Buzz In: What's Your Spoiler Policy?

October 8, 2007

USA Today had an interesting story last week saying that with the advent of DVRs, "watercooler TV" is becoming a thing of the past. After all, it's hard to talk about last night's "Grey's Anatomy" when half your friends and coworkers still have it sitting on their TiVos!

The more ways there are to watch TV whenever you want to (online, on DVD, On Demand), the harder it is to know what's OK to talk about and when. So I've got a couple of questions for you, dear Buzz readers: How do you watch TV these days? What shows do you watch live, and which can wait? And when do you think it's fair to start discussing spoilers with other fans?

Source

TV Spoilers Buzz In

22 Comments

Allytta 5 years 32 weeks

i don't own a tv, because it would totally eat all of my time, so i ignore it. but i watch hell lot of shows online (actually 40 of them). but i'm thinking of giving some of them, and sticking to the hits like D.H, House M.D., Heroes, P.B., all three of CSI, Weeds, Bones, Chuck (because of Rachel Bilson), Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, GG. I just don't have the time for B&S, Reaper, Californication and others. Most of my friends aren;t show junkies like I am, so they don't mind. But the ones that do watch, usually feel it coming so they tell me to just shut up until they watch it.

sumnboutme 5 years 32 weeks

i always ask if they've seen it first because i tivo everything and I usually end up watching it during the weekend...or when i'm in the mood for it. I hardly watch anything live. sometimes when I watch a live show, I forget and start pushing the forward button...lol.

gruaig_rua 5 years 32 weeks

Well I've had more than a couple of shows ruined for me by people on here! :rant: I'm in Ireland, and we're months behind when it comes to most shows. I mean take ANTM - series 8 only started here last week but I already know who wins!! :irk: Of course people like to discuss their favourite shows but if they could just announce SPOILER it would save it being ruined for many more of us.

Angelica 5 years 32 weeks

I love spoilers - I can't help it. Unfortunately, I'm also the person who sneaks and reads the last page of the book when I'm only half way through. It must be a lack of patience.

ladyg 5 years 32 weeks

I agree with MichMirags 24 hour policy, and that seems to be the rule among my friends. Also, like genvessel, I'm in a campus environment also and here as well the Grey's Anatomy and Office fans watch those live and then discuss them the next morning/day. That said, I mostly watch tv shows online at the network's sites, especially since ABC has most of my favorites and has them online. With spoilers I generally read them and enjoy hearing the smaller ones that make me want to watch an episode or show. I don't really like the huge spoilers that reveal a big plot twist or spoil suspense too much.

UrbanBohemian 5 years 32 weeks

Time is of no concern to me. People can discover shows on their own schedule, and I like to be respectful of people's wishes by not revealing anything. For someone who doesn't like spoilers for things I really care about, I would hate to ruin it for someone else. But unless they want me to spoil it for them, then I'll respect that too :-)

Staceygirl 5 years 32 weeks

I watch most shows on tv during their scheduled time slot, and if I miss it, I'll watch online. I'd say as long as you have a spoiler disclaimer, nothing's off limits. Seeing what everyone else has to say about Grey's on Fridays is almost as (and sometimes moreso) entertaining than the show itself.

controlledspin 5 years 32 weeks

I always ask if the person has seen it first. I try to be very careful with movies, more than I do for shows.

blondie829 5 years 32 weeks

I only mind spoilers when they are for my favorite shows like Lost, Grey's, FNL, Heroes and The Office. Otherwise, I don't really mind; especially if the spoiler makes me want to watch and find out what happens! There are times that I don't catch a show like 24 and then find out what happened or what will happen and I know I can't miss it. I watch Grey's, DWTS, The Office, FNL and Lost live, and DVR the rest. I would be bummed if I found out from a friend/co-worked what happened on those shows.

Phasekitty 5 years 32 weeks

I agree with MichMirags about the 24 hour time limit! There are certain shows that I make a point to watch live, not only because they're my favorites, but also because they're the ones I know people will be discussing in the office the next day and I like to be part of those discussions. Usually they are Heroes, Lost, Grey's, and Office. The rest of them I catch when I can, though I think I might make Pushing Daisies a mandatory live show as well :) If I do have to miss one of these shows, I usually come into the office saying, "I didn't see it last night! Don't tell me anything!!!"

Linda McP 5 years 32 weeks

I'm honestly okay with spoilers; in fact, sometimes I'll seek them out. I always try to watch House, Ugly Betty, Grey's, Desperate Housewives and Friday Night Lights in real time and record Damages (Lorelei, it is a great show!), Mad Men, Dexter and The Office. Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Mad About You, Gossip Girl, Aliens in America get watched sometimes either in real time or weeks later if not. After writing this, I've concluded that I watch way too much tv!

KerryG 5 years 32 weeks

I've gotten a lot more paranoid about passing on spoilers since becoming involved in internet fandom, where as many people HATE them as love them. I use cut tags on LiveJournal for days after an episode airs, and preface spoilery conversations in RL with "Have you seen so-and-so episode yet?" The only show I always watch live is Supernatural, but I usually catch FNL, Bones, etc. online within a day of airing if I miss them, because that's when the discussion is best on LJ. Meanwhile, I sometimes seek spoilers out and sometimes avoid them - it depends on the show and the point in the season. Even in Avoid Mode, though, I think calling officially released info like episode titles and promotional trailers/previews "spoilers" is overkill.

glynislily 5 years 32 weeks

I usually start off asking if they saw it. That gives anyone a chance to say they hadn't and to find someone else to talk to. I hate waiting to talk about it. I had a policy with Lost with my friends after an episode aired not to talk to me until they watched it because I may say something they would regret hearing . But shows like Ugly Betty and Grey's I can wait and usually don't initiate conversation. I think if you are someone who hates to be spoiled you should try to watch a show when it comes on because there are many people who cannot keep their mouth shut about it. DVR is a do at your own risk sort of thing. If you don't appointment watch a show you run the risk of being spoiled. I only DVR Nip/Tuck because sometimes I really am not in the mood for that show when it comes on, but no one I am friends with really watch it so I it is OK.

genvessel 5 years 32 weeks

I still find that there are some shows that everyone tries to make sure they've seen... or they're very vocal about not wanting to talk about them. I have started prefacing conversations with "did you see it last night?" instead of just diving in... but as a general rule, Heroes and Lost are both viewed the night of. I live in a campus environment and many of us watch those shows in large groups. Parties are thrown for The Office and Grey's as well... But that's an interesting point... that DVR has killed the "must see because it'll be talked about"... huh...

jdots24 5 years 32 weeks

i agree with MichMirags' 24 hour policy, although since I never watch TV as it airs (I either DVR it, download or watch online) I am guilty of covering my ears and yelling "Don't say anything!" when my friends talk about a show I haven't seen a few days later. The only show I watch live is Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, only because my friends and I have made a girl's night (or hour) of it.

MichMirags 5 years 32 weeks

You have 24 hours from airtime to watch the show. After that all bets are off! Only exception is Lost, that must be watched in real-time. It must be discussed thursday morning!

Lorelei Spirit 5 years 32 weeks

First off - I am not bothered by spoilers in the least. That being said, I realize that even though I feel this way, many people can't stand to have their shows spoiled, so I try to respect that and usually will not start a conversation about a show - I'll wait for it to be brought up. I'm really bad about DVRing things and not ever watching. I had every episode of Damages, to date, in my DVR - but had to clean that out this weekend. I hear it is a great show, but I've just not had the time or been in the mood for it. I'll check out the DVD. I mostly watch the shows I know my peeps are watching also live, and DVR most everything else. So I watch The Office, ANTM, Weeds, and Survivor live (typically). Everything else gets DVRed and I catch up when I can.

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