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TV You Don't Like But You Must Endure
So I'm sitting here partially watching American Idol. I promise that I wouldn't be watching if it weren't for my wife. Oh, I sometimes enjoy seeing the crappy-singing people early in the season, but after they get past those first auditions, I don't care.
My point is that I kind of end up halfheartedly "watching" it because Carole has it on and it's inescapable unless I go in another room and if I do that, she says, "What are you doing? Come back in here. Don't abandon me!" So I end up being in the same room and it's pretty hard to ignore. She also watches Project Runway. She has a kind of radar that alerts her every time Steel Magnolias or Pretty woman is on. Recently, she's started a habit of watching The Devil Wears Prada incessantly. She has a DVD of Sense and Sensibility and I swear she's figured out a way to make it play on an infinite loop. By default, I pretty much have to sit through all this.
Are there any shows or movies that you wouldn't watch on your own but you end up watching because a family member watches it?
My point is that I kind of end up halfheartedly "watching" it because Carole has it on and it's inescapable unless I go in another room and if I do that, she says, "What are you doing? Come back in here. Don't abandon me!" So I end up being in the same room and it's pretty hard to ignore. She also watches Project Runway. She has a kind of radar that alerts her every time Steel Magnolias or Pretty woman is on. Recently, she's started a habit of watching The Devil Wears Prada incessantly. She has a DVD of Sense and Sensibility and I swear she's figured out a way to make it play on an infinite loop. By default, I pretty much have to sit through all this.
Are there any shows or movies that you wouldn't watch on your own but you end up watching because a family member watches it?
Comments
Also, I'm outing Andrew as a big Project Runway fan.
"Make it work!"
"You can't watch that when I'm awake! It'll give me nightmares!"
"Okay, I'll watch it when you're asleep."
"You can't do that! It'll wake me up! And then I'll have nightmares when I go back to sleep!" That's nothing compared to Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? They even have a whole Wedding Channel now, the sons of whoreson bastards. God help us all.
Honestly, I'd never put up with that crap. Sure, sitting through some things every now and then is a "whatever" situation...but considering movies are like 1.5-2 hours, that's a LOT of time to be wasting just sitting around watching a movie that you'd rather not be watching.
Anyways, there really is never that going on at my house...mainly for reasons I stated above.
I'd really just like to point out that I'm not saying to not spend time with your wife. I'm just saying that you have to have a happy medium. You can't just let her control you like that.
Minor difference.
But, to be honest, I come in between Scott and Dave on this. I think that making some sacrifices is fine, like having to watch a lame movie every so often, but I'm not going to give up major portions of my life just for some sex. I have a hand, I can figure things out pretty well.
In your case Hungryjoe you should just do stuff you enjoy yourself when your wife is watching TV, and after that the both of you can do fun stuff together that you both like. Or do you truly wish to spend your time 24/7 doing stuff with your wife?
P.S. Man, I thought this was just a stereotype about the chick flicks, but do your girlfriends really all watch that drek? As a professional in the film industry I must say your wife likes some television that I wouldn't poke with a ten foot pole. I did make Rym sit through a Fassbinder film once. He hated with a passion, and I never have made him watch another German New Wave film again. Art films, chick flicks, not everyone can appreciate all the genres.
Everywhere I go, there is either someone watching it, or the soundtrack playing at full volume.
At least I know that this is just a phase, as the same thing happened with Rent two years ago. Whether I'll be able to survive until this phase ends, however, I don't know...
As for the meta-topic. Any couple worth their salt will be able to do activities independent from each other. However, any couple that loves each other will want to share their interests with the other, and will enjoy spending time together. It's just a question of where to draw the line. I won't watch Jane Austin adaptations with my wife. Period. I will, however, watch Top Chef with her. That's because I genuinely enjoy spending time with her. We talk about what we see, and have a good time - even if it would not be my first choice.
Sometimes things aren't so black and white. Besides, taking relationship advice from Scott is like going to a priest for advice on sex. He can make all the excuses he wants, but the reality is that, in his present form, he's incapable of a relationship. I'm not judging that, I'm just calling a spade a spade.
Just because you're not talking to a person when you're hanging out, you're physically with that person while watching television. Sometimes that's all a person needs. Some people may call it insecurity, however it just feels nice having a person around.
Compromise is something that happens in ALL relationships. If you can't compromise, your relationship probably won't last long.
It's a rare gem to find someone you have a lot of common interests with. I'm fortunate enough to be in one. However, there are times where my boyfriend and I will just do our own thing. He'll be on the computer while I'm on the couch watching some anime or rewatching Sex & the City. I don't expect him to be sitting down on the couch next to me while I watch things I know he probably won't like. Even if I do ask him to watch it with me, he'll also find something to do along with watching the show with me. (i.e. organize some cards or work on his next role playing campaign)
Another example, my boyfriend loves TCGs. He taught me how to play a few, and for a while I was into them. However, I really don't care for them anymore, but when he has friends over and they are playing a Raid, he'll ask me to play along, and I will. I do it because I love him, and I know what I'm doing for him will make him happy. It's a small sacrifice of my time, but in the end it's worth it.
@gomidog
Chick flicks are somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. I don't like a lot of them, however there are a few that I can't help but enjoy. I don't make or ask my boyfriend to watch. I do what you do, and go watch them by myself. I don't go out of my way to watch them, or watch new ones. I mostly watch older movies.
@the youngsters
I would suggest taking some of the advice of the fogeys in relationships. They seem to be in some good long lasting relationships. What can you say about yourself and your relationships, if there are any?
It is 4 years long and completely full of win.
I was at the Haus for a while following graduation, but as a roommate, I did not mesh well with Scott. He's better when you don't have to live with him and his rotton chicken cutting boards and SHOES ON THE CARPET! Argh! And one time? He said he would punch me so hard I would have to go to the hospital. Because I poked him in the arm. (he's only punched me in the face once. Rym had to hold me back afterwards because I was immediately out for revenge.) So he is okay when you don't share living space but living in my own apartment has always been my dream anyway. Plus, it's right by teh bodega and a basketball court, and I can walk to the train station.