and oversensitive when my DH makes negative comments about magazines I read or TV programmes I watch?

[mum2bubble]

My mum sometimes passes on old magazines for me to read and I'm happy to flick through the odd copy of 'OK', Woman's Own etc. I also enjoy fairly lightweight TV programmes on occasion, eg BINTM or Sex and the City or US sitcoms. But if my DH sees me reading/watching these he always remarks (with a raised eyebrow) 'what's THAT you're reading/watching??' The implication to me is that he disapproves. I actively hide the 'evidence' of these things now or simply don't read/watch them as I just can't be arsed with the judgy comments. So AIBU and a bit paranoid or is he BU?

I should add that not knowing the difference between birds, Ovid etc obviously doesn't mean one is dim, but ex claimed he had a genius IQ, was a shoo in to Oxbridge, and yelled at me for an hour for being so STUPID as to think there has been anybody called Ovid, because it was OBVIOUSLY part of the reproductive organs.

He meant ovaries.

I even showed him my copy of Metamorphoses (was reading it for uni at the time) and he still didn't believe me

have a laugh at his love of Nazi horror films (Nazis fighting aliens anybody?) and it's all good natured.

there is Nazi Horror films really

piddling he sounds a complete arse

Piddling I am very glad he is your ex! :)

its trash tv and granny mags dear. guilty pleasures ;)

Yeah mine does this too. Then he will sit entranced/plan his whole weekend around watching 22 men kicking a ball around for 90 minutes and four or five men who used to kick a ball about for 90 minutes talking throughout about how the 22 men are .....well.... kicking a ball about for 90 minutes.

I like to read the weekend papers and they might not be to everyone's taste but I like them. Anyway my flatmate's boyfriend will pick them up, leaf through them and then start criticising them. I feel like saying that he doesn't have to read them if they offend him that much. It's very annoying . Everyone has different tastes and you shouldn't be criticised for it.

And he's Melvyn bloody Bragg is he? Tit.

Context is everything I suppose. If he's given to making criticisms about what you do generally, I'd tell him to shove his opinions where the sun doesn't shine.

Magazines like OK and Women's Own etc and programmes like Sex in the City are in my view misogynistic drivel that emphasise crap about women needing to be attractive, capable domestic goddesses who obsess about relationships in order to be fulfilled, so I can sort of see where he's coming from, but it's still rude to make the comments IMO. I wouldn't in his shoes because I have too much of my own lightweight shite that I'd rather not have to justify.

Fact is, you're a grown woman with her own mind who can do what the hell she likes without her DH's approval.

Am I the only person who doesn't know what BINTM is? I think I am :(

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model

Piddling my DH loves Family Guy

If you love someone, why would you ever sneer at them?

Seems like an odd relationship if you have to hide what you watch/read in front of him. Surely most couples have things that they love and the other hates? We just take the piss out of each other a bit in our house. Maybe that's because we both know what we like as mindless entertainment is drivel.

ANTM, BINTM, AusNTM, CanadaNTM - I love 'em all. And plenty more trashy tv too. But I have had to train dh out of making snotty comments about my choice of viewing, and I don't think you are being AT ALL unreasonable, mum2bubble.

I would ask him, "Do you enjoy belittling me by making sarcastic comments about my choice of viewing and reading matter, darling? Do you realise how hurtful and unkind you are being?" - and watch his reaction. If he is abashed or sorry, there is hope he can be retrained. If he is happy that that is what he is achieving, more serious action may be required twat him round the head with a spade.

SDTG am guffawing at your post - thanks

Ha! My partner is like this too. It actually amuses me because I have read far more than him and have been know to read intellectually (I had to in my previous line of work) but I also enjoy it. I don't actually read women's magazines, haven't for years. With him it is the television programmes - I do like a good low-brow, low-effort TV show , especially if it has some excellent drama potential (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills I mean you ) I just laugh at him about it, or as someone above said am horribly sarcastic. It's my relaxing time and I'll spend it how I like. Don't hide it from him, just roll your eyes and carry on reading/watching. He's only looking down on you to make himself feel better for some reason.

You enjoy reading and watching your magazines and TV OP!

Oh and I love the top model shows too - excellent drama potential.

Ignore him, he is being rude and passive aggressive and for gods sake don't hide magazines and not watch favoured tv programmes. He's voiced his opinion and now he can shut the f*k-up.

Well if you watch Sex and the City you should quote Miranda:

"It's my thing, let it go"

My DP used to do this about me watching Eastenders. To be fair, he grew up in a household where TV was strictly for the news and the odd sporting event (and consequently never gets cultural TV references from the past twenty years or so). Anyway, I told him that EE was 2 hours a week and just one of the football matches he watches takes longer than that, including pre match build up etc. And that football was traditionally the sport of the 'lower classes' - soon shut him up!

Tell him you've developed an interest in the sociology of popular culture. That's my excuse

What's BINTM?

I had to hid 'the Da Vinci Code' because dh wouldn't let me read it, and now I can't find the dratted thing.

If you are not on the receiving end of the 'I will tell you what to think and stfu' then yuo don't know how diminishing it is.