Hate-watching and consuming media.

[rogueslayer452]

As 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.

Comments

[impala-chick.livejournal.com]

This is interesting because at first I was like, I wouldn't do that! But I did watch Smallville way past the point where I liked it. I watched because I was hoping it would get better, and I really liked Clark. Plus, I had invested so much time in that show!

I don't really keep watching shows I don't like, because it's such a huge time investment. I have finished movies that I thought were awful, and sometimes that was intentionally so I could find things to make fun of and participate in memes or pop culture stuff that was happening around it. Like "The Room." Or if I'm in a theater with other people, I feel like I have to finish it, like "Unbroken."

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I've also done similarly, too, when a show becomes too convoluted and it makes nonsensical choices with the narrative that it's no longer as enjoyable as it once was, but I try to convince myself that as long as I like the characters then I can stick with it. Which I think is what many people do, find little things to convince themselves that they can still keep going. But there comes a time where there's a breaking point where it's like, "nope, I'm done." I've done that with several shows, had big breakups with them for one reason or another, no matter how long the show has been on. It varies depending on the circumstances.

I have less patience nowadays because, as you said, it's a huge time investment and I already have far too many shows to watch/catch up on that if I'm not enjoying something I'll drop it. I don't want to continue watching a show if it feels like a chore.

I have finished movies that I thought were awful, and sometimes that was intentionally so I could find things to make fun of and participate in memes or pop culture stuff that was happening around it. Like "The Room."

lol, yeah, MSTing is something that I enjoy a lot, because it's about the whole "so bad it's good" aspect especially with b-movies that are unintentionally hilarious. I can sit through those because it's fun to make fun of and laugh at, while it's not fun watching a show I used to like decline in quality.

[impala-chick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, isn't it so hard when you've invested so much in a show only for it to break your heart? I remember taping the show on VHS tapes, and setting my recorder way in advance, just so I wouldn't miss an episode each week. When I decided to stop with smallville it was such an emotional decision. I think it was season 7.

Haha I had to legit look up "MSTing" but that totally fits. I think that's a good way to put it - if you know at the beginning the movie/show is a laugh, then you can just have fun making fun of it without any emotional connection.