Re:The Lost Art of Research as Leisure
by latexr on Wednesday March 19, 2025 @11:57AM
(#43413699)
> I also think people will happily walk away from a show or movie
I’m not so sure. I feel like people may walk away from a show in between seasons, when a new one comes out and they realise they aren’t interested anymore. But in the age of binge watching, it’s harder to realise “I’m not actually enjoying this” because each episode is made to be addictive.
With movies, my feeling is that even when people realise midway they’re not enjoying it, they experience sunk cost and will watch to the end hoping it gets better.
I remember (but I’m not finding) a This American Life segment about a woman who relished in exiting the movie theatre midway through a feature. It wasn’t seen as a common thing.
> but for some reason won't walk away from a book. If you're 30% in and you hate it, just walk away.
I completely agree. I’d even say you could do it sooner than 30%.
I’m not so sure. I feel like people may walk away from a show in between seasons, when a new one comes out and they realise they aren’t interested anymore. But in the age of binge watching, it’s harder to realise “I’m not actually enjoying this” because each episode is made to be addictive.
With movies, my feeling is that even when people realise midway they’re not enjoying it, they experience sunk cost and will watch to the end hoping it gets better.
I remember (but I’m not finding) a This American Life segment about a woman who relished in exiting the movie theatre midway through a feature. It wasn’t seen as a common thing.
> but for some reason won't walk away from a book. If you're 30% in and you hate it, just walk away.
I completely agree. I’d even say you could do it sooner than 30%.