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.)

Cindy, the poll would be cool with me.

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.

Or something to do with pornography. Or a very special appearance of the Cookie Monster was the monster of the week.

Okay, so the wedding connection is most likely, but it could have been anything from Giles getting married to a Bridezilla -- in the demonic sense -- going after the scoobies. There's no way to know how the wedding theme will come out.

Cindy, I like the poll idea, but I think it would be a lot easier to post responses if instead of bullets, each sub item was a,b,c or 1,2,3.

That way a post could be easily put in as Title 2, Writer 1, etc.

Just a suggestion.

I don't mind knowing the writer at all, but the ep titles I'd really rather not see. At the very least, they should be whitefonted until the episode airs.

But where did the guest star question come from? I'd have very strong objections to that being in the main thread.

I'm with Brenda, point for point. Normally I wouldn't post a mee-tooo, but we're trying to get a feel for how people think.

Oh, and yes, white-font doesn't work on text browsers.

I like looking at upcoming episode titles on occasion, but it's pretty much a thrill of being almost-kinda-slightly-spoiled, so I would definitely want those whitefonted.

To take another example from Angel season 4, the "Soulless" title only loses most of its spoilage impact after one has seen "Long Day's Journey"--and I knew of "Soulless" before LDJ had aired. (I also knew of what it was spoiling before I knew of it, but I wasn't happy about knowing that.)

Cindy, I like the poll idea, but I think it would be a lot easier to post responses if instead of bullets, each sub item was a,b,c or 1,2,3.

I agree. I was just tossing something out, so I didn't spend time on format. I think if we were to do this, we should use our ballot mechanism, anyhow.

But where did the guest star question come from?

Grover's Corners.

I'd have very strong objections to that being in the main thread.

I'm not agitating for it. I was trying to include stuff I thought was mentioned in the discussion.