To think it’s selfish to watch tv for an entire train journey?

[storke]

Recently went on a 7 hour train journey with dp. For the entire journey, he sat glued to his ipad watching a tv series.

Even when eating the nice dinner I went and bought, he still watched tv.

I don’t have an ipad or laptop to watch anything on. I read my book for a bit and scrolled the internet.

AIBU to think that’s a bit selfish?

It would have been nice to have chatted for an hour or so, seeing as we were going on holiday together. I have no problem entertaining myself but 7hrs straight without any chitchat was mind numbing.

Someone will be along in a bit to say he's the perfect train passenger who is totally silent and not imposing himself on anyone else's airspace but if you'd chatted you'd have been massively annoying other people. Did your nice dinner have any aroma, noise, involving "reaching" or take up more than 6 cm of the table? Apparently those are cardinal sins. I think that full seven hours a bit much yes, especially as you tried to initiate conversation but as a pp have said, if this is a rare opportunity for him, I would get it.

I think it really depends on how he is otherwise with you?

Also curious to know what this nice meal you purchased on a UK train?

Oh just realised you might not be in the UK. How has he been on the holiday with you?

We’d do a variety of stuff, reading, playing cards, online scrabble, internet, chatting etc. I couldn’t just sit and gawp at a telly programme for 7 hours. Why is it “his” iPad though, other than phones we share our tech?

So did he give you a reason for not wanting to chat?
If I was watching something and DH kept asking me things, I'd just hold my ear bud out - it would be very irritating.
Did you actually say what you wanted or did you hope he'd rapidly develop psychic abilities?

I'd expect to discuss it beforehand.

"Would you mind if I watched this tv series I'm watching at the moment?"

Then an agreement or compromise would happen. Then I can make my own arrangements if necessary.

I’m intrigued about what nice dinner you can buy on a train.

Seven hours of silence sounds blissful to me. I think your DH was only being unreasonable if you told him you didn’t bring sufficient entertainment and wanted to talk to him. People aren’t mind readers and it’s not fair to be annoyed with them when they have no idea that someone else had entirely different expectations that hadn’t been explained up front.

DH never seems to like to talk on planes. Honestly, he's less of a 'chatter' in general, but it's especially noticeable when we're on public transport. Since I know that's just his personality, I try not to take it personally. Of course, it does add another layer when he has access to something you don't. (On the plane, we both could watch something, so not quite the same as watching something knowing that your partner doesn't have that option.)

I'd base my reaction on how he is in other ways. Is this just a quirk and a difference in how you like to spend time on journeys or a sign of a larger problem. Is he generally selfish? If nothing else, next time you'll know to prepare with more of a variety of entertainment for yourself.

Did he ignore you on holiday as well? What did he say when you had this conversation with him?

Is he a chatter? I’m not.