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?

Trudy, I don't think that that's the same thing, as there is nothing to forward-interpret, as there's nothing airing right now (in the US. I freely admit to being pretty unaware of schedules in other regions). There was one I knew before the end of the season, and wish I hadn't at that time. But, under the new policy, it would still have been considered a spoiler, as not-summer.

I don't know if that makes sense outside of my head, but, for me, the hiatus-state is key.

I fear the inappropriate spoiling (although I think safeguards can be instituted), but I get a strong feeling of elephant-in-the-room on one of them, and the other I guessed without being told (which is hopefully not too spoilery of a statement).

I don't know why you all can't just wait a month.

I seriously don't get it. Was I one of the lucky unspoiled right now, I'd be seriously pissed. Just knowing that someone this big is coming up would be enough to affect how I watched the first ep.

Actually, I WAS seriously annoyed before I found out Casting Elephant #1 and said so at the time. I found out anyway.

Trudy, I don't think that that's the same thing, as there is nothing to forward-interpret, as there's nothing airing right now (in the US. I freely admit to being pretty unaware of schedules in other regions).

What I'm asking is will the now-not-spoiler be discussable in Natter?

Well, ASH going from regular to recurring? Was discussed.

It seems that both AA and JARs additions were, in fact, discussed.

I have no memory of when VK was added, or if it was discussed. We were prepping to come here.

This is one of the things that has slipped in, through our friend, the BC.

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.

Well, we'll have a Wonderfalls thread (Minear is a Fluffy Bunny would be the BESTEST title). If that show lasts, I want to be able to discuss the regulars over the summer there, too.

Hell, I want to be able to discuss them now. And you know what? Technically, by the strict definition? Spoilers.

If there's ever a spin-off? Casting for that, too. Who's in, who's not. For REGULARS. BEFORE THE SEASON/SHOW STARTS.

It's pretty cut and dried.

So discuss them in Spoilers or Spoiler light.

Seriously, if Virgins can't enjoy the regular thread I want a Virgin thread. Goodness knows the Spoiler ho's have gotten their share.