(Thanks to every Spoiler Whore on this board for their forebearance in dropping hints and guarding against outright blurting-out!)

I really appreciate having this no-spoiler section of the board in place now that I've decided to stay off the show threads for the season.

What's behind your decision to avoid the show threads?

That was not supposed to be one of those attention-getting "I'm going dark" posts. Especially since this was a snap decision that I wouldn't want to announce and then retreat from publically. (Too late now.) Basically I saw the premiere, but the last scene lost half its effect because I spoiled myself, and it was a bad feeling. Then I came into Buffy 1 and read Caroma "Buffy 1: No, You're Not the Only Watcher" Sep 24, 2002 8:09:48 pm EDT and felt like I lost a big surprise for the season -- same feeling. I also overreacted to the little watch-and-posts like Caroma "Buffy 1: No, You're Not the Only Watcher" Sep 24, 2002 8:05:35 pm EDT. I felt this sense of opinion coalescing and Ted's convinced me that those group-formed opinions lessened my appreciation of season six (setting me against magic addiction, for example). And when someone posted something I'd observed I felt like it wasn't my own observation any more.

I'm not picking on Caroma -- that first post I linked is one of the fresh ideas I came to the Buffistas for. And I like sharing opinions with the Buffistas, because they have good judgment (about magic addiction, for example). And being fans means going, "Did you notice that? Me too! That was so cool." What's different is that my relationship with Buffy has stabilized -- I've heard the Faith-on-life-support thing, I've seen that Giles is a father figure, I know that we like Spike. The real freshness that remains is all from new episodes. Sharing the speculation and reaction wears out the freshness faster. I hope that experiencing season seven alone will give a second burst of freshness when I read all the things the Buffistas appreciated that I missed. I might develop more original opinions, too, to liven up the Previously thread.

I'm still at home here. I'm lucky that there's a warm non-NAFDA corner for me to stay in.

The place is plenty roomy ...

I'm always curious to find out other people's thresholds.

I'm always curious to find out other people's thresholds.

I think ita's got a little of her Mom's mad scientist in her.

Nou, I know exactly what you mean about the collective opinion and the freshness. It's part of the reason I've decided to stay completely unspoiled for the past year-and-a-bit. If it's one thing to partake if you're an American, imagine if you haven't even seen the episodes yet.

I love going back after I've seen an ep and reading the live posts, though.

I kind of agree with Noumenon about the groupthink. I mean, I've come across people, real hardcore Buffy fans, who seriously think that everything about Glory was utterly fabulous. I don't think I would have even let myself entertain that idea!

Angus, the "utterly fabulous" line as applied to Glory only makes me think about how wonderful the character would have been if Patsy or Edina from AbFab had the role.

Actually, Anne, I first wrote "absolutely fabulous" and changed it for that very reason...

I don't have a problem going against the groupthink. But I do understand getting Buffy-fatigue from discussing the show instantly after it airs. In that way, I'm glad that I have a 24 hour advance viewing, as my brain is fairly slow to process things. Of course, when the majority are in the "Best. Episode. Ever!" mode, I'm already in "Actually, now that I think about it...." mode.

I also have no compunction about skipping the show threads if I am not in the mood. And I love watching "live". It's a giddy thrill.