Okay, trundling off to bed.

So where are we now? Is this tabled until the 20th unless PMM establishes that the current language was slipped in in the dark of night by parties acting unilaterally?

This is not at all clear. In fact, based on today's discussion I would NOT mention it at all in the Angel thread for fear of setting off someone's spoiler sense.

(Warning, I statement time.)

I feel like we've (factions in this, pro and con) been operating under different assumptions for a while. For example, with the precendent of Giles and Buffy, I assumed that taking spoilers like Faith (guests and recurring) to the spoilage lite threads rather than whitefonting wasn't going to have an effect on between-season discussions of the REGULAR cast. This seems to have been a COMMON assumption. Also common was the assumption that this meant ALL casting information, no matter who what where when why or how, was verboten.

Virgins point out spoilers when they happen, then let it drop. Spoilerfolk sit and rehash the unfairness of it all. It a function of board structure as much as personalities.

The end result, however, is hos ragging on phobes and not the other way around. Regardless of the threads 'culture', however, it is insulting.

Meanwhile, the phobes have determined board policy as to what can be discussed where. I hate this us vs. them shit, but I also hate screaming "fuck you" at my computer and it keeps happening.

Does it make a difference if the spoiler affects what we'll see in the first ep or if it's something with longer implications? If so-and-so is slated to leave mid season, and it's in WB press during the summer, that counts? Because that would really interfere with how I would watch the episodes until that happened.

I think it does, and that that should be worded in the proposal.

This is not at all clear. In fact, based on today's discussion I would NOT mention it at all in the Angel thread for fear of setting off someone's spoiler sense.

And you would be right not to. But at some point the information reaches a zeitgeist (huh, am I spelling that at all right?) and it's so widely diseminated that it really is almost impossible to avoid. For me, with SMG leaving after season 7, it was when CNN reported it. I mean, CNN, how much more mainstream can you get? Has the BCS reached that point? Will it? I don't know. But it is a possibility that should be considered. And, in fact, might warrant investigation.

For me, with SMG leaving after season 7, it was when CNN reported it. I mean, CNN, how much more mainstream can you get?

USA Today and NY Times, both of which have mentioned it.

Meanwhile, the phobes have determined board policy as to what can be discussed where.

No, no, no. Some version of "not unless aired" has existed for a very long time. Hence, the creation of the spoiler threads.

I hate this us vs. them shit, but I also hate screaming "fuck you" at my computer and it keeps happening.

This may be the sort of animosity Elena was referring to...

Meanwhile, the phobes have determined board policy as to what can be discussed where.

We have? Because I always thought that it was our policy to be considerate of people who don't want to know spoilers (under our current definition). It may be a more sensitive barometer than some people need, but spoiling people is what we have always tried to avoid.

Do you mean now or after the proposed change?

I mean now. I can only go by now. For all I know, by morning a much more satisfactory compromise will have been worked out, but right now, I am not seeing any possible compromise being granted.