R.I.P. Blockbuster

[Leo656]

More practically, I'm annoyed they made its inclusion mandatory simply because it's a price hike for something I'l never, ever use.

I mean, I guess I might. I'm not psychic. But I didn't use the old Kinect much at all and wish it wasn't mandatory this time out. I like the basic concept but I didn't find anything to hold my interest other than Kinect Adventures, briefly.

[The Stryker]

Originally Posted by Leo656

More practically, I'm annoyed they made its inclusion mandatory simply because it's a price hike for something I'l never, ever use.

I mean, I guess I might. I'm not psychic. But I didn't use the old Kinect much at all and wish it wasn't mandatory this time out.

It's not so much mandatory as it is packed-in.

You don't need it plugged in to use the box. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Kinectless box sometime next year.

[Brodie]

Did I miss my free copy of Catcher in the Rye in this thread?

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by The Stryker

It's not so much mandatory as it is packed-in.

You don't need it plugged in to use the box. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Kinectless box sometime next year.

Yeah, that's what I meant, not mandatory to use, mandatory as in you have to buy it. Sorry I misspoke. And I was thinking the same thing; since I probably won't pick up an X1 until next year probably, if there isn't a lot of support for the Kinect (again) I'd bet strongly there will indeed be a scaled-down bundle.

I totally get why they're making it packed-in for the launch to maximize profits. It's perfectly logical. Just kind of annoying.

I just remembered something that may lead things back on topic: When the N64 came out my Dad rented one and Super Mario 64 from Blockbuster, since we couldn't afford one yet. It was kind of a Birthday present, since we were pretty poor and Birthdays at that point were pretty weak, but that more than made up for it. It was a huge deal and I can honestly say that my life has been a lot better than it would have been had I never played that game. So there's one big happy memory I can thank Blockbuster for.

[shuriken]

^This is true, and while it may be kind of alarming (to me and others) it's ultimately harmless.
But I can see Leo's point as well. Censorship and thought control don't just happen overnight.

[Davetello]

Everything Leo and Dawnatello have said in this thread is accurate.

[Dawnatello Turtle Chick]

Originally Posted by Davetello

Everything Leo and Dawnatello have said in this thread is accurate.

Thank you!

[Davetello]

Originally Posted by Dawnatello Turtle Chick

Thank you!

It's pretty clear how social structures operate. Western media is designed to exert control and influence over the masses in its societies. They thrive on ignorance i.e. the fewer people who are aware of what elitist entities are up to the more likely they are to increase the inequality gap and maintain power and prestige. Everything is just a distraction - football (soccer), television, even the turtles we adore. It's all just escapism to stop us questioning the bigger picture. In fact powerful elites leave signals of their strength in said entertainment media, if we look closely.

Our governments also make the decisions to invade foreign countries under the pretence of 'defence', but what they really want is to spread western ideals across the globe.

Why do you think we have royal weddings over here, right smack bang in the middle of one of the most economically unhealthy periods in ages? Do you think it's simply coincidence? Or do you think it's an exercise in distraction, mind control and suppression of more important news? When you see a bunch of unthinking muppets decked out in their Union Jack onesies waving at a family who view them as 'commoner vermin', shouldn't that alert you to the fact that there's something very wrong with the average British person's priorities? And shouldn't it also alert us to the fact that the average person is very easily manipulated by the very media institutions who some in this thread are defending?

It's really all very straightforward but many people don't like to face facts. Unfortunately the likes of us are written off as 'conspiracy theorists' when it really should be obvious what is happening. It's a repulsive state of affairs to be honest, and to see people defending those at the top of society highlights that humanity hasn't grown out of its sycophantic desire to bow to our perceived superiors.

[Katie]

Originally Posted by Brodie

Did I miss my free copy of Catcher in the Rye in this thread?

I came looking for the tin foil hat giveaway.....but I see they're all already taken.

[Michelangelo]

Wow, this thread has really gone places.
Looks like we've moved on from B'buster's passing and gone straight to the inevitable downfall of existence. R.I.P everyone.

[Leo656]

All I know is what I've been taught since birth: Never trust anyone with a gun, a badge, or a flag. Despite what they say, they do NOT have your best interests at heart. And if you see someone carrying all three, RUN.

But yeah, why some people think our Corporate Masters are interested in anything more than keeping people ignorant, poor and distracted is a mystery to me, since... y'know... a few thousand years of recorded human history shows that's really ALL they've ever done or cared about. And since history tends to repeat itself, well... like I've said before, we should all just stay alert. And question absolutely everything. That's not paranoia, that's just common sense.

[Michelangelo]

I guess I shouldn't trust my brother then, he has a gun.
History certainly does repeat itself and being alert for whatever trickery the powers that be have in store for us makes sense. And with that I think this thread is dead.
R.I.P Blockbuster.

[Brodie]

Originally Posted by Leo656

All I know is what I've been taught since birth: Never trust anyone with a gun, a badge, or a flag. Despite what they say, they do NOT have your best interests at heart. And if you see someone carrying all three, RUN.

But yeah, why some people think our Corporate Masters are interested in anything more than keeping people ignorant, poor and distracted is a mystery to me, since... y'know... a few thousand years of recorded human history shows that's really ALL they've ever done or cared about. And since history tends to repeat itself, well... like I've said before, we should all just stay alert. And question absolutely everything. That's not paranoia, that's just common sense.

Were you ****ing birthed by Smokey & the Bandit?

Regardless of your haircut this generation, you are not John Connor, or Kyle Reese. Ease the **** up.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Leo656

All I know is what I've been taught since birth: Never trust anyone with a gun, a badge, or a flag. Despite what they say, they do NOT have your best interests at heart. And if you see someone carrying all three, RUN.

But yeah, why some people think our Corporate Masters are interested in anything more than keeping people ignorant, poor and distracted is a mystery to me, since... y'know... a few thousand years of recorded human history shows that's really ALL they've ever done or cared about. And since history tends to repeat itself, well... like I've said before, we should all just stay alert. And question absolutely everything. That's not paranoia, that's just common sense.

You're drunk, aren't you?

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by Davetello

It's pretty clear how social structures operate. Western media is designed to exert control and influence over the masses in its societies. They thrive on ignorance i.e. the fewer people who are aware of what elitist entities are up to the more likely they are to increase the inequality gap and maintain power and prestige. Everything is just a distraction - football (soccer), television, even the turtles we adore. It's all just escapism to stop us questioning the bigger picture. In fact powerful elites leave signals of their strength in said entertainment media, if we look closely.

Since the dawn of social class strata, there has always been a rich/powerful vs. the poor social class struggle and typically if the disparity becomes too extreme there are social uprisings and even civil wars.

I would disagree that Western media is "exerting control" over us and trying to influence us, as if its some conscious form of "mind control" by the elites. It's more or less a lot of us are just too lazy, too busy trying to support our lives/families, and/or too spoiled by the amenities of living in a developed nation (i.e. having accessible hot water, and easy access to life-saving immunizations to not fully grasp how lethal/debilitating those contagious diseases can become without those immunizations). I mean how much social change (at least in the United States) has really been progressive after the 70s and 80s (racial and gender equality)?

At least the baby-boomer generation was advocating for bigger social change, and the ones before that were enduring the strain and hardship of the Great Depression (26% unemployment) and WWII (418,000 causalities in the U.S.; I know your Scottish though Davetello ), can our generation proudly claim that we endured or created such great social change? Psh... It's mostly because our generation has been spoiled and has a "sense of entitlement". We are growing up in age when we, and generations after us, are acquiring trophies for merely participating in sports and not actually succeeding. Our generation is more obsessed about pop culture, tabloid celebrity news, and our insatiable need for instant entertainment gratification rather than the gross injustices that are still prevalent in society. The nadir of our generation's priorities is that somehow we have made talentless Kim Kardashain as popular, or even more so, than legitimate talented actors/actress in the already superficially driven entertainment industry.

When society has dubbed us as the "Me" generation because of our self-centeredness, it makes sense. Why in the world would our generation be concerned about broad, social change of others if it didn't immediately affect us somehow? Most people are either too short-sighted or prefer the quick fix of self-gratifying entertainment/profitability, like an illicit addictive drug, rather than investing in a self-sacrificial societal change that would benefit all.

As easy as it is to blame the elites or the people in power, a lot of us have to look at ourselves with the same amount of harsh criticism. It's interesting that so many people want to solely blame the big banks and corporations for mismanaging money in the 2008-2009 Recession, which is partially true, but what can you expect when 50% of the American population can't even control their own spending.

[shuriken]

Very enlightening post there JYX.

Originally Posted by Brodie

Regardless of your haircut this generation, you are not John Connor, or Kyle Reese. Ease the **** up.

I love this quote.
If we had such hardships we sure as hell wouldn't be discussing the death of a terrible franchise on a forum board designed mainly for entertainment purposes.

[Michelangelo]

Originally Posted by JYX

Since the dawn of social class strata, there has always been a rich/powerful vs. the poor social class struggle and typically if the disparity becomes too extreme there are social uprisings and even civil wars.

I would disagree that Western media is "exerting control" over us and trying to influence us, as if its some conscious form of "mind control" by the elites. It's more or less a lot of us are just too lazy, too busy trying to support our lives/families, and/or too spoiled by the amenities of living in a developed nation (i.e. having accessible hot water, and easy access to life-saving immunizations to not fully grasp how lethal/debilitating those contagious diseases can become without those immunizations). I mean how much social change (at least in the United States) has really been progressive after the 70s and 80s (racial and gender equality)?

At least the baby-boomer generation was advocating for bigger social change, and the ones before that were enduring the strain and hardship of the Great Depression (26% unemployment) and WWII (418,000 causalities in the U.S.; I know your Scottish though Davetello ), can our generation proudly claim that we endured or created such great social change? Psh... It's mostly because our generation has been spoiled and has a "sense of entitlement". We are growing up in age when we, and generations after us, are acquiring trophies for merely participating in sports and not actually succeeding. Our generation is more obsessed about pop culture, tabloid celebrity news, and our insatiable need for instant entertainment gratification rather than the gross injustices that are still prevalent in society. The nadir of our generation's priorities is that somehow we have made talentless Kim Kardashain as popular, or even more so, than legitimate talented actors/actress in the already superficially driven entertainment industry.

When society has dubbed us as the "Me" generation because of our self-centeredness, it makes sense. Why in the world would our generation be concerned about broad, social change of others if it didn't immediately affect us somehow? Most people are either too short-sighted or prefer the quick fix of self-gratifying entertainment/profitability, like an illicit addictive drug, rather than investing in a self-sacrificial societal change that would benefit all.

As easy as it is to blame the elites or the people in power, a lot of us have to look at ourselves with the same amount of harsh criticism. It's interesting that so many people want to solely blame the big banks and corporations for mismanaging money in the 2008-2009 Recession, which is partially true, but what can you expect when 50% of the American population can't even control their own spending.

Laziness is what the companies in control love about the masses. We don't ask questions, we just buy things. If we asked more questions of the things we bought would we even be able to answer them. Just take a look at a film called 'Food Inc' that tries to ask some very basic questions about food and just see how far they go with it. Same deal with Blockbuster, we all just found other stuff to buy or a better way to get what they had and so no more Blockbuster.

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by Michelangelo

Laziness is what the companies in control love about the masses. We don't ask questions, we just buy things. If we asked more questions of the things we bought would we even be able to answer them. Just take a look at a film called 'Food Inc' that tries to ask some very basic questions about food and just see how far they go with it. Same deal with Blockbuster, we all just found other stuff to buy or a better way to get what they had and so no more Blockbuster.

...with Blockbuster... I don't know if I can completely associate laziness with its downfall. But I catch your drift in a way in concerning laziness, since some people don't wanna be bother by driving outside, but on the other hand, with Netflix and Redbox, someone can make an argument that it's actually more efficient than Blockbuster because those two modes of accessibility are less cumbersome than actually using gas money to make a separate trip, and spending even more designated time for acquiring trivial entertainment needs.

As for Food Inc., it could have had the potential to be some modern day muckraking film, but if McDonald's low selling salad sales and the emergence of the Heart Attack Grill means anything, well it's indicative of society's need for instant gratification (unhealthy foods) and neglect for self-sacrificial, long-term investing (good health).

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Michelangelo

Laziness is what the companies in control love about the masses. We don't ask questions, we just buy things. If we asked more questions of the things we bought would we even be able to answer them. Just take a look at a film called 'Food Inc' that tries to ask some very basic questions about food and just see how far they go with it. Same deal with Blockbuster, we all just found other stuff to buy or a better way to get what they had and so no more Blockbuster.

I may have established a Netflix account and started going to Blockbuster stores less, but I didn't swear them off completely. I still rented things from them from time to time, and not just games. I just found Netflix to be cheaper in the long run, especially that one time where I had a bunch of movies I wanted to see with limited time.

[Michelangelo]

Still, people vote with their feet and those feet have walked away from Blockbuster enough to see it go down. It was inevitable, video stores are just not relevant like they once were. If we all stopped doing whatever we do now to get our movies and games then they'd still be going well. And those things we are doing to get our games and movies might be more environmentally friendly but at the end of the day we've all done it because it's convenient. We have just moved towards what is easier and hence we are lazy, we seek more for less, it's what we do.