Spoiler about Olympic result in a FPP February 18, 2006 12:04 PM   Subscribe

Spoiler about Olympic result in a FPP
posted by gyc to Etiquette/Policy at 12:04 PM (63 comments total)

What's the MeFi policy about posting a spoiler in a FPP? The FPP in question spoils the results (or at least the gold medal winner) of the Men's 1000M Speedskating finals, which those of us living in the U.S. have not been able to see because of NBC's decision to tape-delay most events. Because of that, I've been trying to avoid spoiling myself and I didn't think MeFi would be a place that I'd also have to avoid.
posted by gyc at 12:07 PM on February 18, 2006


Tell it to the Times.
posted by felix betachat at 12:10 PM on February 18, 2006


haha spoiler. Dude it's in every news outlet everywhere. C'mon. Blame NBC, not Metafilter.

Lord.
posted by xmutex at 12:23 PM on February 18, 2006


Well that's precisely why I've been avoiding news websites for the past week. Well, I just wanted a clarification. If it's OK then I guess I've learned my lesson to also expect spoilers on MeFi.
posted by gyc at 12:26 PM on February 18, 2006


It's not like I told you how to beat Saddler on professional level or anything.

Seriously, I apologize and should have put in a spoiler tag--I wanted to include some very good news along with the malaise so far for US athletes. My bad.
posted by bardic at 12:31 PM on February 18, 2006


1. The 1,000-metre speed skating event is timed; it doesn't have finals.

2. I saw the event live. Those that couldn't, could find out easily elsewhere. This isn't a movie, this is news. Should we hold off posting news events because you didn't see the nightly news broadcast yet and don't have CNN?

3. People who freak (OMG! SPOILER!) because it's everyone else's responsibility to prevent them from finding out what is generally well known need to get over themselves.
posted by mcwetboy at 12:34 PM on February 18, 2006


This isn't a movie, this is news.

Precisely. It would be rather hard for the poster to know in advance exactly when gyc was planning to watch the final/read the papers/Google for the results.

Film spoilers are perfectly fine on MeFi too - by the time the film in question hits cinemas in the UK, I'll have forgotten all about reading the spoiler ;-)
posted by jack_mo at 12:43 PM on February 18, 2006


!!!SPOILER!!!

France confirms lethal bird flu
posted by ori at 1:22 PM on February 18, 2006


Precisely. It would be rather hard for the poster to know in advance exactly when gyc was planning to watch the final/read the papers/Google for the results.

It would be one thing if I had taped the event for later viewing. In that case, I would agree. I think it's different when the majority of members here would be unable to view the event until when NBC decides to broadcast it.
posted by gyc at 1:54 PM on February 18, 2006


mcwetboy: "3. People who freak (OMG! SPOILER!) because it's everyone else's responsibility to prevent them from finding out what is generally well known need to get over themselves."

Uh, yeah. I don't go around telling people the end to season one of 24 if they haven't seen it and don't know, because "hey, it's not my responsibility to make sure it's not ruined for you, *snicker*". It took me a while to get to watch The Sixth Sense and someone ruined it for me, and it still pisses me off that I wasn't able to enjoy it. But he was at least apologetic.

It's called Respect. Pass it on.
posted by Plutor at 1:57 PM on February 18, 2006


Eh, I got spoiled on probably the biggest/most shocking plot development on the last season of the Sopranos, and while it was a little disappointing at the time, it didn't "ruin" the episode or the season for me in the slightest. (And as for The Sixth Sense, I guessed the twist in the first couple of minutes of watching it, and I still enjoyed it plenty.)
posted by scody at 2:21 PM on February 18, 2006


I think it's different when the majority of members here would be unable to view the event until when NBC decides to broadcast it.

You are aware that there are other countries in the world besides your own, who have TV networks who broadcast the events before NBC does? Or are the rest of us forced to STFU because your TV network is teh silly?
posted by mcwetboy at 2:34 PM on February 18, 2006


You are aware that there are other countries in the world besides your own

Yes I am. I said "the majority of members here" because the majority of members of MeFi are Americans and thus subject to the silly NBC network.
posted by gyc at 2:52 PM on February 18, 2006


I guess I've learned my lesson to also expect spoilers on MeFi.

The way you phrase this gives it a snooty "everyone's wrong and you're right" kind of tone.

How about this: the next time you put yourself into a self-imposed media blackout, include MetaFilter in "media."

That work for you?
posted by scarabic at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2006


I don't understand how you can have a spoiler of a real event. It seems that by this definition, the first time you hear about any event is a spoiler.
posted by nomad at 3:13 PM on February 18, 2006


gyc writes "I said 'the majority of members here' because the majority of members of MeFi are Americans and thus subject to the silly NBC network."

Luckily there is this new fangled thing allowing people to read about events happening anywhere in the world who would otherwise be subject to the inane scheduling priorities of American TV networks.

/snark

Ya we probably should at least try to delay this stuff from appearing on the front page. The post would have lost nothing if it was split with the result inside.
posted by Mitheral at 3:17 PM on February 18, 2006


Exactly. You're choosing to rely on NBC for your Olympics news, and that network refuses to let you know what has already happened in Torino today until there are a sufficient number of people seated in front of their television sets.

That's like getting upset because you heard about the 9/11 attacks in a Metafilter thread before you had the chance to watch the NBC Nightly News.
posted by emelenjr at 3:19 PM on February 18, 2006


The way you phrase this gives it a snooty "everyone's wrong and you're right" kind of tone.


You'd be wrong then.

Exactly. You're choosing to rely on NBC for your Olympics news


Well, if anyone could point me to somewhere online that would allow me to watch Olympic events as it happens, it would be much appreciated. Unfortunately, I recently moved away from the Canadian border, losing my access to the CBC. It's not like I really have a choice on choosing when to watch certain Olympic events.

That's like getting upset because you heard about the 9/11 attacks in a Metafilter thread before you had the chance to watch the NBC Nightly News.

I don't think that's even close to the same thing at all.
posted by gyc at 4:20 PM on February 18, 2006


gyc, maybe you could get a friend to setup a tor proxy in canukistan for you to access the CBC's website, assuming they put the olympics on there.
posted by Paris Hilton at 4:49 PM on February 18, 2006


That's like getting upset because you heard about the 9/11 attacks in a Metafilter thread before you had the chance to watch the NBC Nightly News.

That's the strangest analogy I've ever seen on Metafilter. You're Ross Perot, aren't you?
posted by xmutex at 5:16 PM on February 18, 2006


Oddly enough, I actualy did hear about the 9/11 attacks on metafilter. It was only a few weeks after I got an acount here.
posted by delmoi at 5:27 PM on February 18, 2006


...unable to view the event until when NBC decides to broadcast it

This is your big problem. You regard the Winter Olympics as a television show, not as an actual sporting event taking place in Italy. Someone wins an event. It's news. News is reported. Watching the actual event on television is just one way of viewing that news. I mean, shit, this has been going on every day for me - the Australian telecast seems to be delayed by 12 hours. I turn on the morning news on the radio and hear who's going to win the events I watch that night. I don't expect the radio news bulliten to remain silent about the results out of respect for the magical, mystical world of television.
posted by Jimbob at 5:38 PM on February 18, 2006


The Winter Olympics is a television show, at least for those of use that like to actually watch the athletes compete, as opposed to merely hearing or reading the results.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 5:41 PM on February 18, 2006


Breaking News != Spoiler.
posted by cribcage at 5:43 PM on February 18, 2006


*thinks about trying to find the last spoiler thread, which was very amusing, as I recall, then realizes he can't be bothered*
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:23 PM on February 18, 2006


On one hand, it would be nice if people didn't post spoilers in the titles. Not compulsory but it would be rather considerate.

On the other hand, learning the ending of a sporting event or a tv show or a movie is not the end of the world and you'll forget all about it tomorrow.

In summary, much ado about nothing.
posted by smackfu at 6:43 PM on February 18, 2006


smackfu writes "On the other hand, learning the ending of a sporting event or a tv show or a movie is not the end of the world and you'll forget all about it tomorrow."

The Crying Game was spoiled for me in 1992. Since I can remember that, and it was 14 years ago, I think you may be somewhat innaccurate in saying people forget spoilers in 1 day.
posted by Bugbread at 6:59 PM on February 18, 2006


The Winter Olympics is a television show, at least for those of use that like to actually watch the athletes compete, as opposed to merely hearing or reading the results.

Yes, but it's a television show that's broadcast live in countries that are well represented here. Who waits 14 or more hours to discuss a live news event they've witnessed? gyc should be complaining to NBC. CBC's daily live olympics broadcast starts at 6am est & gets solid ratings, so why can't NBC do the same? It's freakish that they think it's cool to keep their viewers in the dark for almost an entire day. Also, what scarabic said.
posted by zarah at 7:22 PM on February 18, 2006


nomad: "I don't understand how you can have a spoiler of a real event. It seems that by this definition, the first time you hear about any event is a spoiler."

The same could be said about fictional events, like movies. The first time you watch the movie, it spoils the ending!

scody: "And as for The Sixth Sense, I guessed the twist in the first couple of minutes of watching it, and I still enjoyed it plenty."

There's a big difference between someone spoiling something and you guessing it. I was reading Lord of the Rings for the first time, and had a theory about a major plot element of the second book, and someone happened to blurt it out. It made that whole portion of the story less compelling, because, well, I already knew how it turned out.

smackfu: "On one hand, it would be nice if people didn't post spoilers in the titles. Not compulsory but it would be rather considerate."

That's all I'm saying. I'd appreciate it if people didn't ruin movies for me on the front page or in the titles, so I'm not going to ruin not-yet-televised sports events for them. Simple consideration.
posted by Plutor at 7:27 PM on February 18, 2006


Oh, I agree. I don't have any problem with the "spoilers," I was just pointing out that reading a short article reporting the results of some event is not comparable to watching the event broadcast on television, live or not.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:27 PM on February 18, 2006


I was agreeing with zarah, in case anyone cares.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:28 PM on February 18, 2006




Remember your bestest friend who was so excited to tell you that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father? wheeeee!
posted by hyperlith at 7:32 PM on February 18, 2006


FWIW, I like to read the medal results and watch the tape-delayed broadcast--I guess that's weird.
posted by bardic at 7:49 PM on February 18, 2006


You'd be wrong then.

I have a spoiler for you: you will die alone.
posted by scarabic at 7:53 PM on February 18, 2006


scarabic writes "I have a spoiler for you: you will die alone."

That's not a spoiler.
posted by Bugbread at 7:58 PM on February 18, 2006


"you will die alone"

That's what the voices in my head keep saying.
posted by mischief at 8:12 PM on February 18, 2006


I have a spoiler for you: you will die alone.

You'd be wrong again. I am immortal.
posted by gyc at 8:21 PM on February 18, 2006


You're such a goddamn idiot. I can't believe I'm talking to you.
posted by scarabic at 8:23 PM on February 18, 2006


You only just figure that out?
posted by gyc at 8:58 PM on February 18, 2006


You're such a goddamn idiot. I can't believe I'm talking to you.

Where did that come from?
posted by delmoi at 8:58 PM on February 18, 2006


This is the stupidest MetaTalk thread I have ever encountered.
posted by timeistight at 9:02 PM on February 18, 2006


suck my horn
posted by puke & cry at 9:03 PM on February 18, 2006


timeistight writes "This is the stupidest MetaTalk thread I have ever encountered."

Spoiler: One day, there will be an even stupider one.
posted by Bugbread at 9:09 PM on February 18, 2006


Jeez, gyc, way to not take scarabic's prediction of a lonely death seriously!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:11 PM on February 18, 2006


Where did that come from?

Maybe from almost every other post in this thread being made by the OP who then sat hitting F5 and chiming in incessantly.

Maybe.
posted by geekyguy at 9:15 PM on February 18, 2006


A little bit of the old F5 "now I'm snippy" then "now I'm jokey" which often happens when someone posts an unpopular callout and can't keep from posting but wants to keep it from snowballing . But "goddamn idiot" was probably too strong. More like "flippant dork."
posted by scarabic at 9:44 PM on February 18, 2006


MetaFIlter: I can't believe I'm talking to you.
posted by Duncan at 11:01 PM on February 18, 2006


scarabic, you're like a snake eating its own tail, sometimes.
posted by gsb at 12:03 AM on February 19, 2006


How are those of us in the civilized world supposed to keep track of when an American network decides to get around to airing something?
posted by Space Coyote at 1:35 AM on February 19, 2006


Um... How did no one else pick up on scarabic's Triumph-insult-dog-insults-Star-Wars-Nerds quote?

"Do you think the whole plot of this movie is a little far-fetched? What do you guys think?
"Of course not. And we're not allowed to talk about spoilers here."
"I've got some spoilers. Who wants to hear a spoiler? Here's a spoiler: You will die alone."

Easy does it, kids.
posted by disillusioned at 2:55 AM on February 19, 2006


*thinks about trying to find the last spoiler thread, which was very amusing, as I recall, then realizes he can't be bothered*

ahem
posted by evilcolonel at 10:54 AM on February 19, 2006


i'm in an evil mood today

sauron snuffs it
dorothy dreamt that whole thing about oz
king kong dies
harry potter becomes a rent boy in london

oh ... oops
posted by pyramid termite at 12:35 PM on February 19, 2006


Was the analogy that strange? Maybe the 9/11 reference was a little over-the-top, but substitute another news event of your choosing. I think it still holds true. gyc's complaint was that he had heard about the outcome of an event on Metafilter before he had had the opportunity to watch NBC's coverage of the event.

-Ross Perot
posted by emelenjr at 1:15 PM on February 19, 2006


I didn't think the analogy was strange.
posted by Bugbread at 3:09 PM on February 19, 2006


timeistight : "This is the stupidest MetaTalk thread I have ever encountered."

14155, you've surely been missing lots of Meta threads. What are you doing, waiting for NBC to broadcast them for you?

Now, will someone post the GMT time for every important news show in every country, so we can all sync our watches and avoid this kind of problem again? Or buy the guy a cable subscription, whatever is easier.
posted by nkyad at 6:55 PM on February 19, 2006


GMT was replaced as the international time standard by UTC in 1972. C'mon, get used to it, you've already had 34 years.
posted by Bugbread at 7:11 PM on February 19, 2006


This is the stupidest MetaTalk thread I have ever encountered.
It's always sad when someone's short-term memory starts to go. Getting old is a bitch.
posted by dg at 7:21 PM on February 19, 2006


I know things NBC doesn't want you to know...yet.
posted by furtive at 7:40 PM on February 19, 2006


Maybe from almost every other post in this thread being made by the OP who then sat hitting F5 and chiming in incessantly.

can't keep from posting

Geez, a whole 7 replys (including this one) out of 60 from me. I definitely can't keep from posting.
posted by gyc at 8:32 PM on February 19, 2006


I think it's different when the majority of members here would be unable to view the event until when NBC decides to broadcast it.

This is why democracy will never work!
posted by bystander at 9:19 PM on February 19, 2006


>*thinks about trying to find the last spoiler thread, which was very amusing, as I recall, then realizes he can't be bothered*

>>ahem


No, that wasn't it. There was one in the blue that was a Laff Riot. Or so I remember it.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:52 PM on February 19, 2006


Stavros, do you mean this one? Not in the blue, but it's more spoiler-packed than the one evilcolonel pointed out.
posted by Plutor at 4:51 AM on February 28, 2006


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