The spoiler. That evil devil that many of my friends love to avoid like the bubonic plague. It has become so infamous that there are entire websites devoted to them and showrunners and movie producers have been known to plant false storylines and script notes to throw the scent off for spoiler hounds. The problem with spoilers isn’t that they exist or that people look for them. They have always been here, just not as much. Blame the Internet. The problem is how we come across them and how we perceive them.
Some people perceive episode descriptions, ‘Next week on…’, news reports, and casting reports as spoilers. While there are no concrete examples for what actually constitutes as a spoiler, one must look at the subject in a ‘˜logical’manner.
OK, so let’s say that you are an entertainment gossip type of person. You frequent sites like E! Online, Zap2it.com, TV Overmind (wink, wink), etc to get your buzz on all things TV, movies, and celebrities on a daily basis. As soon as you log on for the day there is a front-page story about the latest casting in LOST or Grey’s Anatomy and you throw a hissy fit because you feel as if your eyes have just been doused sulfuric acid. But one has to ask… should the casting announcement or the rest of the examples I listed above be considered a spoiler?
In short: No.
Why?
Because for years, the list I laid out above has been a part of television viewing. TV Guide wouldn’t be TV Guide without the episodic descriptions. If you considered the ‘Next week on…’as part of a spoiler, then you should also consider the ‘Previously on…’segment of a show as a spoiler as well. Why? Well, the ‘Previously on…’segment pretty much sets up what to expect for the following episode by recapping what happened before. In other words, you know that if the recap mentions something from a previous episode then you know that it would most likely come into play in some shape of form in the episode that you are about to view, which could, in a way, spoil the surprise. This also goes for trailers to the upcoming seasons of shows and even movies as well.
Also, social websites, Facebook and Twitter mostly, have helped bring fans closer together than ever before. Some people will update their status on their profile after the latest episode of a certain show airs and might mention something that happened in the episode. Is this considered a spoiler? Most people would say yes, but think about it. It’s not. On a forum board, there are spoiler police who penalize people for reporting spoilers or failing to follow procedure when announcing a spoiler depending on that particular forum’s rules. On a social site like Facebook, you can’t fault someone for announcing their feelings about a certain turn of events on a show, or even a movie at that. You know that you haven’t seen the latest episode of LOST, for example, and it just aired like two minutes ago. So why log on Facebook, or any social site, where you have friends from the LOST community who will be airing their frustration, awe, or that they couldn’t believe a certain character did a certain act? While it is your God-given right to check your email or chat on Facebook, it is also someone else’s God-given right to discuss their feelings about anything, including a show, on their profile. It would make sense to avoid anything that might ruin the viewing experience for you, including Facebook and Twitter, until you actually sit down and view the episode for yourself.
And finally, if the episode has aired then technically anything from that episode is not a spoiler. The weblogs are talking about it. It is watercooler fodder. You just simply missed out and have to catch up. This gets murky when it comes to shows overseas and vice versa. Case in point, I accidentally came across a major plot point dealing with Torchwood: Children of Earth when it premiered here in America. It had already aired in the U.K. and I was on a U.K. based entertainment site that was discussing the events of Torchwood, which to them happened nearly two weeks before the American airing. I could only be mad at myself.
Before I sign off, I would like to say that none of these ‘rules’are set in stone. Actually, no matter what anyone says, there aren’t any concrete rules about what constitutes as a spoiler. There isn’t any book or definitions on the subject. I just think that people could avoid a lot of ‘spoilage’if they stopped and thought a little before they 1) attack someone for ‘˜spoiling’a show that already aired, 2) attack a journalist for doing their jobs by reporting casting news on an entertainment website, and 3) berate someone for discussing the ‘Next week on…’scenes, because frankly those cannot be trusted at all.
So I leave you with a couple of thoughts, 1) To be truly spoiler free, you damn near have to leave all things entertainment wise (magazines, social networks, forums) alone or not acknowledge them at all. Do you really think it should be that extreme? And finally, 2) this is mostly to those of the LOST or BSG variety: how do you not know that some of those ‘theories’people are throwing around aren’t actual snuggly wrapped spoilers? There are some people who are good at theories and there are some who are constantly good at theories down to the most meticulous detail. Ever had a friend who was constantly right on the money? They might be a damn genius or even a pretty damn good spoiler hound. Think about it…
Just my thoughts… ;)
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I've always found this subject a little frustrating as well. The sites I've been a part of running, I've always laid out the rules of what constitutes a spoiler as any facts, or suspected facts about a show that has not been offially released by the network in some way. So I've never considered the "next on…" segments as spoilers. And theories are never spoilers in my mind. Of course, there are always going to be the occasional weird thing that is sorta spoilerish but not a full spoiler. I also don't think casting news is a spoiler as it is usually released in some sort of official manner. Again, there are gray areas, but as you pointed out, if you're that afraid of such basic knowledge then you need to stay off the websites and places that might post such things. Just my opinion.
I’ve always found this subject a little frustrating as well. The sites I’ve been a part of running, I’ve always laid out the rules of what constitutes a spoiler as any facts, or suspected facts about a show that has not been offially released by the network in some way. So I’ve never considered the “next on…” segments as spoilers. And theories are never spoilers in my mind. Of course, there are always going to be the occasional weird thing that is sorta spoilerish but not a full spoiler. I also don’t think casting news is a spoiler as it is usually released in some sort of official manner. Again, there are gray areas, but as you pointed out, if you’re that afraid of such basic knowledge then you need to stay off the websites and places that might post such things. Just my opinion.
People can be nuts when it comes to spoilers. I've done the same thing myself with a British show and I couldn't really blame them since it already aired over there. A person would have to avoid most of the Internet if they really wanted to be spoiler free because you're bound to discover something.
People can be nuts when it comes to spoilers. I’ve done the same thing myself with a British show and I couldn’t really blame them since it already aired over there. A person would have to avoid most of the Internet if they really wanted to be spoiler free because you’re bound to discover something.
With my sites I've generally gone by the rule that if it's covered in the major media, it's not a spoiler. For Smallville, say, it's the fact that Brian Austin Green is playing Metallo… that's unavoidable to see in news articles, trailers, or that sort of thing.
I have gotten flak for posting [what I perceive as non-spoilery] episodic stills on the news page of the site, though. But my feeling is – in a landscape where shows do dream sequences and that sort of thing, if an image is vague enough, I think it's fair game.
With my sites I’ve generally gone by the rule that if it’s covered in the major media, it’s not a spoiler. For Smallville, say, it’s the fact that Brian Austin Green is playing Metallo… that’s unavoidable to see in news articles, trailers, or that sort of thing.
I have gotten flak for posting [what I perceive as non-spoilery] episodic stills on the news page of the site, though. But my feeling is – in a landscape where shows do dream sequences and that sort of thing, if an image is vague enough, I think it’s fair game.
I wrote this because I got tired of editors and writers being targets of cruel comments and inane rants that are either over the top snark fests or just plain uncalled for. One writer was bombarded with requests of her being fired from her position when she posted some LOST casting news. I think it's outrageous and highly childish at times.
I wrote this because I got tired of editors and writers being targets of cruel comments and inane rants that are either over the top snark fests or just plain uncalled for. One writer was bombarded with requests of her being fired from her position when she posted some LOST casting news. I think it’s outrageous and highly childish at times.
Well said Mark. Well said indeed.
Well said Mark. Well said indeed.
I am a huge spoilerphobe, and avoid them like the plague. I know that castings and info are considered to no longer be spoilers when they hit the "main stream media", like some of the sites you just mentioned- which is why I don't read those sites. I do find it a little frustrating at times when I come to the home page here and seeing "_____ will guest star on_____show" right out in the open- I personally would much prefer it if that sort of info was kept in SpoilerGuy articles and that the guest star names (or whatever the info is) not be right out in the teasers of the article, but that you would have to click on the link to read the article itself to get that info. That way the very spoilerphobic don't inadvertantly see info that they really don't want to see, but can still enjoy the excellent articles, reviews and recaps that TVO provides on a daily basis.
That's just my own humble opinion though, YMMV :)
I am a huge spoilerphobe, and avoid them like the plague. I know that castings and info are considered to no longer be spoilers when they hit the “main stream media”, like some of the sites you just mentioned- which is why I don’t read those sites. I do find it a little frustrating at times when I come to the home page here and seeing “_____ will guest star on_____show” right out in the open- I personally would much prefer it if that sort of info was kept in SpoilerGuy articles and that the guest star names (or whatever the info is) not be right out in the teasers of the article, but that you would have to click on the link to read the article itself to get that info. That way the very spoilerphobic don’t inadvertantly see info that they really don’t want to see, but can still enjoy the excellent articles, reviews and recaps that TVO provides on a daily basis.
That’s just my own humble opinion though, YMMV :)
Good post, Mark! I agree with what you say here — I, too, hate spoilers. HATE THEM. But sometimes I think people go a little over-the-top when it comes to it. I've posted things on my blog before and gotten blasted by people who call it a spoiler, and it was simply mentioning something that had happened on an episode a week before. Considering it's chiefly a Lost blog, one would assume that if you're coming to it, I'll be talking about Lost in an up-to-date way.
I'll never forget being on a mailing list years and years ago for Xena fans, and someone posted that on Jeopardy that night, the question had been Xena-related. She posted the question and answer and how much money it had been worth. She was immediately blasted by people, was called names, had people say they were now crying (I'm not making this up) and that Jeopardy hadn't yet aired in their time zone and now she'd ruined — RUINED — it for them. Eventually the admin decided it was a spoiler of epic proportions, and kicked this woman off the list. It was shocking. (I unsubscribed because of how ridiculous it all was.) So great article, Mark… it's definitely something that needs to be addressed. Spoilers are bad if you don't want to hear about them, but we need to lighten up about what constitutes a spoiler.
I think the extreme end of the spoilerphobe spectrum are the people who change the channel, or turn off their t.v.s in order not to be spoiled by the following week's preview.
P.S.: Nikki, do you still have the links where I can find the templates for the Dharma beer, brie, etc.? If you could repost, that would be awesome. Thanks.
Good post, Mark! I agree with what you say here — I, too, hate spoilers. HATE THEM. But sometimes I think people go a little over-the-top when it comes to it. I’ve posted things on my blog before and gotten blasted by people who call it a spoiler, and it was simply mentioning something that had happened on an episode a week before. Considering it’s chiefly a Lost blog, one would assume that if you’re coming to it, I’ll be talking about Lost in an up-to-date way.
I’ll never forget being on a mailing list years and years ago for Xena fans, and someone posted that on Jeopardy that night, the question had been Xena-related. She posted the question and answer and how much money it had been worth. She was immediately blasted by people, was called names, had people say they were now crying (I’m not making this up) and that Jeopardy hadn’t yet aired in their time zone and now she’d ruined — RUINED — it for them. Eventually the admin decided it was a spoiler of epic proportions, and kicked this woman off the list. It was shocking. (I unsubscribed because of how ridiculous it all was.) So great article, Mark… it’s definitely something that needs to be addressed. Spoilers are bad if you don’t want to hear about them, but we need to lighten up about what constitutes a spoiler.
I think the extreme end of the spoilerphobe spectrum are the people who change the channel, or turn off their t.v.s in order not to be spoiled by the following week’s preview.
P.S.: Nikki, do you still have the links where I can find the templates for the Dharma beer, brie, etc.? If you could repost, that would be awesome. Thanks.
I mostly agree with with your view. After all, you cant expect people not to mention what happened in previous episodes just on the off chance someone hasnt seen it yet.
I cant comment on your sites handling, as I was only recently introduced (my usual tv news/gossip site doesnt cover Stargate Universe).
The scenario that frustrates me though is: I often record shows and watch them at a more convenient time, as im sure many people do, usually only a day or two behind their airing. I will go onto a tv site looking for something on another show, and there it is – some massive unintentional spoiler like talking about an actors future after their character has been killed.
I have no problem with such posts, but I wish they would do more to protect the information from people who dont want to know. Im a bit behind on Heroes, but have managed to stay in the dark on who (if any) character will be killed off. Thankfully, most posts on the subject dont discuss it until "after the jump". Now and again though, you run in to a proper spoiler. I guess it boils back down to what is an acceptable time to wait until after airing.
I guess you get used to it though. When The Apprentice was on I had avoid almost all news related sites and channels until I knew who was out.
Like you though, I dont consider tv guide synopsis, potential future characters, etc to be spoilers.
Thanks for the comments, Paul! I hope our coverage of SGU fulfills your expectations and I hope you like the recaps as well ;) !
I mostly agree with with your view. After all, you cant expect people not to mention what happened in previous episodes just on the off chance someone hasnt seen it yet.
I cant comment on your sites handling, as I was only recently introduced (my usual tv news/gossip site doesnt cover Stargate Universe).
The scenario that frustrates me though is: I often record shows and watch them at a more convenient time, as im sure many people do, usually only a day or two behind their airing. I will go onto a tv site looking for something on another show, and there it is – some massive unintentional spoiler like talking about an actors future after their character has been killed.
I have no problem with such posts, but I wish they would do more to protect the information from people who dont want to know. Im a bit behind on Heroes, but have managed to stay in the dark on who (if any) character will be killed off. Thankfully, most posts on the subject dont discuss it until “after the jump”. Now and again though, you run in to a proper spoiler. I guess it boils back down to what is an acceptable time to wait until after airing.
I guess you get used to it though. When The Apprentice was on I had avoid almost all news related sites and channels until I knew who was out.
Like you though, I dont consider tv guide synopsis, potential future characters, etc to be spoilers.
Thanks for the comments, Paul! I hope our coverage of SGU fulfills your expectations and I hope you like the recaps as well ;) !