Sam Anderson from Slate has written an interesting article about Netflix voyeurism, I Queue: Judging your friends by their Netflix lists.
When I first started looking at my friends' Netflix lists, it felt a little creepy. The records of our cultural consumption (video rentals, library checkouts) have traditionally been protected by law, for all kinds of excellent reasons—tyrants, stalkers, mothers-in-law—so even though I'd been invited to look, my conscience kept telling me I'd crossed into sacred territory. I felt like an information-age window peeper, like I had dipped my toe into the shallow end of a pool whose deep end was Watergate. This feeling only intensified when many of my real-life friends refused to accept me as their Netflix friend.
Thanks to Michael for sending this in.
I do wonder what my friends think we they see I have out a Benny Hill collection, a Mr. Moto flick and Cannibal Holocaust.
Posted by: corey3rd | September 14, 2006 at 11:31 PM
They think: get a job, baldy! ;)
Posted by: Aron | September 15, 2006 at 05:49 AM
ever since it was exposed that I told Vince McMahon to start the XFL, no one will ever hire me.
Posted by: corey3rd | September 15, 2006 at 11:09 AM
He hate you, corey?
Posted by: hawk5391 | September 15, 2006 at 06:09 PM
And then it only got worse when I told NBC that Coupling would be the new Friends. And then it went downhill when I had a local daycare have Mentos and Diet Coke speed eating contest for the kiddies.
And thus I have to keep going through the netflix library - doomed to having a resume that reads like The Decline of the West. But at least Campbell Scott likes me.
Have you ever looked at your friends queue, noticed they have a long wait title and begged them to loan it to you?
Posted by: corey3rd | September 15, 2006 at 06:36 PM
any chance of this getting back on topic?
Posted by: type-cast | September 17, 2006 at 10:48 AM
it was brought back to topic when I pondered if people ever looked at their friend's queue and called them up to borrow a title that's stuck in your "long wait" list? Or even better - as an excuse to invite yourself over to their house with drinks and then ask about checking out the title on their TV.
Posted by: corey3rd | September 17, 2006 at 07:45 PM
"any chance of this getting back on topic?"
New name, but still that NetflixShill charm..
Posted by: Aron | September 18, 2006 at 07:57 AM
What are you talking about? Still that same Aron charm. Getting back on-topic, maybe the voyeurs should get a life. I think everyone has some titles in queue their friends might look down on. So what? Better to be looked down on for what you are than respected for what you're not. Everyone is one.
Posted by: type-cast | September 18, 2006 at 01:03 PM
"it was brought back to topic when I pondered if people ever looked at their friend's queue and called them up to borrow a title that's stuck in your "long wait" list?"
Yes, that was a good question. Unfortunately, it came after several lines of garbage about Vince McMahon (who?), the XFL (what?), and a daycare eating contests. The signal to noise ratio of this thread went down to nothing on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and most of the 5th post.
Posted by: type-cast | September 18, 2006 at 01:33 PM
This article is totally true (except for the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Smith is frickin' sweet). One thing it did leave out - slacker Netflix friends - the friends that send in one movie every other month so that it is a significant event when they add a rating, add a movie or their Q otherwise changes. Someone gimme an amen on this one - you know you have 'em!
Posted by: thecheshirecat | September 18, 2006 at 04:39 PM
"New name, but still that NetflixShill charm.."
Guess I'm not the only one that noticed the stiking similarity in style.
And I've been wondering for some time where all the shill posts have gone. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if we see some now that I've mentioned it.
Posted by: gir | September 18, 2006 at 07:59 PM