My question to all of you [what is a spoiler?]

[Spellweaver]

I have what would appear to be a simple question but I cannot seem to formulate the answer, so here goes.

What does the term "anime spoiler" really include?

I mean for someone who has never watched the anime anything in an AMV could spoil something for them, the only exceptions I have ever seen that would not spoil anything are AMV's done to commercials, because generally there is not enough content to spoil anything. So what by all means would you include that doesn't constitute a spoiler?

[Resk]

Well, how can you recognize something as being a spoiler if you've never seen the anime? In that sense, it's more like you're watching a 3-5 minute trailer of the anime rather than spoiling an entire series that you've never seen. Plus, the only way that it could be a spoiler is if you're expecting to watch it in the sense that you know who the characters are, the places, the other people, the general idea of the story, etc. Normally, you go into something knowing a little bit about it, otherwise it's just like picking up a book without reading the back, looking at the title, or even the author. It becomes fair game that it won't spoil anything.

[godix]

A spoiler is anything that makes you want to curse out the person who told you.

[Beowulf]

A spoiler is Freeza killing Krillin.

R.I.P.

[trythil]

I have what would appear to be a simple question but I cannot seem to formulate the answer, so here goes.

What does the term "anime spoiler" really include?

Spike dies.

[Pie Row Maniac]

I have what would appear to be a simple question but I cannot seem to formulate the answer, so here goes.

What does the term "anime spoiler" really include?

Spike dies.

Nuh-uh, Try! He just falls unconscious!

[Spellweaver]

Alright I can understand like the ending to a movie or anime is a spoiler, but take Naruto for instance just my showing a battle scene without showing who won could be a spoiler for someone who never saw it, or any anime where the main character has some sort of special ability/super power and that gets shown in the AMV. Whether the person watching it understands what is going on or not it could still be a spoiler right? If so then what wouldn't be a spoiler? I think that every AMV I have watched has had some sort of spoiler in it when I think about these things. I don't know perhaps I am looking too far into it, but it really confuses me.

[Arigatomina]

Whether the person watching it understands what is going on or not it could still be a spoiler right?

To define anything, you need to put it into some sort of context. For anime spoilers, it goes something like this:

For a person watching the anime -
For a person who has started the anime but hasn't finished it yet -

And then, since you have the context - it only applies within those audiences - you add the definition:

- anything that would ruin the anime for that person is considered a spoiler.

This means you don't worry about the fact that to a laymen every scene in the anime could be a 'spoiler'. Since a layman isn't watching the anime, he doesn't count in the definition of 'spoiler'. Spoilers are scenes that ruin the natural element of surprise for a person who is watching the anime.

Knowing a character's name before you watch the anime isn't a spoiler. Knowing when and how he dies before you get to that part of the series, that might ruin it for you. ;p

[devilmaykickass]

If it shows what color their hair is, it's a spoiler.

[Gemberkoekje]

If it shows what color their hair is, it's a spoiler.

Especcialy when it changes