My husband is one of the smartest people I know. He’s an amazing writer, reads a lot, can figure out almost anything on his computer and has a voracious appetite for information. So what’s the problem? For reasons I can’t understand, he can’t for the life of him figure out how to use the remote control.
Does this really look that complicated?
Seriously. No matter how many times I’ve shown him, he always manages to screw it up. I’ll ask him to turn up the volume and instead he ends up changing the channel. Or we get set to watch a DVD and he stands there for a good 5 minutes trying to figure out how to change the input before he finally gives up and hands me the remote. (Just to let you know how easy this actually is, one only has to hit the ‘video source’ button 3 times and…voilà!) It’s gotten to the point where if my husband wants to record a show, he’ll pass me the remote and say, “Can you record 60 Minutes tonight? Thanks.” and walk away. I’m not sure if his brain is just filled to the brim with all of the other useless information he’s got stored in there, leaving no more room for simple remote control knowledge, or if he just likes to get me to do stuff for him (I’m guessing the latter). What I do know is that it sure is annoying to always have to be the designated remote control user.
At least your husband stares at the remote, probably pretending to figure it out. Mine acts like it has the plague and tosses it over to me. This is usually coupled with the comment “I hate technology”. Oh did I mention he is a computer programmer? He can write software but can’t change the channel and won’t even try.
Are you kidding? Most wives would KILL to get their husbands to stop changing the channel. Your’s can’t even work the remote. Great blog!
Yes, this sounds so familar. Think they just all may be the same when it comes to the remote control..haha.
Yup, mine is a mechanical engineer. Can fix a powerplant, can’t work a remote control…scary.
I’ve spent seven years with a mechanic who insists he DOES know how to use the remote. We often watch TV in black and white because of similar “input” problems as the one you described. We just moved and spent six days with no sound coming from our TV because he insisted he had the wires from the cable box to the tv plugged in correctly. And this is the man that fixes my brakes.
You are lucky, mine is a freaking TV nut, constantly adjusting back light, game mode, etc. Then he goes on to the sound, and whether it is compressed, dts and on and on, I miss half the movie before he is “SATISFIED” with the settings on the TV. But at the same time I have to love him, because he is trying to make the experience the best it can be. I personally couldn’t care less, but its still sweet.
Well, at least that means you actually get to be in control of the remote. If my husband and I are watching something I cannot even have the remote. Even if we have found a suitable program he keeps it in his hand, primed to channel surf at anytime. I generally have to pry it out of his sleeping hand at night
Aren’t men supposed to be “Kings” of the BBQ and the remote (insert grunt here) ? Yes, mine has no clue on earth how to turn on the dvd player to play a movie, can’t change the channel in the dark, and can’t even turn on the computer… well, it keeps him off ebay (searching for the Star Wars lunch box he had when he was 8) and gives us time to “bond” while I help him “find that channel that movie was on” …. gotta love ‘em!!
My dad has the same problem as your husband. He’s 56 years old and he has problems using the remote and changing to DVD. Someone else has to find the channel he wants to watch (“Can you change the channel so I can watch the news”). But he’s generally technologically challenged. He can’t use a computer, doesn’t realize that we have never had a fax machine, and needs to be re-instructed on how to use a cell phone each time he uses one.
PLEASE tell me you yell “No Deal!” when he does this…
I thought I was alone in this oddity, having a husband who can build a computer from scratch, but can’t use a remote. Want to really get the remote-impaired husband frustrated? Turn on the closed caption. I use it at night when I don’t want the volume to annoy him. I like to see how long it will take him the next day to ask me to turn it off!
We have the same remote. I understand 8 of the buttons now (besides volume and channel).
Guess it doesn’t matter much since I barely ever get my paws on it anyway!
Been married 25 years. The remote issue rings true here. He can do nothing but change the channel and use the VOLUME CONTROL.
I have this same remote and my 6 1/2 year old daughter can figure it out.
OMG – mine cannot work the remote OR the TV. Seriously. Or any electronics. “Why isn’t the wireless mouse working? Can you fix it?” If I don’t fix it, it just stays broken until it’s fixed. Incredible!!
Mine can’t do anything tech wise. I have set up, hooked up and programmed everything remotely electronic in our house and *I* really don’t get most of it… just read the directions (there’s another whole story for me). However, he *wants* to control the TV at all times. Therefore, we miss a lot of every favorite program while we figure out how he screwed it up THIS time.