Spoilers - Do we need them here?

andrewgturnbull

Hi folks.

Ok - there's been a bit of pi$$ taking because I suggested that posters should put spoiler warnings in and not mention stage/race winners in topic headers.

On many usenet groups and forums this is the norm, and accepted by all. Others suggest that as this is race you shouldn't look here if you haven't seen the result yet.

I'll happy go with whatever the majority decide, so vote here.

Cheers, Andy

ColinJ

The Don't visit Race if you don't want to know the results argument doesn't work for me. I use the View posts in category since last visit feature to keep on top of forum postings and I don't think that there is any way of stopping Race threads appearing there.

As for just keeping away on race days - if you add up how many days of racing are televised in a year (for example) that would be a lot of days that I couldn't access the forum.

Please use the *Spoiler* convention. Even if you don't mention actual results in thread titles, you also need to be careful not to drop hints. Great British Success!!! might not say who did what, but it is often easy to guess.

DaveyL

To be fair to what happened, shouldn't the poll really be "Do we need to preface threads with 'spoiler' the day after the action in question?"...

I don't think anyone would argue with having a spoiler-titled thread on the day. You need to poll everyone to see what grace period they're happy with.

But as has been said, if you're really that dead set on watching later without knowing what's happened, stay away from the "race" section of a cycling forum til you catch up.

andrewgturnbull

DaveyL wrote:

But as has been said, if you're really that dead set on watching later without knowing what's happened, stay away from the "race" section of a cycling forum til you catch up.

That's exactly the question I'm asking.

If that is your opinion, then you should vote for option 2.

Cheers, Andy

DaveyL

You must have missed the first part of my post, Andy - you're not asking the right question. Or you're just out looking for a rumble...

If I was really, REALLY, dead set on watching highlights without knowing what happened, I'd stay away from such a forum, but I understand that other people are not prepared to do that. Hence - live and let live - put a "spoiler" on any thread that contains such. But, you came on the day *after* to have a moan, so in my opinion your poll question is a little disingenuous.

ColinJ

DaveyL wrote:

To be fair to what happened, shouldn't the poll really be "Do we need to preface threads with 'spoiler' the day after the action in question?"...

I don't think anyone would argue with having a spoiler-titled thread on the day. You need to poll everyone to see what grace period they're happy with.

I'd be happy with a grace period of 4 weeks!!! If I go on a 2 week holiday at the start of the Tour de France, I'd like to be able to record those 2 weeks and start watching them when I come back, while recording the remaining week. It would take me some time to catch up. Okay, it would be hard not to find out the results somewhere, but why deliberately spoil things?

I've been following the action in the Giro, but it so happens that I am going on holiday on May 31st for a week. I'll not have access to the TV coverage while I'm away so I'll be recording the last two stages, which could well be decisive. I may have access to t'internet and if so, I'd like to be able to pop in here to keep up with things. I just don't want to keep up with the Giro! It's a simple enough concept - no spoilers - for at least a month!

DaveyL wrote:

But as has been said, if you're really that dead set on watching later without knowing what's happened, stay away from the "race" section of a cycling forum til you catch up.

As I mentioned above - for me that would mean "Stay away from the forum altogether" or "Don't use the convenient way of keeping up with the forum"!

DaveyL

A month? Excellent, we have an opening bid.

To be honest, in a way I can sympathise with Andy. For months, one can log onto race and not see any discussion of results, just discussions of doping. He's obviously had the misforutne to click on the one thread which actually talked about racing!

andrewgturnbull

DaveyL wrote:

You must have missed the first part of my post, Andy - you're not asking the right question. Or you're just out looking for a rumble...

If I was really, REALLY, dead set on watching highlights without knowing what happened, I'd stay away from such a forum, but I understand that other people are not prepared to do that. Hence - live and let live - put a "spoiler" on any thread that contains such. But, you came on the day *after* to have a moan, so in my opinion your poll question is a little disingenuous.

Hi DaveyL.

No I'm not looking to make trouble. And as far as I can tell I only made one post pointing out the spoiler convention - which was on the Monday morning while Sunday's stage was being discussed.

The question is exactly what it says on the tin.

I'll be away from a TV for the next couple of days, and when I come back I will be really, really dead set on watching the highlights without knowing what happened in the Giro.

Should that stop me coming on here and talking about last Sunday's national 10?

Maybe I'm wrong and you're right - I just wanted to establish what the majority opinion was.

Cheers, Andy

DaveyL

"Hence - live and let live - put a "spoiler" on any thread that contains such." - are we really on opposing sides of this particular argument?

ColinJ

*Contains spoilers !!! *









I really can't see what is so hard about naming a thread Giro - stage 16 or Giro - mountain time trial (whatever). It doesn't strictly need the word 'spoiler', but why not include it. "Sella - so near, but so far. PS well done Pellizotti!" would be just plain annoying.

Yeah, why shouldn't we be able to come to Race and pick and choose what we read about?

If I was in the middle of reading a thriller and someone blabbed out the chilling last-chapter twist, I'd be really annoyed. Just as I was when someone told me what was in the box when we were on the way to watch the movie 'Seven' (7even?)!

Tom Butcher

Yes don't really need spoiler in the heading so long as it's obvious what it's about. It's the main site that always catches me out - they nearly always have a picture of the days winner on it.

donrhummy

How much extra effort does it take to write "spoiler" in your title? It takes nothing away from your thread and allows everyone to enjoy the Giro in whatever way they want.

redddraggon

I don't know that big deal is. I've never understood people getting worked about knowing the results - it's not a film. I'd rather know if the highlights were worth watching before sitting down and wasting my time watching them.

pottssteve

Hi, andrewgturnbull et al,
Well, in all innocence I do appear to have stimulated a vigorous argument, don't I? And it's not about doping or cakes!
How's this for a compromise - I like talking about the stage soon after it finishes. Because I get up earlier than you lot in England I can post earlier. Also, I'm liable to do this because:
a. I like talking about the race.
b. I think racing is exciting.
c. I have no other life to speak of.

However, I promise to use *SPOILER* in capital letters if appropriate. Also, I'll try not to give anything away in the title of my post by calling all future posts "The Late Princess Diana".

I hope this is ok for all concerned, especially andrewgturnbull.
Hugs,
Steve
PS - I hope you enjoy your couple of days away, andrewgturnbull. Are you going anywhere nice?

drenkrom

To clarify my own position, which is not that clear from the two options, I am all for *spoiler* alerts in thread topics. But if you're starting a thread about the great ride of some rider, you're going to have to name him if anyone is to know what the thread is about. "*Spoiler* Superb ride from %?(*?%" doesn't quite cut it for me.

Anyways, I always get it late. By the time I get up to my maple syrup waffles, you've had your tea and crumpets already.

moray_gub

andrewgturnbull wrote:

Hi folks.

Ok - there's been a bit of pi$$ taking because I suggested that posters should put spoiler warnings in and not mention stage/race winners in topic headers.

On many usenet groups and forums this is the norm, and accepted by all. Others suggest that as this is race you shouldn't look here if you haven't seen the result yet.

I'll happy go with whatever the majority decide, so vote here.

Cheers, Andy

well given i was one of the ones having a wee pop at you i better give my opinion

No problem with a spolier on the day of the race but a day after or even as suggested a month !!!! This is RACE we discuss all matters RACE and a GT is ongoing so i think its only fair a day later to post a riders name in thread title. As for the guy who uses the last posts since visted cant you just chosse a different way of viewing until you have caught up ?

cheers
MG

DaveyL

Moray Gub wrote:

andrewgturnbull wrote:

Hi folks.

Ok - there's been a bit of pi$$ taking because I suggested that posters should put spoiler warnings in and not mention stage/race winners in topic headers.

On many usenet groups and forums this is the norm, and accepted by all. Others suggest that as this is race you shouldn't look here if you haven't seen the result yet.

I'll happy go with whatever the majority decide, so vote here.

Cheers, Andy

well given i was one of the ones having a wee pop at you i better give my opinion

No problem with a spolier on the day of the race but a day after or even as suggested a month !!!! This is RACE we discuss all matters RACE and a GT is ongoing so i think its only fair a day later to post a riders name in thread title. As for the guy who uses the last posts since visted cant you just chosse a different way of viewing until you have caught up ?

cheers
MG

+1, as they say.

andrewgturnbull

pottssteve wrote:

PS - I hope you enjoy your couple of days away, andrewgturnbull. Are you going anywhere nice?

Hi there.

Business not pleasure unfortunately. I always seem to end up in hotel rooms with Sky Sports, but never Eurosport. I was however at a family wedding last weekend, which was excellent - kilts and all.

Drenkrom - porridge up here, not tea and crumpets!

MG - if there's already a thread going (e.g. Stage 15 - Spoiler) why not add your comments in there? Was there a need to start a new thread that gives the game away?

Cheers, Andy

2Fast4Love

I was also one that took the piss, so heres my thoughts. The main thread was called "Giro Stage 15" or whatever, so I don't see a problem with that. The thread that prompted all this was "Chapeau Mr.Sella" I think?

Personally, I'd avoid the relevant section of the forum until I had watched the stage, but I understand that people would have other reasons for visiting the race section, other than the days Giro stage.

But how long do we have to carry this on for? Would I be ok to start a thread relating to Contador winning the 2007 TDF.... yes, I am taking the piss again, sorry!

(I voted in favour of spoiler warnings btw)

Edit - sweet jesus, it turns that word into "wee-wee", and I sound like I'm about 12! :oops:

moray_gub

andrewgturnbull wrote:

pottssteve wrote:

PS - I hope you enjoy your couple of days away,

MG - if there's already a thread going (e.g. Stage 15 - Spoiler) why not add your comments in there? Was there a need to start a new thread that gives the game away?

Cheers, Andy

Well i normally do add my comments in the spoiler thread but sometimes a rider or his exploits or an issue surrounding the race merits discussion out with that thread . I think 24 hours later its reasonable to assume that most posters have seen or are aware of the previous days stage. Keeping spoilers going for days on end stifles debate imo.

cheers
MG