A woman has gone viral on social media after revealing the adorable “nest” her boyfriend created for her while he games, but internet users have a lot to say about the idea.
Charlotte Tucksmith loves nothing more than hanging out with her boyfriend, James Spitzenberger; whether they’re exploring the streets of Brooklyn, New York, or just hanging out in their apartment. Tucksmith told Newsweek that they “never get sick of each other,” and she cherishes every moment spent together.
When the full-time ICU nurse isn’t at work, she wants to be by her boyfriend’s side, even when he is playing computer games. So much so that Spitzenberger even built a little nest area beside his monitor, so Tucksmith can read and relax in the same room while he games.
“One day, he said he wanted to game for a bit, and I told him that I wished I had a set-up in there so I could read nearby. So, he took the cushions off the couch and made a perfect little set-up for me,” Tucksmith told Newsweek via TikTok.
“I love it because it’s comfortable, the lighting is nice, and it’s something different from lying in our bed or on the couch. It had a different feeling to it that’s more fun too.”
The nest of couch cushions that James Spitzenberger created for his girlfriend, Charlotte Tucksmith. When he games each week, he loves to have his girlfriend by his side so they can still hang out together while doing their own things.
@miss.crabrangoon / TikTok
Working 12-hour shifts means that Tucksmith spends most of her time in the week working and sleeping. She likes making the most of her days off and spending them with Spitzenberger whenever they get the opportunity.
If they aren’t trying new restaurants or ambling around nearby parks, it can be nice to each do their own independent hobbies in the apartment. For Spitzenberger, that includes gaming a couple times a week, whereas Tucksmith prefers reading and crafting.
“Our time together feels special, even though we live together, so we don’t want to waste our days off by him playing games in a different room,” she continued.
“He isn’t this huge gamer, he only does it two to three times a week. I rarely get to read, or craft because I would rather be with him. So, it’s nice that we found a way to do separate activities while getting to be in each other’s presence.”
So delighted by her boyfriend’s gesture, Tucksmith shared a video on TikTok (@miss.crabrangoon) to reveal the special “nest” he created. The video instantly went viral with over 3.8 million views and more than 338,000 likes on TikTok in a matter of days.
She never expected her short clip to generate so much attention online, but it certainly sparked a debate among TikTok users. Many agree that it is a great way for them to be together while doing their own thing, while others question why it’s necessary.
“I’ve never had anything like that happen before, so I found it all really fun to read all the comments and watch the views go up and up,” Tucksmith said.
“The comments were all really nice and supportive initially, but after a few days, I started getting this influx of hate from people saying it’s such a red flag, that it’s promoting lazy behavior, or telling me that I’m acting like his dog.
“At first, I was upset because I felt the need to defend myself, but then I realized that people are just going to hate no matter what. My video was innocent, and if people choose to get mad over it, then that’s on them.”
Thankfully, Tucksmith added that the majority of responses she received have been positive and fun, with many even telling her about their own nests too.
Despite what others think, she said that doing their own activities while in each other’s presence is a great way to be together while still taking time for themselves. “We are very lucky to be able to happily to be in each other’s presence like that,” Tucksmith told Newsweek.
With such a wide range of opinions and debate online, the viral TikTok post has already gained over 1,700 comments so far. One comment reads: “now this is love.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Parallel play is the best, a lot of these comments must be in fresh relationships or ones where he’s not making effort, we need independent down time to ourselves.”
However, not everyone is on board, as one TikTok user responded: “you deserve better [what the hell]. He should be hanging out with you and not keeping you by his side while he’s gaming.”
“I blame both of you. Him for doing it and you for accepting it,” reads another comment.
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