my much loved friend is giving me the ick!

[packratandproud]

I love her very much and can NEVER talk about this in real life as she's in a senstive place at the mo,but she has become obsessed with Heated Rivalry- so far , so meh but she's fallen down a rabbit hole of watching loads of Youtube and tik tok videos - and then telling me all about the actors as if she knows them - using their first names only and saying things like " Jack (can't remember their real names) was really funny because when he met John he said ......and John said ...."
I know I'm being mean and like I said, my lips are sealed in real life- as each to their own and all that- but it makes me cringe inside out
It's definitely become her obsession over the last few weeks and she's talking about it loads and it's reminding me of a teenager! We are in our forties by the way!

Much loved my ass

ooh yes your ass is right - she is very much loved by me - we've been friends since we were 6!

I would say she will move on when the fad dies down, But if she is the type to move on to another toy then there is nothing you can do

Any need?

OP, my ASD teenager does this with his latest obsessions. It’s so boring. Every conversation leads back to whatever the obsession of the month is. Can barely be arsed with it from him, never mind other people!

she's luckily not been like this about anything else so I'm blaming menopausal hormones!

I think it's actually a distraction from a tough time she's having too so I do understand it

literally a weird response when I've given full context

Yes- a different friend has a teenage son with ASD who has 'special interests' that crop up

His is currently motion capture filming in films like Planet of the Apes- which I now know all about! 😂

Don't know about your friend but personally I'm loving Heated Rivalry 😂

I have a friend exactly like this. She's become obsessed with a young singer and goes on about him ALL the time. It's weird. She's a granny like me. It's very very strange. She shows no other signs but I honestly wonder if it's the beginning of dementia.

I'm saying nothing though. Nodding and 'Ahhhh'ing at her news about him.

I watched the first 2 (with my friend) and I didn't like it - i thought it was fine but I didn't carry on with it when I got home

Is it Yungblud by any chance?

My moneys on Yungblud too!

Don’t be ridiculous.

OP I get it, a friend can go down a weird path that is difficult to comprehend.
In my case, her Orthorexia seems to have moved into a phase full blown and obviously damaging to her children, and trying to drag mine in there too. I have never mentioned it, and yesterday a comment she said, made me realise she does see most people (including me) as disgusting fat heifers. I have no idea how to reach her, never mind help her.

Hmm, I think the prog is designed to have tis effect. Addictive tv takes many forms. Back when the very first UK series of Big Brother screened most coffee break conversations were dominated by discussion of it. Many will share your friend's fascination/obsession. I think mention of ASD and dementia is a super over reaction by some Mumsnetters

Wow. So people are never allowed to find other people annoying. No way could I listen to this from anyone!

Ok well it’s just plain rudeness then. Because she should know better than to bore on with a niche subject that the other person doesn’t want to hear about endlessly.

“julie, i know you love heated rivalry but i’m struggling to remember the characters as i dont watch it. can you give me the abridged rundown of the best bits this week as i dont have the energy to concentrate on all the going ons these days but i like a quick update.”

That would grind my gears. I have a (ex) friend who would start a conversation and introduce allsorts of characters, ie: I was talking to Jack last week and he told about Susan's new job and then I had Janet round telling about blah blah blah I had know idea who these people were and tbh I couldn't give a shit. Thankfully she fell out with me about 30 years ago because I forgot to send her bratty child a birthday card.
I havent heard from her since 🤣

I just wouldn’t engage and would say things like “sorry I don’t know who jack is I don’t really watch those things I’ve no interest “ etc etc until she gets the hint

6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

Is it icky because she's horny for TV characters?

It’s probably the going online to bitch about her rather than the fact she’s doing something annoying tbf.

@MiserableMrsMopp you could be describing my MIL! Does the singer happen to have the initials DQ?

You have my sympathy. A friend does this to me with soaps (which I don't watch) she tells me all about how worried she is because X is having a bad time and how hilarious it was when y and z got into a pickle the other night. I have to keep pushing down the urge to scream THEY'RE NOT REAL.