Why do people have to give away story plots?

[Neverhoodian]

As the title may suggest, I can't stand it when the plot of a story (regardless of its medium) is told to me by somebody before I have a chance to see/read/hear/play it. I want to experience a good story with as little knowledge of the plot as possible, as I enjoy the overall experience more.

I am apparently part of a dying breed however, as it sometimes seems like everyone and their mother want to spoil storylines for me. From total strangers to close friends, they just can't resist telling me the big plot twists, the emotional climaxes, the endings, etc. Even when I try to stop them, they'll still often blurt out a major plot element that the entire story revolves around. When I do successfully prevent them from telling me anything (usually requiring assertive, almost combative wording and body language), they sometimes imply that I'm being a killjoy, almost like I've betrayed their trust. Even the creators are out to get me by posting plot synopses on the back of books and movies.

Why do people have this overwhelming urge to do this? Do they think they can somehow do a better job themselves? Do they just assume that everyone else has seen/read/heard/played it? Are they determined to make their experience more enjoyable than mine? There's probably not any one satisfactory answer to this, but it's something I've pondered from time to time (usually after someone's ruined yet another story for me by telling me all the spoilers).

 

[DefunctTheory]

Never encountered this. You must have blabber mouth friends.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Because they want to talk about the film?

 

[A Person]

Doin' It For the Lulz.


The Pricks.

 

[Thaius]

Because they want to talk about the film?

There's a difference. I can talk enough about how amazing and expertly designed the plot twist in the Sixth Sense was enough to get someone interested in the film without actually saying what that masterful twist is. You don't need to ruin a film for someone just to talk about it.

OT: Spoilers are an affront to storytelling. They show complete disregard for the story itself and for the work the creators put into it. To spoil a story is to spoil the experience. I detest spoilers, and I hate it whenever people go blabbing them.

 

[Neverhoodian]

Because they want to talk about the film?

There's nothing wrong with that, but people can still word it so that folks who haven't seen it don't have to leave the room. I don't mind if you talk about the cinematography, the special effects, the soundtrack, the acting, etc., but I do mind if you give away major plot points in the process.

EDIT: Ninja'd. Thaius worded it nicely

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

It doesn't really bothers me, but I do enjoy a story better when I don't know anything about it.

As long as they don't spoil anything important, I'm fine.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

They want to discuss the film they saw with every last person encountered. It happens and if you haven't seen what they want to talk about then say "i haven't seen/played/read this" and walk away.

 

[Kiriona]

GAH my PARENTS do that! It makes me CRAZY! So I've taken to telling them that I now have no reason to go and see/read whatever they're talking about because they just RUINED the experience for me by telling me what happens.

I know they want to talk about it, but I DON'T WANT IT SPOILED.

 

[Robert632]

There are plot synopses on the back of books and movies is to give a very brief and incomplete overveiw of the plot, just so people can tell if they'd like a story, but giving something more substantial that a cover. Not something to spoil a story. And also your frinds and family may spoil stories for you because they notice that it annoys you. As for the strangers, well those that do that are probably douches anyway.

 

[Good morning blues]

There are two reasons why someone would do this:

1) They enjoy disappointing you and ruining the experience.
2) They feel that the enjoyment they will get from revealing this awesome twist to you is more important than the enjoyment that you will miss out on by not being able to experience it properly.

Basically, these people are dickheads.