I need advice on a dilemma...please read!

[DisneyBoy]

Ok, this may seem really trivial to most people, but it really means a lot to me. It's a bit of a parent-interaction problem:

I adore the show Ally McBeal. The past two seasons haven't been as good as the first two, so when I heard that WTN - the Women's Television Network - was going to start rerunning the show from the first season starting Monday the 15th - I became very excited! The show probably won't come to DVD in season form, and since I enjoy watching the show during the summer and on weekends, I've always wanted to have the entire series on tape. I began watching during it's second year and haven't seen most of the first season of episodes.

Now, as far as tv goes, my family can choose certain channels aside from our main package. When we first got the system (nothing too fancy - not satellite) every person in the family was allowed to pick 2 channels they wanted to see. I picked YTV - so I could watch Batman: The Animated Series - and WB - which I now watch SMALLVILLE on.

My delimma is that my parents really, really, REALLY can't stand Ally! They are understanding, sensitive, accepting people - but when it comes to me and taping tv - they have no patience. They BARELY let me tape the current season on Monday nights as it is! In order to switch the WB station for WTN, I have to ask them - and I'd only be doing this so I could tape all of the episodes - which they'd hate! I already tried to bring this up with my father, but he didn't seem very positive about switching channels - and I hadn't even told him the reason WHY I wanted WTN!!!

I really don't know what to do!I LOVE Ally and since no DVD's are in sight - I want to tape as much of the entire series as possible - but my parents HATE my taping habbits and won't support this. If they knew why I wanted WTN they wouldn't agree - I'm completely certain. I need to work out some kind of deal with them so that they get something from me in return for losing an hour or more of television every night. I get a 10 allowance every week for lunches at school and/or comics. However, I don't have a job, and forgoing that allowance probably wouldn't be wise. Offering to mow the lawn for free (they usually pay me) wouldn't work either since that only happens in May/June, which isn't soon. It would really take something serious to get them to even consider this! Any suggestions? What could I offer to do for them that would really make this happen? Wash the kitchen floor every Saturday? Nope - I don't think that's enough! I don't smoke or anything...I'm generally a good son...WHAT SHOULD I DO????? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

:o :eek: :( :eek: :o

[Clayface]

How about just getting someone else to tape it for you?

[Joe Wagner]

DisneyBoy - how much would it cost to get an extra channel added? Maybe you could pay the difference (shouldn't be more than a couple bucks a month).

-Joe!

[Calhoun07]

I feel for you! Maybe if you can't get somebody else to tape it for you, you could offer to do something else to make up for it. Pick up some extra chores, tho I see you thought that idea wouldn't fly either. The good news is season sets are being released of this in the UK. I know you don't have the means now, but once you do, snatch up a multi region DVD player and get them. I know it's tormenting to wait (believe me, I know! I waited nearly ten years to see Twin Peaks again!) but some times being patient is the best thing to do.

[Theking]

maybe we can get someone to put the ep. on a p2p network so you can download them, you are on the computer anyway.

:D

TheKing

[Matt Hazuda]

Originally posted by Theking
maybe we can get someone to put the ep. on a p2p network so you can download them, you are on the computer anyway.

:D

TheKing Yeah, i'm sure someone posts them on WinMX or Morpheus/Kaaza.

[oranthal]

i don't know there were be any problems you taping your tv shows. you mentioned that they don't like your recording tv habits which i also don't understand.

Ally McBeal also reruns on FX. they started a while ago so it probably won't be in order, but at least you get to watch it.

[GL2k2]

Either you do some illegal splicing or you wait for the DVD's. I do believe they are coming, but probably not until X-Files sets are almost through. Good luck.

[DisneyBoy]

I finally breached the subject with my parents last night...and the looks on their faces pretty much said "um...no". In any case, I've been asking them for feedback as to what I can do better around the house and as a son. They've only mentionned a few minor things which I can improve on....

I think if I work on these things a little more, it might make them more positive towards losing 1 hour of tv every night...but I really don't think they'll agree to this...

I can't/won't do any online downloading, because, besides the obvious reasons, I don't have a working computer at home. The Uk DVD's look great, but ordering them all is out of my power as is finding a non-regional DVD ( are they illegal? ). I can't catch FX, much to my dismay also...

GL2k2, are you certain Ally will come to DVD in season sets or just speculating? As far as I've heard, all there is out there in the States and Canada is one "best of season One" DVD/VHS pack...which I already have in VHS form. It's only six episodes from season one...

I'm hoping that if this doesn't work with the WTN now, that down the road, something better will be waiting.

[Auggie Doggie]

Good Gravy!

It sounds as though you have the world's worst parents. How dare they try to control your life over something this trivial!

For Pete's Sake, can't they just go out to dinner or for a walk or something when you are taping Ally, so they cannot be annoied. You can get new parents, but your old ones won't let you.

Or maybe they can just get therpy. Because not letting a son or daughter tape a show they like because it annoys them is stupid, as they can leave while you're doing it.

Jeez Louise. What bug crawled up their shorts?

[Matt Hazuda]

Do your parents have a problem with the VCR running while they are watching TV? Or is it you coming down to hit the record button to watch the show? Does your VCR not allow to tape one channel while watching another, or even program it so you don't have to be their while recording?

If all else fails, just ask a friend or neighbor if you can borrow their VCR on mondays to tape the shw for you, I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Plus if they have cable, you can record the older episodes off of fX.

[Calhoun07]

I also am really surprised they are giving you a hard time about watching Ally McBeal. My mom was pretty easy going with us kids when it came to letting us watch things we wanted to, and I think Ally McBeal is relatively a decent show for somebody to be interested in. I am not a fan, but there are worse things. Maybe you could tell them, fine, you're going to watch Springer if you can't see Ally!

And multi region DVD players are NOT illegal. No more illegal than stand alont CD recorders that can record from CD-Rs (which the commercial Phillips CD recorders will not do). And no more illegal than DAT recorders. It's just something that they want to keep out of the mass market so only a few specialty stores get them in and sell them. But just because it's not at Best Buy means there's something wrong with it.

[DisneyBoy]

Hey! My parents aren't Satan and Medusa!

I didn't start this thread to bash them!

Seriously here, folks, I think we can all understand how annoying it is when someone monopolizes something in the house - be it the bathroom, a video-game console or the tv. I really hope they let me tape it...but I don't think it will happen. I think their main objection is that they believe I "obsess" over the show by always watching it and wanting to tape it. I also think they worry that my school work, self-motivation and health may be suffering if I always plan on sitting around watching Ally instead of living an actual life!

The truth is that I do spend a lot of time watching tv...but that's where my interests lie: Acting, animation, music etc... Still, I think if I show them I can be mature enough to get work done and still handle Ally...which lord knows I can do...then maybe they'll come around. Still, it's very annoying having to prove myself to them to get to tape something I truely enjoy.

I can't afford a non-regional DVD player, but thanks for letting me know I can't be arrested for owning one. Maybe someday I'll be able to buy those UK DVDs off the Amazon.com website and then I'll have every season! Until then though...I guess I'll just have to be happy with what I have...

[Auggie Doggie]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
Hey! My parents aren't Satan and Medusa!

I didn't start this thread to bash them!

Seriously here, folks, I think we can all understand how annoying it is when someone monopolizes something in the house - be it the bathroom, a video-game console or the tv. I really hope they let me tape it...but I don't think it will happen. I think their main objection is that they believe I "obsess" over the show by always watching it and wanting to tape it. I also think they worry that my school work, self-motivation and health may be suffering if I always plan on sitting around watching Ally instead of living an actual life!

Oh. I removed the "Satan and Medusa" remark.

But seriously, your parents are pretty niave if they think you are obsesed. You should explain to them you just like the show and want to watch it having the repeats to watch whenever you think you want to, of you are past other prorities. It's not like you are some crazed, excessivly annoing fanatic who only wants to watch a dramety 24-7.

If it dosn't work, please tell me.

[GL2k2]

You ever look at the clock and notice it moves slower than when your looking at it. Try that approach with this. Trust me, things like this work out when you least expect it. You can go through a lot of grief now, and in 2004, guess what? Ally McBeal season sets. Great, just in time for my new apartment, new job, and new girlfriend who liked the show too, life is good.

Besides I just became a fan cause Christina Ricci is on. I got a crush the size of Mercury on her.

[James]

Patience sir, if the UK DVD's are beginning to sprout, the US ones won't be far behind.

Not that I agree with your parents dictations here, however aside from CF's point about getting a friend to tape them, I think waiting out the finely presented DVDs would be an excellent and rewarding idea!

[DisneyBoy]

First: Here's a friendly smile of peace :)


I know that no one was attacking my parents, so it's Ok ;) . In fact, I'm really touched that my over-dramatized "crisis" actually recieved such heart-felt response. You guys really are kind folks.

Well, today is Sunday and I can't say that I've changed much. My room is still a mess, I'm still prone to irritability, I still help with the dishes and I still sleep in late. I know my parents haven't changed their minds...I've given them no reason to. And with Ally possibly heading to the guillitine in May, I feel really stressed.

I do owe GL2k2 a special 'thank you'. You are totally right - there's no point flipping out about it now when the show will hardly be forgotten in the next two years. Life has a way of working out, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, but you just can't rush things. I like the portrait you painted for me by 2004. Here's hoping I make it that far!

Tommorow night I'll get to sit back for two hours and watch Ally, and Friends star Matthew Perry (Chandler) fight in court from 8:00 until 10:00. The season, but hopefully not the series, will end, and my life will go on. I'm the type who really becomes emotionally attached to people in my life, be them real or not. Ally will never really be gone, and if this is the last season, and there's no word on DVD's then I'll just get a job, a credit card, and order those DVDs from the UK. Or I can wait. The important thing is my real life, and the end of semester, for now. Ally will still be there tommorow, and if I have patience, it'll all work out.

Thanks for renewing my faith! Much appreciated :)

[DisneyBoy]

Well, last night I finally confronted them. All I had asked them to do was to consider it. To actually treat me like an adult and think of a way this could work. They ignored me, except to say that I never followed through on any of my plans, so I started to clean out part of my room to make room for the things I keep around the house that really annoy them. When they saw me removing some of their stuff from my room, they freaked and started screaming at me. Next thing I knew they had tossed some of my stuff across my room as if I had thrown their stuff out. I told them to leave my room, they stayed...

So, yah, the whole thing turned into a bit of a nightmare. They are currently mad with me and swore never to let me tape the show off that channel. Period. So, now I'm at school, feeling totally outnumbered and rather badly. True, I shouldn't have lost my temper with them in the beginning, but they really acted immaturely and out-of-control. They shouldn't have disrespected my belongings that way - I didn't disrespect theirs. They are always right in their own minds, and there's no reasoning with them. I was willing to let this go as long as they treated me like an equal whose opinions were worth hearing. Instead, they just ignored me, flipped out and blame me for everything.

And to top it all off.......rumours continue that Ally's being cancelled. I hate Mondays...accept for Ally.

[Theking]

Well you got me on that new development.

I never had that with my parents so I have no history to draw from.

Just sounds like you are going to have to rely on friends to help you out.

TheKing

I am not saying that my childhood was perfect but they did live by the saying, "Is this really the hill you want to die on?"
So it had to be really bad or against our religion to get them worked up. Pretty cool.

[DisneyBoy]

..well, thanks in any case. I'd like to think all families get into these sorts of fights, but to get so upset over something so trivial just seems rediculous...