Why do people dislike reading subtitles?

[Rainbowloid]

Every time someone tells me they refuse to watch anything with subtitles, I think of this:


I really don't understand it. Then again, I read really fast, so I really only look at them for a split second before going back to watching. I don't think they're distracting at all.

 

[GundamSentinel]

I usually don't like dubbed versions. I raged when I found out that I had to play InFamous with the Dutch dub (thankfully they patched that).

Watching English TV and playing English games taught me the better part of my English. Same with French and German and even a little Japanese. Sure, subtitles can sometimes distract from the actual movie or game, but so can teeth-grinding voice work.

 

[Sexy Devil]

I hate dubbed movies and Americanized versions of great foreign movies. What's wrong with the original version? My friend told me that it's dumb it wasn't in English in the first place...I was dumbstruck.

Soooo what's your guys's opinions on subbed/dubbed/Americanized versions of films?

I prefer subbed, but the general idea behind dubbing preference is that if you aren't into the habit of reading subtitles it's hard to focus on both the subtitles and what's going on at the same time. You really need to get into it early or you won't get into it.

 

[Kotch]

I'm Swedish. Subtitles are AWESOME =D

We subtitle everything here unless it's geared toward kids under 8. Of course I now have the opposite problem of almost NEEDING subtitles or I don't hear what they say. So if the choice is there I will put subtitles on even if the film/show in question is in English or Swedish.

But I suppose I understand why people might not like them.

I'm danish and over here it's the same thing subs are needed...

 

[rufusser]

im danish so we have subs on everything not in danish so i dont even notise the subs mostly i dont read them if the movie, show.... is in english.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Cuz I no turn on TV to read book, reading is for dummies!

No but seriously, the problem is when you are a slow reader most of your time will be spent concentrating on the text rather then the visual feast that you came to see.
And the best way to learn quick reading is via subtitles, so there is this initial hump you haveto overcome by spending alot of movie/show time just looking at text.

Oh and when you do learn quick reading it creates a rather funny counter issue where you can't help yourself if there are subtitles of the same language, MUST... NOT... LOOK... *take a glance*... damn it now I know how this conversation ends.

 

[Bat Vader]

I must admit I am kinda annoyed they are making an English language version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The film already has an English dub track. I don't see the need to make an English language version of the film.

I love subtitles. If there is an option on a film or a game for subtitles/captions I will always enable it. I have noticed that I can't enjoy a film or game as much without subtitles/captions.

 

[Lawnmooer]

I don't mind subtitles. Then again I actually like to read and it doesn't bother me to quickly take in all the words on the screen and go back to whats happening.

I'm not sure if I've actually watched any films that were dubbed instead...

I do know a few people who don't like subtitles, they either complain that they don't like reading, that it distracts them from the actual film (Because they are slow at reading) or they say that if they wanted to read then they would have picked up a book.

 

[Flames66]

I do not like subtitles because I spend the entire time trying to keep up with reading them instead of watching the action.

 

[Lerasai]

I'm so used to watching things with subtitles that I hardly notice it anymore. I read very quickly, so it isn't a matter of missing the visuals. I think it's a shame to limit what I can watch just because something I might like is in another language.

Dubs can be good, but they can also come off as disconnected from the original script since they're done independently from the source material. Plus, when it's a live-action movie or show the dub just looks ridiculous to me. I remember one particularly awful dubbing of a j-horror movie where they seemed to have cast a grown woman doing a terrible impression of a child as a little girl's VA. The thing I watch with subtitles the most is anime, since I sometimes get into a series before a dub is made. Besides, Japanese voice acting is pretty incredible.

One of the downsides of watching something with subs, though, is that it limits my ability to multitask. Sometimes I just like to do other things as I watch a show or movie, listening to the dialogue and looking up from time to time. It's great when I'm working on something or just having lunch. Doing those things is near impossible when I'm watching something with subtitles, since I miss what is going on if I look away for a bit.

 

[Reaper195]

I don't mind dubbing if it's good. I find subtitles distracting in some things, but I'll take a good foreign track and subtitles to a terrible dub.

 

[JochemDude]

I usually don't like dubbed versions. I raged when I found out that I had to play InFamous with the Dutch dub (thankfully they patched that)..

... Don't even remind me, that was so awful...

OT: Nope, don't even bother me with subtitles or dubs. Just take the original foreign or not.

 

[PureChaos]

i always prefer subs, there may be the occasional one where dubbed isn't too bad but subbed is still better. the people i know that don't like subs is either because they can't read quick enough to keep up with it or they can't read subs and watch what is going on at the same time.

 

[sinterklaas]

Dubbed versions are atrocious and only okay for little kids. Anything aimed at people older than 8-10 (or whatever age children learn to read decently) should not get dubbed.

I cringe everytime I see something dubbed.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Sorry but your friend is an idiot.

I love foreign movies, I can't understand why some people have a problem reading subtitles for things. Even anime.

I loathe americanized remakes of foreign movies... they're made for the idiots who aren't intelligent enough to just read subtitles.

(No offence if its a medical condition that you cannot read subtitles or something)

 

[Willsor]

Dubs for me, as ZP once said, it's irritating having to watch the bottom two inches of the screen the entire time. Also I like to be able to turn my head away from my monitor/tv for a few minutes without losing what is going on and having to rewind.
And I'm not sure if it's just how little foreign media I have watched, but I can't pick up emotion too well if it's in another language. Maybe that's just me.

I'm not particularly against subs in anyway, and I'll watch a subbed movie/anime, but if there's a dub available I'll usually watch that.

I've head some people say the English dub of Death note was bad. What, really? I thought it was an amazing job, bar a few annoying voices *cough* misa *cough*

 

[Thedutchjelle]

/all/ English and other foreign movies,TV shows, etc etc. get subtitles here in the Netherlands. Only child shows are dubbed.
Eventually you'll be able to watch the screen + read the titles at he same time. It never bothered me, I actually prefer it - sometimes I can't quite hear what is being said (for example, loud explosions, or the characters whispering) and the subtitles can clear it up for me then. I turn on English subtitles if there are no Dutch present whenever I can even though I can read and speak English fine.

When I went on vacation to Germany and France, I cried on the inside. EVERYTHING was dubbed. And it was terrible. No wonder French can't speak English if they remove English out of everything.

 

[Gaiseric]

I don't like subs in movies because it draws my attention away from whats happening on screen.