Timewaster's Guide Archive
General => Rants and Stuff => Topic started by: fuzzyoctopus on October 04, 2005, 02:14:14 PM
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What, if any, statute of limitations exists on movie and books spoilers?
This has been an issue lately because my husband never read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We bought the book when it was released. We even got an audio version of the book that he could listen to while at work if he wanted. He still insists that he never had time to read it, and gets really mad whenever the rest of the family want to talk about it, and then finally last night his mom flat out said the ending in front of him.
I sympathize with him, and I went out of my way never to spoil for him, but it really makes me angry that he's so self-righteous about it but never made an attempt to read the book. He'd rather play his video games than pick up a book, which is FINE by me - but does he then have the right to complain?
That's the first example, here's a different one. I never saw the movie 'Psycho' until my second year of college. I sat down and watched it by myself all day, and when it was finished I realized that no one had ever spoiled the ending for me. Which was pretty cool, but considering how old the movie is, is rather unexpected. Who, for example, doesn't know the spoiler to the end of Citizen Kane?
So there you go; what is a reasonable statute of limitations on spoilers for books and for movies (since I'm assuming they're different). With something like Harry Potter, especially - can you consider it invalid once the movie for a particular book comes out? Before that? Is there a year limit on movies?
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5 years.
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I think you should respect someone's wish to avoid a spoiler, by giving them the opportunity to LEAVE when you're talking about it.
I don't really see a limitation.
However, I think your husband really ought to go ahead and read the stupid book out of respect for you.
For what it's worth, I'm well aware of the ending of Psycho, but not of Citizen Kane. That's one movie, actually, I know surprisingly little about (other than context).
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I think it kind of depends on the popularity of the movie, book, or play. Things that are hugely popular have a shorter statute of limitation than something that is only mildly popular or unpopular.
Essentially, if all your friends and family are talking about it, I would say the statute is only a few months. After that you better expect to find out some spoilers.
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For what it's worth, I'm well aware of the ending of Psycho, but not of Citizen Kane. That's one movie, actually, I know surprisingly little about (other than context).
See? And I tried to be specific without spoiling anything I was talking about, either.
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This is a hard one for me, because I hate it when people spoil the ending. If someone starts talking about something that I haven't read/seen, I usually voice my disapproval by saying, "No spoilers!" However, I recognize that this is annoying, because I have been on the other end--when I really want to talk about a book or movie plot that I found exciting, and there is only one person in the room who hasn't and we can't talk about it out of respect for him or her.
This, though, is a deciding factor for me: if the book/movie is really important to me, I make it a point to read/view it. I agree with 42. I think if you really want to avoid a spoiler on a really popular book or movie, you better make the effort to read/see it before too many people talk about it. Especially if all your friends and family are really into it and are definitely going to see it. And there is always that person who WANTS to spoil it for other people--not everyone will try to respect your wishes, like fuzzy has done for her husband. So it's either a) see/read the thing, b) avoid all contact with the people who might spoil it for you, or c) spend time with them and recognize you are consciously risking spoilers by not choosing to see/read the media.
I know there should be some leeway for time constraints--not everyone has as much leisure time. But if your husband is playing video games and expecting at this point not to hear a spoiler about the latest Harry Potter--I don't know. That's expecting a lot of restraint from a lot of people.
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when I really want to talk about a book or movie plot that I found exciting, and there is only one person in the room who hasn't and we can't talk about it out of respect for him or her.
Thus my rule that if they want to avoid spoilers, you politely request they leave the room.
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Well, you're allowed to talk about how Aeris died, but that's old news, and you're also allowed to talk about how you don't play as Snake in MGS2, which wasn't that old.
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/me wonders who Aeris is
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Final Fantasy 7.
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Argh...you ruined it for me!
Not that I was ever going to play Final Fantasy 7, but I might suffer a concussion and be able to relax enough to play video games. Then I might play it and remember the what you just said about it and the whole thing will be ruined for me. Then I'll be so frustrated that I'll pick up hunting as a way to release my penned-up anger. And while I'm hunting I'll see a doe that will remind me that Aeris dies, so I'll kill the doe. That doe, as it happens, is Bambi's mom. See what you did? You just killed Bambi's mom!
::)
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Nope, Jam already said it's ok to talk about how she dies.
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42, you'd have to first survive 80 hours of watching the exact same over-long, unskippable, attack and spell animations over and over and over and over again.
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And then if you're sad enough about the death there's plenty of fan fiction where she doesn't die. Oh, just to be nit-picky, it's Aerith not Aeris, Aeris was a mistranslation from the Japanese to English versions (she's called Aerith in Kingdom Hearts too).
Also you do play Solid Snake in MGS2, the 1st 1/5 of the game is him.
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If you could read minds, the whole spoiler issue would be moot. What a sad, pitiful existence that would be. :-/
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You know, I really don't think that there is a "statute of limitation" on spoilers. If there is, please point me to the exact code (state or federal). Also, for there to be a statute of limitations, be a spoiler would have to be actionable. In most cases, a spoiler is only actionable if there is a breach of contract and statute of limitations for a breach of contract vary by state and by whether the contract is oral or written. You can look up statute of limitations by state at:
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/SOL-by-State.html
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Well, if you're going to get all educated on me then I'll point out that spoilers are a breach of social contract as it is an unspoken agreement that Man likes to be surprised about the ends of his movies and books. John Locke introduced this into the idea of the social contract as he always got pissed when his boss, the Earl of Shaftesbury would go to the theater on opening night and then come home and tell him all about the end of the show the next day.
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Some people don't like secrets being spilled, like Harry Potter's Secret, and when you blab your mouth off in front of a bunch of 12 year olds you can expect outrage.
Here's a spoiler, he's gay.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051006/en_nm/potter_dc;_ylt=AiP3ohh_qbv45BZZ3f2WSYus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3YXYwNDRrBHNlYwM3NjI-
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That was frontpage news here. I think it's just hilarious. The version I read in the paper said they threw him out for swearing, with him retorting that all he said was 'bum', 'crap' 'arse'. Hardly anything a 13-14 year old (another difference between the two versions - ain't media great?) wouldn't know.
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actually Im a little sick and tired of people who complain about spoilers mainly because 9 times out of 10 they whine about something thats their fault. You want to know a secret... if you dont want a single thing spoiled... dont ever read reviews.
Writing reviews is difficult, and its difficult to explain why a performance is particularly good or bad without some sort of context. If you want two word "its great" or "it stinks" reviews then by all means keep asking for "spoiler free" reviews. Personally I dont mind knowing about a film because there hasnt been a movie in the last 10 years that I've had trouble figuring out... Six Sense was easy for me for example. See I like to see how the director actually filmed the scenes, structured the movie, scored the action and so on. For me a movie is much much more than a plot. Sure thats not that typical a reaction and sometimes keeping a little bit of knowledge to ones self helps the emotional impact, but some people are quick to summon up the word Spoiler for stuff that isnt a spoiler. For instance... Darth Vader telling Luke that he's his father is a spoiler, finding out the Leia is his sister is a spoiler,... but knowing that Luke is going to blow up the Death Star not a spoiler unless say Lucas was some kind of masochist its not good for the story. The climax is a challange, but people need for that challange to be overcome. Its very similar to the book the Witch must Die. In a film that bucks that tradition the climax would then become a spoiler, but honestly unless it was very well done it wouldnt get good reviews. Give you an example you say... try the Wild Bunch a well done western released about the time of Star Wars. It has a remember Camaroon type ending that works well because of good writing and a lack of sympathetic characters. To make the ending work they have to be sacrificing for something and their end turns into their redemtion. Nice whiny farm boy dies in fiery explosion in space for no reason kind of sticks in the craw. See the difference... good. Often plot construction or simple background material is considered a spoiler when it really isnt. I had an argument with someone about serenity recently about Mals history with the independents. Its not totally vital to the movie, heck its not like they conceal it in the series or movie. Its a totally on the surface part of the movie and thus shouldnt be a spoiler, and yet he was complaining because I talked about the movie at all. I guess what I mean to say is figure out what spoilers really are. If its a minor detail like a Romance between Hermione and Ron or explaining that a ship broke down in a movie its not a spoiler. If the whole movie hinges on one scene with its massive emotional impact it is. If you dont want to discuss any of the film or book, dont go to places where you can potentially learn these things, and if people are discussing them, nicely ask them to stop. Remember anti spoilers need to have some sympathy for people who take the time to see or read something too.
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I totally refuse to read that post. Use proper grammar man.
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It bothers me when reviews include spoilers. I read a review to know if I should watch the movie, and I'd really prefer not to know the interesting parts beforehand.
You can get really specific about the films strength and weaknesses without saying "The hero, at the end, falls in love with the villain, who turns to the good side."
I think that any review that merely goes regurgitating (and then commenting on) plot is a very poor one indeed.
Talk about style, about message, about skill... about plotting, if you will (but avoid giving things away), but please be respectful of the fact that most people (I'd think) read reviews because they want to know if a movie's worth watching. If it isn't, then perhaps they wont mind the spoilers as much, but if it is...
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I agree Jade knight. I've no need for a review that just repeats the films blurb.
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A review can easily present context without giving "spoilers."
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it can, the problem is that most things people like to call spoilers arent really spoilers.
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Guess what? At the end of Titanic, the boat sinks.
Stuff like that.
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it can, the problem is that most things people like to call spoilers arent really spoilers.
Well, I agree; like when Tekiel started the thread on Corpse Bride and Eric insisted she put a spoiler tag on it. Knowing there are butterflies in the movie isn't going to spoil it for anyone, I feel.
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I agree - if the thing isn't a surprise at all, it's fine.
Now, if those butterflies somehow hooked into the plot where if you knew about them it would give you forknowledge that would hinder your viewing enjoyment, that's different.
But saying there's a Castle in Harry Potter shouldn't be considered a spoiler (so long as you leave it at that).
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Well, I agree; like when Tekiel started the thread on Corpse Bride and Eric insisted she put a spoiler tag on it. Knowing there are butterflies in the movie isn't going to spoil it for anyone, I feel.
Actually it was me that insisted, SE was the one that edited the post. Umm I didn't read what she had posted since she had in her text "SPOILERS" because I hadn't seen it yet. We added the Spoiler tag to the title since she obviously wanted to discuss such things.
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Sprig, you had the perfect chance too...
Oh well, you cant blame Eric now.
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I don't see why something like that would keep people from blaming me. It's all my fault anyway
er.. sorry, I just spoiled the ending.