CREDIT: "SPOILER ALERT CAUTION SIGN" BY KROACH ON THINKSTOCK
PSA: Do not under any circumstances share details of shows or movies on social media, that is all.

Few things in life are as universally despised as Donald Trump but something that comes close is people who spoil movies and television shows.

Unless you are watching something on the day it’s released chances are good that you’ll have it ruined by the time you even realize it’s come out. In some extreme cases, TV shows have major plot points for upcoming seasons leaked months before the premiere even airs. Where is the humanity in this?

Why do people take such sadistic joy in ruining the fun for others? I understand that after watching something people are inclined to discuss it with their friends because they’re excited about it. But there’s a select breed of people who watch things almost explicitly to destroy the surprise for as many others as physically possible.

Is this a rewarding pursuit? Maybe this person will have a few comments on Facebook from disgruntled acquaintances but the vast majority of victims just fume in silence. It’s not like these spoiling savages are getting statistics of how many people they’ve annoyed or frustrated. Is it just a power trip? Are people posting spoilers just because they have the capability? Are they really so desperate for some sense of control over their lives that this is the pettiness people resort to? We have self-driving cars and solar powered sidewalks but we still have to contend with spoilers?

Not all people who spoil shows and movies do it maliciously and in fact many people don’t realize they’re doing it at all. Here’s a tip: if you want to discuss a show or a movie, just ask the people you’re talking with if they’ve all seen it. If you want to discuss it online, tag your posts with a spoiler alert. It might seem annoying or cumbersome but we’ve all been on the receiving end and know how awful it is to have that plot twist at the end of a seven-season show you just started ruined. I may be asking for a lot from everyone but if we could all take two minutes or so and just be considerate before opening our big mouths that’d be great.

I know that despite our best efforts to stay away from social media if we missed the latest episode of The Walking Dead, the odds are against us. Even if we survive the uproar of spoilers from the premiere we’ll likely be exposed to a spoiler in some shape or form over the next few weeks. Luckily there are a few good people left in the world trying to protect us vulnerable watchers.

These angels have come together and created a Google Chrome extension called Unspoiler. The app allows users to choose which shows, sports teams, characters, movies or anything else they can think of that they would like to safeguard against. The extension isn’t exactly foolproof but at least it gives us all a fighting chance against the heinous treachery of social media while we wait to catch up with the rest of the world.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.