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Digital packrat.
In trying to free up apartment space, I need to de-accession some materials. In de-accessioning some materials, I need to free up hard drive space. In needing to free up hard drive space, I'm taking a long, hard look at what I've collected over the last couple of decades. Some of these files date back to freshman year of college. Few of them are shows I'm at all interested in rewatching. There's a half-season of something here, the last season of something else there, the season where I downloaded everything and then wandered away from the fandom halfway through watching them, episodes I later ripped from DVDs and Blurays. It's a weird form of digital nostalgia. There's no needing these. There's liking the record of having them, and there's no needing it.
Certainly for some of the newer ones where there's no boggling over downloading it that long ago, there's an ease in getting rid of them. Admitting I'm not going to watch that, giving up on the sense of obligation, reminding myself if I really want to watch it then I'll find some way to do it and if I really wanted I'd have likely done it by now. Sure, there's stuff like Rome where I downloaded the first season in 2007 and only got around to watching it a few weeks ago, but those I'd ripped so I knew I'd have everything, plus subtitles. By now, I'm not watching those old files because the quality's so low compared to what I can get now. I can find my way to the full seasons of Psych and 30 Rock if I'm so compelled, on one format or another, on box sets or a streaming service.
The technology of streaming remains largely positive to me. It's the vertical integration of the distribution methods and fragmenting of the market that's the true downfall of the whole affair. Ages ago, I saw it suggested that a Steam-like service for shows and movies would solve a lot of problems, and as there's less money in that than the alternative, it's going to take an act of God to get it going. Until then, I'm having to say I need to take comfort and relief in knowing I don't have to commit to hauling these around anymore.
Amusingly, checking the local library for DVDs of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes gets me a David Bowie concert movie. I can't say it's wrong. Not what I'm looking for, and also not wrong.
Certainly for some of the newer ones where there's no boggling over downloading it that long ago, there's an ease in getting rid of them. Admitting I'm not going to watch that, giving up on the sense of obligation, reminding myself if I really want to watch it then I'll find some way to do it and if I really wanted I'd have likely done it by now. Sure, there's stuff like Rome where I downloaded the first season in 2007 and only got around to watching it a few weeks ago, but those I'd ripped so I knew I'd have everything, plus subtitles. By now, I'm not watching those old files because the quality's so low compared to what I can get now. I can find my way to the full seasons of Psych and 30 Rock if I'm so compelled, on one format or another, on box sets or a streaming service.
The technology of streaming remains largely positive to me. It's the vertical integration of the distribution methods and fragmenting of the market that's the true downfall of the whole affair. Ages ago, I saw it suggested that a Steam-like service for shows and movies would solve a lot of problems, and as there's less money in that than the alternative, it's going to take an act of God to get it going. Until then, I'm having to say I need to take comfort and relief in knowing I don't have to commit to hauling these around anymore.
Amusingly, checking the local library for DVDs of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes gets me a David Bowie concert movie. I can't say it's wrong. Not what I'm looking for, and also not wrong.