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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why people have the TV on all day long.

204 replies

iwuddarryl · 17/02/2016 13:17

Is it constantly on in the background?
Or do you only turn it on mid afternoon/evening?
Are you selective with your viewing?

MY OH was recently made redundant and I am CRAVING piece and quiet. Before he was around 24/7, I would have it turned off most of the morning, but he switches the tv on at 6am and it STAYS on. all. day. long. Angry
It's as if he can't sit in a room without the box blaring away.

I like tv as much as the next person, but I HAVE to have a couple of hours piece and quiet in the house every day.
If I don't I feel stressed.
He says I'm unusual and being unreasonable.
Am I?

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 17/02/2016 14:35

I'm stuck under a baby all the time at a moment so watch boxsets all day.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 17/02/2016 14:39

Some people just like background noise. My father has to have the radio on all the fecking time. I hate it! I have friends my own age who were the same - wake up, stick the radio on. No peace/silence ever - can't stand it.

ScoutsMam · 17/02/2016 14:43

We use ours for gaming. So it's on a lot for that as everyone but the baby plays.

Philoslothy · 17/02/2016 14:45

I have the radio on all day, not so different from having the TV on but for some reason not judged as harshly

GruntledOne · 17/02/2016 14:47

I have to have background noise if I'm doing something manual, e.g. housework, but that's usually the radio or something like an audiobook. However, if I'm reading or doing something I really need to concentrate on, I'm perfectly happy with silence or just some orchestral music.

Titsywoo · 17/02/2016 14:49

How funny - I never thought this was a 'thing'. I have tv's in my bedroom (rarely on unless ill in bed), one in the lounge which is mainly used by the kids for consoles and one in the kitchen/diner/family room which only goes on in the evening when DH and I watch TV after kids go to bed. Well that is all based on when I am at home - if DH is at home all day it is on all the time but he is watching it. Having it on as background noise seems odd to me but I like a bit of quiet or I have music on when I am doing housework etc.

riverboat1 · 17/02/2016 14:51

I grew up in a house with the TV on 24/7.

DP grew up in a house that didn't even have a TV.

Consequently, I find it somehow comforting and homey having the TV on even if I'm not really watching it, DP is the opposite.

I usually win!

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 17/02/2016 14:51

I always have the radio on during the day

I do not like daytime tv

sometimes I am listening to the radio, I like BBC London and I am engaged with what's being said arguing or agreeing rather loudly with whoever has phoned in or is being interviewed other times its just background noise

its not that different. the only daytime tv I like is Mathew Wright because I can just listen

Floralnomad · 17/02/2016 14:54

My main TV is on most of the day but generally on a sports channel so there is cricket / cycling some other sport on in the background . I used to have the radio on 5live on most days but I'm not keen since the last personnel change .

LaContessaDiPlump · 17/02/2016 14:55

I keep it on for the reasons others have said:

Background noise
Childhood habit

For some reason I HATE having the radio on a speaking channel, because DH/DS1/DS2 all try to speak simultaneously to me through it and it's hard to distinguish it from a human. TV OTOH I can filter out very easily.

I turn it off when we have visitors though because it seems rude to have it on then.

hazellnut56 · 17/02/2016 14:55

Brownajah I don't blame you for not visiting your SIL anymore if they turn the tv up over human interaction; even as an all day tv household I make sure it goes on mute or off when somebody visits ! It's only polite !

CanadianJohn · 17/02/2016 14:55

I prefer silence - how do people think with the TV on?

Likewise people with earphones while walking jogging... I would never use earphones, it would be hard to concentrate, and I don't want to miss anything.

MLGs · 17/02/2016 14:58

I couldn't stand that. I only like to put it on to view a specific programme.

I like a bit of silence in the house, especially if I'm on my own.

LaContessaDiPlump · 17/02/2016 14:59

I'd forgotten - my dad used to fall asleep in front of it and he'd wake up if you turned it off Grin

PolovesTubbyCustard · 17/02/2016 15:00

I love silence.

We only put the TV on if there is a specific programme on.

Sometimes I have music on but mostly it is silent.

OhYouLuckyDuck · 17/02/2016 15:01

I rarely watch tv but ds would watch it all day if I let him.

stealthsquiggle · 17/02/2016 15:02

Like everyone else has said - background noise. I don't do well with silence (not during the day, anyway - I do like silence at night, generally) - I will have the radio or the TV on in the background if I am in the house alone. Always the radio if I am working from my home office (radio 4 unless it is a phone in, when I have to change channel or else I get very stabby), but we don't have radios around in the kitchen and sitting room, so flicking the TV on on whatever channel was on last is easier than putting it on and finding where the radio channels are.

JapanNextYear · 17/02/2016 15:02

My DH has to have music, radio or tv on. So something is on all day. I, on the other hand, like a few hours peace or I use R4 as background without actually listening to it.

I'll sometimes go to bed early just to have half an hour with no background noise.

RaskolnikovsGarret · 17/02/2016 15:03

I'm surprised by the number of people who have the TV on all day. I only know one person who does this in RL, no one else does.

hefzi · 17/02/2016 15:04

I think it is to stop you thinking too much. Inane babble does that.

^^ What wheel said: many people are incredibly uncomfortable with their own thoughts. I equate the television being on all the time to those people who can't bear a natural silence, and fill it with meaningless chatter. I live alone, don't have a television and only very rarely put the radio on. But I am also very comfortable with even my uncomfortable or intrusive thoughts Grin

pigsDOfly · 17/02/2016 15:04

I grew up in a time when television in the home was in it's infancy. We got our first television just after ITV came in 1955, I think it was, which meant there were just the two channels: BBC & ITV. So to me, having television on in the day was never part of my life growing up and it's stayed with me so if it's on it's because I'm watching it.

Television in my house never goes on before about 6pm. When my CD were growing up they watch children's programmes but even then there wasn't all day television like there is now.

It would seriously stress me out having it on all day. I love the peace and quiet of a silent house.

pigsDOfly · 17/02/2016 15:05

DC, not CD.

ouryve · 17/02/2016 15:06

Because DS1 insists on it. He half watches it while doing other stuff.

Looking forward to him being back at school, so I can go back to music or silence.

DownstairsMixUp · 17/02/2016 15:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Owllady · 17/02/2016 15:07

I tend to watch alot of tv when I am depressed. It's a distraction of sorts
My dd is watching back to back big bang theory whilst she off school (she has autism) this is the latest thing. At least it's funny
We have the stereo on upstairs too and the Xbox.
At least they go back to school on Monday