baby did a bad bad thing

[kellinator]

Okay, so I did something colossally dumb.

I was at Wikipedia looking up a manga raistlinbrown mentioned (I've recently been surprised and amused to discover that over the past four years I've been slowly becoming otaku, but that's another post) and made the mistake of looking up Persona 3.

James got Persona 3 a couple of weeks ago, and I was not that into the battles but kind of fascinated by the Japanese high-school sim aspects of the game, to the point where I insisted on watching him play those. (I dubbed one NPC his boyfriend. Then I made fun of the character when he said he was going to study at home instead of the library so he could watch TV while studying. James responded with a bemused "yep, that's my boyfriend." Isn't he cute?) After a while James suggested that I could play through the game doing the sim elements and he could play the battles for me, the next day he thought that maybe I should just play the sim elements on his game, then the day after that I started my own game and he hasn't gotten to touch it since. So for the past week I've been eating, breathing, sleeping and pooping Persona 3.

So what did I do, because I'm a compulsive dumbass who does dumbass things I know I shouldn't do like pick at scabs? I read the entry. So now I know all sorts of plot twists that would have shocked the hell out of me IF I HADN'T GONE AND READ THEM. James is making fun of me. And bringing up the fact that I skipped to the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (I had my reasons, please stop throwing rocks at me. You too, JK Rowling. Think of it as a compliment).

He asked if I was still going to finish it. I replied "of course I am!" as if I thought it a silly question, which of course it
absolutely is. Sure, in this case I do wish I hadn't gone and spoiled things, but I honestly don't think it'll have a huge impact on my enjoyment of the game.

And of course, this leads us to spoilers.

James abhors spoilers. In the past I've told James small spoilers for Smallville, thinking he would be excited at the sneak peek, and he's totally flown off the handle*. 

I, on the other hand, grew up on Days of Our Lives. For Days fans, spoiler-hunting is a celebrated sport (probably because the show moves SO DAMN SLOWLY that you have to know a good payoff's coming or you'll switch to C-SPAN out of sheer frustration**). Spoilers are in every soap magazine, usually on the cover. They're part of the fun.

So, I ask you: Are spoilers cheating, or good new-fangled scour-the-intarwub fun? Someone, I think it was invadersteven , said that spoilers don't ruin the fun because then you have the pleasure of seeing how the work gets to the conclusion. Though I'll admit, I've been having to practice extreme self-control to avoid Bleach spoilers.

Of course, James downloads the new episodes from Japan, so that means I also have to practice self-control not to spoil 10dimensions and eaterofgodz***.

So I ask you, friends: 

(Actually, I need to ask a different question: How do I embed a poll in a post I've already written? Like right here?)

Also, streamweaver once expressed that there should be a statute of limitations on spoilers, and I have to agree (even though at the time he had just spoiled Serenity for me, it was months and months after the movie came out****). I really don't think people should have complained about me describing the "Snape kills Dumbledore on page 556, there, I just saved you $20 and 8 hours" the week before Book 7 came out.

Finally, for those of you who remember Star Wars from the original theatrical releases: Did you realize that for me, Darth Vader has always been Luke's dad? 

* Keep in mind this is James we're talking about, so "flying off the handle" is saying the following in an incredulous high-pitched tone of voice: "WHY did you tell me that?!"

** Incidentally, James loves C-SPAN.

*** Actually, it's enlightened self-interest. Julie might smack me. 

**** As opposed to now, when that movie simply does not exist. Do you hear me? WE DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THAT MOVIE.

Comments

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

I look at spoilers, personally - but then, I'm always interested on the progression from point A to point B, so even knowing the end doesn't ruin it for me personally. (As lame as this sounds, it's a stress relief thing. :P I get wrapped up in things and worry about them. *facepalm*)

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I don't like being spoiled, but I also can't seem to look away. One of the reasons I read the last Harry Potter book so quickly was to avoid being spoiled. I do think a statue of limitations is entirely reasonable, though.

[stevietee.livejournal.com]

What is this Serenity movie you speak of? That would be a good title if Joss Whedon ever made a Firefly movie, wouldn't it??

As for spoilers, I def. think there has to be a statute of limitations, but I think people should respect that others don't want spoilers in advance. Like the Simpsons joke about Homer walking out of Empire saying, "I can't believe Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father!" in front of the queue of people waiting to get in to see it.

[renaissancekat.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling wordy.

First, I THINK YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND. Okay, I feel better now.

I've no idea what this entire post was about, but that's probably a good thing.

Please enlighten my dummyheadedness by telling me why WE DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THAT MOVIE.

As for spoilers, I go out of my way to avoid them in any way, shape or form, not limited to avoiding "next week ons" and commercials. Some of us are, oh, many, many years behind on certain things that we do not wish to be spoilered (*ahem* Buffy and Angel *ahem*) and stop people in their tracks to hush up when said subjects are being discussed.

I know, lame.

Okay, I felt like sharing.

[ladylabyrinth.livejournal.com]

Please enlighten my dummyheadedness by telling me why WE DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THAT MOVIE.

Hear, hear. I am missing the reason THAT MOVIE is currently NOT being ACKNOWLEDGEd at this time. What'd I miss?

[renaissancekat.livejournal.com]

It doesn't look like we're getting an answer.

[raistlinbrown.livejournal.com]

It is appropriate that I was the beginning of this string of tangents, given that in my discussion of said manga it occurred to me that I was spoiling Death Note to some extent (as well as Dragonlance) for those who had not read it. I considered including a spoiler warning, but "spoiler warning" didn't fit with the vibe of the rest of that entry, so I left it alone.

[stronae.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't like to read spoilers, but I don't see the problem with someone seeking them out if they want them.

[ardentdelirium.livejournal.com]

I sometimes to read spoilers, but then I spend the whole time reading/watching for that event and it sort of ruins the book/episode/movie for me. so I shouldn't. and I try to stay away. but then I'll see one and it'll start the whole ball rolling

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Totally depends on your personality. I'm pretty mixed about spoilers. I'd rather I get to control the amount of spoilers that I run into, I guess, is what it boils down to. But I'm still of the opinion that if a spoiler TOOOOOTALLY RUUUUUUINNNNNS your enjoyment of something (even something gimmicky like "The Sixth Sense"), then it wasn't very good in the first place.

[heathrow.livejournal.com]

I love to read spoilers, and I always watch the show/read the book afterwards.

My .02, rehashed.

[stevenglassman.livejournal.com]

Spoilers are a personal choice, kind of like assless chaps. For some people, they're happy and fun. For some, they're a cause of great stress.

If you feel like reading the spoilers takes the enjoyment out of it for you, then you have your answer, I think.

I know lots and lots and lots about the shows I watch, but I still look forward to each and every episode, because spoilers are just text. The visual component is always fun to see play out.

[azurelunatic]

Just edit it and stuff the poll code in.

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

No, I tried that. Since it's in rich text, it won't let me paste the code, and it won't let me change it to code to paste it in.

[azurelunatic]

Bleh. That sucks.

[azurelunatic]

New! Improved! Coming soon!

[missrachael.livejournal.com]

I hate spoilers with a burning passion. Ex.: I was mad when Chris spoiled Moby Dick for me. MOBY DICK.

Do not ask me whether he gets the whale. I will not tell you.

[the-missy.livejournal.com]

I will sometimes seek out spoilers, and other times I want to avoid them at all costs. For Harry Potter 7, I avoided them -- I wanted everything to be a surprise as I read. Likewise, I'm glad I didn't read any spoilers before I played through BioShock -- there were some real good twists in there, and I'm glad I didn't know about them beforehand.

What I hate is when spoilers are sprung on me before I have a chance to avoid them. Snape killing Dumbledore was one of them -- someone posted the scanned page with the pertinent phrase highlighted to an LJ community, it was impossible to avoid. TV Guide is also a bit assy about throwing a hot spoiler into an article that is supposed to be mundane recap.