I don't care about the episode titles. I never use them until after the episode airs. I can totally see how somebody would consider "Buffy vs. Dracula" spoily, however, since that character had never been on the show and it introduces an element of the larger vamp mythos into the Jossiverse.

I have at times felt a little uncomfortable with the level of authority granted to the original proposer.

Yeah, but in our early fumblings with the process it became very clear very early that creating a ballot by consensus was PURE MADNESS, really unwieldy and ugly. Everybody rather gratefully jumped on the notion that the proposer craft the final ballot. And to be honest, every proposer I've seen so far has responsibly considered the arguments offerred in Lightbulb to craft the ballot which most likely reflects the community will.

I think closing Spoiler Lite for Angel has turned out to be a mistake.

And the reason for Spoilage Lite was that there is no whitefont in Spoilers?

I think closing Spoiler Lite for Angel has turned out to be a mistake.

That's the only closing on which I voted "no preference" (I also voted no preference on the changing the Previously slug). It doesn't have to be a mistake, but it may entail lightening the no-white font policy in NAFDA.

And the reason for Spoilage Lite was that there is no whitefont in Spoilers?

Daniel - I think what people said is that the reason for spoilage lite was that a lot of people didn't want to be totally spoiled, but then the reason we stopped white fonting in NAFDA, was that there was the spoilage lite thread.

And the reason for Spoilage Lite was that there is no whitefont in Spoilers?

This, plus the non-separation of shows. (Which is a moot point now, but was a major one when we were first creating the Lite threads.)

I will also note that the very notion of whitefont in Spoilers would've raised hackles. Culturally, that's one space where people took refuge from whitefonting and tippytoeing. It's a pure slutty zone.

I'm not terribly sensitive to spoilers, being mostly in the "don't give a care" camp on Angel canon currently, but I understand how, up to a certain point, knowing the title can be spoily. That point, in my wittle brain, lies at the time the promo for the episode comes out.

Like, "Something Blue"? Well, you can guess there's something about a wedding in that episode, or else some really strange references to Krysztof Kieslowski movies, but probably the former. You can't tell it's farce till you see the promo. I can definitely understand how knowing titles -- especially a string of titles, in sequence, can increase your ability to speculate accurately, which is tantamount to spoildom.

I'm comfortable with whitefonting titles in the main thread. Just a word or a phrase, not whole paragraphs.

I think closing Spoiler Lite for Angel has turned out to be a mistake.

Recount anyone?

t runs away

How about a Non-binding poll - not a ballot - that is introduced something like thisaway...

Now that spoilers lite is gone, we have questions on how to handle some of the information that was previously posted there. We had long, hard discussions on the house cleaning, and before that, on the main cast summertime news. To head off (or minimize) another long, hard discussion, we thought we'd take the community's pulse, to see how people would like the following information treated in the NAFDA show threads.

Episode title: We should (choose one)

• Keep it out of NAFDA entirely, until the episode is on the air
  
• Keep it out of NAFDA entirely, until the preview airs
  
• White font it until the episode is on the air
  
• Be able to post it openly in NAFDA

Writer's Name for a given episode: We should (choose one)

• Keep it out of NAFDA entirely, until the the episode is on the air
  
• White font it until the episode is on the air
  
• Be able to post it openly in NAFDA

Casting Spoilers for a given episode (recurrings and guests): We should (choose one)

• Keep it out of NAFDA entirely until the episode is on the air, or it airs on a preview
  
• White font it until the episode is on the air - with a good label warning the contents, and no hinting that will spoil

[We wouldn't have to open lightbulb for this. And depending on the results (i.e. if people seem to want to keep things as they are now) we might not have to open it at all. This wouldn't enact law. It would just give a feel for how people who might not speak up here, feel about it all.]

For reference, here are the current FAQ entries regarding our spoiler policy:

Q. What do you guys consider a spoiler?

A. Anything that hasn't been broadcast. So anything from the show and the preview trailers is okay, anything from TV Guide or anywhere else is a spoiler, including casting news, episode titles and plot twists. No white fonting. Spoilers should only be posted in the spoiler thread.

Q. Are all casting news items considered spoilers?

A. Most. When in doubt, treat them as spoilers (see previous Q&A). Certain main cast information is allowed during the Northern Hemisphere's summer off-season, under our Summer Casting Rules.

Major casting changes, to the Main Cast Only, announced by the network or studio, may be discussed, within their respective show threads only (e.g. post Angel news in the Angel thread, not in Bitches, not the other NAFDA threads), 4 weeks after the announcements, or 4 weeks after the previous season finale, whichever comes later. This allows those posters who wish to remain free from all casting news, to safely use the show threads for post-season discussion.

This casting news definition includes cast additions or departures that occur over summer hiatus only (not midseason). Plot points related to the character's arrival or departure are to be treated as spoilers. The Main Cast are those characters appearing in the opening credits. Summertime discussion of news regarding recurring and guest roles is not allowed in the main show threads, and must be contained to a spoiler or spoilers-lite thread.

Q. What if I can't determine if news is allowable under Summer Casting Rules?

A. Don't post it. Ask in the applicable spoiler or spoilers-lite thread. One of our experienced Buffista Spoiler Companions will be glad to help you figure it out. Chances are, if it's legal information, one of them will have already posted it in the applicable show thread, anyhow.

Q. Do I have to use the white font for spoilers?

A. In the Spoilage Lite threads, yes. In the main hardcore spoiler thread, no, but it's good form if there is something really really shocking and impending. Like, for example, quotes from an early-bird review. Also, be aware that people using text-only browsers like Lynx don't get any juice out of the white font, so it's nice to give them a text-only warning that there are spoilers ahead.

Q. How do you do the white font to hide spoilers?

A. Back in the old days, we had to use HTML to produce white font. Now, here at the glorious Phoenix Board, we have a QuickEdit shortcut. At the beginning of the line you want to display in white font, type a lowercase "s". Then type a space, and type the spoiler information. Everything after the "s" will be white-fonted until you start a new paragraph.

If for some reason, you like doing it the hard way, it goes like this: <font color="white">SPOILER HERE</font> will come out like this: SPOILER HERE. (Select the blank section with your mouse to see it appear.) This makes the text white, so it blends into the background. People who want spoilage can highlight, those who don't aren't ruined.

Cindy, I think your poll would be a great idea.

(Thanks, Lori. I think it killed everyone else. Need alibi.)