spoilerphobe whining

[slodwick]

You know what I hate? When people think they're being clever, and talk about specific spoilers in vague terms, or by only mentioning a single aspect of a particular spoiler (especially in the middle of an otherwise unrelated post, but that's another rant for another day), because... I don't know. Maybe they figure this one little detail won't

Comments

[scribblinlenore]

I haven't been spoiled for anything, probably because I just skim my flist, sometimes with one eye close. But--and I'm going to be totally bitchy here--I do get tired of the unnecessary drama of it all. Even just seeing the emotional reactions, the ohmyGodohmyGod handwringing that goes on outside of cut tags gets on my nerves after a while.

If more people were baseball fans, they'd have something better to do with their summer! That's what I always think anyway. *g*

[slodwick]

Honestly. THREE MONTHS. There's plenty of time for the drama later on -- now is the time for reality tv and late evenings in the yard with my dogs. :)

[shusu]

*pats* Welcome to the last eight months of my life. I sympathize so very much.

[slodwick]

I do my very best to be unspoilery for people, and I don't understand why some folks make it seem like such an imposition, or like it's so difficult. Woe is us. :\

[fox1013]

Eeeeeep. I hope I wasn't one of them. I haven't even seen the specific spoilers, but I've been reacting to reactions on my flist.

Okay, just cause I'm wondering- is this fandom completely spoiler-free, to the point that even what one has heard from other people's speculation should be warned for?

(I'm not being snarky; I genuinely don't know how SPN fandom does it, cause my flist seems to have like eight different standards.)

[slodwick]

Well... there's obviously some disagreement within the fandom itself on how this business should be handled. Plus, I'm not even sure I'm truly IN the fandom, you know? *sigh*

Basically, the standard I try to follow is that even speculation goes behind a cut, marked as such, because that speculation (or your reaction to someone else's speculation) could be based on rumors/spoilers, and that's what some folks are trying to avoid altogether... if that makes sense?

I don't know the answer, honestly. I realize that it's a total gray area, and it's difficult to cover one's ass, and I really do appreciate it when people make an effort to be considerate. :\

[tresca]

Totally feeling you on the spoiler issues. Especially because I've been on the other side and I know how easy it is to not spoil people if you just think about it for a few minutes before posting. Oy.

But I had to ask about this:
I'm not even sure I'm truly IN the fandom, you know?

*blinks* Is there a fandom bouncer now I didnt know about? Arent you in fandom just by being a fan? :)

[slodwick]

Well, there's a big difference between being a fan, and being in the fandom, imo. For instance, while I'm a fan of BSG, I'm definitely not in the fandom; I have no desire to art or write about the show (outside of possibly some icons or something), and I have no desire to really talk about it all that much. I'm happy to just watch it and love it and be done with it.

SPN is a little different, because I occasionally dip my toes into the actual fandom, but I still don't think of myself as part of it. I rarely read fic and/or meta, and I sometimes make art (bkz hi, pretties) or post my own episode-related squee, but... it's still a show I'd rather just enjoy than get truly het up about, you know?

[flatlanddan]

I just put up something like "Watched the new Doctor Who episode, Blink "Spoiler Ho!"" and that's that. No one really needs to put something that they think it witty or smart, and that's what I think to many people are trying to do.

[slodwick]

Exactly! I don't even use episode titles, because I know some people are sensitive about that. I usually just say something like, "Watched new Doctor Who" in my cut tag.

[flatlanddan]

Humm...I suppose I wouldn't use one if it was a major plot point. There was a huge uproar about the title of a Torchwood episode. I won't say it here, but it was a major, major plot point. Can titles be considered spoilers? I would have thought I'd be safe with those since they are using as advertising. Reading your comments though I might have to reconsider.

I always have huge problems with spoiler icons (both using and seeing them).

[slodwick]

Well, I mean... with the exception of some Smallville episodes, I don't think I've ever seen the titles of episodes used in advertising. For a long time, until I got into online fandom, I never even realized the individual episodes had titles. However, as you say, most titles aren't going to be a huge problem, unless they're spoilery.

[slodwick]

AUGH. Well, I don't frequent f_w all that often, but this will definitely keep me away. Thanks for the heads-up.