Hate-watching and consuming media.
Feb. 9th, 2019 02:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rogueslayer452As a topic for discussion, I've always been curious about the concept of hate-watching, and just why some people partake in it.
I feel like there are two types of hate-watching, the first is when a show someone initially likes suddenly declines in quality and despite their frustrations they try to hold out as long as possible hoping that somehow there'll be an upturn at some point, and even if it doesn't they'll be a "true fan" and begrudgingly stick with it until the bitter end. The second is when one knows they won't like something but will hate-watch it anyway just to rant about how bad it is after the fact. It's mainly the latter I'm interested in examining.
While the notion of mocking or being entertained by something for being terrible isn't new, since we've all had moments where we derive enjoyment watching certain trainwrecks occur or read up on the current drama happening in wherever online, hate-watching in itself has become more common nowadays with people wanting to see the fuss over something being declared "bad". It creates a certain curiosity and mild entertainment, which is understandable. However, I do think this also creates a problem especially when there are certain algorithms that determine the popularity of something via views, since algorithms and companies only care about the numbers, not morality. Even if it gets negative publicity for having, say, insensitive and offensive content, if you hate-watch something you're still giving it views and attention especially if you're talking about it online, thereby it gains even more popularity. This goes for watching anything from streaming services to YouTube videos from a specific individual, because it tells the higher ups that this is what people are interested in, no matter whether you actually like it or not, because again numbers matter more than morality. And I feel like a lot of people know this, and yet somehow we're still so tempted to click that link or to tune into something despite knowing what we're contributing. Then there's the trap of, "well, if I don't see it how will I know if it's actually as bad as they say", which also adds to that contribution as well. Either way, it creates this inescapable dilemma.
In general though, I've always been confused by the act of hate-watching as a whole. I'm not referring to being critical of the things you love and care for, since that's more of being objective and analytical about something that you hold dear to your heart, which that I can understand and I do quite frequently. I'm talking about watching something for the sake of hating on it, whether it's a "just because" thing or if you once liked the thing but no longer do, for whatever reason, and yet still partake in watching only to get more and more frustrated and angry with it. Just the act itself, getting worked up, wasting your time and energy over something that you have absolutely no enjoyment in whatsoever, I don't understand.
(Then again, there are those who do this for a living, who actually sit down and consume something they know they won't like but it's for the review/analysis/discussion that comes along with it. But I think that is a different thing altogether and separate from the general live hate-watching some do that is more rage-inducing than adding anything constructive.)
I don't know, this post is kind of random and sort of all over the place especially towards the end. All of this was mostly prompted by something I read regarding how Netflix tracks the views of a show which got me thinking about hate-watching and why people do it, and how it actually is a part of why certain things end up becoming more popular than others, and so on. It's just a fascinating subject when it comes to how we consume media and how our viewing habits affect the entertaining industry. It also got me wondering about the responsibility we have as consumers versus the responsibility of the industry, since no matter whether it's Nielsen or an algorithm the system is not going to be 100% accurate or effective.
I feel like there are two types of hate-watching, the first is when a show someone initially likes suddenly declines in quality and despite their frustrations they try to hold out as long as possible hoping that somehow there'll be an upturn at some point, and even if it doesn't they'll be a "true fan" and begrudgingly stick with it until the bitter end. The second is when one knows they won't like something but will hate-watch it anyway just to rant about how bad it is after the fact. It's mainly the latter I'm interested in examining.
While the notion of mocking or being entertained by something for being terrible isn't new, since we've all had moments where we derive enjoyment watching certain trainwrecks occur or read up on the current drama happening in wherever online, hate-watching in itself has become more common nowadays with people wanting to see the fuss over something being declared "bad". It creates a certain curiosity and mild entertainment, which is understandable. However, I do think this also creates a problem especially when there are certain algorithms that determine the popularity of something via views, since algorithms and companies only care about the numbers, not morality. Even if it gets negative publicity for having, say, insensitive and offensive content, if you hate-watch something you're still giving it views and attention especially if you're talking about it online, thereby it gains even more popularity. This goes for watching anything from streaming services to YouTube videos from a specific individual, because it tells the higher ups that this is what people are interested in, no matter whether you actually like it or not, because again numbers matter more than morality. And I feel like a lot of people know this, and yet somehow we're still so tempted to click that link or to tune into something despite knowing what we're contributing. Then there's the trap of, "well, if I don't see it how will I know if it's actually as bad as they say", which also adds to that contribution as well. Either way, it creates this inescapable dilemma.
In general though, I've always been confused by the act of hate-watching as a whole. I'm not referring to being critical of the things you love and care for, since that's more of being objective and analytical about something that you hold dear to your heart, which that I can understand and I do quite frequently. I'm talking about watching something for the sake of hating on it, whether it's a "just because" thing or if you once liked the thing but no longer do, for whatever reason, and yet still partake in watching only to get more and more frustrated and angry with it. Just the act itself, getting worked up, wasting your time and energy over something that you have absolutely no enjoyment in whatsoever, I don't understand.
(Then again, there are those who do this for a living, who actually sit down and consume something they know they won't like but it's for the review/analysis/discussion that comes along with it. But I think that is a different thing altogether and separate from the general live hate-watching some do that is more rage-inducing than adding anything constructive.)
I don't know, this post is kind of random and sort of all over the place especially towards the end. All of this was mostly prompted by something I read regarding how Netflix tracks the views of a show which got me thinking about hate-watching and why people do it, and how it actually is a part of why certain things end up becoming more popular than others, and so on. It's just a fascinating subject when it comes to how we consume media and how our viewing habits affect the entertaining industry. It also got me wondering about the responsibility we have as consumers versus the responsibility of the industry, since no matter whether it's Nielsen or an algorithm the system is not going to be 100% accurate or effective.
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no subject
Date: 2019-02-09 01:13 pm (UTC)Even if it gets negative publicity for having, say, insensitive and offensive content, if you hate-watch something you're still giving it views and attention especially if you're talking about it online, thereby it gains even more popularity.
I think the show Glee is an example of that. I actually didn't know anyone who could honestly say it was a good show after the second season, and yet it went on for six. I gave up on the show, although I watched a few episodes here and there, but the people I knew who watched it loyally were mainly music buffs who could still enjoy it as long as the music was good. They still acknowledged the plot was ridiculous, and it got so contrived when it came to trying to portray important issues.* Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of people also legitimately liked Glee until the end, I just think many more were watching for the music, and/or waiting for the plot to make sense. Because it had such a following, however, it kept on going.
Heroes may be another example, although that was eventually cancelled. That one I stopped watching after the second season. Though selfishly, I also think I was disappointed it didn't really go the direction I'd been hoping. (I think in hindsight, I wanted something closer to Buffy, with one team of "Scoobies" saving the day, rather than a more dispersed network of people who vaguely knew each other, but didn't really interact more than a few characters at a time until the walls started closing in, much like the first season.) Even with that being said, the show just wasn't what it was the first season, yet people either hate watched it or watched it waiting for it to get better.
no subject
Date: 2019-02-11 08:26 am (UTC)I think with movies it's somewhat different, not only because it's less time consuming but also because there is a whole activity of watching "so bad it's good" b-movies that are unintentionally hilarious. It's why MST3K exists, and it's why I enjoy watching not only that but also commentary YouTube channels that review bad movies.
I think a lot of people also legitimately liked Glee until the end, I just think many more were watching for the music, and/or waiting for the plot to make sense. Because it had such a following, however, it kept on going.
Yeah, I think so too. I think this happens a lot with many shows. Some might start off decently enough but decline in quality, but even if some fans might get fed up and stop watching there will always be a loyal following that will continue watching right up to the end, for whatever reason. I even think those that stick around, who aren't still actually liking a show and only feel like they have to watch until it ends, have a certain masochistic attachment in a weird way, which I guess is another form of "hate-watching"? idk.
lol, I was like that with Heroes, too. There have been quite a handful of shows over the years that I quit after a few seasons because it just wasn't up to par what I thought it was going to be, or it did something that just had me "nope" right the fuck out. I just don't want to waste my time on something that is just going to disappoint me. I mean, in a way, I can understand being so emotionally invested with something for one reason or another that all you want to do is see if it'll improve to make it worth your while, but what I've learned over the years of many disappointments is that payoff doesn't always happen. And you'll just end up being bitter and disappointed.