Spoilers really can destroy the intrinsic value of a book or movie. People like to figure out the mystery for themselves, especially if they’re mystery stories. Spoiling the story is like taking the game controller away from someone and making them read cheat sheets. The adventure is still there but it’s not so fun when they’re not involved.Some writers make spoilers work for them, though. They’ll tell the reader or viewer what’s going to happen, but leave them in suspense about how or why or when. Douglas Adams with “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, William Goldman with “Princess Bride”, and J. Michael Straczynski with Babylon 5. But they have to be very good writers. Instead of spoilers, they can be called teasers.Boody could have given teasers to build up anticipation for the surprise without revealing the whole thing, but he blurted it all out and spoiled everything.
When I was in High School I really enjoyed bowling, in fact I was on a junior league at the local alley. I didn’t have my own ball or my own shoes and I was getting pretty tired of dealing with the beat up balls and shoes at the alley so I decided to buy a ball and shoes with the Christmas tip money from my paper route. One night I confided my plan with my sister while we were out for a walk, she sighed and then told me not to spend my tip money because my parents had already bought me a ball, shoes, and bowling bag for Christmas. I was disappointed at learning what I was getting, but I was still happy with the gift and grateful that my sister stopped me from spending my money.
A modern version is “Motive”—each episode starts with you seeing the crime committed and who-dun-it—but then the cops have to figure out why-dun-it, so it all comes clear.
Sisyphos about 9 years ago
Dudley’s just cantankerous (I said can…; teehee).The coffee will still be a great gift, more than he deserves!
Coyoty Premium Member about 9 years ago
Spoilers really can destroy the intrinsic value of a book or movie. People like to figure out the mystery for themselves, especially if they’re mystery stories. Spoiling the story is like taking the game controller away from someone and making them read cheat sheets. The adventure is still there but it’s not so fun when they’re not involved.Some writers make spoilers work for them, though. They’ll tell the reader or viewer what’s going to happen, but leave them in suspense about how or why or when. Douglas Adams with “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, William Goldman with “Princess Bride”, and J. Michael Straczynski with Babylon 5. But they have to be very good writers. Instead of spoilers, they can be called teasers.Boody could have given teasers to build up anticipation for the surprise without revealing the whole thing, but he blurted it all out and spoiled everything.
patlaborvi about 9 years ago
When I was in High School I really enjoyed bowling, in fact I was on a junior league at the local alley. I didn’t have my own ball or my own shoes and I was getting pretty tired of dealing with the beat up balls and shoes at the alley so I decided to buy a ball and shoes with the Christmas tip money from my paper route. One night I confided my plan with my sister while we were out for a walk, she sighed and then told me not to spend my tip money because my parents had already bought me a ball, shoes, and bowling bag for Christmas. I was disappointed at learning what I was getting, but I was still happy with the gift and grateful that my sister stopped me from spending my money.
bmonk about 9 years ago
A modern version is “Motive”—each episode starts with you seeing the crime committed and who-dun-it—but then the cops have to figure out why-dun-it, so it all comes clear.
bmonk about 9 years ago
http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/2323/unexpected-hanging-paradox
bmonk about 9 years ago
Boody needs to read up on the logical paradox of the “unexpected gift” (or quiz or whatever).