Memory Alpha talk:Spoiler policy

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

[edit] No more upcoming episodes?

I think this page needs a bit of an overhaul seeing as there sadly is no more un-aired trek. Any suggestions? Jaz 05:35, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

That doesn't necessarily mean there won't be anymore un-aired episodes. ;) --From Andoria with Love 05:36, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

I hope you right, but for the time being, perhaps it would be good to change this page. Jaz 05:37, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

I don't really see a need to. Should there be any upcoming Trek in the future, we won't spoil it - if there isn't, there's simply no need to refer to this policy. -- Cid Highwind 10:01, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

Would it be appropriate to talk about un-official spoilers in the talk page of the (hypothetical) upcoming episode? Not that it really makes a lot of difference now, but I’m just curious. ;)--Sloan47 03:28, 26 March 2006 (UTC)

I've added upcoming movies, since for the time being at least, that is the concern. Koweja 04:14, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Do note that the last mention in this conversation was almost a year before your addition Koweja... -- Sulfur 19:02, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Forum:Spoilers in episode pages

I am currently watching all Star Trek episodes, beginning from the first episode of the original series. (I am currently at the third episode of DS9). After I finish watching each episode, I come to Memory Alpha and visite the page of the episode I jus watched for some background information. However, some references to future episodes on these pages tend sometimes to frustrate me. The latest was the big header about General Martok, on Way of The Warrior episode page, which was impossible to avoid and which spoiled a future episode for me. I am not against notations like "Lwaxanna Troi later visits DS9 in the episode xxxx", but i think that references like "It is later revealed that..." should be removed from episode pages.

-- 83.156.39.17 23:53, 13 September 2006 (UTC)Locutus

Read Memory Alpha:Spoiler policy, young grasshopper. We would not be able to make a very good encyclopedia if we had to deal with constantly hiding or warning about spoilers. --OuroborosCobra ^talk 00:02, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

I completely understand the spoiler policy, and I am convinced (really:)) that it is inevitable. However, in my humble opinion, episode pages should be treated differently than other pages. For instance, if I visit the "United Federation of Planets" page, I know that there will be some material concerning episodes I have not watched yet. On the other hand, when I visit an individual episode page, I want to be able to make the preassumption that there would be no references to future episodes, or that they would be contained in a special area. In fact, the solution in my head is to have hyperlinked references to future episodes that relate to the current one, instead of repeat future events on an episode page. For example, instead of "it is revealed in xxxx that General Martok is...", we could have something like "see episode xxxxx for further knowledge of General Martok's role in this episode". In short, all I am saying that IMHO the spoiler policy needs a little bit of revising when it comes to episode pages. I might also add that I am sorry if my limited knowledge on memory alpha policies leads to a non-sense discussion. I just like this site very much and wish to see it grow and become better.. Thanks --83.156.39.17 00:16, 14 September 2006 (UTC)Locutus

Let me put on my encouragement hat. There is nothing non-sense about what you are asking. I happen to disagree with your idea, but that is just my opinion. Here, Ten Forward, is where questions on, and proposed changes to, Memory Alpha policies is supposed to happen. Your using this for exactly what it was meant to be used for. --OuroborosCobra ^talk 00:31, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

God I know I'm late with this. But I completely agree with the people that put forward the complaints here. And the general martok one was exactly the last draw for me too. Can't we have a seperate background information for things that refer to future episodes? – The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.104.14.66 (talk).

[edit] Novels, Comics, etc

Hi OuroborosCobra. You just reverted an edit I made to the Sirella article, in which I removed a comment about her dying in the book The Left Hand of Destiny. I can't see anything in the Memory Alpha:Spoiler policy about novels - in fact, it seems to support the notion that only broadcast episode information is fair game on MA articles. The information about Sirella dying was a big spoiler to me, as I haven't had a chance yet to read the Left Hand of Destiny books. I accept the spoiler policy with regard to aired episodes, but surely more caution must be exercised when it comes to novels such as the DS9 relaunch novels because far fewer people are likely to have read them (even hardcore DS9 fans like me, for reasons of time, affordibility, etc). The info about Sirella dying may have a place in the article about the books themselves, which can easily be avoided by people seeking to avoid spoliers about the books' plot, but I think it's wrong to have it on the article about the character. -Taduolus 18:16, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

While the policy does not name novels, it does make clear that the only spoilers we are trying to avoid are those for upcoming releases, which this was not. --OuroborosCobra ^talk 18:18, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

Is there no leeway in the policy for the application of common sense in cases where it can be justified, or must we stick doggedly to the rules no matter what? Or, put another way, while there is a good case to make as to why the information about Sirella dying would be better situated in the article about the book rather than the character, is there a good case (aside from unwavering adherence to a catch-all policy) as to why it should be in the article about the character? -Taduolus 18:29, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

The death of a character is a major event in anything. I don't see a good reason to not include it. It would be like not talking about the death of Jadzia Dax, either in her article, or in "Tears of the Prophets". --OuroborosCobra ^talk 18:33, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

If I may interject a view to consider, at which point does a fact change from "Spoiler" to "Historical Event"? One could reasonably argue that information regarding USS Voyager succeeding in returning to Earth is a spoiler to anyone who hasn't watched VOY: "Endgame" yet, though it is openly referenced in the ships article. Perhaps this is something that should be considered as well. When ST:XI is released in theaters, I'm sure there will be articles added the moment the first watchers make it back to their computers, but would those be spoilers to those who havn't viewed the film yet, or not? Should there be a specific time moratorium before newly available information is added to Memory Alpha? Additionally, simply because you know of the death of a character, does that mean that reading the novel to discover the details is any less fulfilling? -- Kooky 18:57, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

Kooky, that is the entire reason this policy was created. We simply can't follow our mission of being the most complete and comprehensive resource for Trek if we are worrying about whether people have seen something that is released. --OuroborosCobra ^talk 19:05, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

I guess I was just trying to point out that this seemed like a pointless debate. Additionally, Memory Beta maintains a similar spoiler policy, so I'm still agreeing with you. (As well as opening my mouth before I did all the research I should have done.) -- Kooky 19:13, 20 March 2007 (UTC)