I've thought about this and have decided that, IMHO:

Box Sets: No. Rationale: This is already clarified in the rules.

Individual DVDs: Absolutely. Rationale: This is DVD Profile and Special Features are an important part of the film experience.

The argument that this database is about profiling DVDs and not movies is relevant to the issue of Special Features running time.

Since this type of information is only available on the DVDs then I believe one should be able to contribute such information to the online database.

In either case the issue needs a clarification or rules update from Ken or invelos.

Quoting scotthm:

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Quoting Kathy:

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Individual DVDs: Absolutely. Rationale: This is DVD Profile and Special Features are an important part of the film experience.

In your opinion.  I find most "special features" of little interest.

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I find most "special features" of great interest.

But yes, clarification would be nice, though I won't hold my breath on that...

Quoting scotthm:

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Quoting Kathy:

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Individual DVDs: Absolutely. Rationale: This is DVD Profile and Special Features are an important part of the film experience.

In your opinion.  I find most "special features" of little interest.

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I can understand that. You aren't likely to buy Special Edition versions of DVDs then.

If you are only buying the standard versions of a DVD then this data wouldn't have any impact on your collection.

As a general rule it costs more to buy a DVD that contains Special Features. It is likely then that people who buy Special Edition DVDs take an interest in data relating to those features.

Quoting MtnMike:

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Besides, where would you draw the line?  After all, insn't a commentary also a special feature by defination, so any disc that includes even a single commentary track could have a total running time of twice the length of the Main Feature.

You bring up some good points that I didn't think about - there may not be a way to adequately and easily include that data.

Quoting Leiterfluid:

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Why would the importance of Special Features only be applicable for a single film, and not for a box set?

Using this logic, a box set, comprised of retail copies of five movies, each with two discs (one main feature, and one special features for that title), would have a shorter running time than the individual profiles.

The reason I initially posted my comment was because we treat Box Sets differently than individual DVDs, Special Features running time would be more of the same.

But, the more people bring up issues, the more I realize how difficult it will be to simply add running times to both Box Sets and/or individual DVDs.

It would be great if there was a solution that solves the issues that have been raised but I don't know anything about computer programing so I can not offer any suggestions.

It would be nice if Ken or invelos would add a comment such as "Do not include running time for Special Features" so that there wouldn't be a gray area on this topic.

Quoting Ace_of_Sevens:

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Hopefully, once Ken gets the program tracking movies instead of discs, this will be solved. We can just enter special features like any other title, but flag them as special features.

This would, of course, be THE SOLUTION.

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There is a couple reasons I can think of off the top of my head. Mark it watched when I watch that specific disc. Just like any other disc in the set. And so that you can know just with a glance which of the  features are on the disc.

Quoting MtnMike:

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I too do NOT want to see the total running time changed to include the 'special(?) features'.  When I'm looking through the collection to choose something to watch, I'm not looking to see just how much total time I could piss away on a given title.

I think you are confusing issues here.  Ace is not talking about special features included with a single film.  The question is in regards to the profiles, we are told to create, when a Box Set includes a disc of Bonus Material for all films.  For that profile, do we or don't we include a combined running time?  Some people say yes, some say no, and the rules are silent on the subject.