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TV or not TV

(125 Posts)
paddyann54 Tue 28-Jun-22 17:28:26

My OH has decided he wants to put a TV on the wall in the sitting area of our kitchen.
I dont want it ,we've always had just one TV in the house because I dont like them around when we're eating or in bedrooms..our kids never felt deprived without one in their rooms .
He's not pleased that I dont want another TV ,I dont think we need one .there are only two of us here and we generally watch the same things or one of us will sit with a laptop while the other watches with input from the laptop user.
We have a large wallmounted smart TV in the living room why on earth do we need another?
Should I just give in and then find no conversation at meal times because we're glued to the screen? Am I being unreasonable ?

Chestnut Tue 28-Jun-22 18:38:52

If it will cause him to be unhappy then why not agree but with RULES. You decide what the rules are, when it should or shouldn't be on. Tell him you will go crackers if it's on all the time but you will go along with it under those conditions.

Sago Tue 28-Jun-22 18:42:47

We have just one TV in our snug, I never allowed televisions in the children's bedrooms.
Our living room is a technology free zone, no TV phones etc.
I would hate to have a TV in my kitchen.

Kate1949 Tue 28-Jun-22 18:49:18

We've got two. The main one and one upstairs in the spare room. That one us a TV and also a computer. I hate sport and DH loves it so an extra TV is useful.

watermeadow Tue 28-Jun-22 18:54:37

I have no television and don’t want one. All my children have them, one per family, but they all say they never watch it apart from streaming films. I think they are outdated and will soon be no longer used at all.
But if your husband wants one let him have it. Put it in the cupboard under the stairs.

Elizabeth27 Tue 28-Jun-22 20:10:58

A couple of posters have stated to make rules about watching the TV, surely a couple living together is an equal partnership, how is it okay for one to make the rules for another adult.

BlueBelle Tue 28-Jun-22 20:14:57

Well if it’s a “partnership” the question wouldn’t have even come up elizabeth ?
So in fairness I think you are being a bit unreasonable paddyanne his home as much as yours

paddyann54 Tue 28-Jun-22 20:36:00

Now thats the thing Ginny he just swapped up our 55" for 75" I only knew about it when it arrived at the door .He has form for doing stuff like this ,doesn't usually bother me ,even when he bought this house before telling /asking me .
BUT the kitchen is my domain,my space ,I do all the cooking ,cleaning in it.He doesn't cook and has no interest .He has an office upstairs with loads of wallspace he could put it there .
I generally play loud music while I work around the house.I love the bones of him but I dont want a TV in my kitchen... and its definately not the case that I get my own way all the time .I raised the kids because he worked very long hours ...so no TVs upstairs was my choice ,that way no tired kids in the mornings and he was very agreeable to that .

CanadianGran Tue 28-Jun-22 21:22:17

My DH has just set up electricity and wired the cable so he can have one in the little pergola in the garden...

I have no plans to watch tv while outside. It will be sports on, and I will turning off the volume when I am out there! Since he is retired, and spends most of the day out there, it shouldn't annoy the neighbors since they all still work. It will be off, or only as loud as a radio anytime after 4pm.

Aveline Tue 28-Jun-22 21:27:09

Why does he want a TV in the kitchen though? If it's your domain what does it matter to him. Does he maybe just want another TV so he can watch things you don't want to? Fair enough.

paddyann54 Tue 28-Jun-22 21:35:50

He can have another TV anywhere else he wants ,I have no problem with that .I dont know why the kitchen ,I only realised his plan when he had a tape measure out to see what the right size would be .When I told my daughter just now she thought he might have something else in mind and the TV was a ploy so whatever it really is will be a relief...the mind boggles .Since she said that I'm left thinking she may well be right ,he's always been a windup merchant .Maybe I can expect a fish tank or a huge wine fridge

Cabbie21 Tue 28-Jun-22 22:43:10

Since you say it is “ your” kitchen, I can’t see why he wants a TV in there. Do you eat there?
We have a small one in the kitchen which I sometimes watch while ironing, a rare event, or if the news is just starting whilst we are still dishing up. I would not want a large one though.

If it is more of a shared space, and he insists, then you can insist on some rules.

harrigran Tue 28-Jun-22 22:56:52

Never had a TV in the kitchen, could not watch and cook at the same time. Never had a TV in the bedroom either but I do iron in there, usually listen to Classic fm whilst ironing.
A few years ago DH wanted a TV in the music room so he could escape while I watched the soaps and that is where he watched football. With GDs here often it is quite handy to have the second TV, they watch Netflix or use the screen for their play station while the adults chat in the lounge.

Hithere Tue 28-Jun-22 23:05:57

So he does things w/o consulting you - not cool and that is a bigger issue than a tv in the kitchen or not

Callistemon21 Tue 28-Jun-22 23:27:20

We don't always want to watch the same things so having another small TV in the breakfast area is useful.
(Who on earth thinks snooker is entertaining? - answers on a postage stamp)

nadateturbe Tue 28-Jun-22 23:28:08

I think it all comes down to compromise, rather than just saying no. But a second one somewhere else rather than the kitchen sounds preferable.
It does kill conversation.

Callistemon21 Tue 28-Jun-22 23:29:41

Should I just give in and then find no conversation at meal times because we're glued to the screen? Am I being unreasonable ?

Well you could compromise and have a small TV in there in case you want to watch different programmes on condition it does not go at mealtimes. Ever otherwise you will cut the plug off.

Greyduster Tue 28-Jun-22 23:29:47

We have a smart tv in the lounge and the old one was put upstairs in our bedroom where it was rarely watched and now not at all. DH wanted to put one on in the conservatory but I was adamant it wasn’t going to happen. I wanted a peaceful space. DH loved to watch tv but I now watch about an hour in the evening, and if GS is staying here, he connects his games console to it, but other than that it’s fairly redundant.

Blossoming Tue 28-Jun-22 23:41:43

We don’t have a TV. We both prefer listening over watching.

paddyann54 Tue 28-Jun-22 23:58:33

I would never say no,but I hope he would consider my view .We do eat there its a large open plan space with kitchen at one end ,dining in the middle and seating at the far end .Thats a good spot for reading or just watching the cats chasing squirrels or climbing trees .A TV would spoil it ...in my opinion .

FarNorth Wed 29-Jun-22 00:01:46

I guess all you can do is make it clear that you don't want TV on in the kitchen when you are working there or eating, and wait to see what he comes up with (hoping it's not a TV).
Do you usually talk to each other at mealtimes?

FarNorth Wed 29-Jun-22 00:03:16

Have you explained that to him? What is his reason for wanting a TV there?

crazyH Wed 29-Jun-22 00:05:17

I have an open plan kitchen dining room, in the corner of which there’s a tv and my armchair. I hardly use the living room. The TV is my companion in the background…….

paddyann54 Wed 29-Jun-22 08:39:50

FarNorth I think its just that the one he replaced is going spare and he thinks he'll use it ..in the kitchen.
I suggested ,last night,that he could give it to our daughter,its only 4 years old,and get a small one for the kitchen .Not the 55" he's planning .
He'll think about it ! It may lose the appeal if its a wee thing he needs specs to watch .
We dont argue ,cant remember the last time we had a big difference of opinion .We wont fall out over this ,one of us will cave .Probably me ...lol

Aveline Wed 29-Jun-22 08:55:29

55 inch!! Blimey I'd have to sit well back to be able to focus on that. We have a 40inch one and that took some getting used to.
I don't blame you for not wanting such a monster in your kitchen!

Harris27 Wed 29-Jun-22 09:06:51

Ima he one in the bedroom which I didn’t really want. But in the winter I love it we go to bed early and watch it for an hour then drift off to sleep. Also when my husband goes to evening football match I do the same. Pros and cons.