FAQ
Questions
- About the site
- Site Mechanics
- Site Features
- Can I search for DVDs from anyone?
- Can I browse through DVDs?
- Can I use Movie Moocher even if I don't have any DVDs to lend?
- Can I add movies that aren't in the IMDB or on Amazon?
- Can I block certain people from borrowing my DVDs?
- Can I borrow DVDs for as long as I want?
- Can I rate/comment on my own DVDs?
- Can I watch DVDs on Movie Moocher?
- Problems (What happens if...?)
- What happens if someone doesn't return my DVD?
- What happens if someone damages my DVD?
- What happens if someone won't let me borrow their DVD?
- What happens if I request a DVD that's already being borrowed?
- What happens if I forget my password?
- What happens if people sully my reputation in my comments?
- Other Questions
Answers
What's the point, again?
The point of Movie Moocher is to facilitate the borrowing of DVDs. Generally when people want to watch a DVD, one of two things happens. They'll go straight to Blockbuster, or they will try to see if one of their friends already owns it. Blockbuster costs time and money, and trying to find the DVD on your own usually degenerates into a desperate wild goose chase, futilely moving from person to person, and ultimately ending in Blockbuster. Hardly ideal.
If this sounds all too familiar, don't worry. That's what Movie Moocher was created for. Now you can simply sign in, do a quick search, and request the DVD from the owner, all from the site. And if you liked a movie, or think you might want to own it, there are links to that DVD on Amazon.com, so you can easily buy it.
Is my college supported?
Unfortunately, I have neither the time nor the resources to add every college in the United States to the database. I determine who belongs to different colleges by their email addresses. If you try to register and run into a message that says your college is not supported yet, please fill out the form presented to you, and I will do my best to promptly add your college to the database. Once it's added, you'll receive an email, so please register again at that point.
Movie Moocher differentiates between colleges by their email addresses. For example, every student at Dartmouth has an email address ending in "@dartmouth.edu". However, sometimes a college can have more than one format for the email addresses they give their students. For example, you might be both john.doe@class10.generic.edu and jdoe10@generic.edu. If this is the case, only one of the email formats will be associated with your college. If you try to register with the other one, Movie Moocher will not recognize your college. You can try again with a different email address, and if that still doesn't work, fill out the form you are presented with.
If you're sure that your college is in the database, check the list of supported colleges, and make sure that your college appears on that list. If it does, use an email address with the same format as the one on the list.
Colleges almost always get added to Movie Moocher in under 24 hours, and are usually added in fewer than 3.
Is Movie Moocher legal?
Allow me to first state that I am not a copyright lawyer nor an expert on the law by any definition of the word. But if my knowledge and opinion count for anything, Movie Moocher is definitely legal. At its core, Movie Moocher is simply a listing of who owns what DVDs. And, again, I'm not an expert in this field, but I don't see how that could possibly be illegal. Movie Moocher neither encourages nor condones copying DVDs or breaking any copyright law.
How do I search for DVDs?
There are a few ways that you can search for DVDs. When you're logged in, every page should display a "Quick Search" field in the top-right corner of the screen, under the menu. If you enter the title of a DVD, the name of a classmate, or some keywords, Movie Moocher will attempt to find matching DVDs. You will see three result categories: matches by title, matches by owner, and matches by keyword.
If you require more advanced searching capabilities, or just want to browse through the assorted DVDs, click on the Search tab on the top menu. You will be taken to the Search page, where you can specify many options and parameters for searching. For example, you can search for all DVDs found in your dorm with an average rating of at least 4. Or you can find the worst-rated DVD with the words "outer space" in the title (for the record, that would be Plan 9 From Outer Space, Ed Wood, Jr.). Feel free to play around with the options.
How do I rate a DVD?
When you're on a DVD page, you can rate it by clicking on one of the stars. If you haven't rated a movie yet, the stars will appear gray. Once you have rated a DVD, you will see your rating every time you visit the page.
Individual ratings are done by stars, and the star scale goes from 1-5. However, average ratings are done as percentages, on a scale of 1-100. So if you give a rating of 4 stars, that's 80%. You can change your rating at any time by clicking on the appropriate star.
You can also rate and re-rate DVDs you own directly on the My DVDs page. The ratings appear next to the titles.
How do I review a DVD?
In order to leave a comment on a DVD, you must be on the DVD page. There's a comment box at the bottom of the page: fill it out, and press the "Submit Review" button. Each person is limited to a single review per DVD (you can edit or delete that review), and each review has a 5,000-character limit. This is to discourage automated commenting, and to save some of the load on my servers. Any HTML found in the comments will be stripped. If plain text was good enough for your grandparents, it's good enough for you.
How do I leave feedback on another member?
In order to leave feedback (a comment) on another member, you must be on their profile page. You can get there by doing a quick search for their name. There's a comment box at the bottom of the page; type your comment into it and press the "Submit Comment" button. Each person is limited to a maximum of 1 comment per member (but you can edit or delete that comment), and each comment has a 5,000-character limit. This is to discourage automated commenting, and to save some of the load on my servers. Any HTML found in the comments will be stripped. Plain text is the new black.
How do I add a DVD to My DVDs?
You can add a DVD either through the home page, or from the My DVDs page. Start typing the name of the DVD into the box. Appropriate cover art should appear when you've narrowed the options down enough - please click on the first appropriate one to select it and add it to your movies. At the moment, if a DVD is not in Amazon.com's database, you cannot add it to Movie Moocher. I realize this is will be a large inconvenience for some of you, and I do apologize. There is some logic behind it, though.
How do I remove a DVD from My DVDs?
When you're on the My DVDs page, a trash icon appears to the left of all DVDs. Clicking it removes the DVD from your collection. Note that your ratings, tags and reviews remain. If you have deleted a DVD in error, simply add it again: your information remains.
Can I search for DVDs from anyone?
You can search for DVDs from anyone in your college's network. As long as a fellow classmate has put DVDs up, you will be able to search for them. In other words, there is no "private" status for DVDs - any DVD you add will be viewable by everyone at your college.
Can I browse through the DVDs?
Absolutely. If you go to the search page, you'll find a wide variety of searching parameters and browsing options. You could, for example, browse everything with the keyword "scifi" with a rating of at least 85% to see what college students across the country felt were the best science fiction movies.
Can I use Movie Moocher even if I don't have any DVDs to lend?
Yes, you can. If you legitimately own no DVDs, you can still search and request DVDs from others. But you are strongly encouraged to add at least two or three DVDs to your collection - the more you add, the better Movie Moocher becomes for everyone.
If you do not have any DVDs up for lending, hopefully you will at least be guilted into rating, reviewing, or tagging other DVDs. Everything you add to this site helps, and more than you might think.
Can I add movies that aren't in the IMDB or on Amazon?
At the moment, you cannot add any movies that are not available through Amazon.com. This is primarily to discourage crude attempts at humor, but I am considering adding it as a feature. If you would like it, or any other features, please email me.
Can I block certain people from borrowing my DVDs?
When you request a DVD on Movie Moocher, an email is sent out to two parties. That's it. The owner of the requested DVD receives an email stating who requested it, with an optional brief message, and the person who requested the DVD receives an email confirmation of their request. After the initial emails have been sent, it is up to the two individuals to set the details of borrowing the DVD. Movie Moocher is not a delivery system. After the notifications have been sent, Movie Moocher's role is over. If you are reluctant to lend a DVD to someone for any reason, keep in mind you do not have to. However, you should not add DVDs that you aren't willing to lend to people. If a DVD is in your collection, it can be safely assumed that people can borrow it.
If you feel someone denied your request unfairly, you can leave a comment on their profile page. Please do not abuse this feature.
Can I borrow DVDs for as long as I want?
While Movie Moocher does not impose a limit on the duration of your borrowing period, please be courteous and return your DVD in a reasonable amount of time. If your definition of "reasonable" differs from that of the owner, the owner's takes precedence. DVD owners, please specify a return date to minimize problems.
Can I rate/comment on my own DVDs?
Absolutely. In fact, it's strongly encouraged. You can rate them directly from the My DVDs page, as well as on the individual DVD pages. You'll need to go the DVD pages in order to comment on them.
Can I watch DVDs on Movie Moocher?
You cannot watch DVDs on the Movie Moocher website. It is simply a listing of who owns what DVDs. You can request to borrow DVDs, but there is no "Watch Now" feature. Yet.
What happens if someone doesn't return my DVD?
Unfortunately, people can occasionally forget to return DVDs on time, or lose them. If this happens, it's really up to the two of you to figure out what to do. DVD owners, do not lend your DVDs to people that you do not trust to return them. And borrowers, please be responsible. Movie Moocher cannot be held liable for lost DVDs, as that is far beyond this website's control.
Ultimately, borrowing and lending DVDs is a social transaction, and all of the unwritten social rules apply. If you lose someone's DVD, you are generally expected to replace it. And if someone does not return your DVD, be sure to leave a comment saying so on their profile so it doesn't happen again.
We believe that the overwhelming majority of people are trustworthy and moral individuals. But, and we cannot stress this enough, do not feel obligated to lend your DVDs out to someone who you have reason to believe will not return them. Please review the individual's profile page to see if other users have experienced problems before.
What happens if someone damages my DVD?
Like the previous question, some things are beyond Movie Moocher's control. If your DVD returns damaged, it is up to you and the person who borrowed it to come to an arrangement. If you damage someone's DVD (or indeed any possession) while you are borrowing it, you are expected to replace it or compensate in some way for the damages.
Please exercise caution and common sense when dealing with other people's possessions. Treat them with the respect they deserve. I'll repeat what I said before: Movie Moocher cannot be held liable for damaged DVDs. If your DVD is returned damaged, please state that on the borrower's profile page. And do not lend your DVD out to someone who you have reason to believe will damage it.
What happens if someone won't let me borrow their DVD?
If you have a bad reputation due to previously damaging or losing other people's items, it would make sense that people would be hesitant to lend you their DVDs. If someone doesn't feel comfortable lending you their DVD, there's really nothing that you can do about it. You can try to ask them nicely, and allay their fears (explain any extenuating circumstances leading up to the damage/loss), but if you cannot convince them verbally, that's the end of the road. Look for someone else who has the DVD, or borrow it from Blockbuster.
Even if you believe you are being treated unfairly, ultimately the DVDs do belong to someone else, and that person has complete authority over who can borrow them.
What happens if I request a DVD that's already being borrowed?
If you request a DVD from someone that's already being borrowed, the DVD's owner should send you a response email stating as much. There are no consequences, and it will not "break the system", so don't worry about it. If a DVD is currently being borrowed, try requesting it from someone else, or wait for it to be returned.
What happens if I forget my password?
If you have forgotten your password, fear not. Simply go to the Reset Password page to reset it. You will be asked for the email address you used when registering, and a reset link will be sent to that address. It's an easy process, and detailed instructions are on all of the appropriate pages.
What happens if people sully my reputation in my comments?
If you damaged or did not return someone's DVD, they have every right to state as much in your comments. You can only delete comments that you write, so if you are unhappy with a comment that someone else leaves, you cannot delete it. If it is truly offensive, email me at seth@moviemoocher.com and I'll take a look.
You can offer a rebuttal to a comment by leaving a comment of your own on your profile.
How did you create Movie Moocher?
Four languages were used in the creation of Movie Moocher: HTML, PHP, Javascript, and MYSQL.
Movie Moocher's basic design was based on an open-source design by nodethirtythree design. I tweaked it a little, and wrote all of the back-end code, including registration, logging in and out, and the movie database code. Amazon's API is used in order to fetch cover art for DVDs.
I also made use of a few excellent free icon sets, such as Silk Icons, and Bitcons. I used JQuery for much of the animation effects.
I hand-wrote most of Movie Moocher in Coda on my Macbook, and some in Notepad++ on various Windows machines. Coda was much better.
How can I contribute to the site?
The easiest way for most people to contribute to the site is to add DVDs of their own. After that, if you want to help more, please consider rating, tagging, or commenting on DVDs. And if you still feel an inexplicable urge to do something more tangible, feel free to send a donation. Your name will go up on an exclusive list somewhere, and I will personally send you a thank-you email. You can contribute through Paypal or Google Checkout with a credit/debit card on the Donate page. Another way to contribute is to buy DVDs. Every DVD page has a link to that DVD on Amazon.com, for your convenience; feel free to use those links.
Can you include [insert feature] in the next version?
Some features I'm currently considering include:
- More personal information - favorite movies, music, etc.
- Friends
- A Facebook-style news feed
- Notifications on comments and ratings
- More statistics
- Inter-collegiate loaning system
- Links to trailers when applicable
- Adding new sections: Books, CDs, Video Games, etc.
- Watching streaming video on the site
- Downloads of any kind
I'm bored. What is there to do?
There's a lot to do. On Movie Moocher, you can browse through the assorted DVDs by a variety of parameters, and find a movie to watch later. You can read my blog, if you've got nothing better to do. I have to warn you, though, it kind of sucks. If you've got a few minutes, I'd recommend listening to (and friending on Myspace) The Milkman's Union, an excellent band. Or you could check out a link aggregator, like Digg, or Fazed. You can read up on obscure topics on with Wikipedia's Random Page feature, or its sister site, Uncyclopedia. You can listen to a personalized radio station, a personalized radio station, or a personalized radio station.
And remember, you can do anything at Zombocom.
So what are you waiting for? Register!