jack: (Default)
[personal profile] jack
Continuing on from a comment in my last post, what doesn't constitute a spoiler? What examples do you think are so universally known that no-one at all would not know/mind being told? (In the UK, let's say -- obviously these won't have spread everywhere.)

This is *not* lj-cut, that's sort of the point :)

* Pasion of the Christ: Jesus rises from the Dead. Christians have spent 2000 years telling people, I really hope everyone in this culture has heard about this by now. Of course, some people haven't, but I think this tidbit is generally the first not the last thing said -- no-one says "Hey, you're ruining the ending for the Heathens!"

* Dracula: Dracula is a vampire Dracula is so synonymous with vampire I bet reading this it didn't occur to you that he could not be. Does anyone not known this? And also not know all the other hints?

This is an interesting one, actually, because when it was first written, I think this was *not* obvious, and a different and possibly better horror novel for it.

* Romeo and Juliet: They die at the end Quite apart from the bywordity of them, I heard an amusing exchange about this.

A: blah blah blah die at the end blah
B: Hey! Technically that's a spoiler.
A: Yeah, but everyone knows--
B: I know it's 400 years later, but some people haven't seen the play.
A: And also, IT SAYS SO IN THE PROLOGUE, YOU ILLITERATE MONKEY!

:)

Are those the best? Can you think of anything else more universally agreead not to be a spoiler?

PS. And now, some that don't count:

* Titanic sinks, Napoleon loses Waterloo -- I think these are sufficiently well known and intended to be known there's no point not saying them. However, I have heard people exclaim "Oh no, you spoiled it for me."

* How starwars ends, What the "Matrix" is -- You'd think everyone would know, but some people just don't care about the films, haven't seen them, and don't know.

Date: 2006-09-22 02:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com
What is it? Is it worth partaking of? Does the spoiler spoil it?

Date: 2006-09-22 03:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dragonwoodshed.livejournal.com
It's this godawful romcom with Nicholas Cage playing an angel who chooses to fall to earth and be mortal after falling in love with Meg Ryan's doctor character. It's total hokum that I watched after reading it was loosely based on Wim Wender's 'Wings of Desire' (ahuh, very fucking loosely!). I love it. I love it with every tragic little impulse in my soul. I only have to see the opening scene to start sobbing my little heart out. It's utter genius. And it's terrible. I feel about it like I feel about Miami Vice.

And yeah, LUMBERTRUCK does pretty much spoil it!
From: [identity profile] cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com
Should I go on and read the rest of the comment, or not bother? I like some romcoms.
From: [identity profile] dragonwoodshed.livejournal.com
You so can't just stop reading comments. No way Jose, you've already read it. Buwahahaha. I will infect everyone with my love for this movie. Oh yes.

World domination is mine.
From: [identity profile] cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com
Oh, ok, you got me. I find it very difficult to not read things :) OK, go on, inflict me! Mmm, yes.

But I haven't seen it yet, you may have to do some more convincing.