Please define "Spoiler"?

[iloveskating]

I would like to suggest that we define exactly what makes a spoiler a spoiler. I know that the final RESULTS are a spoiler as defined in FAQs.
Some fans do not like to know the results of a competition before it is shown on TV. So, in order to avoid "spoiling" the results for them, please post all potential spoilers in the "Spoilers" section of the forum.

Is music selection a spoiler? Some people in MK Chat are saying that Michelle's music selection is a spoiler. But music selections of other skaters apparently are NOT spoilers, as they have been posted in Skating Chat all summer. Is music a spoiler only for Michelle, for all skaters, or for no one?

Is dress/costume a spoiler?

What are the rules for thread titles in the Spoilers section? Some people do not want the thread titles IN SPOILERS to contain the results, because they don't want to be spoiled before they read the thread. I hadn't heard this before.

What about Time Zone spoilers? The FAQ "suggests" that no results be posted in MK Chat until after the west coast broadcast, but this is not required. As a west coaster, this is the same as saying it is perfectly OK to post spoilers in MK Chat as soon as the comp airs EST. Because we don't know if there will be spoilers in MK Chat or not, so if we really don't want to be spoiled, we'd better stay off MKF completely until it airs on the west coast.

Some clarifications and reminders on this important topic would be helpful, especially with the ad hoc requests that are made by individuals as we go along, and also for the newcomers.

edited to correct boldfacing error

[kwanluv]

iloveskating -
You bring up some good points. When Heather gets back from vacation, we'll discuss this as a team and then let you know.

Give us a week or so. ;)

Thanks for bringing this up. :)

[Budda_lovin]

I know that you'll be discussing this as a team when Heather gets back, but I figured I'd throw in my own two sense in the mean time. I personally think that if a skater has not previously announced their program or costume prior to a competition, such as what MK has done, then I think this should count as a spoiler. Essentially, if the public had to wait until a competition to find out something about a program, then we should wait to discuss it in MK or Skating chat until it has been aired to keep the element of surprise that the skater was going for. Of course, this is just my opinion and I'm sure that the moderators will come up with the best definition.

[michellesmom]

Budda, ITA with your definition.

The reason some skaters' music has been discussed during the summer is that they themselves have announced it, either by posting it on their website or mentioning it in an interview. As most of us probably know, Michelle prefers her music and dresses to be a surprise, so I think we should honor her wishes until after the broadcast. Most of the time this isn't much of a problem, because there are only a few days between the actual competition and the broadcast. For whatever reason, ABC is making us wait forever to see this one, but I think it would be better to put all these kinds of things in Spoilers for another week so those who like to be surprised will be.

[iloveskating]

I am curious when & where Michelle said that she done not wish her fans to know what is her music or her dress. The only thing I recall is in fall 97 when they were planning Lyra & Frank said it was a very unique piece that no one had ever done before. He obviously wasn't disclosing the details until she performed it. Beyond that, I never heard her say this nor do I recall reading it. So can someone refresh my memory? And was this referring to a specific event at the time, or a general statement about all of her programs? I certainly wouldn't consider Frank's statement to be binding for all time!

[luenatic]

iloveskating, good questions.

I do want to know if costume should be considered as "spoiler". Can people really be able to read between the colors and thus can tell if Michelle won or lost the competition? Besides, it's almost 2 weeks after the competition now. Michelle's pictures/articles are all over the internet.

[iloveskating]

luenatic, I agree...If someone doesn't want to know Michelle's results, her music, or her costume, then why bother coming to MKF? But I will go with whatever the moderators decide. I would just like some clear guidelines that (1) everyone knows & tries to follow and (2) people don't make ad hoc requests to keep this or that a secret as the season progresses. That makes me crazy!

[michellesmom]

As recently as last month in a newspaper interview, Michelle was asked about her new program and her answer was (I can't remember the exact quote) something to the effect of "You'll see at the first competition." She also never allows her music to be listed on the USFSA website until after the first competition.

So there are basically three things that should go in spoilers until after the broadcast:

1. results/program details (for example, "MK landed 3 triple/triples" or "Sasha landed a quad/triple")
2. music
3. costumes

Okey dokey?

[Ashley]

why bother coming to MKF?

All you have to do is look at the MK chat and see why. There are no spoilers there, yet the chat is quite active.

I think it's good that we clarify the guidlines so that there's no second guessing. We'll have a definite answer when all the moderators are back from vacation.

[luenatic]

I have no problem with result and music. But I do have major problem with costume.

For example, you go to a movie theater and watch a preview of a murder mystery. You're so interested in the movie preview and you don't wanna know whodunit. Will the costumes you saw in the preview spoil any of your enjoyment or excitement when you go see that movie in the future ?

I'm just having a very hard time to understand how can costume be a spoiler. Spoil what? We all know that ISU requires all female skaters wear skirts (how ever mini they may be). Like Michelle said in one of her interviews, her costume is basically like swim suit. So there you have it. Michelle spoils her costume for all of us. :\

End of rant and signing off on this topic.

[Heather]

Lots of things to discuss in this thread, so I'll just take them point by point.

Is music selection a spoiler? Some people in MK Chat are saying that Michelle's music selection is a spoiler. But music selections of other skaters apparently are NOT spoilers, as they have been posted in Skating Chat all summer. Is music a spoiler only for Michelle, for all skaters, or for no one?

NO, music selection is NOT a spoiler. Before Michelle skates to a program publically, then, yes, the music choice is a spoiler. But once the program is skated in front of an audience, it is no longer a spoiler. Once she has debuted her program, MKF has never treated her music as a spoiler, so I don't understand why that is coming up now. Think back to last season. What if no one could discuss that Michelle was skating to TFB from Skate America until December when the SA clip went online (or even waiting until Nationals.)

Is dress/costume a spoiler?
Again, no, it is not, and I honestly have no idea why anyone *would* consider it a spoiler. If someone saw a picture of Michelle in their local paper with the costume, would they freak out because they didn't want to know? LOL

What are the rules for thread titles in the Spoilers section? Some people do not want the thread titles IN SPOILERS to contain the results, because they don't want to be spoiled before they read the thread. I hadn't heard this before.
Anything that is a spoiler should go in the spoiler section. Once you are in spoilers, it is fair game. I know this question sometimes comes up during the GPF when someone wants to know the results of one comp, but not the other, or want to see the ladies results but not the men. But the spoilers section is for spoilers, so anything is fair game. If people don't want to post the results in the thread as a courtesy to other posters, that's great. But it is not a requirement, or something that is enforced.

What about Time Zone spoilers? The FAQ "suggests" that no results be posted in MK Chat until after the west coast broadcast, but this is not required. As a west coaster, this is the same as saying it is perfectly OK to post spoilers in MK Chat as soon as the comp airs EST. Because we don't know if there will be spoilers in MK Chat or not, so if we really don't want to be spoiled, we'd better stay off MKF completely until it airs on the west coast.


As stated in the FAQ, it is suggested that posters wait until it is aired in the west coast to post in MK Fan Chat, but it is not a requirement. I think that most MKFers respect this rule and understand west coast MKFers. However, I can't say "don't post until it has aired on the west coast" because that opens up another can of worms. What about the MKFers in Canada that won't see it until the next day. What about MKFers in a city that has prempted the event, so it won't be shown for a few more days. What about MKFers in other countries who won't see the event for months.

[Kwanstruck]

Quote:
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Some people do not want the thread titles IN SPOILERS to contain the results, because they don't want to be spoiled before they read the thread. I hadn't heard this before.

:lol :lol :lol What's the difference? As soon as they look at the thread, they're spoiled anyway!!! Why go in the spoilers section at all if your afraid of getting spoiled???

*Keeper of Michelle's totally cute little beauty marks
*Owner of a SUPER-SIZED KWAN KRUSH
*Inventor of "The Michelle's cute Chinese toes chocolate cheese cookie"

[iloveskating]

Heather, thank you for the clarifications!