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Netflix, Lovefilm, etc. - souless and empty?


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Old 25-06-2012, 12:07
skribbleuk
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Sure, but we all know what torrents are mainly used for. You can't deny it.
Well we can "deny" it actually. Torrenting is just a word to describe a particular method of distributing data. Instead of downloading from one central site, the bandwidth is shared accross users with those who share more getting the faster speeds.

This is actually pretty damn amazing when you have a large file to share that you suspect a lot of people will want a in a very small window, or for people who just can't afford the large overheads required to provide a file to a high number of people.

A lot of games distribute large updates via torrent, including the client itself. World of warcraft uses the framework though not an actual "torrent" file. Independent software developers find torrents a great way to cut overheads. Operating system providers such as Ubuntu use it, the list goes on.

Yes, people can use torrents to download things illegally but for some reason the word "torrent" seems to have become synonomous with the word "criminal" which is absolute rubbish.

Anyone on the internet has the potential to download things illegally, the method of distribution is irrelevant.
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Old 25-06-2012, 14:58
johnnybgoode83
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Don't you think television broadcasting has more to it than on demand services?

With tv you know there's always someone behind the scenes filming it, directing, producing, announcing, etc. There are people involved in ensuring the channels are displaying something at any time of the day.

But you could literally sit in front of your tv and download anything you want without having a "real" person be involved in whatever you end up watching. There's nobody there ensuring you see something.

Or maybe I'm looking too much into it!
I love Netflix as it gives me access to a host of movies and TV shows where ever I am and it is cheap as chips. I don't think it's a soulless way of watching anything as it is no different to watching a DVD or watching it in TV except that you don't get annoying ad breaks or schedule disruptions.
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Old 25-06-2012, 21:18
noise747
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There's everything to discuss - the plot, the surprises, the cliffhanger, the funny parts, what's likely to happen next, etc.

It's no different to discussing the highlights of a football match in the pub with your mates after the game or discussing a book with a workmate that you've both read.

It's just what normal people do.
Maybe I am not normal then, which to be honest I am pleased about.
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Old 25-06-2012, 21:19
noise747
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Its what you do with friends, sometimes I'll have chums round, cook a good dinner, glass or two of wine then we can watch a film or something after and chat about it.

It makes a nice little social event.
Why chat about it? If I watch a film, the only thing I discuss about it is if I like it or not.
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Old 25-06-2012, 21:22
noise747
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Was this eight continuous minutes on BBC One or was it eight minutes within an hour or another set period? Your assertion that eight minutes is a lot is rendered meaningless by your refusal to specify the timescale of your viewing.


I was thinking that the promos the BEEB was making seemed to be getting longer, so one day I decided to time and this one promo was 8mins long, just one promo, about the Olympics, the Jubilee and that the BEEB will be covering it all and this was in January.

It could have been a one off thing, but I doubt it
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Old 25-06-2012, 21:23
noise747
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I love Netflix as it gives me access to a host of movies and TV shows where ever I am and it is cheap as chips. I don't think it's a soulless way of watching anything as it is no different to watching a DVD or watching it in TV except that you don't get annoying ad breaks or schedule disruptions.
Certainly when I use unblock US, even the added few quid it is still better value than the BEEB.
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Old 25-06-2012, 21:40
johnnybgoode83
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Certainly when I use unblock US, even the added few quid it is still better value than the BEEB.
Quite. I have heard people say 'But you have to have 2 subscriptions'. Too often people only consider the cost of something but not the value. The value of Netflix + Unblock US far outweighs the cost of the two or even the cost of a TV license I hardly watch TV anymore.
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Old 25-06-2012, 22:12
noise747
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Quite. I have heard people say 'But you have to have 2 subscriptions'. Too often people only consider the cost of something but not the value. The value of Netflix + Unblock US far outweighs the cost of the two or even the cost of a TV license I hardly watch TV anymore.
But people pay twice if they have Sky and a lot more, TV license and then the Sky subscription.

i don't watch TV any more, I have no aerial plugged, so I pay no licence.
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Old 25-06-2012, 22:25
Arkudos
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Yar har fiddley dee...
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Old 26-06-2012, 01:26
Nyota
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Maybe I am not normal then, which to be honest I am pleased about.
In this case, "normal" seems to mean "narrow-minded", if the person you quoted honestly doesn't realise we're not all the same in this way.
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Old 26-06-2012, 20:27
neo_wales
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Why chat about it? If I watch a film, the only thing I discuss about it is if I like it or not.
There is a lot to talk about, the acting, screenplay, cinematography, direction, plot, comparison to other similar films et al. A two hour film can lead to many fine hours chatting about it with good company, with people who truly enjoy films and don't just sit there square eyed until the next episode/film starts as so many do these days.

You miss so much not having a license, and they are so cheap, can't really see a reason for not having one.

How was your holiday Noise747?
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Old 26-06-2012, 23:07
abarthman
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In this case, "normal" seems to mean "narrow-minded", if the person you quoted honestly doesn't realise we're not all the same in this way.
It's "narrow minded" to discuss a TV show afterwards with your friends, family or work colleagues? Seriously?
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Old 28-06-2012, 22:21
Matthew_Bailey
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You miss so much not having a license, and they are so cheap, can't really see a reason for not having one.
I don't disagree in any way that for a fair few folk the standard tv license makes sense, but a few minority folk like myself have reasoned it just isn't worth it.

Up until 2 years ago I was happily paying a tv license plus spending £63.5 a month on sky tv. I'm not knocking sky or indeed the license itself. If that's what suits your household best then great. In our case we watch very little News or current affair shows, we tend to enjoy mostly tv shows like Game of Thrones, Fringe and things of that nature. Also, like a fair few couples we enjoy settling down to the odd film after a long week at work.

With all that in mind we've found that rather than spending a £75 a month combined, our needs have been far better suited to a Lovefilm And Netflix subscription combination. We now spend £17.23 a month and still get all the big pullers from the likes of Sky Atlantic and the BBC to watch. We watch Netflix for standard "tv", my partner likes things like Supernatural so that suits her well. We have a disc sent for tv shows and one for films. Over a year that's some 48 discs for each, which works out as some 9 -10 major tv series a year. Ok we run behind broadcast schedules but in truth though, with the advent of pvr/sky+ etc that matters less and less in this day and age since we're all watching shows at differing rates from each other.

Besides the financial gain of some £700 a year there are other benefits too. Being behind schedule means we get warning before investing time in shows that become one season wonders like "Awake" or "Alcatraz" for example. It also means that those premier shows like "Boardwalk Empire" and "Game of Thrones" we get to watch for the first time round on Blu-ray and what better way to experience them.

There are downsides that some would find impossible to do without, the big one being live sport of course. For the record both myself and my partner are footy fans. It just seemed crazy to spend out the cost of an actual season ticket just to be able to watch it on the telly. If sport means that much to start with, why not use all that saved money to actually go to watch it live instead.

Finally there in fact is very little you actually "miss". Since BBC iplayer, 4oD, 5 on demand, itv player etc are exempt from tv licensing, the majority of terrestrial broadcast is still available via catchup.

Back to the original topic of on demand etc being "soulless", I think that partly stems from people using tv like radio i.e just having it on "in the background", rather than actually having on to focus and watch. With catchup by nature you don't get that so much, which I thinks a positive.
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Old 28-06-2012, 22:42
noise747
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There is a lot to talk about, the acting, screenplay, cinematography, direction, plot, comparison to other similar films et al. A two hour film can lead to many fine hours chatting about it with good company, with people who truly enjoy films and don't just sit there square eyed until the next episode/film starts as so many do these days.
Good job we are all different then. I will chat about films, but not for hours.


You miss so much not having a license, and they are so cheap, can't really see a reason for not having one.
I don't miss not having a license at all, looking at the stuff that is on T.v i am glad I am not paying for it. I got plenty of reasons for not wanting a license.


How was your holiday Noise747?
it was lovely thank you, got me thinking that I spent too much time in here anyway.
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Old 29-06-2012, 01:16
neo_wales
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Try inviting some chums round for a bite to eat and a 'film night' pick a theme sort of thing and get chatting after watching, its great fun; you may surprise yourself and enjoy it
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Old 30-06-2012, 14:01
noise747
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Try inviting some chums round for a bite to eat and a 'film night' pick a theme sort of thing and get chatting after watching, its great fun; you may surprise yourself and enjoy it
Not my thing to be honest. I go over to a friends place most Sundays for dinner, we may watch a film, but we don't really talk about it apart from saying it was good or rubbish and reason why.
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Old 30-06-2012, 16:39
neo_wales
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Pals and I often have chats on books, that can be great fun, have you tried that?
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Old 30-06-2012, 18:31
RebelScum
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Don't you think television broadcasting has more to it than on demand services?

With tv you know there's always someone behind the scenes filming it, directing, producing, announcing, etc. There are people involved in ensuring the channels are displaying something at any time of the day.

But you could literally sit in front of your tv and download anything you want without having a "real" person be involved in whatever you end up watching. There's nobody there ensuring you see something.

Or maybe I'm looking too much into it!
Isn't that a but like being on an online forum v reading a book?
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Old 02-07-2012, 08:50
noise747
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Pals and I often have chats on books, that can be great fun, have you tried that?
I do that with a couple of people, but most of the time we got different tastes, mine is mainly Sci-fi,
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