Disturbing trend

[greatbear]

Okay, I just dont understand some people.

It's been a trend that I have been seeing more and more, but it really became widespread with the latest Harry Potter book. For lack of a better name, I will call it "spoiling". In other words, people are in some way or another deliberately making public the outcomes or 'secrets' or other info in the latest popular book or movie or what have you in an attempt to ruin it for others who haven't seen/read/heard yet.

Assholes.

Sometimes it's unintentional, like those on the east coast seeing a television show then posting it on the internet not thinking that west coasters have yet to see the show. With others, it's purely intentional, as if to say "I got mine, screw you people". It's a kind of vandalism in some ways.

I've seen it in some LJ post but mostly in more 'juvenile' web forums such as Genmay and SA. People get their jollies at the expense of others. And it's becoming more prevalent, to the point of not knowing where it will show up next.

Comments

[baeritone.livejournal.com]

I have only once spoiled something for someone in an online forum. My lj cut was improperly coded, and I didn't notice that it hadn't been. I fixed it, but not fast enough.

The book in question had been out for about six months by that point, and I was vague about details, but still, I felt bad about it.

All this is only to prove your point that often, it's not intentional.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I'm not talking about cases like yours, which are relatively rare and purely unintentional (and forgiveable). What I am complaining about is those who deliberately go out of their way to intentionally post or say whatever it is that's needed to be a spoiler. I'm seeing it more and more, centering around popular books, Survivor-style game shows, American Idol-like contests and whodunit/cliffhanger television shows. It's mainly centered around the internet and it's instant reach to areas that might not have had a chance to read/watch/experience that something 'unmolested'. And it's likeliness to occur is in direct proportion to how unexpected the 'secret' happens to be.