Is this considered enough to make it common knowledge?

Beats me.

You asked where the posters debuted.

I can't tell you where they've put them up since then, or how wide an area they've covered, because frankly, I don't leave the house much, and when I do, it's just to go to the grocery store.

But if I see one of the ugly-ass things, I'll let people know. Or they can know it by the sound of my aesthetic sensibilities shreaking in pain.

Really? I do remember discussion -- two week threshold and all that. But it seemed fairly organic to me, just politeness for people in situations we knew about.

I agree with Jess – that was months after the policy sprung up (IIRC, it wasn't finalized until the seasons were almost over anyhow.) It never seemed organic to me, in that people who posted innocuous comments mentioning the First, or Bringers, or Potentials, or Spordelia would be told to whitefont, even though the comment didn't spoil 98% of the board.

But I can't cite specific exampels right now.

But how can we know when the issue really is known by 'everyone'. Because that is not an assumption that can be made. Not at all.

You're right, we'll be making an assumption. And I don't have an easy answer for the people who will be spoiled by this change. I think the best practice would be a notice posted in Press, Bureau, Natter, and each show or spoiler thread about the new policy change, with a few day's warning so people have time to get out if they want to.

I understand it would suck to not be able to post in show threads for two months – but OTOH, we're really talking about *one* thread (Angel) for *eight* weeks. I don't remember the specifics of the Firefly discussion earlier this week, but didn't we decide then that the spoiler policy that displaced the fewest people for the shortest amount of time was best? This is it.

As for "common knowledge" -- I think Liese is the only one who's said she has no idea what we're talking about. Elena, Trudy, and I think one or two other posters, have said they were spoiled here and wouldn't know otherwise. Everyone else who has posted seems to know it and be willing to discuss it. That to me suggests "common knowledge."

It's *possible* that we have a lot of spoilerphobes who don't know, and they either don't read Lightbulbs or won't read this discussion because they fear it will spoil them, but we have no evidence pointing that way.

Because the TV industry works in such a way that casting information is well-publicized, the writers know they'll have to get rid of or introduce characters in such a way that the HSQ comes from the What, When, Where, Why, and How, rather than the Who.

Susan speaks for me again.

Or they can know it by the sound of my aesthetic sensibilities shreaking in pain.

But it's so pretttttttty!

But why can't it wait until the promo airs? Sean was saying that casting news changes all the time at the last minutes. What if that happens here?

What purpose is served by waiting until the promos air? What are we protecting by waiting 'til the promo airs?

I'm all for protecting someone from being spoiled by discussion on something they would otherwise only know about from watching the show. (e.g. Faith's appearance on the A:ts S2 premiere)

These between season casting changes (additions and departures) are not things that someone would otherwise only know about from watching the show per our own rules, because as soon as promos air, they're fair game to discuss in NAFDA.

I belong to a board where everything is a spoiler. We can't even discuss the previews without spoiler font. I get that. I abide by it. I don't argue with it, and I call other people on it when they forget and spoil someone, or even post leading comments.

But here, since promotional material is allowed, what is the value in limiting it to only those things in the pre-season promos? If the WB has officially - on their own website - released this information already, is there doubt it will be reflected in the promos?

EWWWWWWWWW!!!

Teppy, you are DEAD to me.

I could mock up a better picture with cat vomit and broken pringles.

Where? To whom?

Serious question - because if this truly is common knowledge then it's a moot point.

*I* think it's common knowledge. The (what seems to me) small handful of other people who don't know are the only people I know who are unaware of the change.

I like the 2/3 notion a lot. IMO if the network is promoting and Joss is freely discussing a casting issue then the pleasure (or dread) of anticipation outweighs the desire for possible HSQ. (for me)

I like this idea too, in part because it's fairly hard-and-fast. Just to make sure I understand, the three are:

1. ME web site/press releases/other official media

2. Network web site/press relases/other official media

3. Interviews with show producers, cast members, writers, or directors published in national media outlets

I'm going to state that I don't really like the 2/3 notion, because Angelus returning wouldn't have been a spoiler by the 2/3 thing.

Although I'm confused: are you only talking 2/3 WRT Opening Credits Cast?

You asked where the posters debuted.

Yes, and you answered, thank you. Then I asked a second question. Which you answered. Thank you.

I understand it would suck to not be able to post in show threads for two months – but OTOH, we're really talking about *one* thread (Angel) for *eight* weeks.

Are we? Talking about one thread, I mean? I asked this upthread - if people start talking freely about this issue or issues will it just be in the Angel thread, or the other NAFDA threads (Bitches, Bitchy Fic, Buffy (which will still be around for a while, IIRC))?

But it's so pretttttttty!

I like it too, Teppy. Mmmmm.