Working for a spoiler-free Azeroth
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Jun 4th 2007 at 5:30PM
If you've ever been really excited about a movie, TV show or book release, I suggest that you avoid playing WOW between the time that thing is released and the time you see/read it. Because if the past few years are anything to go by, there's always going to be some person yelling out the crucial plot points in trade channel.
Harry Potter, Spider-Man 3, the last two Pirates of the Caribbean movies -- I've heard them all discussed, usually in all caps, the day after they came out. The only one I actually got spoiled for was Spider-Man, and that wasn't quite as big a deal. There was even a thread on the European forums mocking this trend that got up to double digits and included spoilers for virtually every video game, anime, movie, TV show and historical event ever. Remember, it was Earth all along! (Warning: read at your own risk.)
The only spoiler-worthy thing I'm into right now is the Sopranos. Unfortunately, because I don't have HBO, I don't see the episodes immediately and usually have to wait a day or so. And of course, there are people in my guild who do watch the Sopranos right away, including the guild's second-in-command who happens to live in my city and knows of my dilemma. So we get conversations like the following one on Sunday nights:
- [Guild] Kid who is too young to be watching this anyway: Did anyone see the Sopranos tonight?
- [Guild] Evil second-in-command: I did. Wow, that was such a great episode. What did you think?
- [Guild] Me: Shut up. Shut up. I swear to God, if you guys spoil me for this episode I will /gquit and then I will drive over to your house and cut through your cable TV lines. And then I will stab you in the face.
- [Guild] Kid who is too young to be watching this anyway: ...
- [Guild] Evil second-in-command: With the traffic on the Beltline? You'll never make it.
I'm also definitely avoiding WOW around the time of the next Harry Potter book release, both because I don't want to be spoiled and because I'll be reading the book instead of playing.
Have you ever been inadvertently spoiled through WOW? Why do you think people enjoy posting spoilers?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
g8rCody Jun 4th 2007 5:39PM
I'm going to be avoiding WoW when the next Harry Potter book comes out, primarily because when the last book came out, the suprise death at the end was ruined for me while I was casually reading the WoW forums.
Why do people do it? they're assholes.
Westley Jun 4th 2007 5:40PM
The Beltline? Are you from Madison?
amasen Jun 4th 2007 6:04PM
I was there when the last harry potter book was spoiled for me in a thread in the R&D forums regarding some raiding instance at the time and problems it was having... I was pissed.
Why? People are pathetic, and get off from screwing others they don't know. Once again the penny arcade theory proves true... No, I will not be playing wow, watching TV, reading internet news, or generally talking to anyone until I finish the book... I might even have to take time off work :D
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19
Chedder Jun 4th 2007 6:07PM
It turns out, the entire Harry Potter series is Bob Newharts dream. The End.
Lori Jun 4th 2007 6:14PM
Since I got a DVR, I don't watch anything live, mostly so I can skip commercials and secondly so I can watch TV on my schedule. I avoid anything that might spoil the end like who won a football game or a NASCAR race. The only time there was a problem was when I was happily leveling in Azaroth and, in big red letters, I see PITTSBURGH WON THE SUPERBOWL.
I don't think anyone says stuff in chat as an intentional spoiler. They just don't realize what they are doing. Although your example sounds a bit evil. Did you have time to turn the chat off?
Zhirem Jun 4th 2007 6:16PM
Oh yeah? And that guy in the 'Crying Game'? Well, he's an alien... No wait, that might have been that movie 'Contact'... Or was it the Butler in the Library with the candlestick?
Derelict Jun 4th 2007 6:53PM
I play RPGs on Monday nights, and record Monday Night Football.
I *hate* watching a game when I already know the ending score.
So, your "Shut up! Shut up!" sounds very familiar :)
D
Mats Jun 4th 2007 6:56PM
I don't believe in "spoilers". If you sit down and think about any event or story, it's been told a thousand times before, and you can with ease predict whats going to happen in almost every case.
Jess Jun 4th 2007 6:59PM
I my guild was actually discussing spoiler etiquette during a recent guild run. We were trying to figure how what the satute of limmitations was for spoilers, we figured 3 weeks or so.
In any case when last Harry Potter book comes out there's no way in hell I'm going to log on becuase I wasn to read that book totally unspoiled and becuase playing wow is going to take away from valuable reading time. Hopefully my guild won't need me for a run!
Anyway as a weird corallary I remember learning that the pope had died via general chat. Weird stuff indeed since General Chat had some colorful commentary on Catholicsm if I recall.
EdgEy Jun 5th 2007 3:21AM
#8 shares my sentiment, I don't understand why so many people seem bothered that obvious plotlines are 'spoiled'.
mystery Jun 4th 2007 7:31PM
@The Beltline? Are you from Madison?
Dude, 2nd Madison reference on WoWInsider in one day. We're awesome.
rufwork Jun 4th 2007 7:32PM
I've only caught that Sanjaya was booted less than three seconds after it was aired on the show. Impressed the better half knowing before she did.
Gman Jun 4th 2007 7:39PM
I remember hearing about Steve Irwin's death in Orgrimmar general chat. Not that it's a spoiler, just an interesting place to hear about news, heh.
But if someone was yelling/spamming spoilers and revealed something that I didn't want to know yet, I'd report him. Could you get someone suspended for something like that?
daveyp Jun 20th 2007 6:23PM
I'm reading HBP again to get me ready for the next book. It's going to be imba.
I cant decide if i should read fast to avoid it being spoilt...or to save it as it's the last one.
/roll
Tumples Jun 4th 2007 7:53PM
@ Mats : Must be a very boring life you lead if everything is so predictable, or did you know I was gunna say that?
Lenny Jun 4th 2007 8:25PM
The Beltline is a loop of road in Raleigh called 440 where a whole bunch of psychos drive. Thankfully my house is on 540 were drivers are psychotic in a completely different fashion. Weather effects negate traffic laws here!
The truth about spoilers is that humans delight in the misery of others, some of them anyway. I don't watch TV and no one in my office watches movies so I'm safe from most spoilers. I'll be biding my time at the IMAX with the Order of the Phoenix waiting to pounce on the book and tear through it. Hopefully there will be others in my guilds that have read it by the time I get back online. Oh I can keep my mouth shut but I'd rather chat with someone after reading a good book or watching a movie. I love reading news or learning something new and then letting others know, maybe it's an addiction. So the line between what I know to share and what I know to keep a secret could get blurred. But I promise not to release any secrets on here :P
-Lenny
Big Dan Jun 4th 2007 8:46PM
@ Tumples
I knew you were gonna say that!!! But I'm a lil bit psycho. Did I say psycho?? I meant psychotic.. No thats not it.. Oh well.
I hate spoilers too though. I always hear them at work and in game so I wear earplugs at work (also because I work at FedEx Hub) and I turn off every chat I can in wow around the time of anything I don't want spoiled. So far it is working.
Interestingly I heard about Irwin in Barrens chat too. Everyone kept saying not to pet the stingrays.
I didn't get it till I saw the news that night.
Oh well!
Joshua Ochs Jun 4th 2007 9:09PM
Or... you could move ll of those annoying-ass channels to a separate "chatter" window. As for guild chat, well, you'll just have to stab them in the face. :)
Elizabeth Wachowski Jun 4th 2007 9:58PM
Actually, I went to college in Madison, but I live in Raleigh now. Both cities have Beltlines, but Raleigh's a. actually surrounds the city and b. is not permanently jammed with traffic.
So everyone's right!
Seridius Jun 4th 2007 11:52PM
If you dont like to be spoiled dont Read threads regarding the book tv show or movie in question. Avoid it. As for guild chat, when that starts happenening turn off the guild chat channel. Its doesnt take a rocket science to avoid the answers to these and many other question .... My point is you WANT to know what happens, deep down inside you wanna know, and thats why you read them. So quit complaining about it and just deal with it.
IF YOU DONT LIKE SPOILERS dont READ BEYOND THIS LINE
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ORLANDO BLOOM DIES AT THE END OF THE NEW PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN.
Now for those of you who didnt see this and what to complain. I WARNED YOU AND PROVED MY POINT !!!