Part of me wants to request that we split this question in half, with one question concerning summer additions to the cast, and a separate one concerning summer departures.

As much as I hate complicating simple things, this may be a worthy idea.

[And dude, that sounded way snottier than I intended it to -- I'm sorry. What I meant was, this is probably a good idea, in spite of the fact that it makes the proposal and vote slightly more complicated.]

I don't understand the need to split.

Well, maybe it's just too complicated for me.

I don't see a need to split.

I haven't seen an overwhelming groundswell of arguments against, and I find both things equally off-pissing.

Candy, I don't know that there's a need. But I think there are a large number of Buffistas who, although they know the big casting spoiler for A:ts, agree that it should stay in spoiler threads and that our old policy was good enough not to change. I'm not sure as worded that this proposal will pass. It might get voted down.

While I don't agree with those who would vote it down, it chafes me a lot more that I can't say, "So-n-so (who left after S4) has a new show on NBC" outside of the spoiler thread, than it does that I have to keep the cast addition talk to the spoiler thread.

They both chafe. It's just that one chafes me more. YCMV.

eta...

This isn't a deal breaker for me. It's just a preference. I'm voting in favor, either way.

The arguments against announcing cast departures (or new projects, which imply departures) have used phrases like "anti-spoiler," which I find more irritating than our existing definition of "spoiler," (which would seem to only include cast additions, but in practice, don't, because of the aforementioned "anti-spoiler" concept).

But I'm pretty much going to vote yes regardless.

Also, I volunteer to be the vote-counter on this thing, when the time comes.

used phrases like "anti-spoiler," which I find more irritating than our existing definition of "spoiler,"

I agree.

But I think there are a large number of Buffistas who, although they know the big casting spoiler for A:ts, agree that it should stay in spoiler threads

I'm not so sure that's true. Especially in an over-the-summer situation like this one. There is no question in my mind that the casting spoiler will make it's way to a WB TV promo before the first episode has aired. To a spoilerphobe like me, there's no difference between knowing the spoiler two months ahead of time, or one week.

To a spoilerphobe like me, there's no difference between knowing the spoiler two months ahead of time, or one week.

Jon, thanks. I was wondering what the non-spoiler-seeking folk thought.

The important thing in this case is that there are no new episodes between now and then. I wouldn't want to know about a departure or addition in the middle of the season because then I'd be watching every episode until the casting change with a "spoiled eye" (I can't explain it any better than that). So I guess I would also like to restrict the proposal to casting changes announced over the summer, between seasons.

Thanks for the babytalk patronizing explanation in Bureau. I understand it now, but am still not coherent enough to ask any questions that can benefit discussion. Blargh. I hate getting up early.