I used to love Netflix, back in the DVD era.  Eventually, I happily made the move to a streaming-only subscription.  I didn’t even care about the Qwikster thing.

But over time, my love began to fade a little every time I read the weekly new releases post at Hacking Netflix.

(see Hacking Netflix for a weekly listing of new Netflix content)

It has become a rarity for me to see something on the streaming new release list that I would watch if Netflix paid me, and almost nothing I would pay to watch. I find that I’ve already watched anything worth a hoot via iTunes and my AppleTV.  Yet another example of how Apple is beating everyone at everything.

Still, $7.99 a month is low enough to stay off of my cancellation list.  As long as Netflix doesn’t run off a gigantic cliff of stupidity.

The first time I read that Netflix wanted to become- wait for it- a cable TV station, I honestly thought it was a joke.  Someone writing a satirical headline in the name of outraged traffic.  I’m way too smart to fall for that old trick.

But, as it turns out, that is exactly what Netflix wants to do.

Really, Netflix?

If you’d  asked me three months ago how Netflix could ensure its demise, I would probably have said to partner up with some cable television outfit (who, ironically, used to be your arch enemy) and go from super-cool, useful service to yet another dying medium trying to eek out a few years of life while technology- and maybe even Apple– renders it completely obsolete.

Seriously, I understand that the empty bag holding, long-gone cat searching dinosaurs like the MPAA and the RIAA are thrashing around trying to harm the inevitable forces of their demise.  But why go from a threatened business plan to a dead one?

I’m not going to bail just yet, but it looks like Netflix may soon join Tivo in my shrine to wonderful things that were killed before their time.

I was going to comment on this via Twitter, but I couldn’t make my point in 140 characters, without looking like an extremist.  And that, I am not.  At least not when it comes to content accessibility.

I’m generally on the side of those who argue that most content should be made available, and that filters should occur on the individual level.  If content is filtered on the front end (e.g.,  by the people who control access to content), the choice is taken away from the individual.  Philosophically, that bothers me.  Plus, I have a much broader view of what is interesting than a lot of my friends.  I’m a Simpsons and Southpark fan, whereas many of my fuddy-duddy friends turn their noses up at those shows.

But there are lines, and it looks like Netflix has stumbled over one.

Davis Freeberg reports that Netflix is streaming (e.g., allowing users to watch instantly) the Death Scenes movies.

I’ve never seen these movies, and I’m not going to get into any detail about them.  But I am aware of them and what they contain.  Davis describes them:

For those not familiar with the Death Scenes series, it’s a collection of extremely graphic video clips that show the murder and execution of countless individuals.

Look, I’m not sure why anyone would want to watch this stuff.  But that’s not my point.  I view this sort of like smoking and barking dogs.  I don’t care if it happens, as long as it doesn’t affect me.  My issue is that Netflix has these films online and immediately available for any of its users to watch.

Let’s talk about porn.  We all know its out there.  People feel all kinds of different ways about it.  But one thing almost everyone agrees on is that it should not be available to anyone, at any time, at the press of a Play button.  Imagine the outrage if Netflix suddenly added hundreds of adult films, with no restrictions.  Didn’t some network get in trouble because of Janet Jackson’s one second boob shot?  Something else I don’t really want to see.

There is a nuance here, that needs to be explored.  When I say that I’m on the side of those who argue that most content should be made available and that I think certain content should be harder to access, I am being consistent, and pragmatic.  You generally have to jump though some protective hoops to access the sort of content that is deemed inappropriate for certain viewers.  It doesn’t mean you can’t see it.  It simply means that others don’t have to inadvertently see it.  It’s a reasonable balance.

There is no reason to treat these Death Scenes films any differently.  Surely, Netflix knows that kids are among its most passionate users.  The Death Scenes movies are inaccurately described as documentaries, and the info pages make them seem like horror films.  I can easily see how someone could begin watching these films without knowing what they are getting into.  I’d love to know what the Netflix folks were thinking when they made these films so easily accessible.  I think I know what a lot of their customers are going to think.  They’re going to think about whether Netflix is appropriate for their kids.

Netflix does offer some parental controls.

But there are lots of problems with them.  One, the levels are not sufficient.  The Death Scenes movies are “Not Rated.”  I don’t know that any of the above levels would block them.  Maybe checking “R and below” would block them.  But what about acceptable movies and documentaries that are also not rated?  I don’t want to block a lot of acceptable stuff to avoid a little unacceptable stuff.  Plus, any filter you put in place applies to all viewers.  I’d be fine prohibiting some members of my household from watching R rated movies, but others would rightfully rebel.  I’m not going to change and then re-set filters every time someone wants to watch a movie.

Netflix needs to be more proactive in its programming choices, and more robust in its control options.

I’ve been using Netflix for about nine months. It’s cheaper that the pay-per-view I used to use on that TIVO-hating DirecTV, it has a much wider selection, and movies take an average of one day to get to and from my front door and the local Netflix distribution facility. I put two returns in the mail on Tuesday and I got two more yesterday. This is not an exception; it’s the rule.

So here are my questions:

1) If you watch movies, why in the world would you not be a Netflix customer? I really want to know. If you rent movies but don’t use Netflix please tell me why. Comments preferred so we can all talk about it.

2) How in the world can something this cool and inexpensive make enough money to last? You know that “this is too good to be true” feeling. Well I have it where Netflix is concerned. Someone give me hope that I am going to be able to use Netflix forever. Mr. Netflix, raise the monthly charge before you let yourself go out of business, ya hear.

Someone help me out here.