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How bizarre. I detest subtitles for myself as I end up reading rather than watching the content - compulsively.
I've never had an issue hearing dialogue so I'm perplexed as to what audio setups are being used to make things so lousy for so many people.
- The only time I prefer to read subtitles is if the film or TV show is in a language I don't understand. I prefer to hear the natural language for more authenticity.
  
  I tried watching The Dark on Netflix with the English dub (only because it's the default), and it was so bad. I had to switch to German and uae subs.
- The problem with my audio setup is in my temporal lobe. I have autism.
- The modern TV has awful audio since the speakers are pointed either down or behind the TV. It makes everything sound muffled, just so the screen looks like it has a little black frame around it. I didn't need the subtitles when using a CRT TV because the audio was considered part of the watching experience and they pointed the speakers at the viewer.
- Less audio setups, more what they're watching. Worst one for me lately was netflix's Castlevania. I love the voice acting, but some characters are borderline whispering at all times
- How bizarre. I detest subtitles for myself as I end up reading rather than watching the content - compulsively.
  You're lucky you're (presumably) a native English speaker then, lol
  
  You say that, but I have no problem at all with subtitles if I need them for another language. I've been watching Das Boot with my newborn by my side and it's a great experience.
  I think the issue I'm trying to complain about is having two options (e.g. if I'm watching with someone that insists on subtitles) where I could have the better experience without them. My brain can't opt out of reading them.
  When I need subtitles due to language then there is no other option so the one way to watch is with them. Dubbed versions of some stuff exists, of course, but it's extra effort to track them down.
  
  My brain can't opt out of reading them.
  Neither can your kids. And that's a good thing. Not much into reading, are you?
  Stephen Fry talks about turning on the subtitles
  
  What a strangely presumptuous and negative response.
  I built myself a home theatre setup with an HDR TV to enjoy the visual medium. If I then spend the duration reading rather than enjoying the cinematography and colours then I might as well just go read in the armchair I have for that, in a different room.
  Almost as if I'm a compulsive reader!
  Am I also listening to music incorrectly?
  
  Almost as if I'm a compulsive reader!
  I have never met a person who has said "I couldn't see the movie/show from all that reading I had to do". And in the movies there's subtitles in two different languages, while a third one is being spoken. (Officially bilingual country and city so all shows at the theatre have both Finnish and Swedish subs.)
  I'm not presuming anything. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the "visual medium". You're just not used to reading, clearly, meaning you're probably not a big reader.
  I'm from a country which prefers subs over dubs, and my personal experience (and studies such as the one Stephen is talking about) has shown that keeping subtitles on will improve literacy.
  You say you have a newborn. So I thought it would be a good time to suggest that maybe you should try getting used to subtitles, because if you do, then you can keep them on by default and increase your child's (and anyone else watching) literacy, just by doing that.
  No-one is saying you should do this thing or that thing. Studies are showing that literacy improves if you use subtitles. That's it. End of story. Not even a suggestion as to what you should do or how you should value literacy as a skill.
  You do you man.
  The only subs that really bother me are hardcoded asian subs with a hard black background, taking like a third of the screen and I don't even understand the text. But then I just delete that version of whatever it was and find a new one. So I do understand personal preference and wanting to not have needless things you aren't used to.
  You make you own choices, I can't, or rather won't make suggestions. Not my place. But I can say what I think is factual. Like "using subs improves literacy".
  
  Ironically, I really don't want to read that much text right now, but that's mostly because it's 0450 and said newborn has only just fallen back to sleep. I'm going to, but it amused me that the timing of the comment is so poor.
  Also before we go on:
  I'm not presuming anything. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the "visual medium". You're just not used to reading, clearly, meaning you're probably not a big reader.
  Your first sentence and last sentence are direct contradictions. I'm plenty used to reading and you're presuming I'm not based on my dislike of subtitles (as what other data do you have to go on?).
  Anyway, my annoyance at that aside, let's have some context:
  I read a LOT as a child, a tradition I intend to continue with my child. Ideally I don't want her to spend much time watching stuff at all. I also grew up with a deaf sister and a father with one functional ear. We always had subtitles on.
  I still turned out the way I did.
  Also, I'm half Swedish, so any time spent in Sweden - guess what, subtitles!
  I do not like that my brain works this way. It is extremely annoying. However, try as I might, it makes no difference.
  So for preference I only use subtitles when I need to (elsewhere in the thread, for example, I talk about watching Das Boot). It's a compromise for me and if I don't need it I don't want to have my eye constantly drawn to the bottom of the screen rather than wherever the filmmaker is trying to draw my eye (assuming the film maker knows how to do that - see Transformers vs. Fury Road!). In principle some subtitle formats support better placement but how often does that actually see use? It's a total crapshoot.
  Subtitles may well improve literacy, but I would expect that fostering the same love of reading that everyone else in my family has is probably better. She already has a library queued up and ready to go, both in English and Swedish, so we're going to do our best.
  Essentially I take the view that if I'm using a medium I want the best of it - within reason. So if it's film, I want visuals (I collect UHDs), if it's audio I want decent quality (but SACDs are still dumb 😆), and if it's literature I want engaging narratives (I don't care if it eventually gets good - lots of books are good to begin with and my reading time is limited!).
  These days I don't read much because I have so many other things to do, but when I do I kind of get a little... What's the opposite of lagom? I power through books and then reappear looking like that bear that's just emerged from hibernation 😂
  One problem I do have with reading though is choice - my mother put amazing effort into picking books for me. However as a result my skill at choosing for myself isn't great. Still, I have recommendations from friends and the internet and more of those than I have time to read. Hopefully my child won't end up with that issue!
- I often need the subtitles also, but like you cannot stop reading them even if the dialog is clear and end up not seeing what is going on in the movie.
  The worst is movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. It has beautiful visuals and action—and the versions on the streaming services lacked a dubbed version. Had to go blu-ray to getting dubs so I could watch instead of read.

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