[Bastard]

Just wondering, what are the actual spoiler rules?

I really hate spoiler tag discussions, but I understand the need for it... but just wondering, when is it OK to finally discuss a book without the need for the spoiler tags? Is there some sort of unwritten rule that after 3 months or so after publication it might be alright to discuss a book without the spoiler tags? Or do we have to use spoiler tags forever when discussing actual details of events in a novel, etc.?

I tried looking at the rules, but they seem quite simplistic on when exactly are spoiler tags expected to be used. And when it's alright to leave them out for that matter.

Thanks for any help.

[Hobbit]

The new rules say:

We appreciate the use of spoiler tags where possible in discussion threads.

Usually, if in doubt put spoiler tags in.

Exceptions are usually in a Book Club discussion thread (it's pretty difficult to discuss the book without spoilers!) or if the thread title says spoilers in it.

Rob's recent example for The Gathering Storm illustrates this.

Mark

[Obtuse]

I am obviously not speaking with any authority here, but..this would appear pretty cut and dried. If you are going to post something that would spoil the plot for someone who hasn't read a book...use spoiler tags. It doesn't matter if the book has been out for 3 month, 3 years or 3 decades. There is no time limit after which it can be assumed everyone has read a book. Think about people who are new to genre and haven't read anything. Think about people who can't afford hard cover books and have to wait for paperback.

[Bastard]

I am obviously not speaking with any authority here, but..this would appear pretty cut and dried. If you are going to post something that would spoil the plot for someone who hasn't read a book...use spoiler tags. It doesn't matter if the book has been out for 3 month, 3 years or 3 decades. There is no time limit after which it can be assumed everyone has read a book. Think about people who are new to genre and haven't read anything. Think about people who can't afford hard cover books and have to wait for paperback.
Well, there also has to be some responsibility by the member entering a thread of a book he hasn't read, particularly for a book that has been out for a while I would think.

I know that I enter threads only of books I've read, and if I enter a thread of a book I haven't read, I just read the first couple of posts to get an idea of what the book is about. As far as I'm concerned, discussions beyond that shouldn't be of my interest particularly if I want to avoid getting spoiled.

In all, I don't think it should be an all or nothing... I think prudence has to come from both sides, but spoiler tags can discourage good discussions here and there.

In all there should be a balance in my opinion.

But whatever, was simply looking for some clarification on the rule, since I'm used to discussions that simply preface the posts when necessary warning about possible spoilers in the posts, and so be it. If a member doesn't heed the warning, then that's on him. But when in Rome... right?

[Obtuse]

I agree that simply putting "SPOILER" at the beginning of your post or before the relevant section of it should be sufficient, but the rules seem to favor the tags. That being the case, I would rather go to the trouble of putting in the tags than risk ruining a book for someone.

[Bastard]

Oh, and here's another part to it that I think deserves distinction. I think there's a difference between discussing a novel in a general discussion thread, and discussing said novel in a thread specific to this novel.

In a general discussion thread, spoiler tags should always be used with sensitive information... but if we're in a thread that it's specific to a novel, I would think that theres room there for the usage of spoiler tags to be less crucial, and over time not needed I would think.

[Civetta]

Um, how do you put in spoiler tags? (Not that I've posted any spoilers, I want to know in case I want to post them..!):confused:

[Loerwyn]

Um, how do you put in spoiler tags? (Not that I've posted any spoilers, I want to know in case I want to post them..!):confused:

[*spoiler*]Text here[*/spoiler*] < Just remove the asterisks.
See?

Oh, that reminds me. Spoiler tags don't "hide" the text in e-mails from the board, so you can get an e-mail from a topic where someone has used spoiler tags and still see the message. More likely a bug with the forum software rather than the forum itself.