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Post by kds on Mar 30, 2020 12:48:42 GMT
I really wonder how people's tastes would change if they weren't influenced by peer pressure or marketing. If there were just a list of options (even with previews and summaries), but no social media, etc. Because I think a lot of people watch and listen to things mostly on that basis, and don't really care that much about the underlying work. I think you're right, or else people wouldn't settle for stuff like this. I hope. I don't know, and I sometimes feel like an arrogant asshole for saying this, but I've felt for a while that people do not have a high bar for their entertainment choices.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 30, 2020 12:55:09 GMT
I might have told this story here before, and if so, forgive me. But it's relevant to your last point (that people don't have a high bar for entertainment).
When I was a kid, I was playing at a friend's house. The radio was on, and "Renegade" by Styx came on. I was just a little kid, didn't even realize it was Styx (much less that it was probably 6-8 years old by that time and I was hearing it on classic radio; everything was current to a little kid!), but I did recognize the song because of its unique opening. So I told my friend how much I liked that song. Then I told him some other songs I liked. Then I asked what were his favorite songs.
He looked at me like I'd just asked him what's his favorite variety of tree, like "who the hell cares? why would I have an opinion on that?" Music was just not something he--and I assume his family--prioritized or thought about at all. It might be on in the background, but that was it.
That lesson never left me. I think there are a lot of people who fit into that category, roughly speaking, whether related to music, to television, to movies, to books, or whatever else. (And we're all similar in some category or other. I have no favorite NHL team, that's for sure, and can't tell good hockey from bad hockey, nor do I want to.)
I just don't relate to that at all in terms of music especially. But also TV and movies, which I spend less time with but have certain preferences.
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Post by kds on Mar 30, 2020 13:00:54 GMT
I don't recall you ever telling that story, but it speaks to what I've been saying for a long time about why most modern music sucks.
And I think more and more people consume their pop culture that way now. They just want something in the background to veg out to, preferably one that'll be the basis of popular social media memes.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Post by bellbottoms on Mar 30, 2020 14:11:40 GMT
Tiger King is showing up as the number 1 thing on Netflix right now. So of course we had to check it out. Cue me noping it pretty hard when I realized what it's about. I'm not interested in watching assholes abusing animals.
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Post by B.E. on Mar 30, 2020 14:17:42 GMT
I couldn't be less interested in watching that show.
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Post by kds on Mar 30, 2020 14:26:07 GMT
I think Netflix is setting out to prove that people will watch anything, especially if they're shut in with no sports.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 30, 2020 14:30:19 GMT
I've found that I am watching less Netflix/Hulu/etc than before. I am online a lot, reading a ton of news, reading some (offline, real-life) books, and watching more Youtube I think, mostly short little documentaries, often 20-60 minutes. But watching fewer real shows.
I don't know if I haven't had the attention span, or the interest, or what. But it has been counterintuitive to say the least.
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Post by kds on Mar 30, 2020 14:34:58 GMT
I've found that I am watching less Netflix/Hulu/etc than before. I am online a lot, reading a ton of news, reading some (offline, real-life) books, and watching more Youtube I think, mostly short little documentaries, often 20-60 minutes. But watching fewer real shows.
I don't know if I haven't had the attention span, or the interest, or what. But it has been counterintuitive to say the least.
I'm probably at the point where I have less shows than I watch then ever before. Quite of few of mine have gone off the air in recent years, with two more finishing up this year (Modern Family and Brockmire), and I've just not really gotten into any new ones to take their places. But, since having a kid, we have less time for TV, so we still manage to get a backlog on the DVR. Plus, I find that I really need to get motivated to watch The Walking Dead (which probably means I should stop).
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Post by bellbottoms on Mar 30, 2020 14:52:55 GMT
The only "Must-See TV" around here is the Prime Minister's daily COVID-19 update. Apart from that, still just watching old Kids in the Hall episodes. And we're also enjoying Devs quite a bit. Very cool to see Nick Offerman in a dramatic role.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 30, 2020 15:00:08 GMT
Generally I meant my watching is down during our little plague quarantine (when many people seem to be watching more), not overall. But that said: Plus, I find that I really need to get motivated to watch The Walking Dead (which probably means I should stop).
Upon further reflection, I have found this going on more in the past few months, too. Shows I had begun and even liked just no longer keeping my attention. Westworld, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Shrill, Peaky Blinders, Schitt's Creek, Handmaid's Tale are a few shows where I watched at least one season (and sometimes several) only to lose interest within the past, say, 6-12 months.
So maybe I'm just on a TV break generally!
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Post by kds on Mar 30, 2020 15:02:02 GMT
I have a Sheldon Cooper esque flaw where I can't bring myself to quit watching a show, even once the quality takes a dive. This is why I still watch The Walking Dead, The Simpsons, and Family Guy.
I also like Superstore (AKA "The Office - Walmart"). And, there's an anthology series called Miracle Workers that's pretty entertaining, especially this season's Dark Ages run.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 30, 2020 15:08:56 GMT
I have a Sheldon Cooper esque flaw where I can't bring myself to quit watching a show, even once the quality takes a dive. I used to be like that with TV and even more so with music. Books, too, actually (within the books themselves and across an author's books).
In recent years I am getting much better at just cutting off and moving on. The idea that life is (literally) too short to absorb everything has begun to actually ring true to me, rather than some cliche.
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Post by kds on Mar 30, 2020 15:13:21 GMT
I have a Sheldon Cooper esque flaw where I can't bring myself to quit watching a show, even once the quality takes a dive. I used to be like that with TV and even more so with music. Books, too, actually (within the books themselves and across an author's books).
In recent years I am getting much better at just cutting off and moving on. The idea that life is (literally) too short to absorb everything has begun to actually ring true to me, rather than some cliche.
For some reason, I can do that more easily with music and movies. But, not so much TV. But, I'm very very close to doing it with The Walking Dead. The one exception is SNL.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 5, 2020 1:14:27 GMT
Cut the grass today for the first time this year. Did some weed-whacking and some raking. Moved some pots around; can't wait to put some flowers in them. You can see some of the perennials starting to spout. When I walked past an arbovida tree a bird flew out of it. So, I took a quick peek inside the tree and there was a bird's nest in there with five small robin-blue eggs. It was nice to experience the outdoors again.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 5, 2020 12:54:35 GMT
I was thinking today I'd rake up the dead grass and assorted twigs and leaves that were downed over the winter. I couldn't feel less motivated to do it, but I know I ought to and we're supposed to have sunshine and mid-50s temps.
Speaking of new life, I noticed yesterday the chives in the garden! I hadn't even noticed them until then, but suddenly they are maybe two inches of bright green spears. They're so welcome, both symbolically and culinarily. Hopefully soon to follow will be the other perennial herbs: mint, thyme, rosemary, sage, and savory are all out there as well.
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