What constitutes a spoiler?

[AintNoSin]

I've searched for a similar thread and didn't find it. If there is already a thread about this, feel free to do whatever is a appropriate.

I think people get way too sensitive on the subject of spoilers, seeming to think that any morsel of information about the plot, even if it's a 35-year-old movie, is a spoiler and you're a bad person for revealing it and ruining the whole film for them.

I think for something to be a spoiler, it has to be something that is meant to be surprising or the object of suspense for the audience. So for The Empire Strikes Back, for example, there are only three pieces of information that I would consider "spoiler material," and that's it.

1. Lando betrays Han and Leia
2. Lando switches sides again and helps Leia escape.
3. Vader is Luke's father.

I can't think of any other piece of information about that movie that would have "ruined" it for me.

[BluBonnet]

When watching it for the first time in 1980, you wouldn't have known the first creature Luke meets on Dagobah is actually Jedi Master Yoda

[xbs2034]

Basically I consider a plot twist or major character death to be a spoiler. With the exception that if something is shown in official marketing materials or it happens in the first act of the story, it is fair game for a "non spoiler" review.

[Damon1281]

Although I try to use spoiler tags where appropriate, I personally believe that if you're reading about a movie in a internet forum, you deserve whatever you read.

[eternalbiz]

Originally Posted by Damon1281

Although I try to use spoiler tags where appropriate, I personally believe that if you're reading about a movie in a internet forum, you deserve whatever you read.

Totally agree.It's enter at your own risk. I've had a few run ins that have been my fault. Sometimes curiosity gets the better of me. But I usually stay away from spoiler filled things.

[phobicsquirrel]

Yep, like everything anymore people are too sensitive. I mean people complain about "spoilers" in 30 + year old films!!!!

[Pondosinatra]

Stuff like:

Vader is Luke's father
Rosebud is the sleigh or something
The chick is a dude in The Crying Game
Everyone dies in that shitty movie Avengers: Who Gives a Crap War

etc. etc.

[InuYashaCrusade]

Originally Posted by Damon1281

Although I try to use spoiler tags where appropriate, I personally believe that if you're reading about a movie in a internet forum, you deserve whatever you read.

110% this right here. So annoying when you've got people whining about spoilers after weeks and months of a movie being released.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

Basically I consider a plot twist or major character death to be a spoiler. With the exception that if something is shown in official marketing materials or it happens in the first act of the story, it is fair game for a "non spoiler" review.

I agree with that. I hate it when people lecture about posting spoiler tags when someone says something as simple as "the ending is downbeat" or "the twist at the end was shocking" ................. without actually giving any specifics.... give me a break!

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by InuYashaCrusade

110% this right here. So annoying when you've got people whining about spoilers after weeks and months of a movie being released.

Most people have lives outside of watching every movie ever made after weeks and months of said movie being released. I know that’s a hard truth for some nerds to believe, but it is true.

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

Most people have lives outside of watching every movie ever made after weeks and months of said movie being released. I know that’s a hard truth for some nerds to believe, but it is true.

It's impossible to know who has and who hasn't seen a movie, but it's perfectly reasonable, after a few months have gone by, to assume that the vast majority of people who are going to see a movie have seen it by that time. At that point, we're free to discuss the movie openly, spoilers and all.

If you haven't seen a 25-year-old movie, avoiding spoilers is your responsibility. In that case, an internet forum dedicated to discussing movies is probably not the best place to hang out.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

Most people have lives outside of watching every movie ever made after weeks and months of said movie being released. I know that’s a hard truth for some nerds to believe, but it is true.

maybe, but not years and decades... which get the same outrageous reaction...

[esteban²]

Originally Posted by AintNoSin

It's impossible to know who has and who hasn't seen a movie, but it's perfectly reasonable, after a few months have gone by, to assume that the vast majority of people who are going to see a movie have seen it by that time. At that point, we're free to discuss the movie openly, spoilers and all.

I find that unreasonable and I disagree strongly. Not everyone has the chance to see a new movie in a few months, for several reasons. Late release or straight to DVD/BR or VOD release is one of them. It happened that I had to wait a year and a half before certain titles became available.

Want to discuss spoilers? Use spoilertags. That's what they are meant fore. I absolutely hate it when people don't.

When it's about a 25 year old movie, I still do it, out of respect for those who have yet to discover it. The new generation, for example. But if it happens that spoilers are out in the open to read, so be it. It's 25 years old.

[BallistikBluray]

Personally, if it's a movie that I'm going to see no matter what, I like to go in knowing as little as possible. I avoid trailers to Marvel and Star Wars films because I know I'm going to see them eventually, I don't need to be sold on it. I like being surprised by everything. I give spoiler talk a month window, I still ask anyone around me if they have seen it just in case, but the majority of people who want to see a film do go and try to see it early.

[cheez avenger]

Folks should just create threads that contain spoilers within. Just put it in the thread title. Problem solved.

[aiman04]

[Underworld54]

I think for the first month of its theatrical run people should be mindful of spoilers and use tags, after that it's fair game.

[WestMan]

I'm not sure if it constitutes a spoiler, but I hate the trend of websites now just announcing characters being in big blockbusters that wouldn't already be known to be in it.

Although, I am the same guy who turns off trailers half way through if I feel like I want to see the movie but the trailer is giving away too much information on the plot.

[cinemaphile]

There are two different questions here.

WHAT IS A SPOILER
A spoiler is ANY information about the plot of a movie that someone may not know going in. Yes, there are major surprise and reveals, but that's not where spoilers end. Maybe I don't want to know that person A fights person B, or that certain characters get injured or kiss or whatever. So yes, you shouldn't discuss any of the plot without spoiler tags for a new movie. It isn't a spoiler to say vague things like how you felt about a movie, but specific plot points, yes.

which leads to the other question:
HOW LONG IS SOMETHING A "SPOILER"?
If someone hasn't felt the need to watch Citizen Kane or The Empire Strikes back by now, they can't complain about people talking about the plot or even the ending decades later. They have had plenty of time to see it.
Obviously new theatrical releases should not be spoiled openly, and even after it hits blu/dvd/etc people may just be seeing it for the first time, so they should not have it spoiled. But I would say by a year later, spoiler tags should not be necessary. If they havent bothered to watch it, they dont care enough about seeing it to care if they hear spoilery info about it.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

I think for the first month of its theatrical run people should be mindful of spoilers and use tags, after that it's fair game.

disagree. some people wait to see a movie on blu or streaming. I give a movie at least until it's been on home video for a couple months before openly discussing without spoiler tags.