Married? Here's some advice on negotiating over the remote control from the book "How to Survive Your Marriage" (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who've done it:

“Ladies, just face it: The man is in control of the remote. But if you are like me, you’ll avoid fights by watching shows such as ‘While You Were Out’ on The Learning Channel. Yeah, it’s a show for women about decorating, but there’s also the element of surprise in the show that men can relate to.”
—Andrew, Evanston, Ill., married 1 year

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“Find what shows you both like to watch and put the clicker on the coffee table.”
—Christian, Montclair, N.J., married 5 years

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“We don’t share the remote. It is his.”
—D.N., Tampa, Fla., married 25 years

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“Who cares about remotes? Get another TV! Besides, sedentary activities should be limited!”
—Anonymous, Tampa, Fla., married 24 years
 
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“I’m a compulsive muter, and I’m lucky that my wife allows me to control the clicker at all times.”
—Geoff, Ann Arbor, Mich., married 2 years

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“Sharing the remote and deciding what we’re watching on the tube is a huge point of contention between me and husband. I like ‘The World’s Craziest Police Chases’ while my husband prefers ‘Charlie Rose.’ There is no sharing of the clicker in this family, only prying it out of tight fingers ... and we refuse to get another TV because we want to watch together. Luckily, my husband doesn’t watch sports and doesn’t mind watching Jerry Springer as long as we’re holding hands.”
—Amanda, Atlanta, married 2 years

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Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share. Visit www.hundredsofheads.com to share your advice or get more information.

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© 2006, Hundreds of Heads Books, Inc.