'Spoiler' and 'Spoiler Alert' Etiquette

Some people say something is a spoiler if they find out information as soon after a movie or television show ends. Others scream "spoiler" weeks later. So, what is a spoiler and when does information stop being a spoiler?

First of all, a spoiler is some information in a movie or television show that people tell others who have not watched it. The information is called a "spoiler" because it actually spoils the enjoyment of the show before it is watched. How long should the information be kept a secret?

Social Media

Spoilers are posted on social media as soon as the credits roll on some television shows and movies. It is unfortunate that some spoilers are posted as soon as a series begins. For instance, Season 10 of Married at First Sight aired on Lifetime on January 1, 2020. Spoilers began to be revealed on social media on January 2, 2020. That was definitely too soon for viewers to know how the season would end as soon as the season began.

The job of entertainment media and critics is to discuss what happens on television shows, in films, in music in real time. They can't wait for everyone to get around to watching a presentation. Therefore, it seems more reasonable for people to refrain from reading what is written instead of blaming others for posting what their jobs require. So, is there a happy medium? Yes, there is!

Spoiler Alert

In order to let people know an article has some recent information from a movie or television series, writers have begun to notify readers about upcoming spoilers. They do so by tagging their article with the words "spoiler alert" so readers can make the decision to read or not to read further.

Sometimes when writers post information long after a show ends, some people complain that it is old news. So, what is a reasonable solution for the reader and the writer?

If people do not want to read spoilers, then they should not join Facebook groups, message boards or blogs where spoilers are likely to appear. The responsibility should be on the person reading instead of solely on the writer.

Expiration Period for Spoilers

What is the period in which talking about the details of a film or television show is no longer considered a spoiler? Experts say people should wait at least two weeks before discussing a movie plot and at least a week before discussing information in a television show. By then, people who are interested in the shows will have seen then.

Some people still don't want to be told who shot J.R. on Dallas that was revealed on November 21, 1980. That's his photo shown above. Some people don't want to know the ending of the 1972 film The Godfather. Don't tell some people that Sean Spicer didn't win Dancing with the Stars that ended on November 25, 2019. Those examples are a little extreme, but some people do wait a long time to watch something and then they scream, "Spoiler!" when someone writes or talks about it.

People Who Like Spoilers

There are some people who actually like spoilers because they want to know everything about a series before they watch it. Sometimes spoilers put them in the mood to watch a particular movie or television show. In fact, they go to social media for the express purpose of finding out spoilers.

As long as there are movies and television shows, there will always be spoilers to deal with. Spoiler Alerts: J.R.'s sister-in-law and mistress Kristin Shepard, played by Mary Crosby, shot him in a fit of anger. The Godfather ended with the killing of five families. Sean Spicer was on Season 28 of Dancing with the Stars. He didn't win, but he stayed in the competition longer than people expected. He ended up in sixth place. Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten won that season.