No the 50 million people chose to consume Transformers 2 instead of John Carter, they don't just buy anything the studios shove in their face.

They buy what they are presented with and whats considered popular. How can they know up front whats good and bad?

Thats how the movie industry still works that how the music industry used to work.

I bet you Netflix show the same tendency of having more people see non-chart movies than if they had to pay for it.

As to why you're downvoted: HN has become rather eager to downvote. I'd even say toxic, because a few months ago I were downvoted and I knew I deserved it. Nowadays it's because I or someone else has an unpopular (but well reasoned) opinion. It's frustrating, not because I care for my Karma but because I'd like to have a discourse beyond agreeing on the popular opinion.

Yeah. I thought down votes was for things that was factually wrong, trolling or ruining a discussion not for disagreement.

Which is why I really wished down votes came with a requirement to quality why you are being down voted.

He's probably been downvoted because his entire chain of comments boils down to "Hurr durr, people R sheep!"

Funny.

Here I though I was making an argument that when people where given the freedom to choose without it having financial implications they would in fact choose differently than when they have to pay for it and a "mistake" means more.

People think a lot of things. Doesn't mean they're right.

No you would normally look at the evidence or an argument. I have provided some, now it's your turn.

Nice to be downvoted without any argument as to why.