I know Plei says to the contrary, but I really thought this sort of thing was what Spoilage Lite was created for.

The S7 thing you mentioned (which I think is safe to mention, as some of OZ got Chosen this week) *is* what SL was created for.

This proposal ONLY covers changes to the regular (not recurring, defined as being the peeps in the opening credits) cast between seasons. Like, say, ASH no longer being a regular, or JAR and Amy Acker becoming regulars.

If CC had left at the end of S3, when she was Higher Beinged, that would, by this proposal, not have been considered a spoiler.

Riley leaving on a jet plane, pity we now know when he'd be back again? Still a spoiler.

AB in the credits for SR? Again. Spoiler.

Glenn Quinn leaving/AD coming on? Spoiler.

The cast of AtS S1 starting off as DB, GQ, and CC? Not a spoiler.

Okay, I wasn't sure.

I think I follow all the distinctions, I just worry that not everyone will, and since we compare spoilerhood to sex, it's just not that easy to go back once you know. You're either spoiled or you're not. The only question is whether you wanted to be or not. When I look at your list, I would not want to know any of those things. I did know about half of them, and didn't like it. Just the spoilerphobe viewpoint.

The thing about things like casting changes between seasons is that, as I've mentioned, those will stop being spoilers before the first episode of the season airs, so it's sort of like putting off the wedding night after the ceremony, and if I extend that simile, I'm going to get in trouble.

Heheh. Yeah, it's true. The thing about that is the potential to later go, "Oh, but I thought it would air in promos and it never did" about other, more nefarious changes. The nice thing about airdate marking spoilerhood is that it's concrete. Easily identifiable.

But I trust the Buffistas. I'm sure we're capable of damming the flow if it becomes a problem. Which I don't think it is, now, or will necessarily be if the proposal goes in. So it's cool.

The nice thing about airdate marking spoilerhood is that it's concrete. Easily identifiable.

I really think this is key.

It's not a slippery slope. It's a summer-only policy, only for regular cast members. It's a fairly simple matter.

I'd be happy with a proposal saying "The Angel casting changes, having been announced by the WB, are not spoilers," but other people who are more positive that there will be a S6 than I am, want a more general proposal, so I'm fine with that too.

When I look at your list, I would not want to know any of those things.

I'm glad someone finally said this outright, because (and not to pick on you at all, Liese) I just can't understand it. Take, for example, JAR becoming a regular. To remain unspoiled for that, one would have to A) avoid the opening credit sequence entirely, and B) require everyone else not to mention the fact that JAR is in that sequence--because being a regular character isn't something that gets a HSQ moment, or is even likely to be slipped into dialogue. Either the show spoils you, or impossible demands are placed on everyone else to not mention it indefinitely.

If one wants only to be unspoiled for it until the season starts, it only makes sense if one wants to be thrilled by seeing if the name shows up in the credit sequence--and since that has nothing to do with the meat of the show itself, I don't think one can call that a spoiler at all.

I can understand anything with more mystery behind it than that; there's going to be some chance of HSQ. I don't think that any chance at all should be enough to make something a spoiler, but I do understand why others feel that way.

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

The difference is how soon you have to unsubscribe from the show threads.

People already get confused about the spoiler rules, especially new folks. I see a fair amount of potential for trouble here - either with midseason cast changes, or with (what would be under this proposal non-spoilery) cast announcements that just contain too much information. "Hey, XXX is joining the show as...." and right there's where you get into trouble.

Frankly, I'd be more comfortable with a limited "there's a huge spoiler out there that most people know and want to talk about so can we make an exception this one time" proposal than changing our spoiler policy that has always been clear and simple.

I've been known to look away during credits.

(That's my choice and my fun, mind you)

Trudy asked about Natter a while back - can we clarify this? Would a casting change be ok anywhere? Just in the show threads? What about the actor's other projects in the case of a departure?