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comment by _refugee_
_refugee_  ·  3235 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Meet the Man Who's Been Spoiling the Bachelor For 4 Years

To quote myself:

    There are times I have no urge to spoil books or movies. They are not frequent but they happen; usually it is a sign that I am enjoying the media, or that it simply doesn't matter to me much what the plot actually does.

For what it's worth, I frequently watch horror movies (if well done, capable of building great tension) and almost never spoil them. This is honestly usually because I don't preplan what I'm going to watch, I just throw it on, and then I sit back and enjoy the movie until it's done. I don't spoil things all the time by any means. I tend to start gently batting at my movie companions as the tension level rises. They usually find it amusing. I get that thrill and understand it. I think generally that horror seems to fulfill this urge in me and outside of horror, I don't want it. Just surmising.

I would also say that the interpretation that I spoil things and then, instead of focusing on plot, focus on storytelling and technique, is not really accurate. I still focus on the plot and what's happening. I may know the broad strokes when I have spoiled something but I don't know the details and I care very much about details - I am one of those people that watches everything with subtitles on because I hate to miss even a single word, even though single lines of dialogue really are not that important to one's overall understanding of a movie. But I think knowing the broad strokes enables me to pay more attention to the fine details of the plot.

To show myself:

I am what I am, and I know what I am. I embrace my nature.

P.S.: I have some favorite bad movies. And I find that discussions about media that you dislike - be it a book, a movie, or whatever - can actually help you realize more quickly and with more understanding both what you like, and what in general makes examples of that media strong, or weak. Book club discussions are awful when everyone likes the book. There is nothing to say. It is when you have differing opinions and complaints that you really get into something.





CrazyEyeJoe  ·  3235 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Fair enough. I don't agree with how much you're using spoilers, but I understand your rationale. We don't all have to be the same.

I also notice more details the second time I watch something, which I enjoy, but I also enjoy the first watch, for different reasons. My thinking can basically be summarised as: Why not both?

_refugee_  ·  3235 days ago  ·  link  ·  

At the end of the day, the only person who truly knows how much I use spoilers in this thread is me.

I would summarize my thinking as: There is no "should," "right," "wrong," or "properly" about how a person chooses to idly amuse themselves, especially in the context of TV, movies, or books.

I've noticed an overarching sentiment in this thread that there is a right and wrong way to enjoy media. I think that the only point is to enjoy it.

Would we have had as substantial a discussion if I started a thread and announced that I only read and watch things in reverse order (starting at the end and moving forward)? Why? If I enjoy it, then isn't the point of my leisure activity fulfilled? Would someone tell me I am "watching movies out of order too much," as if I was fundamentally missing something very important about the nature of movies by doing so? So what? This isn't a class and I'm not being graded. I do not have to demonstrate well-roundedness.

I do not mean to antagonize but I think telling someone who enjoys movie spoilers that they "rely on it too much" is tantamount to telling a comedy buff they watch too many comedies. Who is monitoring my consumption habits and who even cares about them? - The answer is, outside of this thread, no one. And would no longer spoiling movies fundamentally change my life or psyche? the answer is: it would not, not a whit.

You can tell me I should exercise more or should eat more vegetables or should save more money - these things I accept. They make an impact on my wellness, future happiness, stability, life goals, and etc. But to say someone should watch movies a certain way? Next you will be telling me there is a wrong way to use Hubski, or wear my hair, or go on vacation.

CrazyEyeJoe  ·  3235 days ago  ·  link  ·  

When I said I didn't agree with it, I didn't mean that you were wrong for doing it, just that I wouldn't want to do it myself.

I actually don't have any issue with most of what you've responded to me, you're free to enjoy media as you please. Personally, I would rather give the author the benefit of the doubt, and be pleasantly surprised, while risking to be unpleasantly disappointed. If, for you, the pain of being disappointed isn't outweighed by the pleasure of watching something without prior knowledge, then by all means continue to read spoilers.