That wacky Netflix

[fbhjr]

This morning I've been trying to adjust my Netflix preferences as it keeps suggesting garbage for me to watch.
And, whatever program they use to categorize movies is very strange.
Did you like "Judge Dread?" "Yes, I did." "Do you always watch Drug Movies?"
What? You put that down as a drug movie?
The old Stalone version they put down as an "American Psycho" movie.
History of the World Part I they put down as a move about ancient Rome.
Batman Beyond they listed as a father son buddy movie.
Ladyhawk was listed as a movie about horses.

It's no wonder I don't get movies I like suggested to me. I just don't understand the categories...

Comments

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

And, from a search perspective it makes sense.
"What was that movie with the big horse?" would make sense to suggest Ladyhawk.

If we were talking about IMDB, I would be totally OK with that method. I often go to IMDB with keywords like that.

But, if I'm looking for something good to watch, not so much.
I'm more likely to day "I liked that epic love story, what's another one like it?"

From a database point of view what they are doing is very clear.
I'm just not sure it is the best way to do it for their particular business.

[beccadg.livejournal.com]

I'm just not sure it is the best way to do it for their particular business.

I understand. I wonder if there's a traceable demographic shift in how people think of what they're looking for. I mean the shift from "subject" to "keyword" searching has grown right along with computer use. My cataloging professor loved how well I showed, in my article review paper, that I understood the stupidity of electronic card catalog designers building card catalogs without input from actual librarians. It might be that the younger you are the more likely you do all of your thinking in keyword terms. If it's true, I think it's sad. Subject (and in the case of books, author) is a valuable approach that shouldn't get lost to technological change. People who work with databases should learn about them.