Ever had a major book, movie or TV show spoiled for you? Ever had to fight off the urge to strangle that person who ruined it? Then you'll probably know what I'm talking about...
Spoilers are one of the hardest things to avoid on the internet today. If a major movie comes out, before a week is over, social media is crawling with spoilers in the form of memes and the safest way to avoid seeing something you don't want to see is staying away from the internet altogether, until you've watched the movie. The heartless folks who post spoilers just days after the initial movie release have just one answer when us normal people ask why they would do such a thing - "The movie has been out for a week! Why haven't you seen it yet?" Oh, I don't know... maybe it's because we have a life. -_-
As an avid moviegoer, I want to watch a movie, peacefully, in my own time, without having to worry about anything that would ruin my experience. Maybe that's a little too much to ask, unless you're willing to cut off all human contact for fear of the dreaded spoilers. Because spoilers are more than just accidental little slips of the tongue. They are weapons. Cold, hard weapons; lethal in the wrong hands. "No, I don't want to know what happens at the end of [...]! I have some pretty bad-ass [...] spoilers up my sleeve and I'm not afraid to use them!"
Books and TV shows have it worse than movies because we can't finish them in two hours. A spoiler attack can come midway through and ruin what's left of it. It's very annoying how a small, simple sentence can destroy what would have been a great experience. Something like... He dies at the end...
NO!!!! Why? Why would you do something like that to me?!? The cause for sadness is not just having an entire book ruined. It's also the fact that a character you know and love won't make it. And I'm just not emotionally ready for that.
These are the times when you desperately wish you could un-hear what you just heard. Times when you wish an MiB Neuralyzer actually existed. Times when all you can do is lament over what is lost.
Avoiding spoilers does not work all the time. The surest way is to immunize yourself by watching the movie or reading the book as fast and as soon as possible. By that, you arm yourself with spoilers which you can use when necessary. This is possibly the best and most powerful way to take revenge because spoiler attacks are still legal.
But please, don't do it. It's one of the most cruel and heartless acts you can ever commit. A spoken word cannot be taken back. At least give a fair warning. But sometimes, accidents happen. They just .... come out. I've been there. It's not a good feeling. So, try. Don't deliberately have someone hate you for the rest of their lives. Spoilers can be more dangerous than you think.
Now, here's my fair warning. If you spoil something for me, I will take it as a unforgivable act of betrayal.
So don't. Just... don't. For your own sake.
Have a nice day.