My wife is addicted to television! How can I compete with that? My stories aren't as interesting. My character not as dashing or dastardly!
How can one pry a full-grown woman away from the idiot box to experience life?
hell, I'd rather she were having an affair! At least she'd be living her own life!

How does one defeat 35 years of conditioning?


Mr(pixelating)Sensitive
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07-18-02, 07:12 AM
aminator2002
I suffer from this condition also. To get me away from the TV there must be an exciting alternative.

Perhaps if you spent less time on the internet you may be able to find some alternatives to get your wife excited about enjoying life with you! wink

07-18-02, 08:44 AM
puppyblues
Animator2002, cheap shot! He's probably on the internet because his wife is watching TV!

Mr.(where the hells my wife?) Sensitive, have you tried to entice her with romance? Maybe you could take her out for dinner and a drive and just talk.
If that doesn't work, unscrew the back of your TV and pull out a fuse! PB roll eyes

07-18-02, 10:27 AM
Koz
My wife suffers from the same affliction.

I do try to pry her away from that infernal box with an assortment of things. roll eyes

I have not found anything that works well.

My household is opposite of the stereotypical television viewing type.

She will change the darn channel every time a commercial comes on. (Quite distracting I must say)

I don’t watch much television. On the odd occasion I do (ball game, History Channel special) I would like to see the entire show.

If you ever find something that works well, please let me know.

Sorry I cannot help you Mr. (I never seem to be able to help this guy) Sensitive.

07-18-02, 06:00 PM
gizmogram
I usually have the TV on while I'm doing other things - during the week it's on the SciFi Channel pretty much all day (I love Twilight Zone, etc...), and I'll only actually sit down to watch if it's something I haven't seen before.

We've been painting this week, so the stereo has been on more than the TV.

I have a sister-in-law that is a TV addict - and when she's watching, it's like she's so focused on the TV that she's not even aware of things going on around her.

Mr(wants his wife back)Sensitive, take her out one evening for a nice dinner and conversation - while you have the opportunity, suggest that you set aside time every day or even every couple of days, just for "you two" to spend time together.

Take a drive on weekends - you live in some beautiful country with lots to see. The time spent in a car on a road trip lends itself to some good conversation. I'm looking forward to when my husband takes a week off soon, hopefully before I get back to work, so he can take me up the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi & back down the Minnesota side - a beautiful drive with an overnight stop at a B & B along the way...

Personally, I'm addicted to my computer and AnswerPool, but when my husband's home (trucker), I spend very little time here. He knows that I take my committment to AnswerPool very seriously, along with the fact that I get daily emails from family 2,000 miles away - the big difference is, that when he's gone, I'll play games & such on the computer for hours, but when he's home, I get on, do my business, and get right back off.

07-20-02, 02:58 PM
LVLF
Maybe the reason she watches so much T.V. has something to do with another of your posts, the one asking how to find your wife's choice of conversation less boring.

07-20-02, 09:19 PM
MrSensitive
hence, the reason I'd like to pry her away from the television- to explore more interesting areas of life and thought.
When her conversation sparks on our life, she can be quite interesting with which to converse.



Mr(back away from the television slowly)Sensitive

09-16-02, 08:47 PM
Katanya2000
Just wondering if you ever managed to break Mrs. Sensitive's tv habit. smile

09-16-02, 11:56 PM
MrSensitive
Still working on it. But now that the season premiers are coming up....
How can I compare to vampire killers and alien 20-somethings? I'm just so boring and real by comparison! smile


Mr(got life?)Sensitive

09-17-02, 09:25 AM
displacedNYer
My husband was a Play Station-holic.

I "accidently" erased his memory card (actually, I got one identical to the one he was using, and put it in the machine so when he turned it on he thought his card was blank. I hid the one with his info on it so he wouldn't have to redo all that work).

He was so disgusted with having to start over that he stopped playing. So I then gave him back the original card and told him that I didn't know I had married a lump on the floor attached to the Play Station, and that I hoped he would give it a rest. He did. He barely playes - when he does want to he is free to do so but after taking a break and seeing how much more there is to do in the world he isn't as interested.

You may be able to try something similar.

Just for the record - he works nights. I'm only online when he's sleeping!

09-17-02, 12:19 PM
samantha
I almost never watch TV. I get my news from you guys here at the pool. Then I'm not married either maybe if and when I get married I to will watch TV.

09-17-02, 07:01 PM
gatman
Cute Sam, real cute wink

Mr. Sen - have you tried dancing for her progressing to wearing a thong? big grin red face If that does not get her attention (or laughter) check for a pulse!

09-17-02, 11:47 PM
MrSensitive
Oh Gatman! You ARE a sick puppy! If I managed to get into a thong, I would look a lot like a basset Hound rubbed with marshmallow creme, tied up in his own leash.

Granted, she would not ignore it, but I certainly couldn't attend anymore family functions after such a story got out!


Mr(thing in a thong be wrong)Sensitive

09-24-02, 06:48 AM
Elexina
Turn. It. Off.

I know that sounds over simplified and perhaps even a bit rude, but she probably doesn't even realize how much TV she's watching or how much it bothers you. Get rid of the damn thing if it comes to that. You shoudn't have to entice her or intrigue her or make her more interested in you. You should already be more important to her than the stupid television.

09-24-02, 01:26 PM
Georgia85
All I know is the phone gets turned off at 8 pm and the VCR records the shows that conflict with the other ones I watch. But it's harmless fun for me - I'm not going out and getting into trouble - and for 3 hours a night I can forget about work and relationships and veg out!

But you know what? All the tv viewing does strengthen social behavior because the next I go to work and can discuss favorite shows with select people. It establishes special relationships and it is a way to find those who have the same interests as you...right TEE???

09-28-02, 01:56 PM
socylskills
you should count your blessings

10-02-02, 03:57 AM
Wildflower63
I haven't figured out how to compete with college basket ball, pro foot ball, beer, or chicken wings!

10-02-02, 03:14 PM
babthrower
Koz! (Gasp!) You're not just married to a tv-holic, but to a Controller-bully too! I couldn't stand watching television with someone who changed the channel in the middle of a program I was interested in.

'Doing something interesting' to attract her away might be something outside of the house. My husband and I skywatch, which sometimes means driving to a good viewing site (which varies with what you're looking at). There are internet sites that tell you what's good to-night, or what's to see this month. Just like a TV guide.

Sometimes we go to the pub. He socializes or watches big-screen sports, I read a book, but we're doing it together, which I like.

Walking to the beach is nice, to watch the moonlight on the water.

Of course visiting friends and family is the easiest thing. It's nice to catch up on their latest doings.

But I would certainly bring up the topic of channel hopping when someone else is watching a show.

10-02-02, 06:08 PM
nursey63
I do the same the thing. But I have found since I am feeling better about life in general I am not on the net or TV as much. I find I have other things to do with my family. Could this be a possibility? I was sick a lot and ended up depressed. Depressed people tend to sit in their own little world. I was content to sit and watch TV all the time. This might not be the case at all but just a thought.
I would try going out. I know when I was glued to the TV my husband was glued to the computer. So maybe try to sit with her more and talk while the tube is on. She will either talk to you or get mad because she wants to watch the shows. Good luck! roll eyes

10-10-02, 12:04 PM
Wildflower63
Good point Nursery!

11-10-02, 02:52 PM
cattywampus
telly-holic
Touche, LVLF! I love that answer.

Mr(I have no idea what's happening!)Sensitive, you remind me of my nephew who was so agonized over his wife divorcing him that he came to me to talk about it (can you imagine?) After he had spilled 103 ft. of his guts about what his desires were, I asked him, "Well, what does Judy want?" He looked at me blankly and said, "I don't know," like it was a stupid question.

If your wife is spending all her time in front of the TV, Mr.S., your marriage is in trouble, IMHO.
You had better start becoming a little (lot) more interested in what she talks about - even if it
is trivial, it's important to her, and what's important to her is important to you, right? - or you may end up a bachelor.

Catty (a word to the wives is sufficient) eek

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,