First, what is a spoiler? A spoiler to me is something that effects the entirety of the universe in which the show exists. Saaaaaaay, Patrick Duffy showing up in a shower and an entire season being a dream sequence, or Rachel & Ross having sex in Vegas.
TELEVISION
NON SERIAL/NORMAL TV: No waiting period really necessary for “The New Girl” or “Big Bang Theory” but I still try not to post big plot points from the episode that effect the entire universe of the show. (ps I don’t watch BBT)
HIGHLY SERIALIZED: I like to wait 24 hours plus an additional period of time till the next morning. That way, people have time to come home from work the next day and watch it. For example for a show airing Monday, I would wait till Wednesday morning (say when i get into work) before saying anything. <!–more–>
SEASON FINALE/PREMIERE: If it airs on Sunday, I would wait till not the next day, but the following Monday after that. So for something that aired March 30th, i’d wait till Monday April 8th (again around when the time i go to work, not at MIDNIGHT).
SERIES FINALE: This is tough – depending on the show it is different. I would probably only talk about the series finale openly among friends that I know have seen the episode, but on social media I would wait indefinitely until I am comfortable the ending has saturated pop culture (as I did with LOST) or just honestly never mention it really on social networks.
MOVIES
NORMAL FLICK: This is simple, if a movie comes out on Friday, I wait to talk about any plot points on twitter/facebook/etc for 10 days. That takes it to the following Monday giving anyone who wants to see it two full weekends.
TWIST ENDINGS: I don’t mention them on social media until the ending has saturated pop culture. For example, Now it is common knowledge that Bruce Willis is dead in the Sixth Sense so go nuts (I can’t wait for the jokes below that you didn’t know) but basically i wait until everyone else in the world spoils it, till then I say nothing.
THEATRE
I NEVER SPOIL THEATRE! EVER!!!
except, If the play/musical has been made into a movie/tv series/whatever, and then I apply the above rules to those productions.
BOOKS
Same as theatre, but the chances of me even reading a book are slim and the chances of me reading a book before all you people are even slimmer.
Honestly overall I tend to avoid posting plot points at all, and if I do I give as much warning as I can. I like to follow a simple overall rule though, “If I read this on twitter/facebook/google + before seeing the show/movie would this annoy the pants off of me? Oh it will? So in that case I won’t publicly post this than.” And I think that is a simple request for everyone that utilizes social media. With the advent of the DVR people watch episodes at their own pace AND in the future TV will be released in chunks like netflix does, and thus people will begin to watch entire series at their own pace. I like to show restraint and respect for those that were busy during the first airing, and give them a chance to catch up, cause that is what I would want for me.
The above are my rules, not my expectations for everyone, but I do hope people find some sort of guideline for themselves – I mean give people at least 24 hours for heavens sake!
and I have a PS.
First response I normally get when I post stuff like this is “IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS then stay off social media!!!” and to that i say two things; ONE I am able to avoid spoilers while still surfing fb and twitter quite well actually, but many can’t. TWO so you want people to become shut-ins basically? because in this day and age not going on twitter/facebook is akin to locking yourself in your room, peeing in mason jars, and letting your toe nails grow to ungodly lengths while you wear tissue boxes for shoes. Posting a spoiler on social media to me is like posting a spoiler on a street corner with lots of foot traffic, on a bulletin board on your school campus, or in a general memorandum sent out to your work colleagues – or – for those with a T-Shirt company, posting spoilers on a T-Shirt you wear instantly after the show ends. Basically don’t make it so people can just happen upon the information. Simple.