The dynamic behind what inspires folks to get angry and then move to action is a very interesting phenomenon to witness. From Gawker:
"Netflix's phone lines are overloaded, its blog comments maxed out and its hate mail has become a trending topic on Twitter. All because of a $6 price hike. Here's a recording of Netflix's overloaded customer service line turning away calls, via All Things Digital. And via the Wall Street Journal comes word that angry customers brought Netflix's blog post about the price hike to its 5,000 comment maximum. "Even a dog knows the difference between being tripped over and being kicked," read a comment with 338 "likes." Meanwhile, "Dear Netflix" became a trending topic on Twitter thanks to tweets telling the company to "fuck off!" and that "you suck baby dick" (wow)."
Yeah, the Netflix outrage, in the grand scheme of things, is quite ridiculous. Seriously, the government is on the verge of cutting $600 billion in domestic spending (& possibly Medicare) & folks are bitching about $6?
I get the fury - in a way. It's about the principal of matter. The little guy, once again, is getting screwed over by the big, bad, greedy corporation, who is forcing you to spend an extra $6 a month (for a grand total of $15.99 a month) for the privilege of storing that single DVD, which has been collecting dust on you're coffee table for about a month now. And odds are, you probably haven't even bothered to watch it - yet.
As far as I'm concerned, Netflix is still the best $7.99 a month I've ever spent. And it is still $100 cheaper than what I was paying for cable TV, plus I don't have to deal with commercials. Folks, who complain about their online library must not remember what it was like to begrudgingly sit through the 1,235th-rebroadcast of Transformers on HBO because there is nothing else on the other 500 channels you've flipped through (seriously, what are the back channels even for?).
I enjoy finding rare and never-before-heard of films, TV shows and documentaries on Netflix and I enjoy watching them when I'm ready to watch them. Sure, I can't get all the new blockbusters but let's be honest, most of them suck anyway. Plus, that's what torrents and free internet streaming channels are for.
All I'm saying is for us to have a little perspective here: it's a $6 increase on a service you don't have, to have. If you don't want it, don't pay for it. Last I'd check, renting season 4 of House is still a privilege whereas Social Security and home energy assistance are both entitlements, which despite paying taxes for, might not be available to you in the near future...
...but, if Netflix raises its' prices again to anything over $20, well then grab the pitchforks, torches and the angry mob and let's burn this baby down. I will certainly meet you at the castle's doors ;)
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