# Shouldn't spoiler boxes be restricted to "spoilers"? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 25, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265 "2011-07-25T13:57:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/21 "2011-07-25T17:01:12Z")
What about Munch’s point? Should there be some standard about ensuring that people know what’s in the box? Is it a joke? Is it a bad word? Is it a real spoiler? Is it a spoiler but for something other than the subject of the thread title? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/22 "2011-07-25T17:11:23Z")
No. It’s fine the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/23 "2011-07-25T17:13:01Z")
I vote annoyance. But as annoyances go around here, it doesn’t even crack the top 100. It’s 90 places behind Braaaains in every zombie thread. “My top 100 SDMB annoyances” is a fun thread to think about. It could wind up being the longest thread we’ve ever done. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/24 "2011-07-25T17:17:45Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I vote annoyance. But as annoyances go around here, it doesn’t even crack the top 100. It’s 90 places behind Braaaains in every zombie thread. > > “My top 100 SDMB annoyances” is a fun thread to think about. It could wind up being the longest thread we’ve ever done. Ideally, it would only be a hundred posts. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/25 "2011-07-25T17:17:56Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > What about Munch’s point? Should there be some standard about ensuring that people know what’s in the box? Is it a joke? Is it a bad word? Is it a real spoiler? Is it a spoiler but for something other than the subject of the thread title? The two click rule applies…I think you can put a not safe for work link in a spoiler box and be ok under current rules. I’d say if you click a spoiler box, you assume the risk of whatever is inside…and I think you’re making much ado about nothing here. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/26 "2011-07-25T17:20:49Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’d say if you click a spoiler box, you assume the risk of whatever is inside But why make people take such an unnecessary risk for trivial reasons? Why not require a specific explanation or warning of the contents? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/27 "2011-07-25T17:22:07Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > But why make people take such an unnecessary risk for trivial reasons? Why not require a specific explanation or warning of the contents? Nobody is making anyone click spoiler boxes. If it’s too risky, just don’t click. We do not need more rules…especially trivial rules…around here. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/28 "2011-07-25T17:23:29Z")
If you want to label your spoiler boxes with warnings or whatever, great, go ahead, more power to you. I see no reason to make it a rule. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/29 "2011-07-25T17:28:59Z")
I’d just quit clickingNothing to see hereWonder how many I can do?You must hate me by now. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/30 "2011-07-25T17:30:07Z")
I do see spoilers as a good way to let the reader digest a joke before reading the punchline. Oh, and Don’t click my previous post. It’s a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/31 "2011-07-25T17:33:48Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > I do see spoilers as a good way to let the reader digest a joke before reading the punchline There are other methods … . . . . . . . . . . . . . … Aren’t there? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/32 "2011-07-25T17:36:21Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > “My top 100 SDMB annoyances” is a fun thread to think about. Wouldn’t work. There are more than than a hundred posters here. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/33 "2011-07-25T17:38:35Z")
There’s nothing wrong with more than one tool in a toolbox. Besides, a very useful aspect of the spoiler is to collapse a large chunk of a post if the writer suspects most are only interested in a few paragraphs outside of the spoiler, but the nitty-gritty details are easily accessed through the spoiler. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/34 "2011-07-25T17:54:13Z")
Are they worse than invisible text? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/35 "2011-07-25T17:54:41Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > I’d just quit clickingNothing to see hereWonder how many I can do?You must hate me by now. You bastard! ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/36 "2011-07-25T17:59:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > There are other methods … > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > . > … Aren’t there? I guess that works if you’ve got enough spaces. But, I can see your whole post on one page as it is. My eyes will inadvertently look for the answer whether I want them to or not. At least I have to conscientiously click on the button to see the punchline. I apologize,\*\* Siam Sam\*\*. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/37 "2011-07-25T18:01:52Z")
I just rarely click on any spoilers, like I said, so half the jokes are lost on me anyway. But what I’d like in TV shows/movies/books, when possible, to have some idea of what kind of spoiler it is. Like, if I’ve seen all of Season 1 & 2 and it is a Season 2 spoiler, let me know. Same as if it’s a Season 4 spoiler. That way I know if it’s safe to click on it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/38 "2011-07-25T18:03:18Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Are they worse than invisible text? This is a good suggestion. I think that it would be a good way to distinguish – use invisible text for non-spoilers and use spoiler boxes only for spoilers. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/39 "2011-07-25T18:06:54Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > I guess that works if you’ve got enough spaces. But, I can see your whole post on one page as it is. My eyes will inadvertently look for the answer whether I want them to or not. At least I have to conscientiously click on the button to see the punchline. But it’s only a joke-why the need to hide the punchline at all? When you tell jokes to a group of your friends, do you leave off the punchline and hand them a folded piece of paper with the punchline written inside, so they won’t have to know it if they don’t want to? No-what you do is pause slightly then tell the punchline to one and all. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265/40 "2011-07-25T18:08:22Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This is a good suggestion. I think that it would be a good way to distinguish – use invisible text for non-spoilers and use spoiler boxes only for spoilers. That’s problematic. Why? Invisible text has no indication of its presence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-spoiler-boxes-be-restricted-to-spoilers/590265.md?page=3)