I'm not officially here today, but wanted to chime in on this one as you really made me smile here in thinking about this in my relationship...
My M and I do enjoy many common shows and movies, but we also each have tastes for other things that the other doesn't like. When I first met him, I did find that some of the things he was watching seemed "weird" to me, and it actually did make me think "hmmm...if he likes THAT, what does that mean about HIM?"
As for the things I watch that he crinkles his nose at, I'm sure he felt the same at first. "Why would an intelligent woman be watching THAT?"
But over time...we both have come to actually *understand* more about each other via the shows we watch that are not in common. And I found that really studying the *why* behind *why* he liked certain shows actually impressed me and made me more and more curious about his mind and his thoughts. I have now come to really appreciate the things he watches where I once questioned his character based on them. Which now makes me feel bad, like who was I to judge so him quickly? I didn't watch these shows so how would I even really know what they were all about? I made assumptions without really knowing, but now that he has explained what is behind his enjoyment of them, I *get* something that I didn't *get* before. He feels the same about some of the things I watch. We get to learn not only about each other, but also about new art and entertainment forms.
One great example of this is the Summer Olympics. We have been through 2 Olympics now in our relationship. He is an athlete, but surprisingly had never really watched the Olympics before in his life. I am also an athlete, but I really only enjoy watching gymnastics (my former sport) so all my whole life, I have waited 4 years at a time to watch JUST the gymnastics at Olympics time. And I would tape anything I missed during work. I was always so happy to see what has happened since the last Olympics (the sport changes so much over the years).
Anyway, when the first Olympics of our relationship were on, I was all excited and was checking the schedules for the gymnastics, and he was just curiously watching me, having no clue what I was actually excited about. He respects gymnastics (and all athletes) but he hadn't really ever sat down and watched it before then. When I made plans around when gymnastics was going to be on, he found that unless he wanted to watch them with me, he was not included in my plans. That made him really curious, so he sat and watched them with me...and that first time he did, he was so enthralled with the beauty and athleticism that he became hooked immediately. He then watched it whenever possible that year!
The next Olympics that came around, HE was the one checking the schedule and saying "honey, we can't do anything the next 3 nights in a row because the finals are on!!"
He said that he would go to work and talk to people about gynmastics on the Olympics the next day (mostly to the guys), and they would be like "Gynmastics? Why do you watch that? I only watch track and field and boxing." And then he remembered HIMSELF saying similar things in the past! So what started as him thinking "what's the big deal with her wanting to watch this" ended up being "wow, I'm hooked on gymnastics, and now all my friends think I'm whipped!"
I am so glad that neither of us stopped watching what we like, because we both actually learned some really interesting things about each other and about the world. We are expanding our minds as we learn about each other's minds.
And as far as reality shows...I had to chuckle too at the fact that you were so offended by your H and the GGW thing, but now he is so offended by the reality shows you enjoy! To me, they are both in the same vein....silly, entertainment only, not to be taken too seriously, and highly offensive to many! LOL!
(don't take that wrong hun...I'm not making a slam about your views on the GGW at all. not really comparing "your" shows to "that filth"....just the over all observation made me chuckle!)
One of the guilty pleasures Mr. DQ and I shared was (drum roll....very embarassing that I even enjoyed this but...) FLAVOR OF LOVE. We both really got into the first couple of season, for reasons which I can't really explain or defend. We both felt like we had just drank a quart of kool-aid and ate 15 pixie sticks after watching it. You know? Like you are kinda sick to your stomach, but all the sugar really was fun at the time! LOL! And then when New York, one of the characters, moved on to her own show, we followed her (and her insane boob job) on to her next endeavors. We never laughed harder together, either! It was the source of hours of entertainment even when we weren't watching because of all the jokes we'd make (at the stars/contestants' expense) and the imitations we'd do of them (blown up ballons stuffed in shirt, "hey baby, do I look like New York now?"....."NO, Mr. DQ, now take those out of your shirt before I smother you with them, you dirty boy!"....LOL!)
Hee hee! Dang I miss those stupid shows...
...and the summer Olympics....
...and maybe I'll rent some GGW tonight! (JOKE)
Lucky, I do though think it would be important for you to gently ask Mr. Lucky if he would reserve his negative comments about your shows to himself. If he could keep his outward display of negativity about it under wraps, it would be more respectful, in general. I'm sure he could understand that if you word it right. It should just be courtesy he extends to you, to not act like you are doing something *wrong* by enjoying your shows.
