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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that women cannot 'see' HD?

258 replies

UtterFool · 26/05/2014 01:23

I was having dinner with friends and there was some banter about my mate's new HD TV.

When his wife is watching it he always walks in and makes a huge fuss about why she's not watching said programme in HD. Apparently she cannot tell the difference so I turned to my wife and asked if she could on ours, "I cannot tell the difference either" she says Shock

I remember having the same conversation with another mate at work so am wondering if my huge sample size (of three) is representative of the entire female population?

Or perhaps some women just don't give two hoots about stuff that men get so hyped up about?

Wink
OP posts:
Smilesandpiles · 26/05/2014 01:25

I can see a difference but not enough to understand the hype. Same as I don't understand the need for a massive TV.

PrincessBabyCat · 26/05/2014 01:26

There's a difference between seeing it and caring about it. Wink

lechers · 26/05/2014 01:27

This made me laugh. My husband always moans at me for not watching tv on HD but I genuinely cannot work out how he knows that I'm not.

He too gets terribly worked up about it. I really can't bring myself to care about it.

So make that a sample of four Grin.

Alisvolatpropiis · 26/05/2014 01:29

I couldn't see a difference straight off when I was still living at home (step dad is Mr Gadget Smile) but 5 years later I definitely can.

Is it because men are more visual than women, generally speaking?

SmiteYouWithThunderbolts · 26/05/2014 01:29

I can tell the difference! Not if it's a small screen or I'm more than about 10ft away, but we have a 42" telly and I can certainly tell the difference if I'm watching standard definition. It makes my eyes hurt now I'm used to HD.

AdamantEve · 26/05/2014 01:30

Oh! I can't see a difference either, DP gets very upset that I record things on the normal channels instead of HD!

BuggersMuddle · 26/05/2014 01:30

I reckon most people can see it if they swap between, but wouldn't know otherwise.

Reminds me a bit of gold plated audio connectors Wink

I reckon it's an age thing too. I'm an oddball in that I can still hear the high pitched shite that is meant to deter teenagers in my early-mid 30s. Most of my peers can't.

So I wonder if most of the people who can afford 3D, HD, Smart TVs (probably 50+) can actually tell the difference. As I say I can, but only if I wear my glasses Wink but the lugs are doing better than average, so can't complain unless I'm standing in Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow

thecatneuterer · 26/05/2014 01:31

I can't tell the difference either. I don't have an HD TV but when I stayed at my friend's house he kept trying to convince me how wonderful it was by switching from HD to non HD to show me the difference. I genuinely could not tell them apart. I'm sure he thought I was just trying to be difficult.

UtterFool · 26/05/2014 01:35

Lol thanks all. I have no idea why my wife cannot see it (or some of you lot either). I thought it could have been that us men are more visual but I've had the same experience with hi-if lol.

I bought a new system not so long ago and my heart sank when my wife put a comforting hand on my shoulder before telling me there was no difference between old and new.

OP posts:
NatashaBee · 26/05/2014 01:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BOFster · 26/05/2014 01:49

I'm not sure that I've ever seen anything in HD, but the stories I've heard of disturbing visuals of actors' nostril hairs and open pores don't endear me to the concept.

What I can say though, is that I really dislike "surround sound". If I'm watching something on the telly, I want to hear the sound from the telly. I do NOT want to feel as though I am "part of the action" (I'm watching a story, and I'm intelligent enough to suspend disbelief, thanks), nor do I want to be aurally ambushed by unexpected explosions or creepy voices from just behind me. If I wanted an avant-garde theatre experience, I'd pay for it. I just want to watch the telly, if it's all the same to you.

sashh · 26/05/2014 01:50

I can tell the difference but my mum can't. I've sat flicking between ordinary and HD and she still can't see the difference.

NoodleOodle · 26/05/2014 02:16

Female here, can tell the difference.

PresidentTwonk · 26/05/2014 02:17

I can see the difference but I don't care enough to scroll through looking for the HD version of stuff (unless it's that penguin program). My husband gets really worked up though! "Why aren't you watching it in HD? It's so much better in HD, it's clearer and sharper and loads better" erm, I am watching Hollyoaks/corrie etc and really don't need to see it any clearer!

ToysRLuv · 26/05/2014 02:18

I can tell the difference, but can't be arsed to try and remember the channel numbers for the hd channels. Normal resolution is completely adequate, as is 2d.

We have a 40? inch telly with hd and 3d (dh insisted it was a bargain). Dh is itching to watch things in 3d, but it kind of feels uncomfy to me (I actually feel sick at the cinema). Plus I don't really give that much of a shit. Too much set-up involved.

slithytove · 26/05/2014 02:22

I can, I think there is a massive difference, especially with sports. Also I've noticed that on gogglebox they don't play clips back in HD which annoys me!

Wish I had more HD channels

MyrtleDove · 26/05/2014 02:24

I am a woman and I can tell the difference (though depending on the programme, it's not really necessary). 'Men are more visual than women' is bollocks.

andsmile · 26/05/2014 02:29

Oh me too, who cares of you can see someones spots/scars/wrinkles on the newsreader. i can teel but only if pointed out or I have to check. Im never that sure.

i saw a huemonguss tv in selfridges yesterday it was curved and did look quie impressive, but the specially designed images are all v well but my beloved soaps just wont look like that no matter how fancy the tv or its size. curves i tell yer.

BOFster · 26/05/2014 02:33

A curved telly? I've just seen an advert for one, and thought how pointlessly restrictive it seemed: surely you can only watch it properly from one specific angle?

ToysRLuv · 26/05/2014 02:35

Bof: my exact thoughts..

andsmile · 26/05/2014 02:36

I know! it looked like the corners would snap off easily.

It was super huge though like about 5ft wide - well told little DS we could get one when we have cinema room .

Well they looked like they would need a least fifty goats to pay for one.

Doinmummy · 26/05/2014 03:10

I can tell the difference but only if I switch between HD and non HD.

Redglitter · 26/05/2014 03:35

I never use HD. Really I should cancel my HD sub on Sky. I never watch anything when it's actually on I always watch recorded stuff and I never record in HD cos it takes so much space up.

Can't say I feel I'm missing out

stripeyred · 26/05/2014 04:02

Another one who can't tell the difference here yet dh knows instantly if I'm watching something on the 'wrong' channel

CadleCrap · 26/05/2014 04:06

Another one here who can tell but doesn't care!