When is a spoiler still a spoiler?

If I start talking about something with a major twist that really enhances watching the film/show, I might quickly ask if everyone's seen it. But at the same time it's really not my problem if someone hasn't seen a show that's been out for years, and I'm not going to apologise or feel like I've done anything wrong for accidentally spoiling it. Honestly I think the statute of limitations on Breaking Bad is past at this point, it started five years ago, it's on Netflix.

And it drives me cracked when you get discussion threads on the internet about stuff that's been out for a while and someone posts in them complaining about spoilers. If I didn't want spoilers for something I wouldn't click the effing thread, it's bullcrap to expect everyone else not to talk about it just because you haven't seen it. There's plenty of films I want to see in the next couple weeks, I'd love to be able to read the threads on them over on the film forum, but I don't want spoilers, so I can't reasonably expect to be able to read them.

On GOT, that was a really good example of where knowing that was going to happen would seriously influence the viewing experience, I don't think anything like that (such a big secret being kept about such a big show for so long with so much success) will ever happen again, and I feel sorry for the people who didn't watch the show first time around because they missed out on the full experience. But again, sorry not sorry, you didn't watch it, not my fault.

(Also I think a lot of the success of not spoiling that was down to book-readers actually really looking forward to non-readers' reactions, there were tumblrs and everything started about it, people making reaction videos. We wanted you to feel our pain )

DannieHasABrazilian wrote: »

Also people saying that breaking bad was started 5 years ago or whatever and should be open to discuss, by that reasoning in 2001 people could give away the end of GOT season 1, 2003 for season 2, even the forth book could have been discussed in 2011.

There was nothing stopping people from reading them but people kept quiet

It's different though. You wouldn't necessarily expect someone who's watching or intending to watch Game of Thrones to ever read the books, that's a much more unreasonable expectation than expecting them to have watched it as it comes out or fairly soon after. I know spoilers are annoying, and it'd be really shíte to, for example go on facebook and see that your friend in the states is discussing the plot of something in detail when it's not been released here, I'd never do something like that.

But, it makes more sense for people who haven't seen things to try avoid situations where there's likely to be spoilers, or to just stick their fingers in their ears or whatever when the conversation starts than to expect everyone else to have to specifically designate where they're allowed to talk about something that's been out for years.

poundapunnet wrote: »

It's different though. You wouldn't necessarily expect someone who's watching or intending to watch Game of Thrones to ever read the books, that's a much more unreasonable expectation than expecting them to have watched it as it comes out or fairly soon after.

Why not? you had the chance to read the books so why shouldn't book readers cover facebook and twitter with whats happening next season and just say jeez guys its been over a decade you have had to read it.

its just like people watching it on tv compared to people who are waiting for it on netflix. The only difference is that that most TV watchers these days do spoil everything for those that will be more than a few weeks behind for whatever reason

DannieHasABrazilian wrote: »

Why not? you had the chance to read the books so why shouldn't book readers cover facebook and twitter with whats happening next season and just say jeez guys its been over a decade you have had to read it.

its just like people watching it on tv compared to people who are waiting for it on netflix. The only difference is that that most TV watchers these days do spoil everything for those that will be more than a few weeks behind for whatever reason

Because not everybody reads, and certainly not everybody reads fantasy fiction. But Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad were shows where a vast majority (or so it seemed) of people were watching and talking about them. When those books were first released I assume there was many the internet discussion about them, it's just that they were nowhere near as widely popular as the show so you'd probably have to seek out the discussion.

LOSTfan57 wrote: »

after its aired its no longer a spoiler. its public knowledge and can easily be watched if the person is that interested in it. After airing its fair game.....I havent watched Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones will I? Maybe do I expect everyone in my vicinity to shut up about it? Hell no. I hate whiners that moan about "spoilers"...I already know Skylar is apparently a bitch and theres some incest and a child king in the other.....does it mean I'm gunna bitch and moan no

They're not spoilers though, it's not spoiling Lord of the Rings to say Frodo is the good guy in it, he just is. saying who dies in the last movie is.

krudler wrote: »

They're not spoilers though, it's not spoiling Lord of the Rings to say Frodo is the good guy in it, he just is. saying who dies in the last movie is.

not really tho..thats common knowledge.....and if someone isnt arsed to have watched it by now well tough ****. Youve had far more than enough time

Big Steve wrote: »

Myself and a couple of the lads were chatting yesterday about TV shows that we watch that have new series starting soon (e.g. Archer & Game Of Thrones) and we then got onto 'Breaking Bad' and started talking about the show and our favourite episodes, quotes etc. We were having the craic when one of the lad's little brother (who only really hangs around us is because we are mates with his brother) pipes up and tells us quite aggressively to stop talking about the show because he's thinking about making a start on it in this weekend. Basically he was told where to go by us, but my question is:


How long after a TV show is completely finished should you hold off talking about it in front of people that haven't watched it (yet)? I'd say no more than a month. I think that gives people plenty of time to catch up with the masses. What does AH think?



EDIT: PLEASE DO NOT PLACE SPOILERS FOR TV SHOWS IN THIS THREAD. (can mods please remove any spoilers put up)

Well since all of you had seen it you should talk about if you want to. A few days is fine but if he hasnt watched even the first season then what does he expect?

How people deal with this issue is quite telling about their personalities, IMO. Sometimes things get spoiled accidentally. It happens. But some people just don't any basic consideration for other people.

Spoilers can be a pain alright. I've spoiled so many things for myself looking online or in forums for that little to much extra info than I wanted. All my own fault of course. College Humor brought out a few spoiler rules that seem alright when discussing shows and the like.

I've never watched 'The Sixth Sense' because the ending was spoiled for me back when it was new all those years ago. I just don't feel the need to watch it knowing 'that', even after all these years.

But if you haven't even started watching a series yet (Breaking Bad first aired in 2008!) then I don't think you should complain about spoilers (yet).

I managed to avoid any Breaking Bad or Game of Throne spoilers (well a few GoT spoilers but don't even remember the names of who's involved) and I just started Breaking Bad last week. Starting Season 2 tonight!!:D

Haven't watched GoT yet but since I don't use twitter and rarely use FaceBook it won't be spoiled anyways. It's not hard to avoid Twitter.