Is it your own responsibility to avoid spoilers?

[Sean Hollyman]

Something I was pondering. Now we all hate being spoiled? I know, it's happened to me. Plenty of times I've lost my temper about having it spoiled. But looking back it made me think, it was kind of my fault for looking in obvious places where it could be spoiled in the first place.

Sometimes it's done at random, in unexpected places which sucks and really can't be avoided. But it's the internet, somebody is bound to put up spoilers. Don't want Breaking Bad spoilers? Then don't go clicking on any Breaking Bad videos or photos and reading the comments. It's common sense really, so do you think it's sometimes your own responsbility to not click on things where spoilers will obviously be somewhere?

 

[Zontar]

I honestly don't care for spoilers. Not in the "I don't care for people making them" but in the "I don't care if I come across them". I've herd of studies which show we actually enjoy things more if we are spoiled to them, and given how it has been for me and a lot of movies/shows/books, I find it's actually true. When I went into Winter Soldier, I herd from some guy on the internet that Cap disbanded shield, and you know what? I liked that part better then I think I would have had I not known.

Though even assuming spoilers are inherently bad, I still don't get why some people go ballistic when they come across one.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Though even assuming spoilers are inherently bad, I still don't get why some people go ballistic when they come across one.

Because it sucks major ballsack having something ruined for you that otherwise would have come as a shock. I swear I would have flipped shit if somebody had spoiled BB or Kill La Kill for me.

 

[tippy2k2]

I think it is certainly somewhat on you to keep from having things spoiled. For example, if I were to be in the middle of Breaking Bad, I would figure going into a Breaking Bad topic is not a very good idea. Even if I'm only halfway through and it's a topic about the beginning of BB, I would still avoid it JUST in case.

So yes, you should take reasonable steps to prevent spoiling. When I know I want to see/play/read something and I haven't yet, I will not go into any threads, youtube videos, blogs, etc. at all about that topic for something may inadvertently be spoiled for me. Hell, even if it explicitly states "No Spoilers" or whatnot, I still avoid it for there's always THAT guy who decides to spoil it for whatever reason.

Speaking of that guy...

Spoiler: Breaking Bad ending spoiler

Walter dies. There, I said it. But I still don't understand WHY it gets the reaction our of people it does, and I just don't understand how it "ruins" something since I've never felt that way for a spoiler I've come across, no matter how emotionally invested I was in it. Must be blue and orange morality.

To go to the other side, what Zontar has done above is an absolute travesty and I really hope a Mod steps in and at the very least, spoil-tags that spoiler (EDIT: Thank you Mods!). Seriously dude, that's not cool and I would hope that out of just plain decency that you will spoil tag that. One shouldn't have to avoid the entire internet in order to avoid spoilers; there's no reason I would come into this thread expecting a spoiler like that.

That's nice that you can have it spoiled and not have it ruined for you but plenty of people have it absolutely KILL their experience when they have spoilers (myself included).

EDIT2: I know you attempted to edit before the Mod did but I do want to give you credit Zontar for trying to spoiler-tag it. Thank you for that.

 

[Zontar]

I think it is certainly somewhat on you to keep from having things spoiled. For example, if I were to be in the middle of Breaking Bad, I would figure going into a Breaking Bad topic is not a very good idea. Even if I'm only halfway through and it's a topic about the beginning of BB, I would still avoid it JUST in case.

So yes, you should take reasonable steps to prevent spoiling. When I know I want to see/play/read something and I haven't yet, I will not go into any threads, youtube videos, blogs, etc. at all about that topic for something may inadvertently be spoiled for me. Hell, even if it explicitly states "No Spoilers" or whatnot, I still avoid it for there's always THAT guy who decides to spoil it for whatever reason.

Spoiler: Breaking Bad ending spoiler

Walter dies. There, I said it. But I still don't understand WHY it gets the reaction our of people it does, and I just don't understand how it "ruins" something since I've never felt that way for a spoiler I've come across, no matter how emotionally invested I was in it. Must be blue and orange morality.

To go to the other side, what Zontar has done above is an absolute travesty and I really hope a Mod steps in and at the very least, spoil-tags that spoiler. Seriously dude, that's not cool and I would hope that out of just plain decency that you will spoil tag that. One shouldn't have to avoid the entire internet in order to avoid spoilers; there's no reason I would come into this thread expecting a spoiler like that and 100% not cool.

That's nice that you can have it spoiled and not have it ruined for you but plenty of people have it absolutely KILL their experience when they have spoilers (myself included).

Fine fine, I put up a spoiler tag, but given the coverage that particular thing had and the general reaction it got on the web, you've got a very steep uphill battle to convince me anyone following the series did not already know that. It was the most talked about thing on television in years, hell, people who didn't even watch the show knew it happened.

EDIT: well, too late for me to change it now. Though this does bring up the question "how old does something need to be for a spoiler to be ok" since the spoiler was from 8 months ago and there's no way someone interested in the show didn't know it.

 

[Eamar]

While deliberately and unwantedly spoiling someone is obviously dickish behaviour, I do think that people should take some responsibility for avoiding spoilers, especially when it's for something that's been out for ages and might reasonably be considered "safe" or fair game by others. And if something's a massive media sensation at the time it really should be common sense to stay away from places where people might be discussing it (including social media) if necessary.

Personally though, I'm really not bothered by spoilers. In fact, I often seek them out myself if I'm getting impatient or if something's bothering me. The only real exceptions would be whodunnit-type stories (crime dramas, mysteries etc), where the whole point is to try and figure everything out yourself.

 

[jamesworkshop]

i'd say yes if its sign posted, dont try and read all the non-spoilery bit of a thread if it has spoilers in the title

 

[Queen Michael]

IF you click on something that clearly is about the movie in question, then you have only yourself to blame. But in all cases where it's not completely, 100% clear that it's about a new movie (or book or TV episode or whatever) then it's other people's responsibility to keep mum. I saw some Godzilla spoilers on Twitter two days after it had premiered. That was just ridiculous. Some people assume that you watch everything on the premiere. That's why I'm going to go see X-Men: Days of Future Past at a special early showing the day after tomorrow.

 

[Zontar]

You should be careful but I still think people should be considerate with spoilers. You're being cautious for your own sake.

I've herd of studies which show we actually enjoy things more if we are spoiled to them, and given how it has been for me and a lot of movies/shows/books, I find it's actually true.

I want to see these studies because I have never experienced this.

Fine fine, I put up a spoiler tag, but given the coverage that particular thing had and the general reaction it got on the web, you've got a very steep uphill battle to convince me anyone following the series did not already know that. It was the most talked about thing on television in years, hell, people who didn't even watch the show knew it happened.

EDIT: well, too late for me to change it now. Though this does bring up the question "how old does something need to be for a spoiler to be ok" since the spoiler was from 8 months ago and there's no way someone interested in the show didn't know it.

Of course there is.

Or maybe people who haven't even started watching it yet cos they only recently caught onto the hype.

You're a fucking moron.

Well I can't say too much about the methodology used because it's not my field of expertise, but for an article on the study in question: http://www.wired.com/2011/08/spoilers-dont-spoil-anything/

Not that I should have bothered to respond, I take exception to your tone. But I can't let someone call me a fucking moron and get away with it, even if it does mean their comment merits no response.

 

[Ubiquitous Duck]

I guess it is the person's responsibility to avoid spoilers.

But I wouldn't say that that gives free reign to everyone to just go spoiler crazy.

People even put facebook status updates that are spoilers for shows, this really irritates me.

I think the bizzarest I ever saw though was for The Walking Dead. Without mentioning the actual spoilers, I have seen a trailer for a season that wasn't out yet at the time, which had a major character spoiler in it.. one begs the question 'why' they would spoil it themselves. I don't even tend to watch TV show trailers and I will definitely steer clear because of that kind of rubbish. Secondly, I went to their official website for the next episode, back in season 2 times, and the picture for that episode had a spoiler in it. On their own website! I was so confused/baffled/mad.

I really don't like, don't know the situ in other countries (I'm talking about UK), but there is increasing coverage of TV shows and films - tracking what is going on on set and also doing stories as a result of a premiere of a TV show or film. I don't get to see things on premiere all the time and I hardly think they consist of news. I know it's good for numbers to have these stories on your website, but it's hard to dodge the spoilers sometimes, when titles or pictures flash past that have them.

Rant done.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Just use spoiler warnings and tags. It's a minimal piece of effort and saves everyone some bad blood. Let's stop this hive mind nonsense of "you should've watched/read this by now, because a lot of people have".

 

[Silvanus]

It's partially your own responsibility to avoid them, but not entirely. Posting spoilers is not a cool thing to do.


Also, it doesn't matter if it's an adaptation of source material that's been out for a long time. If people are enjoying the adaptation, then spoiling it is still Grinch-ish. Saying that the book has been out for some time is quite a hipsterish defence.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

I never really got why people choose to spoil things, particularly for something they love. Sure, it's good for a laugh, but I don't see the logic of purposefully ruining someone else's experience and not letting them enjoy the thing you love the same way you did.

 

[StriderShinryu]

That's a tough question to answer as I do feel that the responsibility lies on both sides, the spoiler and the spoilee.

On the side of the spoiler, I think we all know when something is big enough that it could be considered something to spoil. In fact that's often the part of the media we end up wanting to talk about the most. Out of respect for the media and for others, I do think we should take some extra care to not spoil things at least within a reasonable amount of time from the media's release.

On the side of the spoilee, I think you do have to learn to be a little smarter about avoiding potential spoilers and not just relying on others to not spoil things for you. For instance, and using Game of Thrones as an example, if you know your work buddies are going to be standing around the water cooler next day talking about the episode and you haven't seen it yet, don't go there without at least saying "Hey guys, I missed last nights episode." Or if you're a Twitter user and don't want the newest episode spoiled for you, don't go on Twitter and expect no one else to be talking about the show five minutes after the episode ended. You know there are going to be spoilers there and it's a little silly to expect the entire world to not talk about the episode just because you haven't seen it yet.

 

[Vault101]

yes...HOWEVER

not making any effort whats so ever to hide them is a dick move...

 

[Extra-Ordinary]

Eh, hard to say.
I absolutely hate spoilers, both receiving them and giving them myself, you could tell me you don't care about spoilers, I'm still not going to tell you.
I don't know, I try so hard to avoid them I guess it's just become second nature.
Basically, my rule is: If it's out, stop searching for it. If you're going to follow something, let's use a movie as an example, do it before it comes out. Because if you do it after it comes out, it's very easy to accidentally stumble into something that's a spoiler.

 

[Little Woodsman]

Well I think that some responsibility lies with both the person doing the spoilering, and the person getting the spoiler. For example, if you haven't seen a recent movie yet, don't go in to an in-depth discussion thread about it.
Flip side of course is that a spoiler shouldn't be injected in to a conversation/thread where people wouldn't expect to hear/see it.

There's also a matter of degree... if for instance I let slip the twist ending to the Charlton Heston version of Planet of the Apes well, that's actually a pretty major spoiler, but I really don't expect people to go ballistic on me for letting the cat out of the bag on a movie that old...

 

[Bocaj2000]

On the internet it's your own damned fault. With conversations it's different. You'll be known as "that guy" and no one would want to talk to you about things that they haven't seen out of lack of trust. It's not a responsibility, but it is polite.