Kids talking during movies *at home*

[Anonymous]

When my family does this, I pause the movie and listen and reply. Eventually they get tired of me pausing the movie and pipe down. I just repeat honestly "I can't hear the movie over your talking."

My favorite is when my husband (the worst offender) talks over the movie and then says "what'd that guy just say?" Well, I don't know, you were talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like both OP and her son need therapy and medication. The son has ADHD, the mom maybe has autism? This is how she’s reached adulthood and doesn’t realize the oddity of her behavior.

Autism because she doesn’t want anyone talking during movies? FFS, this is a 13 year old, not a 5 year old. I must be autistic, too, because I’m getting twitchy just thinking about all the movie talkers in this thread. SHHHHHHHH!!!

[Anonymous]

My daughter is like this. Watching a movie with her is an all in experience. I accept it for what it is because like others have said, very soon I’ll be watching alone. And honestly, her perspective and excitement (as juvenile as it can be) is all encompassing and fun.

[Anonymous]

My kid does this, too. He also plays his guitar quietly during movies. He and DH will sometimes even get in ridiculously animated debates during movies. There are some shows and movies I don’t share with them — I like to watch them and actually want to hear, so I’ll watch while they’re out or otherwise engaged.

If it really bothered me, I’d do something about it. He doesn’t do this in other settings. He’s just at home with family, comfortable with himself and his surroundings, and fully enjoying the experience. Rewinding isn’t a big deal when it’s just the 3 of us.

[Anonymous]

DS does this, but I don’t want to shut him down. I just turn on subtitles and it’s fine. Once in a while, if I care a lot, I tell the entire family that I care about this and don’t want people to talk. It works for us.

[Anonymous]

I have one kid like this, and a husband who seems to not pay attention so he’s constantly asking “what happened? What did she say?” We tried using CC but then they’d complain it was too distracting. If we paused the movie every time my kid or DH had a comment or question it would take hours (BTDT).

So we had to stop movie night together because the other people in the family couldn’t tolerate it any more. My kids would fight about it, and no one was happy. I was sad about not being able to make it work but I was the only one willing to compromise. I’m just surrounded by super strong “feeler” so I just said “FINE, no movies at all”. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Don’t watch movies together. My husband talks through movies and tv. We don’t watch a lot at home together except an occasional sports game. Never tv or a movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is exactly the same way. I have learned to just accept it.

+1
I put captions on. Kids can chatter and miss half the movie while I don't miss a beat. I think people who disparage captions are just slow/weak readers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is exactly the same way. I have learned to just accept it.

+1
I put captions on. Kids can chatter and miss half the movie while I don't miss a beat. I think people who disparage captions are just slow/weak readers.

Yes, people who don’t want to read all the dialogue in their own language are clearly the real problem here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not trying to go off on OP but when I read something like this, I wonder how this person became so self-absorbed.

Everything can't be "go to therapy" and fix yourself, but I do wonder how TF did you even get here.

lol! I challenge you to watch a movie you really want to see with my 11 year old constantly talking, pausing, rewinding, turning on and off subtitles, reading the trivia …

Then you watch that particular movie alone after his bedtime! This isn’t difficult. I’m positive there is a movie your 11 year old really wants to watch with you that you give zero Fs about seeing, so choose that one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS does this, but I don’t want to shut him down. I just turn on subtitles and it’s fine. Once in a while, if I care a lot, I tell the entire family that I care about this and don’t want people to talk. It works for us.

I think this is the best solution. If there a movie you really want to be fully immersed in, watch it by yourself first. After the first watch you may even enjoy your child's commentary during your rewatch. For everyday movies you care less about, let him talk. For the occasional one you want to watch together but stay in silence, all of you can practice "movie theater mode" and have the audience refrain from talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is exactly the same way. I have learned to just accept it.

+1
I put captions on. Kids can chatter and miss half the movie while I don't miss a beat. I think people who disparage captions are just slow/weak readers.

Yes, people who don’t want to read all the dialogue in their own language are clearly the real problem here.

They are. They should do some crossword puzzles to improve their cognitive abilities so they can read captions while their children blather on in the background. Kids are noisy and you have to learn to adapt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is exactly the same way. I have learned to just accept it.

+1
I put captions on. Kids can chatter and miss half the movie while I don't miss a beat. I think people who disparage captions are just slow/weak readers.

Yes, people who don’t want to read all the dialogue in their own language are clearly the real problem here.

They are. They should do some crossword puzzles to improve their cognitive abilities so they can read captions while their children blather on in the background. Kids are noisy and you have to learn to adapt.

I love crossword puzzles. I also love foreign movies with subtitles. But when we’re watching a movie in English together as a family—with my tween and teen—we zip it. If people want to talk or do something else, they’re free to leave the room. Chatty people need to learn to adapt because that’s just basic manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is exactly the same way. I have learned to just accept it.

+1
I put captions on. Kids can chatter and miss half the movie while I don't miss a beat. I think people who disparage captions are just slow/weak readers.

Covering ignorance with rudeness is a bad look.

Captions block the image onscreen, and distract from it, no matter how fast you read.
Reading ability obviously has nothing to do with it, because people who don't want captions don't need to read them.

It's actually highly literate and cognitively active people who dislike captions, because text is hard to ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watch the movie yourself first.

This is the solution.