People who don't watch/read any drama

[SeekingClosure]

I know that we're all different, people don't all like the same things etc. But what do you think it says about a person if they never want to watch or read fiction? Does it say anything about their personality do you think?

I have a relative like this. She only watches reality tv, documentaries, news programs. She only reads biographies saying fiction is a waste of time. If she is encouraged to watch a tv drama she usually rejects it quickly as crap, unbelievable, silly etc. If she is taken to watch a film she might enjoy it but won't be moved by it. She also doesn't especially like music.

Personally I think fiction can help develop ones imagination, empathy and emotional intelligence. The person in question is lacking in these, but I wonder if it's a chicken and egg situation? Maybe she doesn't enjoy them because she doesn't have much imagination and empathy for the characters? She struggles to identify with people who are not exactly like her.

What do you think?

Another autism bashing thread is it?

I think you’re wasting your time trying to analyse why another person doesn’t like what you like. It doesn’t matter why. Let her live!

If you study literature or film, you will come across a concept called suspension of disbelief - the ability to reject reality and just absorb into a story. However, we all have varying capacities to do this - and I bet we can all name at least one thing ruined by the authors stretching the suspension too far; ie: that moment where we all go 'seriously?!'

I love sci-fi, fantasy, horror. I love the creativity of the alternate world. DW loves human interest drama and real life. We're just at different points on the disbelief scale.

If she is encouraged to watch a tv drama she usually rejects it quickly as crap

I stopped watching TV drama because I know that almost without exception either the first episode will feature leery sexualised violence, usually against against women or children, or the second episode will.

One day, the BBC will be able to make a drama series which isn't "dark". But apparently that's beneath them. So now I simply don't bother. Look at the first few screens of the current iPlayer drama: which of those is likely to be anything other than "dark"?

I tend to read and watch more non-fiction than fiction. The real world is so interesting and complicated and infinitely surprising that I'd rather find out more about it than spend that time stuck in someone's else imagination.

Why can't you see the positives in what she's interested in?

She's definitely not autistic!

Yeah I do let her get on with it, I don't say anything to her about it. I don't bother recommending anything to her. I just thought it would be interesting to discuss what this might say about her and her wider personality.

It's not about stuff being dark or violent either.

Why are you so overly concerned with her levels of or lack of interest in fiction. I don't like running. People who do could harp on at me about how it gives them an endorphin rush, how it is good for one's health, how it is meditative. They could go online and ask random people on Mumsnet what is wrong with a person who doesn't like running as it is so positive an experience to them. That person would just come across as intrusive, overly invested in someone else's life and frankly a bit weird. Think on that.

I'm not particularly interested in fiction. It's not true so why would I be bothered. I have a good imagination. I'm just interested in real things not someone's made up tales. I will watch films and enjoy them but I'm not blown away by stuff, usually better if it's based on a real story it's better. Dd2 is exactly like this. She is having a hard time with Reading and when I finally got to the bottom of what's going on it's because she doesn't like to read made up stories. We bought her a load of nonfiction books and she is well away. Her imagination is excellent though and she is actually a good story teller. Just not interested in reading them

I don't think there'e any generalisations to be made here. She likes what she likes. You like what you like. There you go.

People are different 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think it suggests she's an original thinker who makes her own decisions rather than following what is popular. She's probably got highly-developed critical thinking skills.

She struggles to identify with people who are not exactly like her.

Oh, the irony.

I used to read buckets of fiction before I had children, then after I had children inexplicably stopped reading fiction and only read non-fiction now.

An interesting point was made in a film by Rebecca Walker along the lines of until we have children we are always searching for a story, a narrative, but when we become mothers we get our own story and we don't need to look to fiction. Interesting point which resonated with me.

What does it matter what a person likes. I hardly watch any tv, it's very rare, as there's nothing I like.
I'm also not for Drama, there's enough Drama in life without watching other people's dramas depicted on tv.

Some people like some things, some people like others.
I know a few people who only like non fiction. They don’t appear to have any character traits in common other than that.

Like a PP, I don’t really watch TV at all. What does that say about my character? Love reading (fact and fiction) though. Really dislike watching films.

OP comes on here for a discussion and of course you get the "why do you care?" comments. Why care about anything eh? Why watch the news? Why have an opinion? Why come onto MN? Why don't we all be brainless and not have discussions?!

OP I agree that fiction helps develop imagination. I love reading fiction and having ideas of how things may look or creating new ideas in my head! I'm not a big lover of non fiction books but prefer non fiction programmes as I find them interesting and relatable. Maybe she is just a very logical person and for her, fiction has no use in her life?! I do find things like this interesting to talk about and see what others perspectives are.

Oh bloody hell; is this important

Thank you Beeky for understanding that I was just trying to have a discussion.

Oh bloody hell; is this important hmm

Do things have to be important now to post about them in chat? News to me.

I was just trying to have a discussion.

For someone proud of her "imagination and empathy", you appear remarkably unwilling to give any of it to your relative, whom you dismiss in fairly scathing terms. "My cousin's a right bitch who wears jeans, I wonder if jeans make you a right bitch, she's not like me, I don't wear jeans and I'm lovely" wouldn't be a usual start to a debate on the fashion and cultural merits of American-influenced denim.

"I read a lot of fiction and fiction develops imagination, empathy and emotional intelligence" isn't even humble-bragging or stealth boasting: it's straight up "I'm a better person because I do better things, not like her, who's a bit nasty". For someone proud of their emotional intelligence, it's a bit...odd.

Are you really “just trying to start a discussion” when you are criticising someone different right out of the gate?

My grandmother was like this. Only read biographies, political books, non fiction, history, etc and wasn't terribly interested in tv and certainly not films. She was a ferociously intelligent, creative woman. Interestingly she started to read a bit of fiction as dementia kicked in, but wasn't able to sustain it for long.

Crikey I didn't really expect this reaction! 😆

I might have misrepresented myself. I'll just clear up a couple of things and then I think I'll leave it.

I've no problem with what she wants to read and watch (apart from the Daily Mail.,.oh wait she actually does read a lot of fiction)

I don't think of myself as especially empathetic or imaginative. But I do think she is very lacking in those qualities compared to the average person I know. Not sure what's so wrong with noticing that really, it's a bit like saying a person who doesn't tolerate intolerance is themselves intolerant. I don't say anything to her about it or anything.

I love her and would like to understand why she is like she is, and I wondered if this small part of her might indicate something, a personality type or similar maybe. I suppose I thought hearing others' thoughts on this might make me feel better (it didn't 😆)

I read almost no fiction and mostly watch documentaries and comedy. I wasn't saying there was anything wrong with enjoying non-fiction. But she seems completely unable to enjoy fiction (and the arts in general actually) and I wondered how unusual that might be.

That's it.

What on earth do you want people to say?

She's a narcissistic sociopath with a penchant for lost at sea stories so she can channel her inner schadenfreude?

People like different things shocker. Does she know you judge her and pull her apart like this? You've started this thread hoping to indulge in a bit of gleeful character assassination?