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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is a fair compromise

177 replies

dealer · 15/10/2011 20:36

There's something wrong with our telly. I don't know whether it's the telly, or the freeview or what, it just malfunctions sometimes. I very rarely watch it, so I'm not bothered but I understand everyone else does.

So dh wants to sort it, I tell him that's fine, just figure out what needs repairing/replacing and sort it. He wants to buy a new much larger TV and get SKY, without actually knowing what's wrong so it's obviously just an excuse. I think SKY would be a massive waste of money and will cause arguements with the kids, but if it'll really make him happy then ho-hum, we can afford it. But I really, really don't want a massive TV in our front room.

He keeps getting the kids to 'vote' on whether they want a big telly, thus easily outnumbering me and making me out as an ogre when I veto it, which I'm annoyed about. They also keep pointing out that I never watch it, which is true but we have a small house and I will still have to have it flickering away at me all the time. I have sometimes found other people's tellies have given me headaches.

So I've told him he can have SKY if he really want it but no big telly. So he's done nothing and spends the evening moaning at me that I'm so tight and won't let him spend money on it every time it goes wrong. Which isn't true, if it's the TV he can go straight out tonight and buy himself a similar sized TV if he so wishes.

OP posts:
cantspel · 15/10/2011 23:34

You are not compromising, you are dictating.

LadyEvilEyes · 15/10/2011 23:37

IMO you are being totally unreasonable Op.
The tv you have sounds like a portable.
I have a large lounge and a 32 inch tv, and when it broke down and went for repair I dragged out the old portable and it was like looking at a postage stamp.
You sound very selfish. 32 inches is average, and I'm a bit puzzled about the being able to look at a computer screen but not an average sized tv screen.
It just seems obvious to me you don't want a telly at all and you expect your DH and dcs to follow suit.

HollywoodAgentForTheLivingDead · 15/10/2011 23:42

I'm not saying you are like this dealer, because your headaches are a valid reason, but could you be a little bit supieior when it comes to telly watching?

I know a couple of people who pride themselves on not watching the goggle box, they feel compelled to make it known they think anyone who does should be doing something more 'worthwhile' with their time.

HollywoodAgentForTheLivingDead · 15/10/2011 23:43

C'mon can'tspell, you could have least mentioned the nazis in your last post Grin

AbbyAbsinthe · 15/10/2011 23:43

As I said at the beginning of the thread, LadyEvilEyes. The OP won't change her mind though. She has decreed it.

dealer · 15/10/2011 23:48

Wish I could say I was doing worthwhile things with my time.
Reading mn, shitty mags like 'that's life' and the one programme I don't miss each week? Waterloo Road, how embarrassing is that?

Ladyevil, you have a large lounge with a 32, I have a small lounge with a 24, can't be that much different.

OP posts:
ScarahStratton · 15/10/2011 23:51

You do understand this is AIBU, yes?

dealer · 15/10/2011 23:52

I've not asked anyone to put up with the breaking down one, or have a smaller one.

OP posts:
bubbles4 · 15/10/2011 23:52

I dont think you are comprising but trying to control the situation to suit yourself.

AbbyAbsinthe · 15/10/2011 23:53

Honestly I barely watch tv. At the moment I'm in my garage having a cigarette after a soak in the bath and some good sex Wink But even if I never watched it, I really wouldn't begrudge it to the rest of my family.

dealer · 15/10/2011 23:53

Uhuh, be quite dull though if I didn't attempt to justify why I think I'm being reasonable.

'Twould be quite a short convo really.

OP posts:
dealer · 15/10/2011 23:55

As it turns out the main reason we seem to differ is because you lot apparently give a say to your children over the furniture and gadgets in your house. Which I frankly think is insane.

OP posts:
cantspel · 15/10/2011 23:57

Hollywood I was thinking of linking to North korea and Kim Jong II amendment to their constitution to tile himsle as supreme leaderGrin

dealer · 15/10/2011 23:57

If your partners turned to you in a DIY store and picked out vibrant orange paint for the lounge which you detested. Would you really allow it because you had a toddler with you that also loved it?

OP posts:
ScarahStratton · 15/10/2011 23:58

Don't you think it would just be nice for your family to have a decent television though? And Sky? Just 'because'.

And get yourself back down the GP/opticians and get your headaches sorted.

dealer · 16/10/2011 00:01

Even without the headaches my front room (imo) will not be a pleasant place with a huge telly.

Do you not think it would be nice for me to like my front room and the stuff in it?

OP posts:
ScarahStratton · 16/10/2011 00:02

Oh my children are horrifically spoilt. They love gadgets, they even have their very own washing machine and tumble dryer in their bathroom. Because they love doing their laundry themselves so much. [hhmm]

My family is run as a democracy. We make decisions together, discuss with each other and listen and value each others opinions.

dealer · 16/10/2011 00:02

Anyway, must go to bed. Night!

OP posts:
ScarahStratton · 16/10/2011 00:03

32" is not huge. And a flat screen will take up virtually no room at all. You really are BVU.

cantspel · 16/10/2011 00:03

But why does what you like over ride what your husband likes?

I have the answer.........................................wait for it

leave the barstard then you can have whatever tv you like.Grin

dealer · 16/10/2011 00:03

Mind boggles what your house must have looked like when they were young!

OP posts:
HollywoodAgentForTheLivingDead · 16/10/2011 00:05

Well we let DD1 have a hand in designing the house and garage we built dealer.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=inside+james+may+lego+house&hl=en&biw=1146&bih=718&tbm=isch&tbnid=MFPj_ZkKntLVdM:&imgrefurl=forums.finalgear.com/top-gear-host-shows/new-lego-and-meccano-engineering-series-33571/page-17/&docid=rnWJAgPSYW9EyM&imgurl=i90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/flydiscovery/Lego/100_3565.jpg&w=800&h=600&ei=JhGaTtHdCc_Tsgb-z7jwAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=515&vpy=301&dur=983&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=129&ty=142&sig=112379514407926695039&page=5&tbnh=152&tbnw=198&start=51&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:51" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">never again.

dealer · 16/10/2011 00:06

God this is compellingly annoying.

I don't overrule my husband, we COMPROMISE!

And quite insanely, my dh, having been aware of me madly typing all evening has come over and read the thread and apologised for being so unreasonable!

Didn't expect that.

OP posts:
HollywoodAgentForTheLivingDead · 16/10/2011 00:07

Always worth reposting whenever the possible cantspell Grin

AbbyAbsinthe · 16/10/2011 00:08

My teenager certainly has a say in household decisions. Why wouldn't she? The little 'un, not so much. It's not a dictatorship.