What is your opinion of spoilers revealing the plot of show?

I couldn't have said it better myself. If you don't want to know, don't read the thread. Problem solved.

If I am planning on seeing a show I don't really look at a thread when it's started as I don't want to read anything about it, even the little things. Big things should probably have a spoiler notice though, I am sure if someone revealed "the secret" in the Harry Potter thread, folk would not be best pleased.

When a show is in the public domain, has public, well known source material that has been out there for years and basically already done in several productions before then yes, I don't see why not - it's not a spoiler if it's easily accessible. Just because someone hasn't read the book or seen the movie doesn't make it a spoiler in that case

If it's completely new, no published source material and not even finished previews yet then that's a different story and I think that's fairly obvious - people don't have access to the source material even if they'd wanted to read it.

It all does always come back to personal choice though - it is entirely within anyone's control as to whether they get spoiled on a forum as no-one is forcing anyone to click on the thread relating to the show. It's at that person's own risk and as far as I'm concerned the forum shouldn't be policed just because a couple of people haven't seen something that has been widely distributed - once something is that public it is fair game for comment and it's no-one's right to dictate that it shouldn't be discussed (that's also the point of reviews, to discuss a show, and the reviews are out for this). If you know the source material is widely known, as in this case, then there's obviously going to be a risk people will discuss it, so if I wanted to go in completely unspoiled the obvious and easy thing in my mind would be to avoid the thread. Forgive me, but I'm struggling to understand why doing so would be problematic.

Ok firstly I think danieljohnson14 has spoken really reasonably about his requests and in this case the original post was quite spoiler-y in terms of the 'how' of this production, so could have disappointed some others given that it's barely open. Likewise the 'how' of the events in Hamlet could be considered spoiler-y again given it's hardly open.

I don't really want to see every tiny detail of every production spoiler- tagged because well everything would be hidden! but perhaps an agreement in the early days of a production we spoiler tag the 'how' or 'key plot points' but once something has been open a few months (and reviews are out etc)it becomes 'fair game' and we don't spoiler tag unless it's MAJOR? then it's up to individuals to decide whether they want to read threads or not...

So by this thought process, Cursed Child is a very, very widly distributed book... so if I read it, I am good to give away spoilers on the general thread because it is widely distributed and therefore I am safe to assume everyone has read it? Because if that is the case, as you are implying,I am happy to oblige when I see the show!

To those worrying, I'm not a dick like that, I won't do that. And the person who posted the inital Girls spoiler has apologised and a spoiler tag has been put up for future readers, so I am really over it now. AllI am asking for is curtosy before posting so openly about a show. I always double check and think about what I am posting and think will it spoil it for someone!

Nooo, you need a period *after* a book is published, not everyone is going to devour it in the first few hours of purchase. Even if they want to, they might not be physically capable of doing so! I personally reckon at least 24 hours after a TV episode has aired, wait for the DVD release of a film, at least get to press night of a show, and give it ideally a month after a book is published depending on the size of the book. But, y'know, it's okay to still be considerate of spoilers *after* a reasonable time period has gone by, because you don't know who's coming new to the story and people should be able to make their own decisions if they want plot points spoiled (in which case they can look up a synopsis or something) rather than having the decision taken out of their hands.

I mean, as with all things, the 'don't be a dick' rule should be applied- a bit of common sense tells you if something is major enough to spoil a production by revealing it. Such things are always relative and I do think that some people are too sensitive to 'spoilers' and should take responsibility for their own 'protection' in that case. But generally if you're doing a Homer Simpson coming out of Star Wars deliberately, then you're being a dick. If you're discussing the thing and unwittingly drop a bombshell you're human.

Mods, feel free to merge into that older spoilers thread if we're getting too off topic- I review a fair bit and I try to stay away from spoiling major plot points, and I tend to sign post a bit in the writing if I'm getting into plot points. Sometimes you have to- in order to describe a particularly good moment or set piece or similar it's impossible to completely avoid. And again it depends on the show, so if I was reviewing Pride and Prejudice which I saw last night, I'd assume I had a bit more liberty that people are familiar with the basic plot and it isn't a MASSIVE spoiler to say there's a love story between Darcy and Elizabeth. When I review a new piece of work I try not to reveal too much because as much as my 'job' is to give critique it's not my job to make it so there's no point people seeing it!

That is... based on an opera that's even older than that, that has the same ending?


Man, some of you people are so extra, as the kids say.

I think I'd have to politely disagree with you on that, with regard to the Cursed Child. Tickets are exceptionally difficult to get, and many people would rather not read the script before seeing the play. So regardless whether 'it's in the public domain' or not, it is most definitely a show better not spoilt. Even with the two separate threads on here, spoilers have slipped into the specific "no spoilers" thread. To argue that people should avoid threads if they wish to avoid major plot details is also a tad unfair.

Many of us - myself included - read most threads for shows which interest me, as a community on here it's where we help one another. By avoiding reading threads we run the risk of missing out on opportunities that others bring to our attention (see the 42nd St. Thread as an example on bargain seats). 

For what it's worth I agree that potentially big plot details ought to be hidden behind spoiler tags. It takes an extra 30 seconds worth of time to do it, and everyone's happy. No biggie.