The post title is referencing my earlier post titled, “An Internet Ghost”. My reasoning was that the posts’ topics are closely related.
On today’s agenda: choose an online presence of mine and examine it to see, in that iteration of myself, who I am. Boy, do I have a lot of options on this one…. I’ll go with Netflix because while it is a family account, I am the primary user. Sorry brother of mine… I think I’ve got you beat.
It seems that Netflix thinks I would be interested in crime shows, a comedy, Dance Mom – YUCK! Wish I could insert the emoji that looks like it is going to be sick… – and various other TV shows and movies. These were off the “Recommended for ________” list/category. The person that this category defines is someone who has an interest in the medical field, likes to laugh and watches a range of shows/films.
If someone knew nothing about me and happened upon the recommended list on Netflix, they could probably determine certain aspects of my identity. They could easily give an age range, and probably guess my gender. I’m not one for the frilly girl movies…I prefer action – Fast & Furious series anyone? As far as my interests go, I would have them fooled there. I can watch Bones and CSI: [fill in city] for days, but I have no interest in the medical field. I’d be passed out in the corner from the blood. Literally. I’ve fainted quite a lot throughout my life. Neither do I excel at cooking – which they could assume that I had an interest in. Now the last part of the prompt deals with how based on this Netflix compiled list, could someone get a good sense of my personality. I’d say maybe. I am a very sarcastic yet reserved person. Not quite sure how that would translate through that list. Perhaps through the comedy show selections. Plus several of the shows contain highly sarcastic and dry individuals.
The person Netflix sees me to be can be tied to the stereotype of being female. Take for example the shows I avoid like the plague, ie. Dance Moms and anything akin to it. Just because I had to pick a gender, Netflix sticks those shows on the recommended list. I bet they don’t appear on a guys list (unless he watches something similar). Hasty generalizations come into play some with the fact that Netflix thinks just because you like one show, you’re going to like this other one.
Regardless of the recommended list, I still think I spend more time looking for something to watch on Netflix than I spend actually watching a show/movie. Who’s with me? ~V
Sunflowers and Riddles 