Poll: Does the magnitude of a spoiler matter?

[rvbnut]

So I was talking to a friend and they spoiled something in a series that I was interested in and currently watching, but not up to the episode in question.

They spoiled something that I will definitely think about when the episode comes up in my playlist.

They reckon that the spoiler is minor but the magnitude of the spoiler doesn't matter.
Something was spoiled and that's that as far as I'm concerned.

What are my fellow escapists' opinions on the subject?

(captcha: send packing. Yep I'd love to send that 'friend' packing...)

 

[Vault101]

you should take care not to spoil

being careless with spoilers is kind of a dick move in some instances

 

[Nouw]

No. A spoiler is still a spoiler, however, there can still obviously be some spoilers that are worse than others.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Well, being small was in character for her, though she did have predictably large boobs, even if Damian called her out on not having any that time.

 

[smithy_2045]

Snape kills Dumbledore.

Someone had to do it.

 

[Queen Michael]

Yes and no.

Yes, all spoilers should be avoided.

No, not all spoilers are equally bad. Some reveals are bigger than others, and if we had to choose between hearing a big spoiler and a small one we'd all choose the smallone, so obviously there is a difference in spoiler severity.

 

[SSJBlastoise]

Yes it does, this just looks stupid.

Sorry, I just had to.

OT: Yes, I also find that no matter how old something is it should be mentioned that you are about to say a spoiler because it can still ruin something for a person.

 

[Legion]

Yes and no.

Yes, all spoilers should be avoided.

No, not all spoilers are equally bad. Some reveals are bigger than others, and if we had to choose between hearing a big spoiler and a small one we'd all choose the smallone, so obviously there is a difference in spoiler severity.

This.

What is especially annoying is that this forum has an excellent way of avoiding them. Spoiler tags are incredibly simple to use, and you can even give a title to the spoiler tag so people know what is about. So there really isn't any justification for posting them.

As for my personal tastes, it depends on my attitude towards whatever it is. If I haven't played a game yet and I haven't requested no spoilers, then I am not fussed if they give away something minor. For example an enemy type, or a cool weapon/ability you get to use, but I'd be pissed off if they told me anything plot related.

If I asked for no spoilers of any kind, then I'd be pissed off if they told me anything at all. Sometimes I like going into games/television series/films/books blind.

That said, I do get somewhat annoyed when somebody posts a topic called "The ending of Fallout 3" for example and people who apparently haven't played it, go in and complain about spoilers. If the title strongly suggests there will be spoilers, then you should really avoid such topics.

It's when a topic isn't about anything specific like "The worst in-game deaths" where people should always be using them, as the topic isn't about a specific game, so you can't tell if you will have played the ones mentioned or not.

 

[Pinkamena]

Of course the magnitude matters. There's a difference between saying that "X person will die in episode 5" and "X person will appear in episode 5". Both are spoilers, but the latter is completely harmless.

 

[anthony87]

Someone on this site spoiled what happens at the end of The Walking Dead. I was only starting episode 2 at the time and since reading that spoiler my drive to play it has been non-existent.

So yeah....spoilers matter.

 

[Lieju]

It also depends on how big of an impact the spoiler will have on your experience.

It's very harmful for something that has the mystery as a driving force, or the source of excitement, but less so for something where you get the enjoyement from the visuals or jokes for example.

 

[Something Amyss]

Spoilers only concern me if they have some major significance.

So yeah....spoilers matter.

Did anyone actually ask that?

 

[V da Mighty Taco]

Other: Spoilers are still spoilers, but some are indeed worse than others. Some people don't mind minor spoilers, whereas others do. For best results, always warn people beforehand before you post spoilers of any kind.

 

[Frankster]

It does in my book, but then im rather used to getting stuff spoilt by overeager friends so guess ive developped resistance to minor spoilers and have been rather succesful in avoiding major spoilers, basically avoid game specific threads and general game threads where people are sharing memorable experiences, cos if a spoilers important, chances are its also a memorable experience that will be a talking point.

Personally i would never spoil the main twist of a story, or what unexpected events happen without a tag. My normal rule of thumb is: "if its something you could have read in the games manual, then i can say it without a spoiler".

On other hand not too long ago let slip in a "characters you hated until they died thread" that

Spoiler: possible walking dead spoiler

Ben died. Well wasnt even specific as what i said was more or less "as soon as i saw thread title, immediately thought of ben" without giving any details whatsoever beyond that.
By my standards that was not much of a spoiler since i knew from the outset that the chances of anyone BUT clementine (and i really hope that doesnt count as a spoiler) surviving were slim to none, but to someone it was and got a nice passive agressive remark about it. Fair enough i guess, i was mostly surprised that people expected any of the cast of that game to live. Actually im gonna spoiler this whole bit just in case.

.

Spoiler: definite walking dead spoiler

Christa and Omid surviving however? Now that was a shocker. And made me resent them a bit for being immortal in comparison to the other characters

 

[HardkorSB]

Depends. For example:
People told me the twist in "Fight Club" but the movie was still really entertaining and it still went on for another hour after the twist so it didn't matter.
Movies like "Soylent Green" on the other hand are all build up for the twist so when you know what the twist is (and pretty much everyone does, I only found out about the movie because of people parodying that one line at the end which spoils everything), it's kind of pointless to watch it (though it was still mildly enjoyable).

 

[anthony87]

Spoilers only concern me if they have some major significance.

So yeah....spoilers matter.

Did anyone actually ask that?

Well considering the thread title is "Does the magnitude of a spoiler matter?"....

Huh, perhaps I should've said that the magnitude doesn't matter. A spoiler is a spoiler.

 

[Poetic Nova]

If the movie, book or game requires alot of thinking then yes, then it does matter.
If it is about the action scenes and less focused on the story then I don't mind some spoilers.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I seem to be one of very few people that really doesn't care that much about spoilers. Often, I go as far as actively seeking them out. I don't like cliffhangers and am notoriously bad at handling them, which is why I (almost always) only buy books whose sequels are already available. I think for me it's more about the journey than the destination, so I can enjoy a game, book or film that I've seen before or whose twists and ending I know. Often in fact, it can actually add to the experience. Take Planescape: Torment as an example...knowing the Nameless One is who and what he is, it actually gives the story a whole new meaning, one that's no less brilliant.

I do understand however that most people don't like them and go out of their way to avoid them. It actually makes conversation at work with colleagues about games/shows we both enjoy awkward when we're at different points in the story. There are varying degrees of spoilers, I think that can be said without preamble or hesitation; it's quite obvious.

But the trouble is that as a consumer of entertainment, particularly of games that seem now to only be made in "franchises" and "IPs" but even in films and books, often, particularly if the product in question isn't made too well, can be quite jarring. We conciously realise that there can be no real threat to Jack Bauer, for example, because in a show called "24" which we know will have 24 episodes, we know there's no way he can die in episode 7. The same with Batman or Superman or that ilk, we know they don't die even if we know nothing else of the film.