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OH objects to my smartphone

(68 Posts)
SandraF Tue 14-Aug-18 14:08:25

What do you do about your OH objecting to you using your smartphone?

Last night my OH was watching yet again a WW2 film whilst I caught up with friends and family, my phone was on silent. After the film finished he said he would like to throw the phone in the bin.

However, he has no objection to the phone when he wants to know the football scores or use maps, google, etc !

Needless to say he won't use a phone which can cause some difficult situations when he's out on his own.

GabriellaG Wed 15-Aug-18 10:42:39

I typed 1 x 'not' and meant to type 1 x 'not'.

GabriellaG Wed 15-Aug-18 10:21:26

Baggs

Texting? Whatsapp.

ReadyMeals Wed 15-Aug-18 10:21:20

Gabriella, I can't conceive of a situation where having one disadvantages you. Or did you actually mean to say that in the first place and typed to many "not"s?

GabriellaG Wed 15-Aug-18 10:19:10

I can't possibly conceive of any situation where not having a mobile phone when out and about disadvantages you, in a difficult situation.
Get a life. Rely on brain power and the power of speech. Gordon Bennett!

optimist Wed 15-Aug-18 10:17:03

I love my smartphone, I love Youtube and especially I LOVE Facebook. Some friends declare "Facebook is a waste of time" but it has enriched my life in so many ways so I disagree. BUT I never watch TV except for the news, I consider that to be a waste of MY time.

optimist Wed 15-Aug-18 10:14:39

I love my smartphone I love Youtube, I love Facebook. One or two friends comment that "Facebook is a waste of time". I SO disagree it has enriched my life in so many ways. BUT I personally never watch TV except the news. I consider TV a waste of MY time so we are all different.

Coconut Wed 15-Aug-18 09:59:47

Ask him to right down a list of rules and regulations for you, tongue in cheek of course ! What makes some men think they can dictate what their wives do ?

ReadyMeals Wed 15-Aug-18 09:49:21

Some people have just decided to take an attitude about mobile phones. I find the same applies to credit cards. I pay mine off every month, which makes it pretty much like a debit card and obviously I therefore pay no interest and accumulate no debt. But every year I can afford to buy something large like a new TV from the points I have accumulated from using it!! I use it for every tiny purchase including food.

If DH doesn't like smart phones, he may accept a more basic mobile phone that can only do phone calls, with no smartphone features. These are still available, presumably for people who are technophobic.

Humbertbear Wed 15-Aug-18 09:38:41

Give your husband your current phone and buy yourself a new one. It worked a treat except now he is on his phone more than I am on mine!

harrysgran Wed 15-Aug-18 09:31:51

He isn't a needy child what a selfish attitude to have you should be able to please yourself how you spend your time in the evening it sounds like he does

Grampie Wed 15-Aug-18 09:25:58

Offer to make an appointment for him to attend your local library for a two-hour session with a Computer Buddy.

He then may not have a fear of computers so you and he can share the value of being connected.

Sheilasue Wed 15-Aug-18 09:21:35

My dh bought me an iPad for my 70th he moans that I am always on it. I am not I give myself certain times in the day to go in and catch up with things and yes he does ask me too to look up things.
He likes to look on Rightmove. ?

mabon1 Wed 15-Aug-18 09:18:39

Go to another room when using the phone.

Baggs Tue 14-Aug-18 20:09:10

grandtante has a point. OP said her phone was on silent. She didn't say she was on silent. Talking on a phone in the same room someone is watching a TV programme is rude so I hope that's not what was happening. If it was happening then I don't blame the OH for what he said at all.

Perhaps the OP will clear that up for us.

pollyperkins Tue 14-Aug-18 20:02:29

Im amazed at some of the reactions to this post. I get on very well with my H most of thectime but he too objects to me 'wasting time' on my ohone and I have to admit he does have a point. He doesnt have one and thinks Im addicted and to be honest I do spend a lot of time on it.
Admittedly it's a bit different if he is watching a film or reading a book and I do say Im not ignoring you any more than you are ignoring me which he concedes. But he thinks Im doing trivial things like playing games or using social media which he does not approve of!
However I wouldn't class it as grounds for divorce -just a minor disagreement!

BlueBelle Tue 14-Aug-18 20:00:11

Fennel - Sandra, change over

Fennel Tue 14-Aug-18 19:25:41

Sandra - it's the opposite with us. I hate the things and he keeps insisting I need to use one. Why? We managed before.
OTOH I couldn't do without my 'puter.
Also I'm obsessed with with ww2 and he isn't.

midgey Tue 14-Aug-18 18:00:46

You do know that lots of smartphones are compatible with the tv......and you can change channels or even turn the b****y thing offgrin

grandtanteJE65 Tue 14-Aug-18 17:39:44

If you were texting then your OH is out of line, but if you were talking on the phone while he was watching TV I do understand his irritation. If that was the case, could you not sit in another room?

War films drive me batty too, so if DH wants to watch one I go somewhere else in the house. But perhaps you only have one sitting room?

Baggs Tue 14-Aug-18 17:21:55

Ask him to wear headphones when he's watching a film you don't want to watch, then it won't disturb what you, quietly, want to do on your phone.

He's the one with the noisy gadget, not you. Perhaps point that out to him. TVs are much more intrusive than smart phones.

oldbatty Tue 14-Aug-18 17:02:37

Sandra, I would suggest you have a chat with him about how the two of you spend your time and see if you can come to some sort of compromise.

If he is interested in War films, that fine ,but you dont need to tag along. You can go in another room or go out?

glammanana Tue 14-Aug-18 16:58:03

My OH could object all he likes (which he never would) it would get him nowhere its my choice what I use and when the same as when he uses his smartphone I would never object,we are not joined at the hip,by the way if my OH wants to watch football etc he will remove himself to the TV in the bedroom and I watch the lounge TV.

MissAdventure Tue 14-Aug-18 16:48:40

Well, I can sort of see his point.
People on phones often seem to go off into a totally different dimension; completely oblivious to their surroundings..
Maybe he is like that with watching films though.

Riverwalk Tue 14-Aug-18 16:46:38

What exactly is it he objects to? Would it be OK if you sat there reading, or knitting?

M0nica Tue 14-Aug-18 16:29:38

He is not a child, why on earth does he need you devotedly sitting at his feet looking at him adoringly, while he takes no notice of you as he watches his program. Does he throw you doggiechocs as well?

If I am not interested in a program DH is watching I go somewhere else in the house and do something different (and vice versa, if he is not interested in something I am watching).

In fact we are often in the house together but in different parts doing different things. We even both have our own cars so that we can have independent lives. We have just genuinely celebrated 50 years of marriage so being independent isn't a sign of a failing marriage.

Any man who expected me to give them my full undivided attention all the time they were not working wouldn't have got past the second date - and several didn't.