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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want a TV?

73 replies

marfisa · 31/03/2013 13:22

That's it, really. My DH doesn't want one. He says that all the shows we want to watch, we can watch on laptops. I never had a TV when growing up as my parents were very anti-TV. I just want the luxury of being able to walk into the front room after the DC have gone to bed and turning on the telly and watching something random to relax.

I don't want an expensive set, I just want something basic.

To be honest we already have a telly, but it's a VERY small one that I got for a tenner off someone from Gumtree. The DC use it to watch DVDs. It has only one scart (sp?) connection, so it's hooked up for DVDs all the time, and if I want to switch it to watch the telly, I have to unhook and rehook a whole set of cables, plus deal with a very antiquated and temperamental remote control. Our TV never comes on with the flick of a switch; it's much more complicated than that.

DH doesn't think TV is good for children. I can see his point but still think that MY wishes matter as well and that if we had a decent working telly, I would be able to make sure that the DC's use of it is reasonable and that they don't watch it 24/7.

There are masses of books in the house by the way and our DC have plenty of stimulating non-screen activities.

DH and I have just had a huge row and I have threatened to go off and buy a £200 telly. It's a TV/DVD combi and I would LOVE it.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Bridgetbidet · 31/03/2013 13:28

Of course yanbu, if you want a Telly to watch then get one, he's being a controlling prick.

VisualiseAHorse · 31/03/2013 13:28

Just because you have one in the house doesn't mean the kids have to watch it.

YANBU. Tv's are not the devil.

EllieArroway · 31/03/2013 13:30

Of course you're not. Buy one if you want one. What's the difference what type of screen you watch something on?

gobbin · 31/03/2013 13:31

You're an adult. Buy a small tv. (Check you have an aerial/connection!)

Nobody dies just because a tv turns up in the house.
It's not like you're asking to bring a gram of coke home for entertainment.
Your OH is being weird and unreasonable. Most people have tvs, although I know three people who don't.

If your DH doesn't want one, well, he doesn't have to watch it does he.
Have you got a separate room you could put it in?

LadyBeaEGGleEyes · 31/03/2013 13:35

Of course you should get one, there's lots of good stuff and you'r Dh is being hypocritical if he watches stuff he wants to on the laptop.
Don't get the tv/dvd combo though, I always found it better to have them separate.
I think you should order one of these massive 55in ones just to piss him off[buwink]

Original poster
marfisa · 31/03/2013 13:35

Thanks for the replies so far. DH is normally quite reasonable but he's very anti-telly.

We are both academics and I think he is genuinely afraid that if we have a working TV in the house, our DC will stop reading books and become addicted to the screen! Funnily enough he had a telly when growing up and it doesn't seem to have ruined his brain.

We do have an aerial, but the connection is only in one room. He said I could have a telly as long as I put it into the playroom where there is no aerial connection. So we can watch DVDs but no actual shows. Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
marfisa · 31/03/2013 13:37

Also, he's from a middle class background whereas I'm from a working class one. He has this notion that tellies belong to the working class.

I can't cope with the snobbery.

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 31/03/2013 13:37

I say go buy yourself a tv Smile if that's what you want, then it's your decision, tell him he doesn't have to watch it, and a little tv time won't hurt the kids.

Don't forget to see if you can get a freeview one, and as someone else said check aerial connections, and away you go Grin

Tiredmumno1 · 31/03/2013 13:39

Oh and tell him you'll put it where you like, and maybe he should try being a little less controlling

Original poster
marfisa · 31/03/2013 13:39

Lady Bea, why is it better to have them separate?

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 31/03/2013 13:40

Go and buy a TV. Don't let him watch it though.

Tiredmumno1 · 31/03/2013 13:42

I always found if you have a combi, they seem to die quicker, than seperate iyswim.

LadyBeaEGGleEyes · 31/03/2013 13:42

Just my experience, marfisa. The dvd player always seemed to break down before the telly and then you had to replace both at the same time.
Dvd players are cheap as chips these days anyway.
I don't understand his 'snobbery' BTW, why is it better to watch stuff on the laptop?

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 31/03/2013 13:43

I don't see why he gets to be the boss.

If he doesn't want to watch tv - fine.

He doesn't have to. But to tell you that you may not have a tv set in your home for you to watch if you want to?

He needs a boot up the arse.

Tiredmumno1 · 31/03/2013 13:43

iykwim Blush

BackforGood · 31/03/2013 13:45

Of course YANBU. Surely you can buy one - he doesn't have to watch it.
My dh bought an x-box a few years ago. Personally I'd rather not have introduced it into the house, but he enjoys relaxing on it every now and then, and together, we policed the rationing we imposed upon our ds. Surely you can do the same with a television?

Tiredmumno1 · 31/03/2013 13:45

Lady explained it so much better than me Grin

BackforGood · 31/03/2013 13:46

Oh, and if it's the money, you can get TVs regularly on Freecycle round here, or the BHF shop in the High Street sells them from about £30.

blueraincoat · 31/03/2013 13:46

I don't think this is a class thing. I think this is a control thing. Very strange.

landofsoapandglory · 31/03/2013 13:50

I'd just go out and buy one!

Why does it have to be his decsion? Is he like this about everything?

Smetana · 31/03/2013 13:50

YANBU. People who are anti-tv are a bit weird in my opinion

SkinnybitchWannabe · 31/03/2013 13:52

Im abit stubborn childish so if my OH was like yours I'd go and buy the biggest one I could afford!!

AThingInYourLife · 31/03/2013 13:54

"I think he is genuinely afraid that if we have a working TV in the house, our DC will stop reading books and become addicted to the screen!"

Hmm

He must thinks books are really shit if people only read them because there is nothing else to do.

Numberlock · 31/03/2013 13:55

Working class = bad then in his eyes.

Nice!

Does he just like to teach the middle classes in his academic ivory tower?

ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm · 31/03/2013 15:35

What a pretentious wanker.

Get yourself a telly, and if Mr Enormous brain tries to stop you, tell all his leather elbow jacketed mates that he watches stuff on his laptop, but won't let the kids watch TV.

You do realise that he is imposing his prissy,middle class bollocks on you FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, because you are a working class scummer, don't you.[buhmm]