How do you feel about spoilers? Do you try very hard to keep away from them? Have you noticed that Goodreads encourages members to clearly indicate **spoiler** when they are writing reviews and that reviewers can hide the spoiler so that they won't ruin the book for others?
Or do you not care about spoilers? When you're about half way through a book, do you ever flip to the back and read the ending?
What about spoilers in movies? Have you ever had a movie spoiled because someone told you the ending? I'm glad that no one spoiled The Sixth Sense for me before I saw it---because I was totally surprised about the ending! :-)
I try to avoid "spoilers" in every way possible.
ReplyDeleteI avoid spoilers as well. I never flip to the back of the book and read the end. My sister does all the time. She is impatient to know what happens but I prefer to read every detail that leads up to the end of the story. I guess waiting to get to the end of a book is the one thing I am truly patient at. I do care if people tell me the end of movies but not as much as if it is a book.
ReplyDeleteI only care about spoilers if I am interested in the book or movie.
ReplyDeleteI do hate books that spoil other things though..like the Santa belief...watch out for the newest Dragon in the Sock Drawer series book (Dragon at the North Pole)....don't let 1st and 2nd graders check it out.
My reaction to spoilers depends on what the subject. I didn't mind the spoilers during the Olympics or if someone is telling me about something I am not likely to go see or read for myself. But I generally do not like people to give away to much detail. I'm ok with telling me the end results - but not how the story gets there.
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes I have avoided the ending. as a young man I read the definitive biography of George S. Patton, but I stopped at the last chapter because I knew he would get killed in an auto/horse cart accident, and I didn't want the end to be real. And other times I have been so caught up in a story that I have to look at the end to be sure the characters I care about are going to come out ok.
I've always been so disappointed when I hear the ending of a story - even if it is the ending I would have anticipated.
ReplyDeleteThere have been some endings I would have liked to change. I am a happy ending kinda person, so when a book ends in the typical sad way - (the dog always dying), I would wish to change the ending. I guess it's good to have a cry now and then.
I really like that Goodreads asks previewers to let us know if there is a spoiler alert. I don't recall reading the ending of a story.
I used to care about spoilers, but now I feel more ambivalent. On the one hand, a good story is a good story, whether I know about the ending already or not, and listening to that story repeatedly is enjoyable. On the other hand, being surprised by the ending is an experience I also actively seek, and find satisfying every time it happens.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am working a movie I hate for someone to give away the ending. Its like in Martha Speaks and she gives away the ending. It is annoying. When I was in High School I would get part way through the book and sometimes peek at the ending but now I don't want to know until I finish. Maybe I am more mature now.
ReplyDeleteDonene
I remember my sister reading a mystery book I had read and when I happened to notice that she was close to the end, I asked her about a certain favorite part and what she thought about it. I have never forgotten the disappointed look on her face as she had not read that part yet and it gave away the ending for her. Every time I remember that, I feel sad that I was so impulsive and not thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI don't like spoilers. I also don't like to see what I am getting for Christmas, it just spoils the fun. I love a genuine surprise, I remember reading in Walk Two Moons and thinking, Oh My Gosh, didn't see that coming. I always tell my students to not give the surprise or big event away. Jean, I also like happy endings, I know that it is not very realistic, but I get tried of the realities of life and just want to feel good. After a news week like this last one with missing planes, mudslides, I need a happy ending and good surprises.
ReplyDeleteSpoiling a book is just plain mean spirited in my opinion.
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