Wedding Woes

Save up and buy a TV for your own damn room.

Dear Prudence,
I live in an apartment with four other young women. We have a TV in the living room area that we all use; sometimes we watch as a group, sometimes alone. My question is of expectations. Should a person who starts watching a movie in a communal space expect to be interrupted with lots of questions by people who come in later not having seen the beginning? Or, should those people who come in halfway through expect that they may not understand and should let the original viewer watch in peace? I have continuously encountered the problem of being the one who starts a movie alone and then gets asked tons of questions. This is a major pet peeve of mine. I usually pause and try to explain the best I can, but more questions always follow. I find this very disruptive to the movie-watching experience. Thoughts on how to handle this? Who is in the right/wrong?

—Movie Etiquette

Re: Save up and buy a TV for your own damn room.

  • I've watched enough movies with kids to feel the same as @Heffalump  and @mrsconn23  {and likely every other parent on this} is thinking.
  • I'm the opposite, lol.  I'll often pause a tv show or movie if my H comes in and then regale him with what is going on and the background.  Because I want him to be engaged in the show also.  When, probably a good portion of the time, he doesn't really care and will only half be paying attention.  If that, lol.

    I think the headline for this post is the perfect solution.  If it is a "major pet peeve", then they should plan to watch tv in their own room.  Especially if it is something long, like a movie.  In a communal place, like a living room, it is understandable that the other people in the room might want to know what is going on so they can watch also.  

    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • My mother does this. It's a PITA for sure, but she does it even when she knows I know exactly as much about the show as she does. "Is he really a cop?"  "Is he going to kill that guy?"  "Who's that chick?"  "What's with the pineapple?"

    I usually just tune her out.


    "And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me..."
    --Philip Pullman

  • My mother does this. It's a PITA for sure, but she does it even when she knows I know exactly as much about the show as she does. "Is he really a cop?"  "Is he going to kill that guy?"  "Who's that chick?"  "What's with the pineapple?"

    I usually just tune her out.
    How I Met Your Mother reference? ;)
  • My mother does this. It's a PITA for sure, but she does it even when she knows I know exactly as much about the show as she does. "Is he really a cop?"  "Is he going to kill that guy?"  "Who's that chick?"  "What's with the pineapple?"

    I usually just tune her out.
    How I Met Your Mother reference? ;)
    Psych.
    I love Psych! FI and I are constantly playing spot the Pineapple.. And quoting psych... And pointing out cars that resemble the Blueberry. I'm a bit of a Psych-o :smiley:
  • Speaking of Psyche, I always thought that if I could just roll Gus and Shawn into one guy...he'd be perfect, lol.  They're both smart, cute, and nice.

    Then you have Shawn.  Funny and charming.  Mixed with Gus's responsibility.  Good job, good with money.  Poof...perfect guy.

    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • VarunaTT said:
    Why is it so hard to use words.  "I'm sorry, I'm watching this right now.  I'll answer your questions when I'm finished."  K is horrible about this and, since I'm an adult, I told her I didn't like having to pause and explain every little thing.  Since she's an adult, she now waits until I'm finished and asks, or I just hit restart and we watch together.  Sometimes, if I'm not too far into it, I'll even just restart it then.  It's like words are magic or something!  
    Most Prudie's can be answered with "use your words."

    I thought Prudie's advice was pretty good on this one. She basically said, pause it, give a quick summary and then say no more questions until after because I want to enjoy the movie. 
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