If I don't watch a TV series everyone is talking about...

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Am I missing out by not watching it because lots of other people are?

I've not seen a single series of game of thrones while members like family like my mum, her partner, my dad, step mum watched them. My dad usually won't watch anything fantasy fiction but did get into that. At work we get books about stuff being talked about on tiktok or on netflix like stranger things, another thing I'm not into. I do remember though watching a couple of episodes last year of the drama about the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer played by Evan peters and I think people were talking a lot about that. I will also say that I have seen all the series of the sopranos I remember with my mum and dad.

Last edited by chris1989 on 15 Dec 2023, 2:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

You're not missing out if the show doesn't interest you.

You're only missing out on being able to socialize over the show if that interests you.

I have not watched Game of Thrones either. I would still say you are not missing out. I did watch Breaking Bad, and I enjoyed it. Would I say you are missing out if you have not watched it? Still no. They both offer the opportunity to watch a story. Watch what you are interested.

I knew people that watched Game of Thrones. This was before I retired. One co-worker even provided me recordings, because I did not have HBO. They use to chat about it, but they were good about meeting in groups and chatting about things. I am not. I watched fifteen minutes or less of the first first episode, and then moved on to something else. I had other things to watch.

I don't mourn the loss of the tree that fell in the forest sixteen miles (or kilometers) away. (metaphor)

I do believe in watching what others suggest, usually my sons, but occasionally what someone here at Wrong Planet suggests. Otherwise, I would always watch the same type of things I always watch and would not expand my tastes.

I eventually did get HBO, but only because my oldest son said "Westworld..." and "John Oliver..." I listen to what my sons suggest. Years ago, my youngest son suggested "WWE..." That was his interest at the time. So I started watching WWE. I don't any more. Neither does he. Does that mean my sons mean more to me than the other people I know? Yes.

No you’re not missing out. You should watch the popular shows on a streaming app. There’s peacock, Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, etc. that’s where all the latest stuff is.

How does one socialise over a show?

Example. Let's say I try and I watch something and while watching it I talk, and get told off for talking... So I wait until after and I talk about the details and others don't want to know about what car they were in and what train they travelled on. They just want the boring bits about what people said to each other! Meanwhile they are missing out on the really good parts! Passing bicycles. Cars. Motorbikes. (Don't know so much about them as find helmets claustrophobic so could only manage 15 minutes a time with an open face helmet before I had to stop to pull the thing off! My car licence allowed me to ride up to 50cc. Due to helmets I never bothered going into motorbikes. I am fine with bicycle helmets as they don't cover my ears! Is the covering of the face of ears I struggle with!) Trains... yes! Trams. Boats are ok and planes. Uhmmm. But why do we want to talk about people? Not unless they like trains and are talking about trains!

What actually is socializing?
When I used to be asked "Where do I socialize?" I would ask what they mean and they would ask " Which pub I went to". I don't go to pubs! I have probably been in less pubs than I am in age, and that includes marriages and things like that. Maybe (As have sometimes been in a pub for a lunchtime meal when others wanted us (Mum and I) to go there) about average one a year through my life but about two a year in the last decade (Before that about one every five to ten years due to weddings? I only twice drank alcohol in a pub and that was when I was 18 when others insisted and tried to get me drunk on my birthday. I refused to drink much and where I first worked at Christmas. I didn't really enjoy it. Was given a beer and they said it was cheap at less than £1 a pint. Think it was 78p. That is a lot I thought as I knew I could buy a whole big bottle of cola for less than half that in those days. Though going back before that fizzy pops cost a lot. 65p but one did get 10p back when one returned the bottle! But that was before supermarkets came along and outsourced the smaller shops and the big brands of fizzy pops started to undercut the smaller pop factories. The smaller pop factories owned the glass bottles which was why they have 10p back so one would return them!

I believe it starts with hey, didja see <insert show here>? At least from what I've witnessed.

You're not missing out. I don't like Game of Thrones either.

One thing that always bothered me is that some people think GoT is an accurate depiction of medieval history. Yes, because everyone knows that in medieval times, dragons existed and everyone had sex with their siblings.

You're not missing out.

Depends on the show.

"Am I missing out by not watching it because lots of other people are?"

I wouldn't gauge it by how many other people are watching it. I'd consider:
(a) Is it in genres I enjoy?
(b) Are indications that it is well-done?
Also, if the show has been going for awhile, has it maintained its quality or not?

So, for instance, someone gave us the first season of Game of Thrones on DVD during the show's second season.
► It was clearly fantasy which is not a genre I generally like a lot.
► We watched the first season and it was very well done.
► In subsequent years reports hinted it was going down hill.

Result:
- We watched season 1
- We did not obtain any seasons after that
- I intend to donate the season 1 disks to charity

I would agree with Mountain Goat and funeralxempire regarding socializing over the show.

Note that you only have to be able to tolerate the show (and find others that watch it) if your goal is to socialize over it. If a lot of other people watch the show then there are more folk you might be able to socialize over the show with.

I've never seen it either.

I really liked GoT, but then I like science fiction and fantasy. I have never watched any of The Sopranos, which a lot of people seemed to be watching at the time. Like people said. It all depends on what keeps your attention. Tastes change as well. I heard a few people on here mention the show ‘Our Flag means Death’ , so I tried to watch it. A decade ago I would have loved it, but now I just couldn’t get into it.

I run into this problem a lot. Every once in a while everyone around me (at work or discord) is talking about a show that doesn't meet my standards or interests. You don't have to watch the show if it doesn't interest you or you don't have the time. It's true that popular movies and shows are popular ice-breaker topics in socialization (topics that you can use to start a conversation). You have two choices.

If you wish to socialize, you can keep the conversation going by asking the person what their favorite part of the show is. You can even ask about the genre or the characters they mention. Then you mention your favorite parts of shows you've watched in the past or favorite genre or character etc.

If you don't want to socialize you can just say "No, I haven't watched the show. It doesn't really interest me." And that usually puts an end to the conversation.

To be honest, I've developed a sense that popular shows very rarely meet my standards. So if something reaches a certain level of popularity it actually makes me more hesitant to watch it. I'll still watch a trailer or listen to people talk about it to see whether or not it has potential, but something being popular is a very bad motivation factor for me XD

~Emillie