Letters to the Editor
Christopher1988
Published Letters: 567 Editor's Choice: 40
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CrunchyFrog,
[Read the article: Why Blockbuster is gaining on Netflix]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Because when I'm already paying $80/month for cable, and $12/month for TiVo, I don't want to also pay multiple monthly fees to different video rental plans. If I'm going to rent-by-mail (and that's the big draw for people with busy lives -- I can barely get to the grocery store, let alone a video store), I'm going to choose one provider and one monthly fee. I've been with Netflix for years and don't see any reason to change that at the moment.
Do you only shop at one clothing store? Do you only go to one music store? I really don't get the concept of one movie rental chain providing everything. And what fee? You don't pay anything to sign up at most video stores. I've never had to do such a thing, from a big chain to various mom and pop stores over the years.
Obviously you are busy, really really busy. And many people here are, too. I'm busy a lot of the time, as well. But you know what's really great when you're really really busy? Taking time out. Walking up and down an aisle. Picking up cases (or jewel boxes, if we're talking music stores, or books if we're talking...). I mean, yes, we can get all our books and music at Amazon, sign on with Netflix, and never have to leave the house except for food, work, and whatever our children need (if we have them). But is that you're idea of a good life?
Getting those movies at home and no bother is clearly the priority here. I guess it's the microwave approach to entertainment: Now. Fast. But I like ambling down an aisle, even going to the next store over when the first stop doesn't have what I want. I don't want to rush.
I also don't want to pay every month for movies, when I know a couple of months or more can go by when I don't rent anything. And I don't have a 500 movie waiting list. I'm the opposite of most people here. Not only do the stores not bother me, I have no interest in the movies-to-your-home option. I've never considered it.
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Blockbuster is being disingenuous
[Read the article: Does Blockbuster edit its movies?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While they certainly do not censor movies themselves, they clearly choose to stock "rated" versions of some "unrated" movies (they do carry "unrated" versions of teen flicks like American Pie or The Dukes of Hazard), and rent otherwise snipped versions of R-rated features. That these come from the studios does not negate that Blockbuster is clearly making a choice and, as one commenter in the previous letters section makes note, they do so without any indication on the packaging. I found the same thing to be true when I rented Eyes Wide Shut and realized, because of what I'd read about the CGI graphics added to the R-rated version, that in fact I was watching this and not the director's cut. The only box in the store was marked "unrated."
I've defended Blockbuster, somewhat, in my previous posts, but it's important to remember what's wrong with them as well as what's right.
I do not, however, think they are in any way comparable to Wal-Mart (and I should add I don't shop at Wal-Mart, but I think a lot of the alarmist attitudes towards them, especially in big city locations, to be over-the-top as well), and the suggestion that they try to force all competition out of business is ridiculous. They try to be the number one company in their field in America. I think most of our businesses do this.
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Not missing the point, Anonymous,
[Read the article: Why Blockbuster is gaining on Netflix]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Crunchy Frog complained about fees and said he/she wanted to stay with one membership/one fee. Well, Blockbuster charges neither a monthly fee, nor a sign up fee, nor a late charge fee. So that reason for not shopping at Blockbuster doesn't make sense. Netflix obviously charges a fee per month, something no movie rental store does.
I still don't get why, even if one signs with Netflix, one wouldn't browse through any number of rental stores, just to see what they are like, just to encounter human beings, on the off-chance of finding something different in the selection. It doesn't cost anything. I understand why people would appreciate Netflix. I just don't get the exclusivity.
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I take my hat off to you, Joan.
[Read the article: Poor, sad Larry Craig]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I criticize you a lot, but I think your approach to this story is near-perfect. Not "Let's jump on the closet case" but "Let's look at the insidious Republicans jumping on the closet case; are these the people allowed to run the country?" Great.
One problem.
It's clear that a significant number of men are drawn to the moralizing right wing of the Republican Party because they can't accept their own sexuality
You in no way demonstrate this, nor can I tell that this situation is "clear" at all. I used to live in Texas, and though I knew far more gay Democrats than Republicans, I certainly knew my share of those. They weren't closeted. They weren't incapable of accepting their sexuality.
Nor do I get the impression that most closeted Republicans are any more self-loathing than closeted celebrities. As if there's a difference these days (sigh). The impression I get is that they know what they have to project to win a majority of votes. I think your interpretation is rather cliched and outdated. I'll expect most gay politians to be out of the closet about the time most gay action movie stars and sitcom celebrites are. That is, sometime in the far distant future.
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Letstat,
[Read the article: Why Blockbuster is gaining on Netflix]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Fair enough.