are we geeks? (1 Viewer)

[John McM]

on another forum I post at, which is largely former Sitcoms Online members (as that board has gone to hell), someone started a "tv shows I have on DVD" thread, and about 6 of us replied with large (over 10-15 shows) collections, and then someone replied and proceeded to rip into us all for having so many shows on DVD. Saying we don't have lives, don't have either a boyfriend or girlfriend (oddly, I do have one, and we have a lot of DVD's in common) and that we buy them for show and NOT to watch (which is funny because while I have some DVD's I've been slow to finish, I've at least partially watched my entire collection, finishing about 80% of them).

I wanna know, are we geeks for wanting to buy the shows we like and watch them on our time, uncut, without worrying if ____ network is going to take it off the schedule? I mean, I work and go to college, FX airs Buffy reruns in the lunch hours when I happen to be at school, does that mean I shouldn't have the right to watch my favorite show when I want to since I am usually otherwise engaged at 1 pm? I admit my collection has gotten bigger than I expected (last I counted, about 16 shows in my collection), but nevertheless, I happen to like tv-DVD's more than most movie-DVD's.

 

[Will_B]

It's all about honesty. If you're honest about your reasons for having your collection, there's less (or no) condemnation of one's actions.

It's all about honesty, as your friend noted when he suggested (with a condemning tone) "[you] buy them for show and NOT to watch." They're not upset about the amount of discs, they're upset about the possibility that your reasons aren't up front.

A person could honestly say "I collect many discs to show how wealthy I am" and that would not be a bad thing, because it is still honest. It's only when someone says they have the discs for one reason, but are actually doing it for another reason, that people get upset. The "other", "unstated" reasons could be wealth, could be obsessive compulsive disorder, the emotional needs your friend mentioned, whatever.

If someone senses that there are other reasons beyond the actual love of the movies, then they're concerned about finding out what the expression (of movie collecting) is really signifying.

Psychology aside, tv-shows-on-DVD is a huge trend and you're on the crest of a wave that will continue until tv series are offered as downloads by the producers.

 

[Bob McElfresh]

Yes, we are geeks. (Didnt the official HTF pocket-protector you got with your membership clue you in?)

But the TV box'd sets are vital BECAUSE I have a life. I'm so busy with work, family, other things, that I cannot schedule time around a network television schedule.

(This is why I love the PVR so much. I watch TV when I have time and my favorite shows are recorded.)

But I missed out on some shows that later turned out to be good (or at least popular). Things like "Alias" and "24" have gone on for several seasons that I missed. The TV boxed sets are my only recourse to see these early episodes.

So on the odd weekend, I pop in a disk and do 3 or 4 episodes.

But only when the rest of my life leaves me alone.

Hope this helps.

 

[JasonLa]

I like to get the shows I seen years ago on tv and even the many years ago shows I seen as a child. For me its a nostalgia thing. The shows bring back memories and for many of the shows are just plain good old entertainment. Unlike some of the bland and somewhat boring programming on TV today. I'm not anti-television but many of the shows on TV today I feel are just garbage. I don't like shows that rely on stereotypes, condescension, insulting, and potty humor to try and make their shows entertaining. So for the most part its the shows no longer on the air that I enjoy watching. For me its rare I like a new show thats on TV.

Thats my 2 cents on buying TV shows on DVD.

My collection consists of over 20 TV shows. And my list of shows I want to get of either show out already or shows to come out in the near futures contains about another 20.

As far as are we geeks that all in the eye of the beholder. I wouldn't cosider myself to be a geek but more of an aficionado of the things I enjoy.

 

[John McM]

same here. I do like a lot of current programs, but I will admit some DVD's I bought because of nostalgic purposes, like Diff'rent Strokes, 227, Charlie's Angels and the sort. DVD is the only outlet to see these shows today, and I do like to watch them still.

 

[Glenn Overholt]

Don't get annoyed by a thread farter! It will take little effort to slam him/her back without much effort.

If they don't like your collections - so what? Who are they to say that you're a geek (which is really for computer/internet related activities). They could really be the geek. You might want to ask how many hours per day they spend on the Internet. Even if they lie it will hit home. Spending 12 - 16 or more hours a day on the Internet isn't exactly healthy either.

Heck, have some fun. Say that you are related, and have even met, some cast members, or that you have an uncle on the crew of certain shows and have even seen some live! No one could argue with that!

Glenn

 

[Wezzo]

I have 300 discs of TV on DVD. I bought them to watch, and have done - there is no disc in my collection left unwatched. I buy them for entertainment, so I can watch my favourite shows uncut when I want.

 

[Andrew Radke]

I agree whole heartedly. In my household, there are only 3 good days of the week to watch television, Sundays, Mondays & Thursdays. Ever since reality TV took over, television has become less and less enjoyable. It wasn't long ago when we were able to find something to watch every night of the week. But those days are no more.

Now, I currently own 17 different shows on DVD. I collect them for a number of different reasons. First and foremost, I collect shows which are no longer available in syndication (at least where I am). I don't have TV Land, Deja View, nor Nick at Nite. So collecting shows such as "The Jeffersons", "Sanford & Son" and "Three's Company" are a must. These shows are proof that television isn't what it used to be.

Secondly, I'm a completist. lol. The first set I ever bought was the first season of "The Simpsons". In fact, I didn't even know the set existed until someone made mention of it on the radio. I thought it was an amazing concept, to be able to own complete seasons of all of my favorite shows.

Finally, as I stated above, TV has gone to hell. So when I want to watch something actually decent, I pop in a set. Whether it a few episodes of "Friends", "Frasier", or "Married...With Children", they're all there at my disposal.

Are we geeks? Maybe, maybe not. We are however collectors of great television. How long will it be until the last of today's sitcoms get replaced with pointless reality shows? "Everybody Loves Raymond" is on its last year. "That 70's Show" is rumored to be finished as of next season. Last year, we already lost "Frasier" and "Friends". Television today is taking a downward spiral, therefore I'm glad I collect TV on DVD, so I can at least enjoy the shows I want to watch.

 

[Rhoq]

My collection is always growing (nearing 300 DVDs) and I own a decent number of "TV Shows On DVD".

While I can't say that I've been able to watch any more than 70% of my total collection, I can honestly say that with TV on DVD, my track record is more like 90%. I tend to watch an enitre season of TV over the course of about 2 weeks on DVD. The main reason I invest my money and time into TV on DVD is to relive my childhood through shows I used to enjoy back in the mid-to-late 1980's and early 1990's.

 

[LanieParker]

No we are not geeks. We have lives outside of network television and with the great creation of tv on dvd came more time to do other things than sit around at a specific time to watch a sheduled show on network/cable tv.

 

[todd s]

I have over a 1000 dvds. And a few hundred are tv shows. I am married with kids and don't live in my parents basement. I collect them because I like to. Have I watched them all. Not all. But, when I feel like it. I can.

ps- John, How much of a life can that basher on that forum have. He berates you for having no life. Yet, he is the one sitting on a tv show forum and making fun of people. Apparently, this guy has plenty of time on his hands. :rolleyes

 

[MarkMel]

"Secondly, I'm a completist. lol. The first set I ever bought was the first season of "The Simpsons". In fact, I didn't even know the set existed until someone made mention of it on the radio. I thought it was an amazing concept, to be able to own complete seasons of all of my favorite shows."

LOL, I was going to say that. Some people must have one of each of everything produced for their interest.

Some people collect cars, some people collect matchbooks, some collect kids. (ever see those people that adopt like 15 kids, great for the kids but what is the underlying reason behind that?)

I myself would never buy a TV show on DVD, rent maybe. I only buy DVD that I know I will watch more than once, i.e. favorites. Even then I don't often randomly pull one off the shelf to watch.

Who else will be flipping channels and stop on a movie being broadcast that they have on the shelf and watch the whole thing on TV? Why do I do that?

To each their own.

 

[LizH]

"Birds of Prey" was a good show that was treated horribly by its network. :frowning:

I want it to take its place in the Bat-franchise -- and alongside my DVDs of "Batman" (`89) and "Batman Returns" in my own personal collection. :wink:

FWIW, I'd also like to see "Max Headroom" and "The Flash" come out as well.


If a desire to see edgy, offbeat, and thoughtful TV preserved for posterity makes me a geek, then I'm proud to be a geek.

 

[Steve Phillips]

The person who said we don't have lives because we have some TV on DVD sets probably Tivos 65 hours of reality shows/soap operas per week.

 

[Mark To]

I'll answer the question with a question. Why do you or anyone else care what someone else thinks? Or what they call you? I haven't cared about what anyone else said since grade school.

 

[Mikel_Cooperman]

Are we geeks because we like TV and admit to the fact? Are sports fans called geeks because they sit in front of the set all weekend watching game after game??? No, because that's more exceptable in society.

I have a bunch of shows on DVD and to tell you the truth I am running out of room to put them.

 

[Lynda-Marie]

No one berates stamp collectors for what they collect, and I have yet to hear people who videotape/TiVO their favorite shows getting slammed for it.

As so many mentioned above, what difference does it make WHAT you buy? It is your money, presumably you earned it, and you are not hurting anyone with it. In fact, it is a common interest you have with your girlfriend. At least she is not out shopping or checking out other guys with her friends because she does not like your taste in TV. (I am the daughter of a sports widow, by the way!)

Like you, John, and many of the other posters here, I feel TV has gone downhill. Not everyone agrees with that, and that is their privilege. I like watching shows I loved as a kid or even a teenager, that are not available on syndication or to those of us without cable or satellite TV. In addition, I am my own TV guide with my favorites on DVD.

I watch "my" shows when I want, how I want to (whether in broadcast order, or watch the favorites first) and snack attacks or potty breaks are not a problem. Neither are commercials or edits for content.

Perhaps "geek" is the wrong word. I prefer "control freak" because of the freedom I get from DVD. I prefer the season sets, though, because it is interesting, depending upon the show, to see the evolution of the story lines and characters all at once, without interruptions or preemptions. In syndication, it always seems like someone in the broadcasting office will throw all the copies of the particular show in the air, and then play episodes randomly.

One favorite show of mine was victim to a lot of preemptions due to sporting events. Nothing irritated me more than coming home, rewinding the tape, and finding my show was preempted, or what I was going to get was "already in progress." Thanks. I just LOVE missing plot points, and trying to figure out WTF is going on with the first 45 minutes of the show missing!

 

[Don_Limey]

I know the feeling of your question John McM, myself I have a "friend" who calls me a geek because I, like you & everyone on the forum like reading & posting on forums. I tell my friend if you don't like it, don't log on to it. These thread farters & negativity spreaders like my friend who visit forums & yet slam people like us for something we enjoy are only wasting valuable bandwith (THERE I AM A GEEK, because I know what bandwith is) by logging onto to the site. I say F them & enjoy what you like. I myself collect 9 shows & every season available on DVD and also a college student & work fulltime like you. I love TV on DVD just like you do John. Just F that guy you know. By the way what site is that you are referring to.

 

[Jesse Skeen]

I'll slam them for it because the networks have made all their shows unwatchable with all the onscreen junk! Tivo would have been a great idea about 15 years ago, but I don't see the use for one now.

 

[Andrew Budgell]

The answer is yes, yes many are geeks.

Andy