(03-31-2015, 08:49 PM)OverlordOutpost Wrote:You guys get it.(03-31-2015, 07:56 PM)K Wrote: I'm glad I have an excuse to ask this now actually since I've seen it elsewhere today as well and the idea just absolutely boggles me, especially since you're certainly far from alone in this, but why on earth would you look up spoilers to a story if you're both interested in it and intend on experiencing it yourself?
I can actually answer this for myself since I'm the same way. Just *knowing* something is going to happen is very far removed from actually experiencing it. For me knowing whether or not a death was forth-coming (and in Nanamo's case, it was foreshadowed so much it was barely a spoiler) doesn't change how it affects me.
It may lose it's shock value (though in Nanamo's case, it really didn't with how vicious that animation looked); but it doesn't lose any of the emotional value. After all, I spent the past 50+ levels getting to know these characters, it doesn't matter if someone told me at Level 1 Thancred is a jerkface, Blue-Guy betrays everyone, and Princess gets her comeuppance; it won't un-immerse me or make me grow cold to the characters.
In all seriousness, spoiler-phobia has spiraled out of control. The grand majority of the time (if not ALL the time) "spoilers" (which are, frankly, very poorly named) don't actually decrease one's enjoyment of a fictional work. It's not what happens that's important, but the how, and the particular execution of it all. That's why we can tell the exact same stories, mixing up a few elements here and there, and still have them be incredibly compelling despite knowing exactly how things are likely to end. The whole point is to get you invested into the story. You don't need mystery for that. You can build up suspense even while the audience knows it's all a ruse simply by doing so with class and nuance.
Now, obviously, if your work's entire purpose is built around the twist, you probably don't have a very good story to begin with. It's everything surrounding it that's more important. Too many folks don't seem to understand this and go absolutely crazy over spoilers FOR NO REASON. It's bonkers and it drives me up the flippin' walls.
I'd much prefer to be able to discuss plot details for recently released media without having to resort to private or specially segregated channels, but this madness has fully taken hold, and it seems there's no letting go.
