Brother’s girlfriend is boring person
Dear Carolyn: My brother wants to know what I think about his girlfriend. I don’t like her. It isn’t an actionable dislike – she isn’t controlling, criminal or abusive - but I find her boring and, worse, a boredom missionary. No hobbies, doesn’t watch any TV shows, thinks fandom for anything is stupid, and doesn’t have a team (in any sport!) that she supports.
Our plans to do a panic room, see a dumb movie, or eat at the weird new fusion place are all “a bit silly.” Instead she just wants to do dinner at someplace deemed nice and an indie movie about sad people being sad – fine if that’s her thing, but she never seems to enjoy it, or anything. She doesn’t even like animals!
I have dodged my brother’s question, but he is pushing. The best I can think to say is that she is unobjectionable and has lovely hair (tried to ask about that – she just washes it, “that is a bit of a silly question”). I can do the old “she makes you happy” dodge, but pretty sure my brother will see through that. Plus, do I owe it to him to point out that she obviously loves him but doesn’t share an interest in anything he enjoys and probably won’t want to do any of the big-adventure-stuff holidays he has always planned? Or even get the Great Dane he has wanted?
On the other hand, he has picked her, maybe a life of gentle boredom is what adult bro is all about? I just don’t know. I think if she didn’t do this passive roadblock of disapproval about things she considers silly – like, all fun stuff! - I could appreciate her other qualities more. As it is, she just exists as this big buzzkill in my head. – A Bit Silly Best description of indie movies ever. He’s asking and asking, so answer him! Just don’t make too much of it: “She’s way too much of a grown-up for me – but you know I’m all weird food and dog hair.” Then turn it to him: “Does she make you happy? That’s what matters. If she’s right for you, then I’ll just have to wear her down.” Something tells me you’ll get the tone of this right. And let me be the first to thank you, too, for “boredom missionary.”
Re: Boredom Missionary: Wow, Carolyn, not going to call out the attacks on people who like indie movies, quiet restaurants, and don’t follow sports? (Which is, like, a lot of people.) Going on a tirade about how much you hate her because she enjoys different things than you is obnoxious and rude. – Anonymous
I love quiet restaurants and sad indie movies and I’d rather sit in traffic than eat weird fusion or go to a panic room, and I thought the letter was hilarious. It’s not our interests that make us interesting, it’s our willingness to laugh at ourselves. IMO.
Re: loaded question “The only person whose opinion matters is yours, so why do you keep asking me?” You might get an interesting answer. People in happy relationships don’t care what others think. – Ding!Ding!Ding!
Thanks. I signed it for you – hope you don’t mind.
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