TV War: Ceasefire

`When I get to earn lots of money,' I began.

Hubby D knew it was one of my potshots aimed at him. I continued undaunted, `I'll buy another TV.'

His non-stop jibes over the months at my preference for Balika Vadhu over IPL, or a reality show over action movies have moved me up the wall.

Our dislike for each other's perception of entertainment is mutual.

He hates daily soaps. I cringe when he watches WWE.

I watch reality shows even if I don't like them. He prefers cricket anyday.

Among films, I love romantic English movies, while nothing less than an action flick would satiate his appetite.

I don't react much to these daily fights until it is about his switching to some vulgar comedy from Tamil cinema. Believe me, I have nothing personal against those comedians or the language. I laugh at some of the forced jokes too. But as a viewer I find a lot that is demeaning in these jokes. Am stunned too, that they tend to get away with some of the worst statements they can make about women. To my surprise, I find women in my extended family and elsewhere too, enjoy these jokes. When I think of children growing up on such toilet humour, I want to hide away.

Not sure if I am being an escapist. Over the last few weeks, it is less TV and more internet at times I should be spending time with my husband. Home TV wars are a norm more than dismissable domestic incidents.

They are intra-family assertion of power - over what the person perceives as entertainment, depending on that person being male, female, elderly, child, etc. Home TV wars are a symbol of dominance over the remote. Women win these wars at times. Men get to control it in the name of cricket, most times.

I have begun to perceive TV, cricket and crass Tamil Comedy as the `other' of late. Dinner time, I gulp down morsels rather than look up at the TV, not out of any major grudge, but tired with those things I don't perceive as entertainment. In any case, I no longer enjoy watching Balika Vadhu. Reality shows tend to bore me too. Serials tend to drag on so much I would be happier watching them once a week - only to catch up with story progress. Or have I simply given up?

Can peace be made about over the years? Time will tell in my house. But if I have the money...