To Spoil or Not To Spoil?

[dangermousie]

I thought I'd throw this one wide open. What's your attitude towards spoilers? Are you a spoiler-slut, in complete avoidance, something in between? Is it consistent for all your fandoms?

And why are you spoilerphile/spoilerphobe?

I'll start with myself. I am definitely a spoiler lover. I'll do everything but read word-for-word transcripts. Mainly it has to do with impatience, but also wanting to know how it ends so I won't be disappointed in the ending (I make a lousy mystery reader). Especially if it's romantic and I know a ship is a big deal in the fandom, I want to know if it won't work out so I won't root for it (look at my Buffy/Angel love and how that turned out). And I wouldn't have gotten through Max/Liz angstorama on Roswell if I didn't know about HEA. I don't like uncertainty.

Sometimes, I try to stay away from spoilers, usually if it's a one-time event that I know is plot-heavy: Serenity, Harry Potter V, Farscape: the Peacekeeper Wars. But generally, I love spoilers and they usually enhance the experience for me. E.g. SW:ROTS's novelization definitely enhanced an already wonderful movie. Of course, the downside is you have ages to mull on things and get nervous and form preconcieved notions.

How about you?

Comments

[snacktastic.livejournal.com]

When it comes to spoilers, I'm a total whore. I would make Paris Hilton look like Nicole Richie.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

ROFL!

Yes, the more the better!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I love spoilers!

But conversely, I think I am going to try to stay spoiler free for one thing - the last Harry Potter book. After all these years, I want to see it unfold on my own.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I stayed spoiler free for V but not for VI (after Sirius' death almost gave me a heart attack, I had to peek). But yes, spoiler free for the last one!

[grace-om.livejournal.com]

I'm a reformed spoiler slut--the worst kind of phobe!

I just found that I wasn't enjoying my favorite shows as much if I knew what was going to happen. Going in with expectations caused me to look at only a small portion of what was on screen, rather than simply experiencing viewing in the way the artists who made it intended.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it :-D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I tried to reform...but I failed :)

[maddeinin.livejournal.com]

I depends on the show. If I'm obsessed (BSG) I don't want to know anything. I close my eyes during the part in the credits with the episode clips, because dude, it's harrowing enough as is, without having to wait for the scenes.

Some shows that I just enjoy watching, like House or Prison Break, I don't care either way. (Likewise, with Farscape, I knew the main plot points before seeing a single episode, and it did not lessen my enjoyment at all.)

And then there are the shows that suck, like Alias, where I don't care and actually enjoy cackling evilly about how horrible the spoilers sound, and the shows I don't watch at all (Smallville) but read spoilers for (and cackle evilly about how horrible they sound).

In conclusion, the first person to spoil me for Serenity will feel my wrath (and it opens on NOVEMBER 25TH here - ::dies::).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

November 25th? Oh, Id' go nuts! (I am seeing it on Friday. Though I don't mean to rub it in :D)

For some reason I don't mind being BSG spoiled AT ALL. Maybe because I am not super-emotionally-charged involved in it. I adore it, but it's an intellectual type of adoration rather than helpless mewling squee...

[thelana.livejournal.com]

And then there are the shows that suck, like Alias, where I don't care and actually enjoy cackling evilly about how horrible the spoilers sound, and the shows I don't watch at all (Smallville) but read spoilers for (and cackle evilly about how horrible they sound).

Hah, this part sounds a lot like me.

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

I'm generally a spoiler-phobe. Generally. I'm pretty shortsighed about plot to begin with, so remaining spoiler free enhances surprising moments. That being said, I'm not necessarily consistant across fandoms. Fandoms where mystery and riddles about, I usually stay spoiler free, i.e: HP or Lost. But regular fandoms such as House or CSI, I have no problems reading spoilers for.

[plazmah.livejournal.com]

Also to add: sometimes I am just too damn lazy to look for spoilers anyways!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

For me, I am a lot more careful (at least as much as a spoiler crazy like me ever is) about emotional impact spoilers than plot ones. I can totally not care who killed X, but be more careful about Y and Z getting married...

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I like spoilers a lot. But the more I like a show, the more I try to stay away from them.

I usually don't care much how a particular storyline will turn out. If something affects me negatively then more when I see that a storyline I don't like is getting too much exposure, which in turn takes away my enjoyment of the show.

I have no problem skipping over certain parts of a series if they don't interest me. Even if I know that the end will be one that is pleasing to me.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I have no problem skipping over certain parts of a series if they don't interest me. Even if I know that the end will be one that is pleasing to me.

See, I am very anal. The first time I watch something, I have to see every minute. The most I'll do is 2x on my DVD so I can read subtitles and watch it slightly sped up.

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

For movies, I don't mind being spoiled at all.
It really depends on the fandom, in my opinion. For Veronica Mars, for instance, I wouldn't want to be spoiled because for me, such a huge part of it is not knowing what will happen. For House, though, I don't mind, because it's all about how it plays out, I don't really care about what happens.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I think certain shows, it makes no difference if you read spoilers. Like occasionally on Desperate Housewives there are a lot of spoilers and they tell you almost nothing about how the episode will actually play out. Same for a lot of crime shows.

[wasabi-girl1.livejournal.com]

Usually it all depends on my mood. There are days when I am just too curious and look up spoilers, and there are days when I don't want to hear ANYTHING. I find that movies and books can sometimes be better when you know spoilers, and sometimes they aren't, so it all depends on your luck of the draw, I guess. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

:)

Yes...I am just weak, and can't stay away from spoilers.

[ancarett]

I figure that I'm likely to run across spoilers whether I want to or not. If I make myself get all upset over that, I'm just adding to the grief in my life. So, I embrace spoilers but try hard not to spoil anyone else.

(Though that is hard with icons and headers, sometimes!)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That's actually really thoughtful. I try to be good about not spoiling others either (lj cuts are your friend). Of course, sometimes you really want to discuss a spoiler and everyone else is a spoilerphobe and then...argh!

[spacedwriter.livejournal.com]

I am a total spoiler whore. I love, love, LOVE spoilers. I read spoilers like mad.

If there's a premiere coming out soon, I totally know all about it, with only one exception... Well, two, actually.

1) Movies that are not a part of a series. What the hell's the point of going to see the movie if you already know what's going to happen in it and there's no sequels, etc.?

2) This upcoming season of Alias. The spoilers were clouded by controversy, so it was pretty worthless to read anything about them. Because, you know, OMG, Jen Garner is a total bitch and is getting Vaughn killed off because of off-screen tensions, then, OMG, Vaughn's not gonna die but gonna go evil!, etc. Irritating.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Because, you know, OMG, Jen Garner is a total bitch and is getting Vaughn killed off because of off-screen tensions, then, OMG, Vaughn's not gonna die but gonna go evil!, etc.

ROFL! Glad to know all fandoms are equally insane...

[jammer77.livejournal.com]

I actually like spoilers for VM but generally avoided them for Harry Potter, Serenity, BSG, etc. I don't think anything is concrete unless I actually see who is behind the door (so-to-speak ;)). Shooting scripts/sides, etc., don't bother me, really.

The whole Buffy/Angel thing was spoiled for me (obviously b/c I knew that she didn't end up with him and he left to have his own show) and yet I was (am) still crushed. Why? I don't know. Maybe b/c I liked them together and was foolishly rooting for them even tough I knew they were not meant to be. Bah. The wounds are still raw (it's been what? an hour for me?).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Shooting scripts/sides

I think this is basically the only thing I won't look at...

yet I was (am) still crushed. Why? I don't know.

Well, I got into Buffy in S5, so I also knew B/A was toast, but I still fell madly for them when I saw S1-3. I am a sucker for star-crossed love.

[amykay73.livejournal.com]

I'm totally schizo about spoilers. For the most part I like to avoid heavy spoilers, but then I'll peak at one spoiler but not another. I think it has to do with my mood. Right before the fall season started, I decided to avoid all spoilers. But then I accidentaly stumbled across a series of CSI spoilers, so I relaxed my stance a little.

I like the kind of spoilers found in TV guide that give a general idea of what's coming in the upcoming season. There may be a specific plot point or two, but not too much is spoiled. For the most part I avoid shooting scrips/sides for future episodes, but if I missed an episode and really want to find out what happened, I would go and read a play by play of the ep (like found on TWoP).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I avoid shooting scrips/sides for future episodes

Yes, I avoid these too (though generally, the more spoilers the better, for me).

Btw, love the icon!

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I'm a complete spoiler whore. It comes down to me simply not liking to be surprised. I don't like getting all emotional when I'm watching a movie or tv show, so I sort of like to know what's coming if I'm really involved in the show.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I don't like to be surprised either. I get emotional anyway, and I don't want to have another HPV meltdown (I was on a plane reading when I got to Sirius dying and the man next to me must have though I was insane)

[musicforcylons.livejournal.com]

Generally, I am a spoilerphobe. So much of media, be it books, movies, television shows, etc, is boringly predictable that when something finally piques my interest, I want to follow along for the ride instead of knowing all the curves ahead of time.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

See...I hate anxiety. I simply must know in advance :)

[vierran45.livejournal.com]

With me it depends on the situation. With Buffy & Angel, I was a total spoiler slut, but I guess behind that was the distinct possibility that the shows wouldn't be shown all the way through on local tv (and I didn't yet have a dvd player at that point), since they had been showing reruns of S3 for a couple of *years*, so I got into the habit of checking out episode descriptions on the net.

I'm definitely not a spoiler-phobe, but I usually only actively seek spoilers for things I'm interested in at the moment, and with some things (for example, detective type shows/books) I like to retain the element of surprise - though not always even with them.

So it greatly varies on my interest in the particular show/film/book in question. Sometimes I just *have to know* what happens next, and sometimes I try to avoid spoilers like the plague :).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am the worst detective reader in history: I always read the end first because I don't want to root for the bad guy :)

[ingridmatthews.livejournal.com]

For shows that I'm pretty sure will disappoint me (like Smallville) I want to soften the blow with as many spoilers as I can get. Prewarned is best.

With BSG, I don't want to know *anything*. Nada. Nothing. Because when this show shocks it makes my hair stand on end in the best way possible. I can't imagine blunting such wonderful drama by knowing in advance.

It's been hard, though, I'll tell you that. Because I love these characters so much, I want to know if they're okay. LOL!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine blunting such wonderful drama by knowing in advance.


I look for BSG spoilers because public whimpering is unattractive and I know I'd be doing it if I went into it unspoiled :)

[vanimy.livejournal.com]

I used to be a spoiler-whore in that I was completely spoiled for B/A, Roswell, ER, etc... I was glad to know some things beforehand (it helped me to accept some stupid things on otherwise good shows) but now I'm avoiding spoilers like plague because I just don't like knowing things before they happen. If I was spoiled it's because I just can't wait. Now I've calmed down and I try to stay spoiler-free even for movies. For Alias, it kills everything to know beforehand IMO, I tried to be spoiler-free for ROTS but it was hard so I succeeded but not completely. But even when you're spoiled it can't spoil a very good movie or a good show. I was watching Seven the other day, knowing the ending if not the specifics and I was completely hooked, dreading the end of the movie.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I was spoiled as spoiled can be for ROTS and still loved every second...

[brynnmck.livejournal.com]

I'm another reformed whore... like someone else said above, the worst kind. :) Though, as others have said, it does depend on my level of interest in the show--I get furious when I get spoiled for BSG, but I care much less about, say, Alias spoilers these days (though there was a time when those enraged me, too).

It's just that, for me, when I spoil myself, one of the following tends to happen:

a) I find out something (usually just vague enough for real torment) that bugs me, and I obsess about it and spend a lot of time getting annoyed about it, and then it doesn't happen, or doesn't happen the way I thought, and I've wasted a lot of time being annoyed.
b) I find out something (usually just vague enough for real torment) that bugs me, and I obsess about it and spend a lot of time getting annoyed about it, and then it does happen, and I am no less annoyed than I would have been if I hadn't known about it, and in fact have months or weeks of rage built up about it.
c) I find out something I'm really excited about, spend a lot of time looking forward to it, and then it doesn't happen.
d) I find out something I'm really excited about, and then it happens, and it feels anticlimactic, because I've known about it for months.

So for me, it's just not worth it--I find that it really detracts from my experience of the show overall. There have been a couple of things I wish I'd been spoiled for, just to prepare myself, but those few instances aren't enough for me to give up the vast number of times I'm glad I wasn't spoiled. So I don't want to know ANYTHING now... even watching the next-week trailers at the end of episodes is kind of pushing it for me. Though I continue to do that because my brain seems to automatically delete them after I watch them. :) But yeah... I don't even want to know other people's reactions to an episode until I've seen it, because if I know that person, I know their likes and dislikes, and their reaction itself can be spoilery just by implication.

Yeah, I'm pretty weird about this. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That's not weird. My husband is pretty much the same way. He won't even watch BSG's little brief montage of scenes to come in the episode.

There are bits that I wish I haven't been spoiled on (in the shows) but I don't have enough willpower to resist.