Do You Have Arguments About What To Watch On TV?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
December 8, 2011 2:46pm CST
We don't have arguments as such because - let's face it, hubby has the remote so I don't get a look-in. Just now I hinted at a programme I'd recorded on Sky+ the other night (whilst he was out playing billiards) with the words, "It looks like I'll have to watch it on Tuesday night when you're playing billiards again." I mean, anyone would construe that as a major hint..but he's taking no notice and watching that annoying Kevin McCloud on "Grand Designs" instead, which is live so he can't zap the adverts. This was the whole point of getting SkyHD.
I find this so annoying and if I didn't have this computer in the same room I'd be sulking upstairs in the freezing bedroom.
Mum has an ideal set-up whereby she has a telly in the back and my Dad has a telly in the front. Before the extension was built we were all in the front room and it was a nightmare. This was before the days when kids had their own telly. There was none of that when I grew up!
Is it just me or do MEN have the remote control all the time? There is a really annoying advert for Sky Movies whereby a couple are on the settee happily changing channels and it's the WOMAN who has the remote and he's agreeing with her choices and smiling. It's such a ridiculous and false image I feel like complaining about it. I'm sorry, but this doesn't happen in the real world!
I find this so annoying and if I didn't have this computer in the same room I'd be sulking upstairs in the freezing bedroom.
Mum has an ideal set-up whereby she has a telly in the back and my Dad has a telly in the front. Before the extension was built we were all in the front room and it was a nightmare. This was before the days when kids had their own telly. There was none of that when I grew up!
Is it just me or do MEN have the remote control all the time? There is a really annoying advert for Sky Movies whereby a couple are on the settee happily changing channels and it's the WOMAN who has the remote and he's agreeing with her choices and smiling. It's such a ridiculous and false image I feel like complaining about it. I'm sorry, but this doesn't happen in the real world!7 people like this
30 responses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
Black Friday is an amazing event isn't it? We get it over here too but it's not quite as manic as the US..but give it time!
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
9 Dec 11
No problems here; however, we each have a television to watch. Its a lot easier, as now we each have our own remote and can watch whatever we want to that evening. The big news I have the big screen television great for movie watching with friends.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
9 Dec 11
I just do not care all that much about television, and we do not get any cable or other HD services. We have one television up and one down and what we can get we get. Most of the time it is not on.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
It's bliss not having the telly on, I agree. I don't watch telly during the day but when John's in (as he was on Friday as he had a day off) on went the TV. We did watch something together and it was great but it's rare we like the same things..and sometimes he falls asleep anyway at night if I take over the remote for a change. That defeats the object of watching telly together, so, generally I give in and use my computer instead with my back to the TV.
@allknowing (130064)
• India
9 Dec 11
"throwing hints" I think is done when one is just married but for those well into marriage what would work is an 'order' or a plan discussed and stuck to Be direct Janey and see if it works. Or the best would be to have your own tv.
Be direct Janey and see if it works. Or the best would be to have your own tv. 1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
It turns out that I'd not even recorded the darned programme after all. John had a day off on Friday so it was my opportunity to relax after doing a couple of chores...then we sat down to watch what I wanted for a change..and the bloody programme wasn't there. I think it's because I changed it from the standard def to the Channel 4 HD channel and it all got deleted. It's not like my Mum's bog-standard Sky+ box at all..it isn't as user-friendly.
Oh well, at least we got to see the lovely Phil Spencer instead. I could watch him all day, he's so cute!
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
9 Dec 11
We no longer have cable TV or dish, so all the shows that my husband watched regularly are no longer available. I do not watch tv, and what I do watch can be streamed the following day through my computer. I am better at multitasking at my computer, so I do more of my show watching from there than from the couch.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
I can't get used to watching TV programmes on my computer, even though it's a 20" screen so a comfortable size for doing so. It doesn't feel natural for me, although I do watch YouTube on occasion. It's weird that I can do that but not watch TV programming!
@Robswife2006 (1208)
• United States
8 Dec 11
Fortunately for me my husband & I pretty much like all the same shows. Of course there are a few that he watches that I don't like & a few that I watch that he doesn't like. We watch all the TV shows that we both like first then he will watch his & I will watch mine or it's the other way around, but my husband is always fair when it comes to the TV so I really can't complain.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
D'you wanna swap lol.
Nah, hubby is alright really but his choice of programming can be amazingly dull at times. Then he falls asleep.
I wonder why?
Haha!
Nah, hubby is alright really but his choice of programming can be amazingly dull at times. Then he falls asleep.
I wonder why?
Haha!1 person likes this
@mr_pearl (5018)
• India
8 Dec 11
Oh Janey, it happens in some of the families... I have seen families where the lady is the one who will control the remote and the what-to-watch... I stay alone, so I always get to watch what I want... Sometimes, I get bored with what I watch and I feel that someone should tell me, what else can I watch... LOL...
Thank you!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
Do you have an argument with yourself? I do that, sometimes, on the rare occasions I'm on my own at night.
It's OK, though..only the cat hears me!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
Have you ever thought of hiding it?
I've thought about it as it would be a real pain for hubby to get up off his backside to physically change channels. Can't even turn the thing off without switching it off at the plug as it has no on/off button!
I've thought about it as it would be a real pain for hubby to get up off his backside to physically change channels. Can't even turn the thing off without switching it off at the plug as it has no on/off button!1 person likes this
@opalina143 (1240)
• Morristown, New Jersey
8 Dec 11
that's funny – you're right, I can't really see that many men smiling and sharing the remote with their wives or girlfriends. My father always hog the remote, and of course, I have to admit, when it was just me and my little sister, I wouldn't give her the remote either.
Now that I live alone, I don't have to worry about that. I can watch whatever I want whenever I want. That's one of the great things about living alone – no one to tell you what to do when you don't have to worry about anyone else's feelings or desires. So I watch whatever I want on television, and if I am going out or in busy I just DVR it.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
I suppose I could watch telly during the day but I HATE it. If I have anything on it will be music during the day, telly is for night-time.
I'm so envious of you being on your own watching whatever you want. Hubby doesn't get his own way all the time (we've just watched 3 programmes together) but it's BEFORE that he tends to put on whatever he wants and it gets a bit tiring. He doesn't seem to want to watch something that makes him think, do you know what I mean? But, I guess he's more tired than me and just wants to chill out.
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
8 Dec 11
It is sometimes hard to believe that something as small as television viewing could turn into something so huge, it does happen though. i can remember many times when I was growing uo that my btothers and would be brawling and screaming over the the television. There were even moments with my late husband that turned a good mood into a bad one because someone did not ge their program pick. this is when it is nice to have more than one television set in the house.1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
We did have a black and white portable but the reception was terrible as it wasn't hooked up to an external aerial like the telly downstairs.
You're right though..having more than one TV is a necessity these days and has probably saved my parents' marriage, to be honest!!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
I know what you mean. Television can be so boring but I do find it quite relaxing watching it at Mum's as we like similar programmes. It's also a break from my computer as I don't have one at her house.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59282)
• Sterling, Virginia
9 Dec 11
Well no in my house my husband doesn't really have much of the remote it's shared. We all like watching pretty much the smae thing so it's not like one of us get upset. Although there is 3 tvs in my house so we can all go into what ever room we want to to watch what ever. With one small child in he house tv time isn't used much.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
Yes, baby will take up much of your time, I'm sure. It's nice that you have the same taste in programmes as your husband. Believe me, it doesn't happen very often so please make the most of it!
@ShyBear88 (59282)
• Sterling, Virginia
10 Dec 11
Not only my husband by my family. His cousin likes the same things as well she lives with us.
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
8 Dec 11
Janey, Listen no man is gonna give up that remote...I don't
really understand where they got the idea that the remote was
a manly function.. The y get it and act like their make doesn't
know how to operate it. like they need a 4 year degree to be
able to operate the remote.
Fortunately now I live with out that none sense..every room have
a remote except the bathroom...I did have a small one there also
at one time...just for my long baths. There are enough TV's for
everyone is able to watch what they want....ALONE|.....LOL
1 person likes this
@Arieles (2473)
• United States
8 Dec 11
Usually when the family watches tv, we pretty much all watch and agree on the same programs that we watch. Generally we watch family programs that are suitable for the kids to watch as well. There are times when there is nothing on except football (dread) so I fill that time by cleaning the house, doing laundry or preparing meals. As for the remote, it's not that hard for one of us to actually get off our bums to change the channel if need be. And..I do have a laptop, if we didn't agree on what to watch, I would probably find something on HD usually Hallmark or Lifetime and watch something that I want to watch, while remaining in the same room with the hubby. Why get upset over what we're watching on TV. Life is to short to argue about such things.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Dec 11
Like I said, we don't argue. There again we don't have kids either. Oh, and we both like football, which amazing in itself, me being a girl lol.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
24 Apr 12
Well, I know how annoying it can be as for even the 2 nights I have off, a lot of the time I will find my husband watching Wrestling instead of worrying about if I would want to watch something with him. Usually I have to almost Scream at him sometimes if I would rather watch something else with him. Maybe that is one of the main reasons that I like to keep him busy being somewhere outside the home if I can.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Apr 12
Haha! Good idea, I wish I'd thought of that one. I've actually started watching stuff I like during the day now..not all day, just for an hour or so. Programmes that I've recorded and can play back.
Bliss!
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
10 Dec 11
Hi Janey1988, we don't Just because my husband doesn't spend much to watch tv program. He usually like to watch the latest late evening news during week days for just half an hour. And this totally doesn't affect me to watch my favorite tv series at all If even it does I can watch the same program later or from the free internet video site. More over every program will be replayed twice a day. During my kid childhood I preferred to accompany my kid watching his favorite cartoon programs. That time internet was not available here. In case the tv series were really attractive I usually would watch videos which I could get from the nearby video shop.
Have a nice day and happy posting
Just because my husband doesn't spend much to watch tv program. He usually like to watch the latest late evening news during week days for just half an hour. And this totally doesn't affect me to watch my favorite tv series at all If even it does I can watch the same program later or from the free internet video site. More over every program will be replayed twice a day. During my kid childhood I preferred to accompany my kid watching his favorite cartoon programs. That time internet was not available here. In case the tv series were really attractive I usually would watch videos which I could get from the nearby video shop.
Have a nice day and happy posting 
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
9 Dec 11
Since we have many girls here so the boys can go against us.(^^)
I have more sisters than brothers so my brothers just let their sisters decide which channel they should watch.(^^) Here we got three tellies here at home two at the living room and the last one in my mom bedroom but we rarely use the one in ht bedroom. Since we could at least watch two channels with the other two tellies we don't get in fight over which channel we should watch. Each time when one of the telly can't be used anymore, we will definitely change and buy the new one as soon as possible as all of us can't stand with just one telly at home.(^^)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
Sometimes I wish we had two televisions but, to tell you the truth, there's not an awful lot I actually want to watch..just the odd time, you know?
I watched something during the day with hubby, which is unusual for us but it was nice watching a programme we were both genuinely interested in. Unfortunately, it doesn't always happen as, quite frankly, I prefer being on my computer as it's more entertaining and I have more freedom in what I can watch and when..it's just I have to dig the headphones out if John is still up. When he goes to bed I can watch whatever YouTube video I like and use my speakers..but not too loud as I don't want to wake hubby up!
1 person likes this
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
10 Dec 11
So the computer is the great helper! Here if I need to watch something from the laptop I will need to use the headphone otherwise the others will scold me for that.(^^)
Since we also have my sister's kids around here one telly is not enough. While the kids want to watch cartoon we the adult prefer to watch dramas. If there is only a telly here I am sure the kids will start to cry all the time for not letting them watch their cartoons since the adults have more power over the remote control.(^^)
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
9 Dec 11
Yes, my husband and i sometimes argue on what to watch, specially if she arrives from work and my favorite soap hasn'r ended yet. I would set the table for him to eat his dinner and go back to the bedroom to watch my soap.
We both always want to watch TV in our bedroom, because we can lie down on bed while watching , which is the most comfortable way, when you are resting from a whole day's work.
But then, i would plead with him to just let me finish it and that he can watch in the living room. It's a nice thing that he would. So, when my soap ends, i call him that he can already have the remote.
Then, i would watch with him for a while , until i feel sleepy already. That way, we get to bond while watching the show of his choice.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
Awww, that's lovely. You have a great understanding with your hubby, I can tell that from your post.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
12 Dec 11
Thank you. That's my way of returning his understanding too for some of my shortcomings, whatever they are.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16532)
• China
9 Dec 11
John seems to watch what has to do with his job .Arguments about what to watch on TV haven't happened to us.We have two television sets,one is 21 inches, the other is 14 inches ,I watch the small one.We watch what we like ,otherwise it is difficult to cater all tastes.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Dec 11
I'm fortunate when I go to Mum's that we like similar programmes, therefore I can sit with her rather than watch rubbish my Dad has on in the front room. However, I have been known to watch football with him as I feel guilty about not going in to see him.
I like that very much.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16532)
• China
10 Dec 11
You are a careful person and understand how others are feeling, so you watched football with your Dad lest should leave him out in the cold.
@ferbjohn69 (1127)
• Philippines
10 Dec 11
We used to have no arguements about what to watch before when our two televisions were still working.But now one of our two televisions is no more working so only one is left,and we now have some arguements.:-)
@ferbjohn69 (1127)
• Philippines
11 Dec 11
I usually have arguements with my younger brother about what to watch,and the bad thing is he usually wins.He wins because I am older than him,and I have to be patient.He wants to watch Phineas and Ferb,but I want to watch the anime,Bleach.But it does not hurt a lot because I also enjoy Phineas and Ferb,and the wit of Perry.I love perry.:)
