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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People that Say they don't watch TV

464 replies

Aquarius1234 · 14/01/2023 22:04

OMG so annoying. Esp those that lie.
You do watch TV so stop making out you spend all evening not looking at a screen!
Or those that say they never watch movies or go cinema. You then find out they go twice a year.
Watching sport or netflix counts as watching tv regardless if you watch it on your laptop or not.

OP posts:
Thepeopleversuswork · 15/01/2023 12:31

The OPs point is not that she can’t comprehend that other people live lives different to her own, it’s that they live extraordinary similar lives but lie their arses off about that within them that they fear mark them out as being intellectually lacking, or socially or morally inferior. Hence the stream of posters claiming to not watch TV despite adding a qualifier excluding the several series, films, soaps etc that they watch as “TV”.

Exactly. It’s the misleading and irrelevant differentiation between broadcast TV and on demand TV (with its unstated but clearly implied moral and intellectual superiority).

Aquarius1234 · 15/01/2023 12:35

BBC seem to think I Player is the best way to watch anything now. So I reckon in a few years you won't be able to watch anything live :(
It's nice to see the live reaction on twitter sometimes.

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 15/01/2023 12:39

Genuinely don't have a clue why you're so concerned about people not watching TV. I would never say I don't watch TV because we do sometimes, but we watch very little of it. I work during the day, have evening hobbies, and when I'm not at a hobby I'd much prefer to have a bath or read, or listen to some music with DP and have a few drinks. We absolutely do watch TV sometimes, but it can be weeks and it's not been on.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 12:41

theycallmejane · 15/01/2023 12:30

I don't understand why this has wound you up so much, OP - do you feel that people who say they don't watch TV are somehow judging you?

As for me, I always say, "I don't watch live TV", and immediately follow up with, "But I do have Netflix."

It's factually correct. I don't watch the BBC (or BBC iPlayer since they closed that loophole years ago) or anything live. I think I watch 4OD (their catchup service) once every couple of years. I find there's enough on Netflix to watch.

You're another poster who's totally missing the point.

OP doesn't care if people genuinely don't watch TV - that's fine, it's not obligatory. Her post is about those people who claim they never watch TV when they clearly do - as if watching TV is some kind of moral failing they can't bring themselves to admit to.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 12:41

There are a lot of posters on this thread who need to work on their reading comprehension!

Aquarius1234 · 15/01/2023 12:42

I'm not that concerned with those that don't.
I said it's annoying that people say they don't watch TV lets say other than twice a year on a plane or travel.
But then it turns out they do use amazon netflix , bbc I player. And regularly watch several things a week.
But maybe they have one night they don't..

OP posts:
midgetastic · 15/01/2023 12:42

I suspect it's because people who say they don't watch tv usually have some kind of brag associated with that statement

  • too busy and important
  • too cultural

And then usually they are lying

Coupled with a slight difference as what watching tv means - sone people mean they don't watch traditional broadcast tv on a tv but watch plenty of catch-up or YouTube on a laptop

Aquarius1234 · 15/01/2023 12:44

Yes one example those that say too busy at work.
Then list the amount they pay with streaming services.

OP posts:
MavisMcMinty · 15/01/2023 12:48

Not sure why you care. I watch 2 programmes a week, Happy Valley and the Pottery Throwdown. When they end, I’ll watch no telly at all.

My partner has the TV on every waking hour, so I do hear some from the other room. But if he wasn’t here it wouldn’t be on at all, apart from Sunday nights for aforementioned 2 shows.

Calphurnia88 · 15/01/2023 12:50

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 12:41

There are a lot of posters on this thread who need to work on their reading comprehension!

Yep.

About 80% of this thread is people saying 'I don't know why you care' and then following up (in great detail) about how and what TV they consume. As if anyone cares.

Aquarius1234 · 15/01/2023 12:57

MavisMcMinty · 15/01/2023 12:48

Not sure why you care. I watch 2 programmes a week, Happy Valley and the Pottery Throwdown. When they end, I’ll watch no telly at all.

My partner has the TV on every waking hour, so I do hear some from the other room. But if he wasn’t here it wouldn’t be on at all, apart from Sunday nights for aforementioned 2 shows.

That must annoy you regarding your partner...

OP posts:
AbreathofFrenchair · 15/01/2023 12:59

XenoBitch · 14/01/2023 22:07

Not sure what your issue is, tbh.
I say I don't watch TV.. and by that I mean I do not sit in front of it and keep channel surfng for things to watch. I know what I want to see, and I select those programs and nothing else.
I don't smoke but I tried a fag in my teens. Does that mean I am lying about not smoking?

But you do watch tv?! Why pretend other wise?!

Aquarius1234 · 15/01/2023 13:02

So many defensive TV 📺 watchers on here!

OP posts:
ThomasinaLivesHere · 15/01/2023 13:13

I think some people just read the title and respond on that alone.

TheMightyOak · 15/01/2023 13:15

LindaEllen · 15/01/2023 12:39

Genuinely don't have a clue why you're so concerned about people not watching TV. I would never say I don't watch TV because we do sometimes, but we watch very little of it. I work during the day, have evening hobbies, and when I'm not at a hobby I'd much prefer to have a bath or read, or listen to some music with DP and have a few drinks. We absolutely do watch TV sometimes, but it can be weeks and it's not been on.

Well OP is not talking about you then, is she?

TheMightyOak · 15/01/2023 13:15

MavisMcMinty · 15/01/2023 12:48

Not sure why you care. I watch 2 programmes a week, Happy Valley and the Pottery Throwdown. When they end, I’ll watch no telly at all.

My partner has the TV on every waking hour, so I do hear some from the other room. But if he wasn’t here it wouldn’t be on at all, apart from Sunday nights for aforementioned 2 shows.

And another one...

JaneJeffer · 15/01/2023 13:17

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 12:41

There are a lot of posters on this thread who need to work on their reading comprehension!

Maybe they should read a book instead of not watching telly Grin

Bubblebubblebah · 15/01/2023 13:23

ThomasinaLivesHere · 15/01/2023 13:13

I think some people just read the title and respond on that alone.

Kind of gives away the reading vs watching tv times innit😂
One would expect all the readers to be able to read more than a book (thread) title🙈

TheMightyOak · 15/01/2023 13:23

JaneJeffer ha ha, yes 👏 👏

PriamFarrl · 15/01/2023 13:25

Aquarius1234 · 15/01/2023 12:35

BBC seem to think I Player is the best way to watch anything now. So I reckon in a few years you won't be able to watch anything live :(
It's nice to see the live reaction on twitter sometimes.

I watch live tv via iplayer. I’ll be watching Call the Midwife and Happy Valley tonight. They are the only thing I watch live.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 13:27

JaneJeffer · 15/01/2023 13:17

Maybe they should read a book instead of not watching telly Grin

Exactly 😂

Why are so many posters determined to argue that they never watch television when they quite clearly do? It's not some kind of moral failing, ffs!

PriamFarrl · 15/01/2023 13:28

‘I don’t eat meat at all. Except for the bacon I eat every morning and the ham sandwich at lunch time.’

Thepeopleversuswork · 15/01/2023 13:29

For the benefit of people who haven't read the OP properly: no one is saying there's anything with genuinely not watching TV. Or watching very little TV or very little live TV. I watch very little live TV, mainly because I don't have time to watch live TV.

The problem is the irrelevant and somewhat pretentious distinction between watching scheduled, broadcast TV and watching on demand TV. And watching loads of Netflix series/DVDs etc and then telling the world you "never watch TV". You do watch TV. You just watch it on demand.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 13:32

PriamFarrl · 15/01/2023 13:28

‘I don’t eat meat at all. Except for the bacon I eat every morning and the ham sandwich at lunch time.’

Yep - it's like people who say "I'm vegetarian except for chicken!" Grin

NoNewsIsGoodNews · 15/01/2023 13:43

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 12:41

There are a lot of posters on this thread who need to work on their reading comprehension!

It’s getting truly painful to read!

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