Profiles going away!?

[Ernie]

Did everyone else get this e-mail from Netflix:

" We wanted to let you know we will be eliminating Profiles, the feature that allowed you to set up separate DVD Queues under one account, effective September 1, 2008."

Why?

"While it may be disappointing to see Profiles go away, this change will help us continue to improve the Netflix website for all our customers."

Okay, how does Profiles going away improve Netflix? Am I the only one in household with multiple people each of whom want a different queue for tracking, rating, reviews, etc. Furthermore, according to the FAQ, there's no way to even transfer a Profile to a new separate account. So that means if you spent time rating tons of movies under one profile, all of that is lost! This seems like a huge disruption of service. In what way is this good? And there's not even any way I can see to match the equivalent functionality once they go away.

This to me is a huge negative change to the service for no visible reason.

Ernie

[leela42]

Yeah, you're right about that. I certainly wouldn't (and didn't) consider it a serious suggestion.

Maybe I shouldn't have taken what seemed to be tolerance of the opposite point of view seriously either, then. ??? hmmm...

pfft. I'm bored with it. Time to go out to dinner and a movie.

[phattooth]

nothing personal at all, leela.

I've just been on the deadly business end of a law suit before, and have absolutely no tolerance for it or the casual mention of a stupid one.

please take this slightly used gerbil phikal gave me, as a peace offering.

[UncleBob]

the Netflix site was designed to harass you into rating films to get recommendations, and create a community "persona" that would receive personal recommendations.

People who drank the koolaod that was offered invested time and effort.

Just because the idea of expecting Netflix to live up to their deal strikes you as douchebaggery doesn't mean it's an invalid claim. This is a huge amount of user-volunteered data, provided by users in expectation of receiving a genuine benefit.

If that's not the case, give an argument, not your usual pile of snark.

And if you've had a bad experirnce in court, that makes you less, not more, qualified to judge.

[Whatchawatchin]

Koolaod...I think I took that once in college.

[phattooth]

Just because the idea of expecting Netflix to live up to their deal strikes you as douchebaggery doesn't mean it's an invalid claim.

What i find douchbaggery is to pull out the law suit card when you don't get your way... not that there was a feature and now there is not.

Does it suck for some?
Undoubtedly.

Is it shitty time was wasted on a soon to be debunk site tool?
Certainly.

Is it a reason to even insinuate suing?
Not even remotely.

And if you've had a bad experirnce in court, that makes you less, not more, qualified to judge.

Yes, i did have a bad experience in court!
Over a very similar situation of including code or not including in a product that they found helpful, but was no longer worth the time or energy to maintain. It simply wasn't their call to make. The whole thing was a tremendous waste of time and money.
To me, i do think that makes me more qualified to judge.

Sorry dude, not changing my mind here.

[pihkal020]

i hope to jeezus you are being facetious.

Isn't there a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the freedom of one's movie ratings?

[phattooth]

i think that one was lost along with the 11th commandment and the precious golden book of mormon... sorry buddy.

[UncleBob]

there's no reply link on your post so I am replying here.

What i find douchbaggery is to pull out the law suit card when you don't get your way... not that there was a feature and now there is not.

It's not a matter of "me getting my way." I don't use profiles, and I don't personally care about them.

I was talking about people who were persuaded by Netflix to volunteer tons of personal information in exchange for a perceived benefit, and then had Netflix welch on the deal that they themselves devised and offered.


Yes, i did have a bad experience in court!
Over a very similar situation of including code or not including in a product that they found helpful, but was no longer worth the time or energy to maintain. It simply wasn't their call to make. The whole thing was a tremendous waste of time and money.
To me, i do think that makes me more qualified to judge.

If you persuaded people to volunteer personal info in exchange for a perceived benefit, then it was a similar deal. If not, not.

The legal question is, does personal preference information have value? If it does, Netflix received "consideration" which they actively solicited from their members, which legally obligates them to live up to their implied contract.

Now if you want to argue the merits of my argument, fine, but make it a real argument, not an emotional rejection.

I personally have no intention of pursuing any court case. I'm only making an observation.

[WizSteve]

All BB needs to do is add a multiple queue feature.. if fact, if they're not already working on it they're idiots.

Price wise, BB is a $1 cheaper for the mainstream 3-disc plan, or for $3 more you get *5* in-store exchanges / month.

Honestly, I could give a rat's ass about all the movie ratings and reviews. But multiple queues is a must have in my book.

[Mr. Fankles]

I like pizza.

[phattooth]

you know... i was thinking just the other day about how much i thoroughly enjoy cottage cheese!

dude, you know what goes awesome with cheese!?!
i like it with pizza too... ok, 3 guesses!

[Wretched]

Boobies.
Boobies.
Boobies.

What do I win?