Jesus Christ - if you don't want to know what is happening on current episodes then for God's sakes don't read the newsgroups - you're not going to train EVERYONE who posts to use spoiler space. I guarantee that if you are reading the newsgroup you will have something spoiled, even if 80% of the users insert spoiler space (which they don't). So if you don't want to know what's going on, get out of here.
If you read these posts you are actively seeking information. When you get that information and then get mad it's your own damn fault.
To hope that an unmoderated forum will comply to a spoiler space rule for all episodes in the past two years is ludicrous. Seek a more appropriate forum, rather than whining and effectively interrupting conversations about current episodes. You're bitching and moaning about people who are posting "on topic" for this forum. You'll never stop it and it's impossible to force everyone to use spoiler space for a damned television show.
I have been on and off of this newsgroup since 1995. Never has the spoiler issue been as much of a problem as it has the past few months.
Every once in a while there is one person who has a fit about it, but usuaully they cave in and see that if they want respect here, they will follow the rules.
That's what it is about, respect.
This newsgroup is for fans of the show. There are fans of the show all over the world.
It really isn't that difficult to put in a spoiler warning. Seriously. We took a vote a couple of weeks ago and the najority voted that spoiler warnings be put in the subject heading.
If it is too difficult for you to have respect for others in the world who want to enjoy this newsgroup, then I suggest *YOU* find another forum to post in.
For our friends across the pond, maybe we can come up with a list of the biggest offenders, and you can block their names on your newsreaders. It's sad that it has to come to that.
Teh issue isn't that people who don't want to be spoiled shouldn't come to this newsgroup. The real issue is that there are way too many lazy, disrespectful people here. Which is a shame because really interesting, wonderful, nice, respectful people have stopped posting here.
So Winston, why do you personally feel that it is okay to ruin upcoming shows for people across the pond?
I am killfiling Trigger, Winston Smith, TEWhome and probably more.
I am aware that they won't even give a shit about this, and will probably use this as an excuse to post even more spoilers and ignorant crap. Ah well. Ignorance is bliss, guys, I hope you're happy.
I really miss the old ATF, and the old bunch (most of whom are at least still visible - Randy, James, Claire, yourself...) of posters with respect, love for the programme - but not unconditional fandom, a clueful kind of critical love - and the old camaraderie. (I also miss Lee. Sniff. More lately than for some time.)
I feel your pain. By the way, though I suppose it is sad to killfile someone, it is by no mean unprecedented or unusual. In a way, it is entirely possible to have a newsgroup within a newsgroup in this way, and if it means not letting some people ruin the group for the rest, there's nothing wrong with it. There is no law that says any particular person *must* respond to any other particular person, much less even read what that other person has to say. You are right, this should be a drastic measure as opposed to the norm, but sometimes drastic measures are necessary.
It means configuring your newsreader so that messages that fit certain criteria don't appear: e.g. "all messages from Trigger" or "all messages containing "baby" in the header" or whatever you choose to set up. You can block all messages from certain email addresses (this is useful for persistent trolls, spoilers or spammers) or specific threads and/or words. There are other rules you can killfile by, but they're specific to particular newsreaders. Some can killfile things posted to more than X number of newsgroups (spam). Some can't.
No. The only way it affects other readers is if they throw a hissy fit at being publicly killfiled (it happens), or if they post something asking for a specific response from someone who has them killfiled and therefore won't see the message.
Usually, being *plonked* (publicly killfiled) is a sign that you're not really fitting in to the group, or that you have posted something that is unacceptable/insulting/whatever. Depending on who plonked you, you may or may not wish to alter your subsequent behaviour, but that's entirely up to you. That's generally the point of stating that one is publicly killfiling a particular person, to bring to their attention that they have really stepped over some kind of line.
Jacqui wrote in message news:W6FE7.2328$[email]...
Excuse me asshole!!!!!!! But it is not a matter of not caring (for me atleast), but I forget to post spoilers. So exuse me. I suppose you never make mistakes? If I were you I would pick my battles more wisely! If you are that angry about it then maybe you shouldn't post here because I am so sick of you people thinking that you know everything about everyone else. You don't know crap about me or my motives so get off over your high horse!!!!!!!
It is sad that simply discussing ON-TOPIC is considered a reprehensive act. It seems to me that Trigger's posts have been harmless and certainly not the work of a troll. However - if killfiling me and Trigger makes you feel better I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so. If you think it will prevent anyone from ever posting a spoiler again (I have never posted a spoiler, BTW), than good luck with that little fantasy.
"Trigger" wrote in message news:p3_E7.563$[email]...
This will be my final post on this particular subject because frankly I am tired. I am on this newsgroup to enjoy myself and not get into meaningless battles with you. If I want to fight I will spend more time with my family! I personally believe that this whole newsgroup (within itself) is a spoiler and if you don't want to know what happens then don't come onto a newsgroup where we are all talking about the latest episode! Even though this is my personal opinion I will try and remember spoiler space for those who are ignorant to the fact that this is a spoiler newsgroup, or those new to the newsgroup. Trying to go about my own buisness -Trigger
My exact thoughts...but didn't want to post because i knew i would get non-Americans screaming at me for being a rude b*
This whole newsgroup is a spoiler. And i'm more and more beginning to feel like this is work everytime I post about current new friends shows airing by putting in spoilers and being extra cautious about every single thing.
I put in spoiler space just so that there isn't more freakin annoying converation on this Spoiler issue.
Sofya
"Trigger" wrote in message news:pm3F7.9515$[email]...
I have never posted a spoiler once ever in this newsgroup as I am primarily a lurker (this seems to dismiss my right to voice an opinion in your eyes, if I read you correctly). However, it seems every time I see an interesting thread it is littered with messages chastizing the original poster ("This thread contains spoilers! It says who may be a potential guest star in two weeks! Don't read!").
My point was not that I personally was posting spoilers, but the expectation that EVERYONE will use spoiler space is not reasonable.
I still stand by my feeling that if you turn to a completely unmoderated forum about a television show that the current episode WILL obviously be the topic of discussion, so getting angered at those discussing said show is not valid.
No one accused you of posting a spoiler. You support the posting spoilers without any warnings, telling people to not visit the newsgroup if they are worried about having things spoiled for them. That is what is being criticized here.
And you let such messages ruin your day? If the thread is interesting to you, just step around the messages you don't like.
Saying it doesn't make it so. I'm sorry, but your statements don't pass any criteria of reasonableness that I can think of. If you are simply saying that no one is perfect, that's hardly news to us or anyone else, and doesn't help. If you are saying that expecting everyone to post spoiler space and warnings out of deference to others is an incredibly unfair burden, then I dispute that. Typing 7 letters and hitting carriage return 10-15 times is hardly an incredibly unfair burden.
As I read the reality of this newsgroup, obviously some people will never agree with the above, no matter how much sense it makes, and most of us are resigned to the fact that there will be some here who can't be bothered to provide spoiler warnings. Life goes on.
What I mind is all the whining about how we continue to request spoiler warnings. Why don't you just ignore us if you think we are stupid?
First of all, no one said *anything* about not being able to discuss the current episode. There are all kinds of discussions going on here about the current episode, but many of them are *properly* marked as spoilers so that those who haven't seen the episode yet can easily avoid them.
So, I assume what you mean to say is that "the current episode WILL obviously be the topic of discussion without any spoiler warning".
To that I say: not so until recently. For a long time in this newsgroup it was generally agreed to by almost everyone that spoiler warnings should be provided, and almost everyone did so without too much complaining.
I'm wondering about something...why are "LURKERS" not allowed to voice an opinion? Sometimes there aren't good headers to reply to and you just have to "lurk" until you finally find something interesting for yourself to reply to.
Sofya
"Winston Smith" wrote in message news:d02F7.3025$[email]...
Who gets to decide who gets to post here? Um no one! This is a public newsgroup. You know this little click that some of you seem to have is kind of sad. Are you in highschool? I want to talk with many different people, and so do many other people in this newsgroup. So if all of you want to keep this click going, then why don't you just email each other and leave the rest of us alone. (For those of you who don't know what a click is , it is a group of people who are usually children, who stick together and don't do anything with anyone else, just with each other, like a club)
All that people ask for is spoiler space. When someone corrects another about not using spoiler space, hopefully that person will learn.
You, instead of apologizing for your error declare war on everyone and curse people out. Why call someone an idiot for pointing something out. Some people weren't even talking to you directly and you still curse them out.
This is not about cliques, this is about respect for others. The original poster in this thread stated that if people don't want to read spoilers, they shouldn't come to this newsgroup.
That is not the way things have been here. So why should it change now just to please you?
No one is stopping anyone from posting here.If you want to be respected here, then just follow the simple rules. Why is that so difficult, and why must people fight about it?
And I don't recall anyone saying that lurkers were not welcome posting here.
But,if you keep having a bad attitude towards people, and persistantly post spoilers without warning, people will killfile you to protect themselves from what you may say. If you want to become part of good conversations with others around the world, then just respect the rules of the newsgroup. Otherwise most people will killfile you and soon you will be talking to yourself.
Why put up such a fuss?
"Trigger" wrote in message news:jPjF7.11106$[email]...
The point is that if you don't want to know what happened in the latest show, then don't read this newsgroup. I don't care who is reading this newsgroup, everyone is welcome, but you can't tell people what to do. We don't tell you what to do. If you don't like the spoilers then leave, but if you don't care then please stay and talk. We are not forcing you to read our spoilers. Why even read what we post if you think that we will spoil shows for you. Just don't click on a message with our names next to it. It is that simple, but you all have made it hard on yourselves. If you had done this from the start instead of arguing you could have avoided this headache.
Lora J wrote in message news:B%jF7.2048$[email]...
First of all, I live in the US and the spoilers don't bother me. I respect others who wish not to be spoiled and it annoys me when people have zero respect for others.
Why is that so hard to understand. It is also not for you to decide who can come here and who can't. This forum is open to all, and we strive to make this a place for everyone to utilize.
If you want to post without posting spoiler information, there is a newsgroup for that. It is called alt.tv.friends-northamerica. You will also find it very lonely over there.
I don't understand why the newbies on here refuse to follow the system that has worked here so well.
"Trigger" wrote in message news:pVkF7.126$[email]...