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AIBU?

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Original poster

To switch off subtitles

151 replies

Sloelydoesit · 26/08/2023 00:31

Watching a movie with my son. English language. We are native English speakers.
He had switched the subtitles on and claimed he couldn't watch it without them. Apparently this is 'a thing' and he thinks that everyone mumbles.
I have switched them off.
Anyone else here who has children in the same situation who watches TV with subtitles on?

OP posts:
Devilsmommy · 26/08/2023 04:33

I grew up with deaf parents so they were always on and I still keep them on because I miss too much otherwise and it's strange not having them on

JMSA · 26/08/2023 04:37

I am prone to blocked ears - pretty sure I'm menopausal and this can be a symptom - so I definitely need them! Even if my ears were fine though, I'd still opt to have them.

FindingMeno · 26/08/2023 05:33

I would get his hearing checked as a matter of course.
I am moderately deaf. Not age related and no apparent cause.
I suspect I have been for many years as I've always disliked phone calls, struggled in loud social settings and found accents difficult.
It may well not be the case that he has hearing problems, and subtitles are a thing with younger people now, but I would strongly suggest that a hearing test is a more appropriate response than simply turning the subtitles off.

Willmafrockfit · 26/08/2023 05:55

no children, we watch with subtitles as dh hard of hearing
if i dont have them i struggle to hear

Willmafrockfit · 26/08/2023 05:56

i think there is a lot of mumbling and american accents are hard to understand

Morghulis · 26/08/2023 06:06

Sound mixing in shows these days is just awful so that doesn’t help. It may just be that.

But also there is a disorder called Auditory Processing Disorder which those with ASD or ADHD often have.

I think I may have this and words often sound garbled to me and it takes me a little extra time to figure out what was said. By the time I’ve figured it out, the action has moved on and I’ve lost track. With subtitles I have no problem.

MyKittyFish · 26/08/2023 06:09

I also turn subtitles on for everything. I’m 38 and have done it for the last decade.

my Mum had them on once when I stayed over a few nights. I thought, wow, this is much better and went home and turned them on my tv too

PerspiringElizabeth · 26/08/2023 06:11

We always have the subtitles on! Not sure why we started but have come to love them 😄 I tell myself it’s helped with the kids’ reading too 😄

SunRainStorm · 26/08/2023 06:12

What are you trying to prove by switching the sub titles off?

My god, he said he needs them, just leave them on.

ForthegracegoI · 26/08/2023 06:25

I’m partially deaf, so subtitles are really useful for me, even with my hearing aids in. My family have ask got used to them, and will leave the subs switched on even if they are watching on their own.

Tiddlywinks63 · 26/08/2023 06:29

supadupapupascupa · 26/08/2023 00:36

My kids learnt to read due to subtitles. Don't underestimate them! I need them due to deafness so they are always on.

Me too, deafness makes them a necessity.

plehpleh · 26/08/2023 06:31

Sometimes American accents means that you can't actually make out what they're saying. Sounds like he just doesn't want to miss his show!

TeenDivided · 26/08/2023 06:32

My DDs both have processing difficulties and use subtitles to help.

2jacqi · 26/08/2023 06:34

your son might actually need to have his hearing checked.

Lonicerax · 26/08/2023 06:34

Subtitles stops you from looking away at your phone

Moonrising · 26/08/2023 06:35

I always watch TV with subtitles. I don't even notice them now and if they get turned off I find it hard to watch TV!

bruffin · 26/08/2023 06:37

Dh has started turning subtitles on because he had damaged hearing and i barely notice them now, although i found them annouing to start eitj

AutumnCrow · 26/08/2023 06:37

There is a lot of mumbling, isn't there? I'm on the Emmerdale thread and so many posters have commented on Mumbling Nate. And that's an award-winning, flagship soap with millions of viewers, and the director can't be arsed to say, 'speak up, lad, and enunciate a bit for goodness sake!'

AvengedQuince · 26/08/2023 06:42

Unless subtitles cause you significant difficulties then YADBU. It was inconsiderate just to turn them off if someone else needed them.

DappledThings · 26/08/2023 06:44

I've never noticed the mumbling thing or struggled with accents but having subtitles on is harmless. My parents sometimes have them on these days. Can't imagine it bothering me or asking them to turn them off.

PinkButtercups · 26/08/2023 06:48

Are you my DP? 😡. He turns them off. On certain programmes I have them on. Sometimes I can't understand what they said!

steff13 · 26/08/2023 06:55

If someone says they need them, it's a bit of a dick move to turn them off.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 26/08/2023 06:58

We also have them on here, and now got used to it as so much muttering and sometimes I would miss a word and no matter how many times rewinded could just not get it so watch everything with subtitles and lost without them. Think I have aspergers so maybe a processing thing but easier to follow things with them on, glad to know am not alone. Let him have them on as not doing any harm.

DogDaysAreOverr · 26/08/2023 06:59

Yup- subtitles on camp here!

Sky channels are the worst for not ensuring subtitles

It's so frustrating when they mumble throughout. The Last of Us had to be abandoned because we couldn't understand enough of what was being said.

Tumbleweed101 · 26/08/2023 07:01

I find subtitles distracting and end up reading them rather than watching the actual visual side of the program/movie. I can tolerate them for foreign films as I’m not getting the audio and reading jumbling together as they seem to in same language.

So I’d rather have them off than on.

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