to think it’s not really a spoiler if it’s already been on the telly

[Ellybellyboo]

My colleague and I have been at work since about 5am so decided to nip over to the staff canteen for coffee and bacon rolls.

We were sitting together at a table, minding our own business, nattering about last night’s Bake Off.

Another colleague came over to join us and as soon as she realised what we were talking about started ranting at us for ‘ruining the whole series’ for her and ‘thanks for the spoiler’

The winner was announced at 9:15pm last night, is it really reasonable to expect other people not to talk about it the next day, just in case someone hadn’t seen it yet?

We weren’t yelling across the office, we were having a quiet conversation

On Facebook last night I saw a friend having a row over spoilers with someone who had posted the winner’s name, after the programme had aired.

So, aibu to think it’s not really a spoiler after the TV programme has aired?

[Leaspr]

If I don’t want to know the result of something I will avoid social media and the news etc. If I then accidentally overhear it being discussed it’s annoying but not their fault. You know the risks of recording a big finale or game...
I can’t expect people to keep quiet about everything I plan to watch in the future whether it be one night after, a month or a few years (more likely to be a movie in this case - not a reality show!)

[DeadGood]

Sorry OP I have just gone back to read your OP again.

She WBU to come over to YOUR conversation, then complain about what she heard.

But that isn't quite what you said in your topic wording, which is: "AIBU to think it’s not really a spoiler if it’s already been on the telly".

Revealing details about a programme even if it has already aired absolutely is known as a "spoiler".

The example you gave - say, someone who reveals the ending of a show that was taped live - is so specific and rare that it wouldn't be "a thing". Bit of a weird suggestion actually.

As a PP also said, you are confusing leaks and spoilers.

Whether you agree or not with "remaining silent" for a few days, or checking if people have seen it already, doesn't really matter. A spoiler is what it is.

In the same way that you could say that someone revealing the ending of a film is a 'spoiler'. It's normal to ask others "have you seen XYZ?" before discussing the ending. People have been doing this with no problem for years.

[BattleaxeGalactica]

She is being precious especially as she was the one crashing the conversation.

[melj1213]

summerswallow the final had only aired a couple of hours before, it's not like I'm expecting nobody to mention it ever, just not have a discussion about the winner at the top of their voices in public only an hour or so after the winner was revealed when it is entirely possible that other people may not have had a chance to see it.

When I'm in work and can't watch on real time then I do everything in my power to stay spoiler free - I stay away from news sites, social media etc in order not to be spoiled because I know it is myour responsibility to avoid anywhere that spoilers may be.

I accept that people can and will post/say spoilers but I do think that people should also show some basic consideraction and not go into a public place and explicitly discuss something popular that aired only a couple of hours before when there are bound to be a few people who haven't had chance to watch it yet.

[Summerswallow]

melj1213 you honestly can't expect people in the supermarket not to discuss current TV programmes. It's sad to miss it for work, but I really think expecting Twitter/people in supermarkets/people at work to go into lockdown til you have viewed it (which could be later, next day, few days later) is unrealistic. Why would they be talking in code in the supermarket about 'a winner' and not discuss the actual winner?

This is something I never knew was a big deal. I don't get mad if I watch Strictly an hour later as I was busy doing something unavoidable and then the DM publish who is gone! I know that goes with the territory of not watching things on time for whatever reason.

[melj1213]

I think it's polite to consider that not everyone can watch things when they're aired.

I was spoiled for GBBO last night because I was at work until 11pm and was planning to watch it when I got home ... at 10:45 someone came into the supermarket and was having a loud conversation with their friend about the winner

I usually try to make sure that if something has been released/finished/revealed then I am conscious of the fact other people may not have seen it and don't explicitly talk about details eg "OMG I loved the final last night, the showstoppers were amazing, and the winner was definitely deserved." Vs "OMG I'm glad X won the GBBO"

[Summerswallow]

These things are national cultural TV events, you can't expect people not to have water-cooler discussions the next day!

[MissionItsPossible]

I said this on another thread but I was watching Twin Peaks when it was announced it was coming back. At that point where I'd reached the mystery hadn't been revealed and it seemed to be everywhere I turned because it was a big deal it was coming back. 24 hours? YABU. Try battling 25 years worth of spoilers (but I did it)

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Who won? I am away at the moment

[JaneJeffer]

That'll teach her to eavesdrop. She should have worn a sign saying don't tell me who won Bakeoff.

I think once it has aired it's hard to avoid finding out.

[EdmundCleverClogs]

bellagood by 'hush' I don't mean not talk about it, just be a bit more aware that in this modern day of watching tv wherever and whenever I don't think it's unreasonable that someone hasn't sat down at 8pm on the dot to watch something. It's very easy to have click titles that say 'Winner of GBBO announced' rather than 'James/Sarah/Zog has won GBBO!'. Same with being aware of surroundings when talking about it, I wouldn't be impressed by learning a spoiler by someone talking too loudly in public about it e.g. ringing your mum on the train 'did you see it last night? I'm so pleased X won!'. It's just a bit of awareness and courtesy surely?

Oh, and I don't think you filled your quota of using the word diva there - do you want to try and slip a few more in, just so you really get your point across to anyone who may disagree with you?

[SomethingNewToday]

to me, and everyone I’ve ever spoken to about stuff like this before, a spoiler is when someone reveals something before it’s been aired

Not to me tbh. With popular TV shows or series/films, I'd always say along the lines of 'Have you seen this now before we ruin the ending?' to anyone in the group. Even when I'm taking about old but popular shows like Prison Break - it's years old now but so popular I know a number of people that have only recently watched it or are intending to so don't want to know the outcome.

My sister is awful for film spoilers - she'll say 'Oh have you ever seen XXX?'. I get chance to go 'mmm not sure, maybe...'.
Now a reasonable person would say along the lines of 'it's the one with Jonny Depp, set in the 1800's?'. Oh no. My sister will go 'you know, the one set in the 1800's where Jonny Depp saves the princess then jumps off a cliff at the end and dies?'.

[Ellybellyboo]

Sorry, pressed post too soon,

We stopped talking pretty much as she sat down then she immediately started ranting at us

[Ellybellyboo]

She didn’t really give us a chance to say or do anything.

She came over and sat down before either of us had really realised she was there.

We stopped talking pretty much straight away

[TieGrr]

If she came over to join you, I'd have expected one of you to say 'we're talking about GBBO' or something along those lines before continuing on with the conversation. At which point she could have either left or asked you not to reveal who won.

[Hippee]

It's not the end of the world, is it - though I'm still pissed off with the newspaper that printed the photo of the murderer from Broadchurch on the front page the day after the episode aired - had been looking forward to watching the whole series, but ended up deleting it.

[Ellybellyboo]

I suppose to me, and everyone I’ve ever spoken to about stuff like this before, a spoiler is when someone reveals something before it’s been aired - so when people at Strictly live shows post the person who leaves before the live show has been aired on the Sunday.

But still, is it really reasonable to expect people not to talk about a popular TV show that has already aired if you haven’t seen it.

We were having a quiet conversation, not shouting or plastering it on FB

Last night and this morning there were people moaning about spoilers on GBBO’s own Facebook page. Of course they’re going to announce the winner of their own show.

I kind of think if someone hasn’t seen it, it’s up to them to avoid social media/other peoples conversations, not police the rest of us

[bellagood]

If we were still living in a culture where a program was on when it was on, no catch up and streaming, you'd have a point. However, that is no longer the case - people are not tied to the tv schedule. Whilst obviously you can't avoid these things 100% after initial broadcast, I don't think it's unreasonable to have a 24/48 'hush time', so anyone yet to catch up can do so. I don't think it's that ridiculous an ask, most media outlets I like keep things as spoiler free in titles for a good couple of days (American programs which are shown earlier in the USA manage not to accidentally spoil it for the rest of us for example). I can see why your colleague was cross to be honest.

@EdmundCleverClogs

Do you suggest the whole of the internet, the media, the newspapers, all the tv channels, all the news bulletins, EVERY single medium just hushes up and doesn't mention the winner of the most popular terrestrial show on tv, for 2 days, to accommodate the divas who are getting pissy at people revealing the winner to them, before they have watched it on catch up!

What if someone doesn't manage to watch it by the end of the second day? Do we not talk about it for a bit longer, so as not to upset the entitled divas?

I suggest the snowflakes and divas who can't bear to hear the result of something that has been aired on tv, but they haven't been arsed to watch yet, don't leave the house, don't put on the tv, don't use the internet, and don't answer the door, til they have seen it. Because I sure as hell ain't gonna not talk about it because of some precious diva who can't be arsed to watch it before they come out in public.

[amusedbush]

I'm busy during the week with work, the gym, errands, etc so I watch all of my TV for the week on a Saturday morning.

I think maybe five days after something airs is acceptable to not want any spoilers.

Says the person who is trying to avoid spoilers for the West Wing, which ended a decade ago

[Figgygal]

I don't even care that much but I avoided all internet and radio this morning to try preserve my ignorance until I'd watched it.

[LoverOfCake]

No yanbu it's not a spoiler if it's already aired. Not even if you've decided to record and watch later.

[Goldfishshoals]

I think you are confusing spoilers with leaks. The normal way for spoilers to occur is for other people to have seen something you haven't, for which it must have aired!

The woman was unreasonable, because you had every right to chat about it, but her terminology in calling it a spoiler was fine.

[PerfumeIsAMessage]

No it's not. Here on MN every year though, about other things but mainly bake off, there is absolute hysteria with posters piling in on poor OPs, crying literally at times because they didn't watch the telly at the same time as other people.
Some people I guess are more telly addicts than others.
I get they are disappointed to find out before watching a show I suppose though I can't imagine being that absorbed by anything on TV, drama or reality show.

[bellagood]

@Deadgood I think that's a bit daft, as there is bound to be someone who hasn't seen it. I am not going to not talk about it, because there may be someone listening, who didn't manage to watch it.

[pigeondujour]

It's pretty self obsessed to expect people to discuss popular tv programmes to your personal timeline. Watch it when it's on if you're that bothered. If you can't, accept that that's life and don't be a brat.