Spoilers, and why I avoid them.
2002-Jul-24, Wednesday 12:08![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thorfinnI'm an information expert. Putting together little bits of data to form concrete information is something I excel at. Hearing tiny little spoilers and rumours here and there adds up inside my brain, even if I'm trying to forget them, and I really prefer to come to the episode fresh, as the writers intend it to be seen.
If the writing is subtle, and the plots are balanced and complex, then rumours don't worry me quite as much, because it is harder to pick future plotlines based on existing information plus a couple of rumours... but when the plotting isn't so subtle, then it becomes startlingly easy. And even with balanced plotlines, rumours and spoilers can tip the balance of prediction strongly in one direction...
Which can ruin "great moments" of story completely for me. The "great moments" in all stories generally come at the resolution points of conflict/tension. The story builds to a peak, where the conflict is greatest... and then there is resolution, in a direction. When I know in advance what that resolution is, then the conflict/tension is ruined, because I know how it's going to come out. The moment doesn't have the emotional impact that it should, as a result. I want those high-points, when they're available.
That's why I'm so strict about avoiding possible spoiler information for shows I actually care about (those are very few, Babylon 5 and Buffy has been about it so far) enough. Even future casting information (which a lot of people seem to be happy to discuss), is enough to drive me to block my ears and move away rapidly... I don't want to know. Show trailers are often even worse. I turn away and block my ears and make "nanana" noises when they're on...
If the writing is subtle, and the plots are balanced and complex, then rumours don't worry me quite as much, because it is harder to pick future plotlines based on existing information plus a couple of rumours... but when the plotting isn't so subtle, then it becomes startlingly easy. And even with balanced plotlines, rumours and spoilers can tip the balance of prediction strongly in one direction...
Which can ruin "great moments" of story completely for me. The "great moments" in all stories generally come at the resolution points of conflict/tension. The story builds to a peak, where the conflict is greatest... and then there is resolution, in a direction. When I know in advance what that resolution is, then the conflict/tension is ruined, because I know how it's going to come out. The moment doesn't have the emotional impact that it should, as a result. I want those high-points, when they're available.
That's why I'm so strict about avoiding possible spoiler information for shows I actually care about (those are very few, Babylon 5 and Buffy has been about it so far) enough. Even future casting information (which a lot of people seem to be happy to discuss), is enough to drive me to block my ears and move away rapidly... I don't want to know. Show trailers are often even worse. I turn away and block my ears and make "nanana" noises when they're on...
