If you know the big plot twist or ending to a story beforehand, does it ruin the experience for you?
Poll: Do spoilers ruin a story?
- Thread starter Professor James
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Yes because the whole time, I'm just waiting for it to happen. It's hard to enjoy something I've never seen if I already know how it plays out.
I've read all of the ASoIaF books so I know how the TV series is going to play out. That being said, there's enough original content to the show that I don't want a damn thing spoiled for me. I don't know which episode is going to play out which part of the book so I want that surprise even if I know the ultimate outcome.
I've read all of the ASoIaF books so I know how the TV series is going to play out. That being said, there's enough original content to the show that I don't want a damn thing spoiled for me. I don't know which episode is going to play out which part of the book so I want that surprise even if I know the ultimate outcome.
Yes, absolutely.
Part of the storyteller's art is to insert a twist deftly enough that it actually is a surprise, and is suitable.
Even back in films, I remember watching Scream and going 'e's the murderer!? awesome!'. Then I watched 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and being thoroughly disappointed. There was no mystery, no twist, it was just some dude who didn't like them. Snore.
Part of the storyteller's art is to insert a twist deftly enough that it actually is a surprise, and is suitable.
Even back in films, I remember watching Scream and going 'e's the murderer!? awesome!'. Then I watched 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and being thoroughly disappointed. There was no mystery, no twist, it was just some dude who didn't like them. Snore.
The only thing that has ever been ruined for me by knowing the plot ahead of time was The Sixth Sense, and that's because the entire movie was based around the twist being a surprise -- like all the rest of Shamalayn's movies. None of which aside from that one worked, mainly because it's more of a gimmick than anything else. A well crafted story will be good whether you know what happens in it or not -- it's all about the journey, not the destination. If the destination really were all that mattered, nobody would do anything but read the plot summaries on wikipedia.
no, it makes me want to confirm it... besides, no matter how much someone 'says' a spoiler, or how 'detailed' it is, it can't compare to actually WATCHING the damn thing, even if you know it before hand, it usually still is just as badass... unless its something completely shitty, then you're at least prepared for it XD
I don't really get surprised by many plot twists anymore, so I don't really think it would affect me, though I do tend to avoid spoilers at all costs. Regardless, spoilers tend to not really make me dislike a story that much. If a scene is done well enough then it really doesn't matter if it is spoiled for me. For instance, I had the "would you kindly" twist of BioShock spoiled for me before I even played the game, but it was still such a well-done scene that I was able to enjoy it anyways. However, if the scene isn't well done and the only real significance of it is the twist, then I do tend to be at least a little disappointed.
Nope.
It just makes me want to watch or read it more. Because there's nothing quite like seeing for yourself.
It just makes me want to watch or read it more. Because there's nothing quite like seeing for yourself.
That's pretty much how it is for me, too.FalloutJack said:
[sub]I have nothing further to add. The one I quoted was to be my response, only better said.[/sub]
Not for me they don't because I like spoilers. I hate surprises and like knowing what is going to happen before it happens. I will usually either go to Wikipedia and spoil a movie or book for myself so I know what happens.
I understand they can ruin it for other people though so I won't spoil stuff for other people.
I understand they can ruin it for other people though so I won't spoil stuff for other people.
I am in this same camp too. I sometimes enjoy knowing what is going to happen so when I read it or watch it I can apply a higher consideration to the situation rather than just trying to comprehend what has happened. I get to think about WHY it happens and notice the developments towards it.game-lover said:
Yes and No. I knew that Shepard and Cortana died where gonna die, due to the games getting leaked (thanks internet), so it can hurt the impact of that moment, especially if it's an important moment. So, it can hurt the experience, However I'm not gonna say that Halo 4 and Mass Effect 3 had bad stories(don't come here about ME 3's ending, I don't care), but those moment did hurt the stories because I knew that the twists were gonna happen.
Somehow someone spoiled the ending to Bioshock Infinite before the game even came out. I was able to enjoy most of the game but towards the end it was way less enjoyable because of the spoiler. So yes. Spoilers ruin the story for me.
It depends, but generally yes.
In particular if its a really well done twist that you dont see coming but can see afterwards that all the signs were there, my preference is to enjoy the surprise and then go back and read/play/watch the story again to also get the experience of seeing it unfold and noticing the hints.
The experience of only doing one or the other is less than being able to have the two together, plus if I did have to pick Id say the first non-spoiled viewing is the better of the two.
(Which is, btw, one of the many reasons why the often cited study that "spoilers dont matter" isnt relevant to most spoilers - it didnt allow multiple viewings)
In particular if its a really well done twist that you dont see coming but can see afterwards that all the signs were there, my preference is to enjoy the surprise and then go back and read/play/watch the story again to also get the experience of seeing it unfold and noticing the hints.
The experience of only doing one or the other is less than being able to have the two together, plus if I did have to pick Id say the first non-spoiled viewing is the better of the two.
(Which is, btw, one of the many reasons why the often cited study that "spoilers dont matter" isnt relevant to most spoilers - it didnt allow multiple viewings)
