When does a spoiler stop being a spoiler?

[omega_peaches]

So, spoilers are a pretty big thing, something is recently out, you want to get it, ending is spoiled for you, it's less interesting now (This happened to me with LA Noire as well as inFAMOUS 2)
But, when does a spoiler stop being a spoiler?
To me, it's when the game has been out for a few years, so if you're playing it right now, you're a little late.

 

[Tallim]

Technically spoilers never really stop being spoilers on an individual level. However if something is popular enough and old enough that it's pretty much public knowledge then you shouldn't be surprised if someone somehow spoils it believing that anyone who will play/see that particular thing will have already done so.

 

[Holyeskimo]

Depends on the subject, tv shows i say get 2-3 days, movies get a week, books get anywhere to a week to a month based on the book, there are other parts of media out there im sure how different times, but i shooting with my recent three, but even with these i still get some friends who do the fingers in ears la la la saying i can't hear you, so it varies based on company

 

[Lilani]

So, spoilers are a pretty big thing, something is recently out, you want to get it, ending is spoiled for you, it's less interesting now (This happened to me with LA Noire as well as inFAMOUS 2)
But, when does a spoiler stop being a spoiler?
To me, it's when the game has been out for a few years, so if you're playing it right now, you're a little late.

When it becomes such common knowledge it's basically a trope or a meme. Like "Luke, I am your father" or "Snape kills Dumbledore."

 

[thiosk]

USA Today reports that soylent green, is in fact, people. PEOPLE
Don't spoil books for book worms, in general, snd don't spoil television that is similar to LOST or maybe Fringe.

 

[Plucky]

a notable case being that Sheik is Zelda, mostly because they can transform into each over in the Smash Brothers series, and what media HASN'T done the whole 'Luke, i am your father' thing? (even Austin Powers did it)

Disgaea games that shows Flonne as a demon in training (red features) hinted that they got out OK (never played the 1st fully)....then again, Prinny 2 has Prinny Laharl.

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

I think the good folks over at Penny Arcade summed this one up pretty well.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

When the remake comes out, spoilers are totally allowed.

 

[OutcastBOS]

If it's been out for more than 2 years, I consider it free to spoiler.

Spoiler: Biggest spoiler of all

It was his sled.

 

[hermes]

I think the statute of limitations for games is 1 year. Although spoilers are always spoilers, at some point they are just not relevant.

 

[RaNDM G]

Generally anywhere between two to six months. In that time, anyone who's interested in the game would have heard the news by then.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

Never, unless it's common pop-cultural knowledge.

Otherwise, never. Spoilers have no expiration date.

 

[Ouroboros0977]

The agreement between me and my friends is spoilers count beyond the first 25% of the book/game/movie etc. but is negated if said materiel is over 25 years old and no one explicitly states that they haven't watched it yet.
*edit* The 25% is counting both story based and chronologically.

 

[Zhukov]

About a year after release.

After that, as far as I'm concerned, it's open season. I'll try not to shove it anyone's face, but I'm not going to go out of my way to avoid it.

 

[Zac Smith]

If I see a film and tell my opinion of whether it was good or bad to my parents they complain that its too much information, and i'm spoiling it.

The other day I watched a comedy panel show in which my dads favorite comedian was on, I told him he was funny, and he complained

 

[FPSMadPaul]

Would you kindly stop spoiling Bioshock.

 

[SpaceGnome]

when it reaches the car hahahahahahah
*ahem*
when events such as endings or plot changes become available and regally quoted in posts such as the ending to portal.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I will never deliberately spoil something for someone, however, there comes a point where I will not dance around a plot point in conversations just for the sake of someone I am unaware of who "might" not have seen/read/heard about it yet.

For TV shows it's usually until the newest episode airs.(grace period of one week for season finales)

For games it's a period of 6 months to a year, because usually those who care about spoilers will have played it by that usual time frame.

Books it's until the next one in the series comes out, or in the case of a final installment I just keep my trap shut for a few years just to be safe.

Movies are a bit tricky, typically it's right around the time of the dvd release that I stop being careful.(because by then trailers, television, and the dvd box have already done so)

Too be honest though, if you're trying to avoid spoilers for something it will become increasingly hard for you to do so, the longer you go without watching/playing/reading the subject in question. When it comes to spoilers on the internet though it's a good rule of thumb to just avoid any topic discussing whatever it is you don't want spoiled. In my experience, nine time out of ten it's the carelessness of the one who reads a spoiler who is at fault for getting it spoiled. The other 10% of the time it's some douchebag who's doing it for the lulz.

 

[Rawne1980]

I think if you give away the entire plot and sub plots then it stops being a spoiler and becomes a "completely bloody ruined".

 

[Rock Beefchest]

When it comes to gaming there is not statute of limitations on spoiling. If I have not played the game and I plan on playing the game I get upset. That said, people have a habit of spoiling things for themselves. I actively avoid forums that deal with games I want to play or are currently playing. Others dive right in and then complain when there are spoilers that are not hidden.