For all the TV shows fandoms that I dip into, I find the Game of Thrones and Pretty Little Liars fandom to be the biggest for spoilers. Both shows are based on books and the fans are eager to let you know they have read the books and either a) the show is deviating from the book, let me tell you what really happens or b) you think that’s something wait until such and such when blah blah. Stop it!
So you’ve read the books. So what? Does that give you the right to spill your guts all over the internet every opportunity you get? If someone does a review on the current episode of Game of Thrones on YouTube, you shouldn’t see it as an opportunity to let the world know what’s coming in book 5 in the comments section. Book people don’t even create separate threads on forums anymore.
One of my favourite YouTube channels had to disable comments on the videos because spoiler a*holes seemed to take great pleasure in disclosing upcoming events. I think it’s really mean. I have the Game of Throne books but I haven’t read them yet. I’ve decided to wait until the series ends. Part of me is afraid of becoming ‘that guy’ (you can still be that guy if you’re female right?). There might be subliminal messages at the end of each book that tells the readers to go forth and spoil the heck out of unsuspecting people. I don’t know but I’m not taking any chances.
Not even the Vampire Diaries and True Blood fans hurl out spoilers the way Game of Thrones and Pretty Little Liars fans do and they are based on books also. I think part of my frustration with Pretty Little Liars was a spoiler I accidentally read back in season one that got my hopes up and then the series took a completely different turn. Maybe they took that turn because of all the spoilers, who knows.
I avoid social media when I don’t want to be spoiled until I have seen a show. Once I’m caught up I go off to read or watch reviews and interact with like-minded fans. I used to enjoy reading the comments but I’m really wary when a book has been turned into a TV show.
I just want to say to people who have read books that become TV shows, do us all a favour and keep the excitement to book specific spoiler threads. In general forums, let’s keep the talk about what is happening in the series at this moment and don’t lord it over those of us who haven’t read the books for whatever reasons. And if you just can’t help yourself how about giving the rest of us some warning? How hard is it to write *SPOILER ALERT* before you comment? Be nice people.
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