on for half an hour once a day so most days he will watch it with me anyway because its not as if its on for houts! I have to say if my partner walked out every time he didnt get to have control over the tv id be pretty possed off. Have you talked to him about it?

P.s sky plus wouls begreat for things like this as you can record your programmes and watch them whenevr you want!

STIG83

Wouldnt say he is moody, if he dont like some of the shows you watch why should he sit through them?

Taltos

Maybe he just has something better to do than sit and waste 40 minutes or an hour of his life?
Could be he has a book to read or a game to play.
He might be moody yes, but he might also just want to use that time to do some other things. There's no rule stating partners have to always watch something they don't nor do they have to spend every minute together.

If you want to spend time together watching the TV try to also find some shows you both enjoy - or just talk to him. I wouldn't go trying to force him to sit with you - to be honest I prefer sometimes to watch a show alone than listen to my OH ridicule the story line or just the show in general (season 8 of Smallville was wasted purely due to her snorts).

STIG83

I've had to sit through watching that brainless crap X Factor cos the girl wants to see it, I could have kicked up stink but didn't.

Mighty_Mouse

My gag reflex kick within 30 seconds of any brainless crap coming on the box.
I don't particularly like watchin TV anyways but some of the stuff makes my head feel numb. I can only compare it to the way my body feels after eating a diet of crap food.

Apolloyon

I think sometimes there is an overemphasis on couples 'doing things together'. Yes it's important to spend time with each other but I think it's best to focus on things you both enjoy. I know it can seem isolating when your other half doesn't seem to want to spend time with you. But remember they are entitled to do things they enjoy too.

I think the best way around this would be to either start watching or buy a boxset of a series you might both really like but have never seen before. You'll be both starting at the same place and it will be a shared experience for you both. And something you can talk about when you're not watching it! Give it a try anyway.

prinz

My OH watches some stuff I have no interest in whatsoever, often if we're settled in on the couch or whatever I'll watch them with her (because I know she likes to (a)watch it and (b)watch it with me). Other times I'll just let her know I have something else to do and leave her to it. Similarly my OH will sometimes watch something I like, and other times she won't.

Summary: It's a bit much to expect him to always watch the things you like, but at the same time it's a bit much for him to deliberately leave the room making a big deal about it every time, seems childish, as if he's trying to blackmail you into watching something else if you want him present.

kylith

Why should he sit through something he doesn't enjoy? He's leaving the room to do something else other than be bored silly. My OH will go upstairs, or watch/read something with headphones in if I'm watching something he's not interested in. At first I thought he was moody or annoyed at me, but he explained that he just doesn't enjoy Bones/CSI/Whatever, and would prefer to game on his pc upstairs.

It suits me, really, because I don't have to worry that I'm forcing him to watch something he hates, and now I've started to do the same when he puts on something I'm not interested.

Firetrap

Every couple is different but on the face of it, I think you're being too sensitive about this issue. I'd be concerned if he flounced out of the room or sulked but it doesn't sound like it is. Then again I don't understand people sitting through TV programmes they're not interested in if there's something else they can be doing.

Miss Fluff

I'd far prefer that my OH goes off with himself while I watch some of the inane trash I love on TV (I love you TOWIE!:D) I'd feel like I was subjecting him to it in some way if I insisted he watched it with me (which he wouldn't anyway, Mr. Fluff doesn't do anything he doesn't want to ) It's good to have "me" time anyway isn't it don't you think?

By the same token, Mr. Fluff finds X Factor painful but sits with me and cuddles up with some vino on a Saturdat because he knows I love it and it's always a great evening.

All a bit of give and take really isn't it?

As long as he doesn't flounce his petticoats and exit stage left at high speed in order to avoid sitting with you every time the TV goes on then I wouldn't worry. I'd be using that time to watch a programme I like and put on a facemask/paint my nails etc.

I think it also depends how much TV you are watching too.If you're filling every single evening with TV watching soap after soap for example then it's no wonder he needs to get away from it. If that's the case I'd be using Sky Plus if I were you and watching them in blocks in your own time.

solovely

Wow, how much spare time do you have that you have time to sit and watch TV programmes that you have no interest in? I'd love to get the time to watch what I want to watch, let alone what somebody else wants!!

Seriously, relax.

Unless he's off sitting outside the door doing nothing, you have nothing to worry about. Would it not be better that be put this time to something productive like exercise, tidying, reading, etc. than sitting through something he dislikes and so is going to irritate him and put him in a bad mood? I don't see how you win???

Can you agree on 1-2 programmes a week that you both like and set aside time to watch those together as a couple?

I think it also depends how much TV you are watching too.If you're filling every single evening with TV watching soap after soap for example then it's no wonder he needs to get away from it. If that's the case I'd be using Sky Plus if I were you and watching them in blocks in your own time.

Agree with Miss Fluff....how much time do you spend watching TV (and if it's more than an hour a night....where do you find the time???)? You could be quite painful and boring if all you want to do as a couple is watch TV. If you can't agree on programmes you both enjoy, why not get out of the house and do things you both enjoy together? That'll leave you both in a good mood and not one resenting the other.

LegacyUser

watching tv isnt a social activity, you shouldnt need company to enjoy a show you like. If you do plenty of real things together it shouldnt matter whether or not you choose to sit in the same room for an hour or whatever staring in the same direction.

Neyite

If not watching the same things means a relationship is in trouble, then I am rightly fecked

Seriously though, I dont watch sports, he does not watch my soppy programmes and neither of us watch soaps. If he is watching something then I am usually on the laptop browsing, if there is nothing he wants to watch I offer him the laptop because he usually has a few films he downloaded and I will find something on the box instead. I usually download the programmes I want to watch and plug in the headphones. We also have sky+ so on the rare occasion that our programmes clash, neither of us miss out.

OP can you give us an example of what programmes it might be he is not interested in watching with you? for example if its a good movie - not a chickflick its a lot different from sitting through 2 hrs of soaps.

Ickle Magoo

Unless he's leaving the room to make a point and making you feel you can't watch your TV programmes then I wouldn't see it as an issue. He's probably just using the time you are otherwise engaged to get other stuff done.

All the best

Stheno

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

Unless he's leaving the room to make a point and making you feel you can't watch your TV programmes then I wouldn't see it as an issue. He's probably just using the time you are otherwise engaged to get other stuff done.

All the best

+1 to this

Bottle_of_Smoke

Its a bit cold in itself like. Its nice to watch things together.

Only you will know, is he cold in other ways?

You're being unrealistic.

You sit through football with him. It's not like he owes you for it. Unless he's trying to stop you watching what you want, let him do whatever he wants to.

I know sometimes it's nice to snuggle up on the couch, but what would it really accomplish for him to stick around? Seems like much of a muchness to me.

John Mason

oh course he is not being moody :rolleyes:

Why would he sit watching a programme that makes him want to throw the TV out the window?

is it your choice to watch football with him? or does he force you watch it?

personally, you havent go a hope in hell of making me sit through a football game on the TV or him sitting through Downton Abbey. we do our own thing if their is something on the TV that we dont want to watch

Taltos

Stheno please use the thanks button in support of posts instead of just replying with an I agree or a +1. Per or charter all posts need to be directed to the OP with civil/constructive advice.

Taltos

Beruthiel

tvissue wrote: »

Is he being moody, or am I being unrealistic?

Your expectations are certainly strange.
Not for one second would I sit through some crap when I could be doing something far more enjoyable with my time.
You're not joined at the hip and if he would prefer to be playing his xbox or reading a book while you watch your show, why would that bother you?

STIG83

How are things been since OP?

Taltos

STIG83

PI/RI is not here for our entertainment. Please refrain from asking OP's for updates.

As the OP has not been back I am closing this thread.

Taltos