Subtitles, Y/N?

[gelasius]

So, I have this habit of putting on subtitles or closed-captioning whenever I'm watching TV or movies by myself. I will squash this desire if I'm watching with lots of other people, because I know it's annoying for some (and I usually get gently teased about it), but some friends of mine have been forced to suffer through this habit if I feel that the ownership of the watching is mine rather than communal. ;) I believe I began doing this because of a certain friend in NYC (I think you know who you are) who first introduced me to the concept -- and once I started doing it I realized I loved it and my enjoyment of media was enhanced by reading dialogue rather than just hearing it. I don't have any particular hearing impairment that I'm aware of, so I explain it as being a visual learner and a Reader, so I'm more able to follow a fictional storyline if I'm reading it than hearing it; it actually gives me a moment of GRRR! NOT FAIR when I pop in a DVD and there's no subtitle track.

Somewhat relatedly, I often enjoy tv/movies in other languages (anime, german existentialist flicks, etc) and I pretty much refuse to watch these things dubbed into English. There are many other factors at work here aside from my love of subtitles: such as adherence to filmmaker's intent, cultural/linguistic fidelity, the fact that I am a language h0r, etc, but there's something about watching foreign media that justifies my dark desire to watch with subtitles.

NOW I'M CURIOUS and I've made a poll about these two questions. Who else puts on subtitles for fun? Anyone? Have you heard of people doing this? Should we make a support group -- subtitles anonymous?

Poll Subtitles?