"When Is a Spoiler a Spoiler? " Topic

"Sure, spoilers aren't anything truly new. As long as there have been plot twists in stories, people have had the power to ruin them for everyone else. But the way we talk—or don't talk—about entertainment has became more complicated than ever, thanks in part to the time-shifting capabilities of DVRs and streaming services and instant-blabbing functions of Twitter.

Although mentioning an important plot point too soon after a TV show airs or a movie hits theaters often provokes furious responses from fans (Game of Thrones deaths have been particularly thorny), the statute of limitations for spoilers isn't always clear. When does it expire—or does it ever expire at all? Also, shows like Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, which returns on Friday, are released an entire season at a time. What are the rules for new formats like that? It's hard to know.So you tell us.

We're running a poll to determine just how people are handling spoilers these days. How long do you think people should wait to discuss major events in television shows, movies, novels and comic books (at least without spoiler warnings)? And what is a spoiler, anyway? Submit your responses below…"

See here
link

Amicalement
Armand

If the books have been out for more than 10 years, what's the problem?

I am not one to go to a midnight screening and then rush home to post the surprise ending.
But I feel no obligation to keep quiet about Luke's Dad 20 years later.

Seriously, anyone clicking on a GoT headline is asking for woe if he does not want a spoiler.

Snape kill Gandalf.

Han shot first.

I suppose some ancient Greek smartass shouted out the ending of Oedipus in the local amphitheatre.

What about Luke's Dad..? Isn't he supposed to be dead?

Books are often terrible for spoilers – I've read the blurb on the back and virtually had the whole plot sketched out.

What about Luke's Dad..? Isn't he supposed to be dead?

No, I think that's this guy:

Snake killed Gandalf.

No, No, No Gimli was killed by Ron Woosley in the cellar with a screwdriver.

I even told Gimli not to go down in the celler with Woosley.

Gimli and Legolas move in together to open a bed and breakfast at Helm's Feep.

So one should still use spoiler warnings for old movies like "Citizen Kane"?

SPOILER ALERT!
(Go no further!)

Rosebud is his sled.

Juliet's not dead.

Rick gets Victor and Ilsa on the plane to Lisbon.

She's a man.

Rosebud is his sled.

Brilliantly spoiled in one of the intro-sequences to Animaniacs.

Chewbacca is a woman.

Rosebud is his sled… damn, I can't watch one flew over the cuckoo's nest now…

But seriously… some countries are well behind USA with tv series… I have watched some great first series to find out that some suit in Hollywood killed it after sweeps…

If it's less than two years old… It's gotta be spoilers… unless it's based on a really old book..

He's a ghost….

but is it a spoiler to say "the matrix sequels are a big steamy pile of poo" or does it count as a public service announcement?

I am still waiting for the matrix sequels… if they had made a second film I would remember it…

So one should still use spoiler warnings for old movies like "Citizen Kane"?

I recall having this debate before, perhaps even on TMP – and apparently yes, it's wrong to tell anyone anything about anything without first checking whether they already know or want to be informed.

So, hands up who doesn't know how WWII ends ? Damn, I've just spoiled it for those who still think The Great War was the war to end wars….oh, no….you didn't know about The Kaiser's aggression? Wait….sorry….oh dear

I recall having this debate before, perhaps even on TMP – and apparently yes, it's wrong to tell anyone anything about anything without first checking whether they already know or want to be informed.

So, hands up who doesn't know how WWII ends ? Damn, I've just spoiled it for those who still think The Great War was the war to end wars….oh, no….you didn't know about The Kaiser's aggression? Wait….sorry….oh dear

Bad analogy, 20thmaine. History is not entertainment, it's just what happened. There are no "spoilers" in history. A novel, play, or film, however, is more than just the story of what happened and who did what. No, these are works of art, designed to stimulate emotional and intellectual responses in their audiences over the course of the story presented. The surprise in a story isn't simply "what happens," it is a moment of pleasure, unique to the tale— the appeal of the who-done-it, the magic of the reveal, the shock of the sudden exposure. To take upon yourself the right to remove the possibility of that moment from someone else is an injustice to the other.

Unfortunately, however, time marches on, and civilization does as well, and invariably the surprise is assumed to be "common knowledge." There's a certain sadness to that, as nothing is in fact "common knowledge" until all are informed of it, and there is no "common knowledge" inherent to being human.

So the debate becomes, "what is it safe to say in public?" And perhaps there are things that are safe to say— the fate of Macbeth, and who Luke's father is— while those things are indeed "common knowledge" within the scope of those participating in the public discussion (as this forum). But in entertainment, things also fall out of common knowledge. Thus, yes, the particular surprise of Citizen Kane may in fact these days be a spoiler again, because the vast majority of people haven't ever seen the film, even among people drawn to older movies. The "common knowledge" about Orson Welles's masterpiece is no longer known in common.

So when considering the revelation of a twist, one should consider the venue in which one is speaking. So, on a forum such as this, where yes, we are indeed most likely to be familiar with the details of Sherlock Holmes's career and the nature of the Skywalker family history, such things can be discussed without being expected to spoil anything for those truly interested in such things. (If there's a Western male over twenty who doesn't know who Darth Vader is, that individual probably isn't interested in knowing and probably isn't here.) But, if among a group of schoolchildren or immigrants only now being exposed to Western culture, about these things one keeps silent until the experience happens to the uninitiated, so that they may have the joy of it on their own. Only the cruel or the fool would deny that to another.

As for those things which have not been widely seen or read, I think the wise individual recognizes when their level of knowledge about a piece of entertainment is likely to exceed the knowledge of the group, and respects that the members of the group have the desire and right to discover the surprises for themselves. In short, just because you've read A Game of Thrones et al., doesn't mean that everybody else has who might be interested in the tale— even as interested as you. It takes time for works of literature to disseminate into a population, even the population of geeks who like certain genres. That you happen to have read something doesn't make you superior to someone who hasn't yet read it, nor does it give you the right to take away their opportunity to enjoy it as fully as you did. To deny that is downright petty and mean, and quite probably narcissistic. Personally, I find more joy out of suggesting a work to another, and then hearing about their delight in its surprises afterward— for then, I've not only been a part of giving them that joy, but I've also found another connection with a friend.

Just something to consider before one blurts out a bit of knowledge intended only to aggrandize oneself.

I may abandon reductio ad absurdum….

…yes it's a joy to unfold a story – but it's a pain to have to tippy-toe about books now 200 years or more old.

I think once someone gets to their twenties they've had their chance of having their sense of wonder protected, and they have to mix it up with the adults who may turn out to be better informed and more widely read than they are.

Don't want to risk having the ending of Vathek spoiled ? Then get ye to the library!