How Scifi Lost Me a Girlfriend

As my introductory post here, I figured it would be fun to talk about my history with science fiction, and in particular, how it lost me a girlfriend.

I was in high school at the time, and Babylon 5, a show that I really enjoyed, was going through its first run. I was totally wrapped up in the show, and nothing else mattered. My girlfriend at the time was told that from seven o'clock at night until eight, I was occupied with watching a television show I enjoyed.

We had been dating for around three months, and this wasn't an issue until one day, she called at around six o'clock in the evening. With only an hour until Babylon 5 came on, I tried to kill off the conversation by listening, but not asking questions or really involving myself in what she was saying. I figured she would get the hint, and I would get off the phone in time to watch Babylon 5.

Unfortunately, as some women are, she was incredibly stubborn and a little needy. As the introductory credits for Babylon 5 rolled, I cut her off and told her I had to go. She then started to talk again, but at that point I wasn't really listening. I could tell she wasn't happy, but I was already watching Babylon 5.

For those of you that have seen the show, the story was right at the point before the Shadow War came to its culmination. I point that out because some of my friends believe that is the only way this story makes any real sense.

What my girlfriend at the time was saying as I went to hang up the phone was basically, "if the show is more important to you, then we are through." What my male brain heard her say was more along the lines of "just go watch your show."

Little did I know, our dating relationship was over.

Years later, we talk here and there, and sometimes laugh over how silly I was. Babylon 5 went on and the Shadow War didn't really end up being a very big war. I have since watched the show in re-runs and wonder, was it really worth it?