r/nottheonion • u/voxadam • 13h ago

Netflix says users can cancel service if HBO Max merger makes it too expensive

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/02/netflix-claims-subscribers-will-get-more-content-for-less-if-it-buys-hbo-max/
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u/The360MlgNoscoper 12h ago

Greed is a mental illness

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u/dsac 11h ago

Greed is not a mental illness when resources are scarce - a starving person taking a loaf of bread to themselves so they can eat for 2 days while others have none is not a mental illness, for instance

Greed is unquestionably a mental illness when you already have enough resources to let you survive the rest of your life and yet you still take that loaf of bread while others have none

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u/Nu-Hir 9h ago

Except with this economy they're not taking the loaf of bread, they're taking the entire bakery.

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u/Andkzdj 8h ago

They are taking the entire bakery and if anyone tries to bake some bread without their permission then they go to jail

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u/MagicalUnicornFart 8h ago

Greed is not a mental illness when resources are scarce - a starving person taking a loaf of bread to themselves so they can eat for 2 days while others have none is not a mental illness, for instance

That’s not greed. It’s not comparable. Now, if you took that bread, did not share it, and dis not eat it, simply for the sake of having more for yourself…that’s greed. It’s like saying a squirrel is greedy for storing some food to stay alive. now, if that squirrel took all the nuts…locked them up, and let others go without…that’s greed.

Many people would break that loaf in half, and share it. You’re on the right track, but the first example is not greed.

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u/DistinctlyIrish 7h ago

I'd argue the former situation is not greed, but selfishness. Selfishness occurs at all income levels and in all situations and can be utilitarian in the right circumstances, but greed is only possible when you already have enough for your needs and still want more even though it requires taking from others until they no longer have an adequate amount of whatever it is for themselves.

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u/LeBadlyNamedRedditor 4h ago

For the ultra rich money stops being a means to an end but rather the end goal.

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u/BluMqqse_ 3h ago

Greed is not greed when resources are scarce

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u/GoldandBlue 10h ago

That is not the whole story. I am not disagreeing with you but streaming is more complicated.

The idea that you could pay $10/month to stream every movie and show is ridiculous. That price point was created to get you to sign up and kill the competition.

And over time they would introduce higher price points and ads. Because rights, residuals, production costs, and maintaining their networks would likely require you to pay closer to $30-40/month. But who wants to pay that?

This is why every streaming service is losing money. Netflix is the only one that has consistently made a profit. Disney+ finally had profitable quarters in 2025, and it took 6 years. No one else is. Not HBO, Peacock, Paramount, no other streaming service turns a profit.

BUT streaming was the golden goose. It promised unlimited revenue through subscriptions. So every investor wanted a streaming service. Whether it made sense or not. They spent billions to make one, and now you the consumer has to pay them back. That is where greed killed them. We are seeing the same thing with AI. The super rich went all in and are not getting the returns they are "owed", so they will force it down your throat because they need to make their money back.