List etiquette

Now copying a list verbatim,I think most would agree, is totally wrong. But what about if you see a list namecategory that you didn't think of before and like the idea. For example a list called Movies with Monkeys, which you look at and it has just monkeys in it.. Now you don't copy that list but start your own but you add anything primate - monkeys, gorillas, etc. Your list may have a little bit, some or a lot in common with that first list but it also has your own flavor because of the added films you put in. Is it bad form to even emulate the idea? Chances are even if you dont see it you may be doing a list that someone else has done just to the sheer number out there. Plus if its a specific enough list category it may likely have exactly the same films. Should you feel bad about that?

Tags: category, disc. by mem., lists, monkeys

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Permalink Reply by bob borka on August 21, 2008 at 6:53pm: meh, it happens....when ever i come up with a list i want to make. i start to brainstorm movies using the netflix search and open the different movies in seperate tabs. then i use the add to top ten list link. that way as i start to add movies i can see if other people have made similar lists. IF i make a list that is similar to someone else's i always try to add movies to my list that other people don't have on theirs. take my most recent list
Fatties comprised, of course, of all movies with fatties. as i was constructing it i came across two other similar lists robowriter's - robotwriter obesity {16) & the colonels Big Fat Starring Roles all 3 of our lists have movies that overlap, but we also have a lot of different titles too. i think its all good if you at least TRY to not copy someone's list verbatim. after all it is just listings of movie titles. its not rocket science. btw monkey movies rule. here is my list: Monkey Movie Mania the more monkey movie lists the merrier!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robowriter on August 27, 2008 at 1:37pm: I decided to add a Fat list (later renamed Obesity) after I saw the sympathetic treatment of large-sized folk in Get Smart. I made it to reward movies like Shallow Hal and to disregard movies like Norbit. Of course, I created a range of animal lists because two children in my life love animals (as do I). I've seen a couple fat lists but my particular approach is to be sympathetic: OK it's unhealthy but let's not demonize or ridicule obesity. On the contrary, I don't feel like making an Anorexia list.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RJP on August 21, 2008 at 8:02pm: I was going to stay out of this discussion - but I can't resist...

I believe correct list etiquette is to only include movies in your lists you have actually seen, i.e. given a rating and written a review. No ratings and no reviews of movies in your list, then that list won't make the grade. If you're into "Movies with Monkeys", then rent, rate, and review movies in that genre before you make a list.

I believe the original purpose of Lists was to showcase those movies you really liked, or disliked (if it's that kind of list). Since Lists are really called "Top 10 Lists", I further believe one should stick to about 10 movies in each list. All the movies in my paltry 20 or so lists come from looking at my Reviews and Ratings pages. This is the etiquette I follow at least.

The current dysfunctional system is just the result of Netflix's abysmal implementation of any kind of search feature for identifying genres, such as "Movies with Monkeys." As a solution, members are making up lists Netflix should be either be providing somehow, or at least providing some tool for you to easily make your own.

And I don't even want to get into all the other bizarre purposes people compose lists, such as queue overflows, new releases to garner "hits", etc. etc.

In my ideal Netflix World, I'd like to go to someone's list, click on an icon next to a specific movie, and then go directly to that's person's review on his "Your Reviews & Lists" page. That feature would really be helpful to me...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robowriter on August 27, 2008 at 1:48pm: I put a note "under compilation" in mine when under construction. Of course it occasionally appears on the new lists page during the first few days, so if it has only 1-2 movies, such publicity is no help -- but I doubt it's much help anyway (since half the time a list appears there, most people will be asleep).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robowriter on August 27, 2008 at 1:45pm: Thanks dude! That's one view (and a valid one). However, I make a list of books I want to buy before I buy (or borrow) -- and then read and shelve (or return) and review -- them. My lists are largely topical (Monkeys, Minnesota, Medieval Ages) based on my interests (and, coincidentally, others') or timely (tracking new releases so I don't miss any movies coming to the silver screen or shiny disc). I finally broke down and created a series of Top 5/10/15/25/30 lists (quantity depending on the topic) based as a rule on what I've seen (which is a smaller subset of all the movies I want to see). So I see lists as either viewing plans or recommendations (or both).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Desertflower on August 28, 2008 at 3:12pm: believe correct list etiquette is to only include movies in your lists you have actually seen, i.e. given a rating and written a review. No ratings and no reviews of movies in your list, then that list won't make the grade. If you're into "Movies with Monkeys", then rent, rate, and review movies in that genre before you make a list.

I agree. My lists are of what I have seen.

I believe the original purpose of Lists was to showcase those movies you really liked, or disliked (if it's that kind of list). Since Lists are really called "Top 10 Lists", I further believe one should stick to about 10 movies in each list.

I have pondered this for my own list making, and not stopped at the "top 10" In the future I may pare down my lists (but it is hard, as I enjoyed building those lists!); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kemp1601 on August 23, 2008 at 7:06pm: I am humbled, RJP. Indeed, I have not seen every movie within my lists, nor limited the number of movies within them to ten. Your explanation of "list etiquette" is dead-on.
My excuse: there are just too many cool flicks out there that people, myself included, are unaware of . I'm willing to bet you'd find a movie that interests you within my lists despite my having not seen it. And yes, there is the rating (although I won't stoop to "new release" lists. Hence the birth of, The Anti-"New Release List" List.)
However, that doesn't change the fact that your definition should be the standard. It would be a lot less time consuming...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robowriter on August 27, 2008 at 1:53pm: Lists have been called Top 10 lists so that may be the original or suggested intent of Netflix. However, there is no way to limit the size of lists (and indeed, memory improvements have pushed up the maximum list size so that I have safely saved as high as 385 titles when it used to be half of that a year ago) so it remains one option among many.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robowriter on August 29, 2008 at 9:16am: It would be interesting to do a survey of (say) 100 members to see what the representative attitudes about lists are. Because a hierarchy seems to exist for some where this kind of list is appropriate or preferred while that kind is not -- and new release lists are traitorous? How can something that members actually want for their own purposes or provide for others' actual use be somehow second-class or declasse? Is this still a free country where if every member wants to make a monkey list, s/he can? (Granted, I'm no fan of porn lists because I don't view porn as real cinema -- and since the Supreme Court defines porn as prurient material with no artistic value, I'm pretty sure that tasteless sex paired with ba-a-ad acting meets the definition. But I not only digress, I will stop carping on that theme.) Yes, Netflix has 8.5 million members and any 1 million could build lists that you'd rather not see. But everyone's list gets an equal chance of being spotlighted on any movie it contains, and any list that gets used is by definition wanted or popular. Let's lighten up and judge less please.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by RJP on August 29, 2008 at 10:43am: Doing a survey of attitudes toward lists is a great idea! I'd sure like to see the results.

Some Netflix members are really into list making - a major part of their Netflix experience - while others (like me) are mainly into reviews - both reading and writing reviews. I'm sort of obsessive/compulsive about writing reviews, agonizing over every word and trying to covey my feelings about a movie. I also eagerly await, and religiously read, the reviews of certain Netflix members soon as they post them.

I guess my somewhat selfish motive for "list etiquette" is that I'd really like to be able to click on a title in someone's list, and then be able to read that list maker's review - kind of melding Netflix lists with Netflix reviews...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robowriter on August 29, 2008 at 2:08pm: I'm both reviews and lists. Unfortunately working on one means not working on the other -- and either one means not watching movies!; ▶ Reply to This