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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want the subtitles on TV?

129 replies

TourangaLeila · 14/02/2025 20:23

Husband just told me to turn them off because it spoils the programme.

I say it's better as we don't need to have the TV waaayyy up to be able to understand what happening.

Everyone mumbles on TV programmes these days.

Who is BU?

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 14/02/2025 20:25

YABU, they’re annoying, I hate being able to read what is said before it’s actually said.

Original poster
TourangaLeila · 14/02/2025 20:27

19lottie82 · 14/02/2025 20:25

YABU, they’re annoying, I hate being able to read what is said before it’s actually said.

Even for those like me who struggle to hear what's going on though?

Why does his preference trump mine?

OP posts:
Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 14/02/2025 20:27

I need subtitles as I'm quite deaf it saves having TV really loud, DH complains about it being loud but doesn't want subtitles well sorry mate it is one or the other if you want me to watch with you because there is no point in watching something you can't hear, even with my hearing aids I need TV a bit louder ( as our TV is not modern enough to bluetooth to my hearing aids)
if you really can't hear at a normal volume you should get your hearing checked but in the meantime it is volume up or subtitles

Balancedcitizen101 · 14/02/2025 20:28

I admit I have them on and have for years after never really having them on at all before. In terms of everyone mumbling on TV, is your hearing definitely fine? Just make sure then you can carry on with the home argument.

Ph3 · 14/02/2025 20:28

🤣 we have the same issue here but if you can’t hear you can’t hear it’s not like you’re doing it on purpose to annoy him!

shellyleppard · 14/02/2025 20:29

@TourangaLeila if you go to the settings menu and put it to movie the sound is a LOT better.....

MyUmberSeal · 14/02/2025 20:30

I can’t stand having the subtitles on, it ruins it as I can read the words quicker then the actors speak them. Takes the joy out of watching tv. I mean if you’re hard of hearing then fair enough, but annoying nevertheless.

GoosieLucie · 14/02/2025 20:30

Who is being unreasonable? I think it's not you, OP.

Littletreefrog · 14/02/2025 20:31

I am partially deaf. I have to have the subtitles on. DH used to hate them but obviously didn't complain. Now he has them on even when I'm not there as he doesn't even notice them. If you need them tell him to get over himself.

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 14/02/2025 20:32

I think if someone can't hear TV and you want to watch with them then you either have to have the volume a bit louder or put up with subtitles
unfortunately not all hearing problems can be fixed with hearing aids
but if everyone else can hear TV and you think they are mumbling you probably have a degree of deafness ( just like 1 in 6 of the population)
if you need hearing aids get them as once hearing is lost it can't be restored by hearing aids it only amplifies what hearing remains,they do not work like glasses which can nearly always get you back to 20./20 vision

salamithumbs · 14/02/2025 20:33

I don't think either of you are being unreasonable as it's a matter of preference, but I personally hate subtitles being on as I find my eyes drawn to them instead of watching the actors' faces. Also the subtitles are always slightly ahead and spoil what they're going to say!

Whotenanny · 14/02/2025 20:34

All comedy shows are ruined by subtitles 😞

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 14/02/2025 20:35

I'm not deaf but I need subtitles on to make sure I don't miss anything and can follow the storyline.

DH doesn't like them on but tolerates them because if the subs are not on, I start asking questions about what's going on and who's that and why are they there and how has that happened etc. 😂

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 14/02/2025 20:35

My DH and I compromise on this as he doesn't really watch much TV, just a couple of programs early evening, so we have the subtitles on during 'his' programs, and then as soon as he starts doing something else, I switch them off. However, if we both always watched TV together I think it might become a bit of an issue, as I find myself reading the subtitles and not actually watching the program, so end up missing things, which I find really irritating. However, I think if it really became a problem, I would suggest that my DH, who is the one who can't hear, watch the program on the laptop with headphones on, so he can have it loud enough to hear, while I watch it on the TV. Then for fairness, we'd probably take it turn and turn about to use the laptop.

P00hsticks · 14/02/2025 20:38

See if you can get headphones to wear that will plug into the TV but won't mute the sound. My OH's hearing is not so good, although he doesn't have hearing aids as yet. But without headphones he'd have the TV at a volume that I would find physically uncomfortable, so he listens through headphones and I have it at normal volume.

My mother needs subtitles but I couldn't cope with them - if it was something we both wanted to see then I'd go and do something else while she had it on and then stream the same program later on without the subtitles for me to watch.

GreenMarigold · 14/02/2025 20:38

YANBU. I’ve been putting subtitles on since I was a child and really struggle to hear/follow tv without them.

I’m not deaf as far as I know but process the written word better than the spoken.

I’m lucky my whole family are happy to have them on too.

GoosieLucie · 14/02/2025 20:39

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 14/02/2025 20:27

I need subtitles as I'm quite deaf it saves having TV really loud, DH complains about it being loud but doesn't want subtitles well sorry mate it is one or the other if you want me to watch with you because there is no point in watching something you can't hear, even with my hearing aids I need TV a bit louder ( as our TV is not modern enough to bluetooth to my hearing aids)
if you really can't hear at a normal volume you should get your hearing checked but in the meantime it is volume up or subtitles

My DH has moderate/severe hearing loss and needs the subtitles on, as well as the volume turned up.

Sadly, we now very rarely go to the cinema, as there are so few showings with subtitles.

I must admit, when he first started needing the subtitles about 20-25 years ago, I did find them intrusive. Also, they were nowhere near as good then as they are now and the size couldn't be changed.
I barely notice them now. So, hopefully your DH will soon get used to the subtitles being on and they will no longer bother him.

lovingmememe · 14/02/2025 20:40

I dont own a tv but watch what i want online i do have to have subs on because everything i watch is in a different language.
Us and uk dramas just bore me and they all seem to follow the same lines as the next show.

UndermyShoeJoe · 14/02/2025 20:40

Sounds like you need a hearing test.

I can’t stand subtitles. Because then focus on the text not the show. I’d do it if I had to but expect dh to look into why he feels everyone is mumbling too.

WaltzingWaters · 14/02/2025 20:41

I hate having the subtitles on, so my vote is YABU, unless you’re hard of hearing. The only time it’s okay is when I’m watching tv with my grandparents.

DeedlessIndeed · 14/02/2025 20:46

I used to hate subtitles, but then went through a phase of watching only non- English shows with English subtitles.

Now I watch a mix of English and non English, but now need subtitles for both and feel lost without them.

Maybe get him to watch something that he needs to use subtitles, hopefully it will help him get over the irritation!

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 14/02/2025 20:48

if it's just a matter of preference then no-one trumps the other one; however if someone needs subtitles then their need trumps the other person's want,

You can alter the size of subtitles. If it's important for you to watch TV together you need to sort it, this may include you getting your hearing checked and if necessary getting appropiate hearing aids in the meantime you should get subtitles or you get headphones
i don't find subtitles annoying anymore you just get used to them

pearbottomjeans · 14/02/2025 20:49

YANBU we always have them on, I swear I can’t hear without them. I’m also sure they’ve helped the kids be brilliant readers 😄

likeafishneedsabike · 14/02/2025 20:50

I think tolerance of subtitles depends on your reading skills. If you can ‘sight read’ at speed then subtitles are great. If you’re a slower reader and processor, subtitles can be arduous. There is evidence to say that poor readers should use subtitles though, since the practice helps improve skills.

Happyher · 14/02/2025 20:52

I have them on if there any kind of accent, or the characters mutter quietly. I got fed up of not following programmes properly because I couldn’t understand or hear the dialogue