One of Netflix’s Most Popular TV Shows Isn’t Even a Show, and It Shows Why We Watch TV

The Unexpected Popularity of “Fireplace for Your Home”

• “Fireplace for Your Home,” a collection of hour-long videos of crackling fireplaces (some over a decade old), is trending on Netflix.
• This is particularly notable around Christmas, a time associated with both joy and increased stress for many.

Core Motivation for Entertainment: Relaxation

• The popularity of “Fireplace for Your Home” highlights a primary motivation for watching TV: relaxation.
• This aligns with the fundamental purpose of hobbies: enjoyment and relaxation.

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Defining a Hobby

• Our definition of a hobby: “Anything we do with the primary, immediate, and end goal of enjoying ourselves and relaxing, which successfully and sustainably fulfills this goal and doesn’t prevent others from relaxing and enjoying themselves.”

Is Watching Netflix a Hobby? A Nuanced Perspective

• The question arises: Is watching Netflix a hobby?
• Instead of a simple “yes” or “no,” we propose a more nuanced approach.
• The key question is: “Do we engage in the activity with the primary goal of improving our well-being, and does it have a sustainable positive effect?”

Analyzing Netflix Consumption Through the Hobby Lens

• The first part of the question (primary goal of enjoyment and relaxation) is often true for Netflix.
• The second part (sustainable positive effect) is more complex.
• Netflix can have a lasting positive effect by:
  • Promoting a passion or interest that extends beyond the immediate viewing experience.
  • Allowing for genuine mental relaxation and unwinding.
• However, many shows do not contribute to our passions and interests and are designed for constant engagement, preventing true relaxation and leaving us craving for more.

Curated vs. Mindless Netflix Consumption

• Curated (intentional and mindful) Netflix consumption can have positive effects:
  • Promoting passions or interests.
  • Facilitating genuine mental relaxation.
  • Contributing to activities like cinematic exploration, Niksen, or meditation.
• Mindless (unintentional) Netflix consumption can have negative long-term effects, similar to junk food: momentary gratification followed by feelings of emptiness and lack of nourishment. It provides temporary relief but not lasting well-being.

The Case of “Fireplace for Your Home”: Relaxation as a Hobby Component

• “Fireplace for Your Home” may not ignite new passions, but it effectively facilitates mental unwinding.
• It can support practices like Niksen or meditation, which we consider valuable hobbies.
• It offers a sense of calm without narrative tension, a contrast to many stimulating shows.

Netflix: Not Inherently Good or Bad, But Dependent on Usage

• Like smartphones, Netflix is neither good nor bad in itself; it’s how we use it that matters.
• The question isn’t about watching Netflix itself, but about how we watch and what we watch, and whether it transcends momentary distraction to improve our well-being.

The Appeal of Simple Relaxation

• The popularity of “Fireplace for Your Home” highlights the desire for simple relaxation in a world of constant stimulation.
• It reminds us of what we often truly seek when we turn on the TV: a moment of peace and quiet.