I don’t mind people posting mild spoilers before first transmission, provided that “spoiler space” or some other protection is provided for those browsing by who may not want to read the spoilers. But major spoilers? Posting the entire plot before transmission and after you’ve been very nicely asked not to? That’s not right. But people will do it. Hopefully they will at least put up massive spoiler warnings first to ward off those not desiring spoiling.

(There is a reason they call it a “spoiler” after all. It spoils the story.)

Now, *after* first transmission, spoilers are fair game. At some point, people need to be able to talk about what they just saw (though it’s very good courtesy to have spoiler protection on that too, since not everyone will have seen it yet). I actually swore off the Internet the day before Easter, lest I see discussions from Brits before I could watch it on BBC America. And I’m avoiding Who sites on Saturdays now for the same reason. It’s a personal choice.

Agree agree agree agree agree agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Completely agree. Fans debating their own theories is one thing, but for someone to reveal the entire plot of a story is very rude. People are working hard on that series for us, and we should all have a great respect for them.

i agree im parcel to a few spiolers that tease u but not full on spoilers that spoil the whole story r stories steven moffatt is 100% rite on what he said

I couldn’t agree more! The most compelling aspect of watching Doctor Who (the Moffat episodes specifically), is speculating about the plot lines or who the new mystery persona might be (case in point – the strange lady with the silver eye-patch). Moffat is a master story teller who understands and who has fully embraced – the art of his craft – hence his strong feelings on the matter.

I completely agree with what Steven says, but he ruins it by saying “It’s only fans who do this…”

I disagree. True fans would NEVER spoil a story for another fan.

I hardly ever look at spoilers anyway as I’d rather not know what is going to happen in an episode until it is being broadcast. I’m actually surprised that the BBC release so much info and footage days before an episode airs.

i agree with him about that it is really out of order but i also disagree with him saying it’s only fans, as David said real fans like us wouldn’t give away the whole plot line to spoil for others, it’s just ones that watch the show and show little interest in it and consideration for others when posting these spoilers, they just do it for cheap power as they know the story line- which apparently means they have to broadcast it to all that don’t :/ disrespectful…

n e one privlatched enough to watch the eipesode before the rest of the world in a primere should keep the important secrets and plot lines to ther selfs

I’m in an odd position at the moment, because, if my friend is to be believed, I know who River Song is. Apparently my friend’s boss has a friend who works on set, or something. Frankly, I think he’s winding me up, but still.

Anyway, personally, I wouldn’t mind if I knew that he was 100% right, just because I would find other details to obsess over, and try to work out how it fit in with all the other plotlines. BUT the point is that I don’t know everything. So to post the entire plotline for two episodes is hideous, just as SM says.

Sod the fans for whom it’ll be spoilt. What about the people who work so hard to keep these secrets? What about SM and Alex Kingston, the only two people to know everything for so long? All their hard work, just thrown away. That’s the real crime there, in my opinion.

People who post secrets and twists before an ep is broadcast are idiots, plain and simple. They’re small, pathetic people who get a kick out of ruining things for others.

I do think people who intentionally tell everyone about plot lines are exactly what Steven said. Any proper Doctor Who fan knows that if you know something everyone else doesn’t, you just don’t talk about it.

You know, the Doctor Who team try really hard to keep everything secret, the writers work really hard on making them great shows and they succeed in keeping that secret until right at the last moment, someone who calls themselves a fan blows the whole secret of the opening two-parter.

I’d be frustrated too, but it’s good that he remembered to say it wasn’t all fans and recognised the majority of us don’t want to know what’s going to happen in advance.

Well said, TSG. It’s a complete disrespect to the performers, writers, producers, directors, crew, etc, because if the episode is spoiled, you will never be able to experience the work the way they intended.

Teasers, of course, are different. And the very best teasers actually enhance the experience! The number of teasers that Moffatt has let out has been interesting, because they’re clearly very carefully chosen. It will be interesting to see if they discourage spoiling or encourage it. I like teasers, personally, even though I detest spoilers. They’re a bit like antipasta — they don’t ruin the main course, but instead whet your appetite for it!