By what do we define ourselves now, as a society? Technology- dependent is pretty far up there I’d have to say. Youtube videos, the selfie, the tweets, the likes, they have turned us from a society that enjoys spending time together to a society that prefers apps in your phones as a means of entertainment. I’m not going to say that I haven’t partaken in a lot of these practices, because if I did I’d be lying to you. I’m not the type of person that’s attached to their phone every waking moment, and I don’t update my Facebook status every twenty-minutes, but I what I do do is invest too much time on my Netflix app. Unwisely, I’ve devoted far too many hours to it, but as the school year has started, I have had to restrain myself.
I believe what makes Netflix so attractive is the certain amount of freedom that it gives us. It allows us to momentarily escape our lives and worries, and immerse ourselves into a new reality. Maybe you need cheering up and find a show extremely hilarious or very relatable. Many of us get attached to shows because they tug at our strings and make us feel more human. For others its just the thrill of watching something that could never happen actually come to life on the screens of their devices. Whatever the reason, I find that everybody has the potential to be a Netflix “addict”.
I know what you’re thinking: Does she watch Netflix every waking moment? No, no I don’t. At one point I did “binge-watch” Netflix with a passion, maybe seven episodes back to back of Doctor Who or Chuck, but during the school year I do maybe an hour a week. It started out as a means to pass the time, around three years ago. But what I want the reader to get out of this is that Netflix gave me the chance to watch things I wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise. All I’m saying is give Netflix a try. You don’t have to become an “addict” like I am/ was, but at least dip your toes, figuratively of course, into the world of Netflix, and see where it takes you.
I can imagine how Netflix could become an addiction! But I think if you're currently averaging an hour a week, you're doing pretty well. It's hard these days because there are so many truly high-quality, well written shows out there. For me, watching The Wire in its entirety was very akin to reading a complex and multi-layered Russian novel. And there are other shows out there I've heard so much about but haven't checked out yet (Mad Men, Breaking Bad...) And I have many, many books I still haven't read that I want to read. And these creative types keep making more intriguing shows and writing more compelling books. But there are only so many hours in a week. I guess I just have to appreciate what I do have time to watch and/or read.
ReplyDeleteI still don't have Netflix.... I'm a bit of a T.V. / Movie buff too and I keep thinking about the ways Netflix could change my life... I think that the mailing movies of choice aspect is a bit more appealing than the app though, do you still do that too if the thing you want to watch isn't available on the app because I know that that's a problem? Do you think there are more positives to getting Netflix than negatives? The post talks about the addiction but I am still intrigued by the prospects. Thoughts?
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