Star Ratings

[jimmyslamjam]

I realized the ratings being displayed for movies I haven't seen yet are estimates by Netflix instead of the aggregate of other viewers. Why? Why put more emphasis on what some algorithm assumes I'm going to think than what actual people have already submitted? Honestly, I have more faith in the judgement of others than the skills of the Netflix programmers. There should at least be an option use the contributed ratings over the Netflix guesstimate. 

[Knaldskalle]

Now all I have to do is unrate 500 movies.

In case you need help: Go to Movies You've Rated and start clicking "clear rating".

In case you change your mind at some point, you might want to save a copy of the pages on your hard drive first.

[robert e]

To be honest, I tried to be as honest as possible. Maybe that was a mistake, but I have absolutely zero interest in learning how to game the system, even if that's possible.

There's really no mystery here. How is Netflix supposed to anticipate someone who honestly rates, for example, Oldboy, My Dinner With Andre, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Ice Storm, White Diamond, Starship Troopers and The Wrong Trousers equally highly? Yet, given my enjoyment, the quality of work and artistic merit, these movies all deserve high ratings.

I get it, and no hard feelings on that score. There's a chance that with 5,000 ratings rather than 500, the algorithm might do better, but there would still be the issue of not being able to turn the predictions on and off. Rating 0 movies seems the more sensible option for me.

[jimmyslamjam]

"simply don't rate movies"

How about instead Netflix adds a simple function in my account options to use average ratings instead of Best Guess when browsing titles . Besides, "Best Guess" is just that, a guess.

Why do I need to clear my rating history then never be able to add my own ratings to the pool or add a comment on Facebook (another beef of mine, why are all of my rated titles shuttled to Facebook, how about just specific ones I want to comment on, but I digress). The whole point is that I want the most use of the Netflix database with the least amount of click here, unclick here, save this, download that, etc.

My criteria? How much did I like it; 1 being the worst, 5 being the best. I don't know what you're looking for here.

[jimmyslamjam]

-You think an average rating between a group of people that may not necessarily have the same taste as you, will tell you your taste in movies better than a predicted best guess rating

Yes, I need other people to tell me my taste in movies. No, I just find that the Best Guess is often very wrong and doesn't correspond with the average rating, which tends to be more in line with my tastes than Netflix's algorithm. It's that simple.

You're right, how dare I make a request of Netflix's programmers. Do you work for them or something?

[robert e]

So

You bring up questions that have been reasonably addressed earlier in this thread but this time in the form of condescending and sarcastic insults, yet you're upset that your target feels insulted.

That about sum it up?

[Spindaddydad]

How about instead Netflix adds a simple function in my account options to use average ratings instead of Best Guess when browsing titles
Because, as has been pointed out, Netflix has learned through the years that providing more "options" only confuses the mass populace and actually results in fewer and fewer of its members using those advanced features. (i.e., 1/2 stars, profiles, friends, etc.) With the collective brainpower of 16 million members, they've learned that elementary school level is about as high tech as they can be - no user-selected options, no advanced features, no alternate views.

[Knaldskalle]

I just thought of a "workaround" that might have some interest.

It is possible to rate all the movies you've seen and yet receive recommendations as if you hadn't. Simply set up a separate profile and then use that to rate the movies or use it for getting recommendations that are unaffected by any ratings. Of course the drawback is that you need to switch back and forth between profiles, but at least you can start sorting movies according to the average rating (which is mainly what's being asked for, as far as I can tell).

Hope this helps.

[robert e]

This is interesting. Worth looking into. It's unfortunate that streaming video is available only to the main profile.

Whether or not your idea ultimately helps me, I very much appreciate your constructive and non-accusing attitude.

You also bring up a good example of a feature that was cancelled because it was used by only a small minority, but reinstated in response to their requests.

[Knaldskalle]

they want netflix to put the effort and make it so a feature they want "average member rating" is right infront of them without them having to go anywhere else.

That's pretty much what I'm offering.